Recent news of the General Motors Janesville plant’s permanent closure has raised curiosity as to what is now in store for the building. While the initial response would be to sell it for profit, Congressman Paul Ryan recently shared his thoughts on an alternative.
According to this WSAU news article, Ryan is suggesting that the property go to the community of Janesville for redevelopment. GM’s contract with the UAW holds that the plant be permanently closed, so the only real reason we see why this shouldn’t happen is, well, it’s still GM’s property.
Sure, the Janesville plant is “just a four million square foot dust collector right now,” but GM certainly could get a significant amount of money for it. That said, GMÂ did just have record profits, so some might say that it can afford making such a donation.
What are your thoughts? Share them in the comment section below.
Comments
Apparently Paul Ryan is not a capitalist. Maybe Mr. Ryan should give his house away as a show of good faith. I’m sure the community could use it. It could be a halfway house drug rehab or maybe a senior center. Come on Mr. Ryan give your house away.
Paul Ryan is a great man. Intelligent, articulate, and consistent. I am sorry you are so envious.
Could you wear your political bias on you sleeve any more?
Paul Ryan is an intelligent, articulate, and consistent man. I am sorry you are so envious.
Please try harder not to wear your political bias on your sleeve.
Between Ryan and Gov Walker, Wisconsin might as well say g’bye to Harley, and the breweries, and packing plants, and SC Johnson.
Nice environment for hunting and fishing. That, and the Packers – what else do they have? Cheese? Brats?
The people of Wisconsin have elected or re-elected 4 times. You obviously aren’t in the majority of opinion in Wisconsin.
But you are probably a bitter card-carrying union extremist…
This is not unlike what has happened at many other plants.
This is not like selling your house as It’s much more complex than even the complexity of selling a house.
Factories are difficult to sell for one Then try to sell an old one in an area with tough uncompromising unions. Well you get the picture.
Then you have the issues of asbestos and other brownfield areas that have to be cleaned up that can cost more than the property is worth.
Generally companies close a plant like this they fence it off to sit not unlike the Packard plant or they tear it down and lastly they can donate it to the city it is in.
We have had the latter done here after the Tire plants closes and BFG moves to the south. They donated the headquarters building. The City here had to spend million removing the asbestos and other nasty’s then sold it to Go Jo for a dollar.
Go Jo moved in and had to put an additional $7 million in to completer the deal.
Now Ironic Go Jo now wants to move elsewhere in the city and sell the building for $51 Million. Most companies here are moving to smaller more efficient buildings as heating cost alone can kill them.
Goodyear just did that here. In the same spot for over 100 years they built a new building next to their Tech Center and are now planning to remain in Akron since the City helped them with their new building. I think they made a deal for 50 plus years.
What Paul did was a smart move and not unlike what the Democrats have done here. In light of all he now has going on it is good he did not forget the people at home.
Do the right thing , raze the buildings completely , and after removing all fencing , fill and level the land , landscape the outside trim and then offer the property for sale . Show the City you care , you are not abandoning a run down eyesore . Consequently this nice looking piece of property may just stimulate the City to respond . Will GM recoup it’s cost of reclamation , probably not , but it is the right thing to do !!