The resurrection of a symbol of Detroit's decline will be marked by a special event this week.
Detroit's historic Michigan Central Station, once the hub of the region's bustling railway network, later falling into disrepair as an international sign of urban blight, has been restored to its former glory.
Under ownership of the Ford Motor Company, the building underwent a six-year, $950-million U.S. makeover. The finished product will be shown off with a massive concert on Thursday evening.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Detroit-based rapper Eminem and his manager, Paul Rosenberg, will serve as executive producers of "Live From Detroit: The Concert at Michigan Central".
Motown legend Diana Ross, rock musician Jack White, rapper Big Sean, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, will headline the 90-minute concert.
Others scheduled to perform include hip-hop artists Slum Village, gospel stars Kierra Sheard and the Clark Sisters, DJ Theo Parrish, Common, Melissa Etheridge, Fantasia, and Jelly Roll.
Appearances by Detroit Lions Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jared Goff, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders are also scheduled, along with actor Sophia Bush, and comedian Mike Epps.
About 15,000 people are expected to attend the show, but tickets have already been distributed. The show will be live-streamed on NBC's on-demand service Peacock. A 60-minute TV special will be packaged for broadcast Sunday evening on NBC (WDIV-TV Local 4).
The Michigan Central Station was opened in January 1914, consisting of the terminal, a 13-story office building, and the surrounding campus. The station fell victim to declining rail use after the Second World War, changes in travel habits, and surrounding urban blight. The last rail service from the station was in January 1988.
The property was allowed to rot, and it became a haven for vandals, scavengers, homeless people, and urban explorers. Since the building was on the National Register of Historic Places, it was protected from demolition.
Efforts to renovate the building under a series of previous owners fell through, and a plan to relocate Detroit Police Headquarters to the building also failed. The Ford Motor Company purchased the property in 2018.
The building will open to the general public on Friday for tours.
Complete information about the concert and street closures can be found on the official Michigan Central website.