Old Detroit Free Press Building To Turn Into Film Studio

The building that formerly housed the Detroit Free Press, one of the nation’s many troubled newspapers, is now under new ownership.  Richard Gerber of Troy Michigan plans to convert the building into a film-production studio in the hopes of cashing in on Michigan’s recent boom in film production work.  Gerber has formed a venture partnership with the real estate company that bought the Free Press building back in December.

Gerber, owner of technology firm Intelegen Inc., told the Detroit News on Tuesday that he, along with his investment partmer, Luke Investments, are checking to make sure that the venture will qualify for Michigan’s film tax incentives package.  He wants to take the 80,000 square foot of the building that formerly held a printing press and turn it into a fully-functioning soundstage.

Michigan’s new tax incentives, along with recently laid off workers from the auto industry who are now retraining to work on film crews, has caused film, television, and video production to surge in Michigan.

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