From AB


Detroit may be one step closer to wiping the old Packard automobile
plant off the face of the map for good. For years, the structure has
stood derelict as a symbol of the city's decay as lawmakers fought to
figure out who exactly owns the property. Supposedly, the plant is
currently owned by a company under the name of Biosource, Inc, and
the only person on that company's books is Dominic Cristini. Cristini
is currently serving a prison term in California on drug charges,
leaving the local government to try to decide how best to go about
cleaning up the site.

But things got a little clearer recently when Biosource sued Detroit's
555 Nonprofit Studio and Gallery. The name on the lawsuit wasn't
Cristini's. Instead, one Romel Casab was behind the move. It had been
assumed that Casab was tied to the Packard property in some, but
officials had difficulty proving it. Evidently, the parties behind
Biosource became upset when the 555 gallery removed artwork by famous
UK graffiti artist Banksy from the property (you can see the art and
its relocation here).

Now that there's a clearer target in Mr. Casab, it's possible that
Detroit will be able to lean on him to either demolish the 3,500,000
square-foot facility or allow the city to take over the former
Packard plant altogether. Casab, for his part, denies having any
ownership of the property. That's somewhat predictable considering
that if the city moves forward with its attempts to clear the
property, Casab could be held accountable for the related costs.

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