$22M Port Development On Detroit River Doesn't Draw Cruise Ships As Planned
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A $22 million port development along downtown Detroit's riverfront that aimed to be a stopping point for Great Lakes cruise ships hasn't worked out as planned.
Four years after construction of the Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority public dock, the facilities are used almost exclusively by a catering company for weddings and other events. Parties also are offered on a yacht.
According to a report in the Detroit News, only one cruise ship has docked this year at the 21,000-square-foot building near the Renaissance Center -- the same number as in 2014. The Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority building, meanwhile, is used by Troy-based Continental Services for events.
John Loftus, the port authority's executive director, says the facility attracts visitors and creates jobs. There's hope, however, for future cruise business.
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