By Joel Thurtell
Riverside Park is in play.
It could be sold to Matty.
Mayor Bing is talking about selling the park to the owner of the Ambassador Bridge next door to the park.
In my last post, I noted how I’d posed the question to Mayor Bing.
I asked if it was true that the mayor is talking to Matty about a sale of Rivrside Park.
My answer came by e-mail today:
Joel,
There are discussions to sell Riverside Park to Mr. Mororun.
Karen Dumas
Group Executive/Communications
Office of Mayor Dave Bing
City of Detroit
Manuel “Matty” Moroun needs the park land because without it, he wouldn’t be able to build a new bridge beside the old Ambassador.
Last week, the U.S. Coast Guard sent his application for a permit to build a new bridge back to Matty, saying he lacked the means to build a bridge when he didn’t own the land on which it would be situated.
I’ve heard that it would be next to impossible for the city to part with the land, due to state and federal grant money spent on it and resulting restrictions on a sale.
But it appears the park could be sold.
So Matty may get his new bridge, after all.
Drop me a line at joelthurtell@gmail.com
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City of Detroit Mayor’s Office
Gives Blogger Next-Day Reply
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Frank Response Marks Contrast with Past
If someone gets me a list of Matty’s properties, I would be glad to drive around and take photos. Aside from the fact that Riverside Park should not be sold…ever….I definately don’t think Matty deserves it when he can’t even take care of the properties he has already. I would like to make an album to share with city council and the Mayor if anyone would like to help. Detroit needs money, but a one time sale of a park doesn’t help nearly as much as holding Matty accountable for maintaining his properties and setting an example of how to make the city less “ghetto”.