General Motors Purchases 'Factory One' Facility In Flint
FLINT (WWJ/AP) - General Motors is buying a century-old building in Flint that officials say was the automaker's birthplace.
GM North America President Mark Reuss signed an agreement Wednesday to purchase "Factory One," the original Durant-Dort Carriage Co. factory.
Reuss calls the 133-year-old, 25,000-square-foot building the birthplace of GM. He said plans haven't been finalized, but the initial thought is to create a museum with the original boardroom.
"Flint is strong and it's vital to the growth of GM. When Factory One is reborn, it's going to be great and it's going to be something we can all be proud of -- GM and Flint," Reuss told Mlive.com.
GM will also become the curator of the Durant-Dort office building across the street from the factory. The Flint Historical Foundation currently maintains the office building, but it costs tens of thousands of dollars to heat and cool the facility and to do other building repairs. Reuss said GM will now pay for upkeep and other fixes.
"We're going to make that area a really special area," Reuss said.
The purchase price of the properties wasn't disclosed, but has been described as "a fair price."
TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
