From the December 31, 1965 issue of the Windsor Star
An aerial photograph of the brand spanking new GM Trim Plant on Lauzon Road. Now as our manufacturing might decreases, a new arena is set to open in the field behind the plant, and this plant, with its great modern office building is threatened with demolition.
The Lear sign, still sits out on the road advertising what was.
A view of the front entrance, with the massive 1960’s era canopy over the front door.
A couple of storage tanks on the site, complete with the Lear Canada Logo.
When I took these photos a few months ago, the plant had only been closed since the summer, but nature was already starting to reclaim the land through the cracks in the roadway.
A view back looking north from the parking area towards the offices.
This building is a great example of the architecture of the era, and when it comes to the most under appreciated buildings, in my opinion it’s usually the industrial ones that get no love.
When this plant is wiped off the face off the earth, this office will be looked back upon as a great loss. It might not happen next year or the year after that, but 20 or 30 years from now there will be some regret.
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I have non problem with development as long as it is smart and doesn't take away from existing areas. Thus far, this will only help to create a larger hole in our current downtown.
IT`S OVER !!!! GET OVER IT !!!!!!
Make no mistake, this deal was inked and winked-on a long time ago.
Only about one week after Lear sold the property to Farhi Holdings, (that's about two years before the plant actually closed and not coincindentally immediately after the Town of Tecumseh announced that it had set a deal for its ill-fated "Ice Park"), our our forthright mayor "Fast Eddy" (not to suggest that he might be "dirty") came hand-in-hand with the Farhi brothers on a supposed "tour" of the facility. At that time, they surprisingly went directly to the back end of the plant without any tour of the contemporaneous, substantial production operations in effect and climbed the back stairs to the roof! Hmm, .. to the roof. There, they collectively looked east, out over the vast tract of land disused by Lear. Lear subsequently leased-back only the portion of the facility, from Farhi Holdings, that it needed to finish its contractual production obligations to its customers.
And in parallel with all the denials, nobody was told squat about what was taking place for those years.
Geesh! I understand it's over Drew, but give us a break. I think everyone's over it. We'd just like the truth to be told. I also understand that you Edward, wouldn't like the "look" of vacant factories. Aesthetics are so important to sensitivities. I wonder if it would matter to you that any such facility was a strong economic engine to the local and regional economy. That it had provided viable employment/taxes/pensions/benefits to real people? It is easy to assume that you would have the same visual opinion of the vacant storefronts and businesses that are coming soon ... beyond those already here. I can also assume that your definition of a "normal (non-industrial) city" would mean a place with a whole lot of minimum wage employers and a few slick-dressed financial advisors ... who can still afford the morning Tim Horton's coffee on the way in to "work", as long as the businesses look pretty out front. What does "normal" mean? Doesn't appearance have something to do with the regional economy and resources? What would you say about Alberta? Are her cities and towns abnormal by virtue of their dependance on the oil/gas industry?
Perhaps London would be a better city to suit your sensitivies.
AAH the good old days GENERAL MOTORS TRIM PLANT was a great place to work. Many wonderful people worked through the years there and built a good QUALITY product for the auto industry. I will miss all the history that building has to offer and great memories I have of working there for 25 years.
I see the death fences are up....can't be toolong 'til the end