9400 Carbon Street
Delray Tower at Delray Junction
There’s a chance that this building may not be standing much longer. I hope I’m wrong, but I had to document it to the best of my ability, just in case.
Delray Junction has been a bustling intersection of rail lines since before 1900. In 1893, the first interlocking tower was completed at the junction. It was a two-story, wood-framed structure. The buildings had to have two floors due to the intricate nature of the interlocking device.
The current brick structure was completed in 1945. It would remain in use until November 16, 2020, when CSX transferred control to an operations center in Jacksonville, Florida.
With the interchange now being controlled remotely, the building serves no purpose to the railroad. It was once operated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but it has sat empty since its closure.
A grassroots group has emerged to attempt to save the structure, but it’s a tough sell. Although it’s smaller than most Detroit landmarks, moving it would be risky and expensive. Delray, the neighborhood surrounding the tower, is one of the state’s least populated and most polluted, which makes turning it into a mini-museum unlikely.
This building should be saved, but I’m not holding my breath. Considering its location and the current ownership, the future looks grim for Delray Tower.
If money was no issue, what would you do with the structure?
