Bing makes history in forgoing Manoogian

Detroit Free Press
June 16, 2009

BY BILL McGRAW

Mayor Dave Bing will be the first elected mayor of Detroit to not live
in the Manoogian Mansion since the 15-room house was donated to the
city to serve as the mayoral residence in 1966.

Jerry Cavanagh, Roman Gribbs, Coleman Young, Dennis Archer, Kwame
Kilpatrick and their families all spent time in the Manoogian, which
sits on the east riverfront across from Belle Isle.

The house gained an unwelcomed notoriety during the Kilpatrick reign
as the supposed site of a much ballyhooed wild party. Though the party
was never proven, rumors of it ignited the chain of events that led to
Kilpatrick resigning and going to jail.

Bing has said he wants to find a way to make the home, a gift from
industrialist Alex Manoogian, a resource for Detroit and to recoup the
roughly $150,000 the city spends for annual upkeep.

Mayoral spokeswoman Meagan Pitts said Monday the Manoogian is
undergoing repairs for plumbing and other problems, and officials
continue to plan to use it as a site for conferences, weddings and
other gatherings.

Pitts said the repairs are being financed by a nonprofit organization
and the city, but a price tag was not immediately available.

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