….instead, it’s a somewhat high concept stunt designed to call attention to the neglect of the historic address and not-far-fetched possibility it’s role in the city’s history might someday be forgotten. The Detroit News’ Lauren Abdel-Razzaq on the efforts of college student Joe Benghauser :
“I wanted to see if something negative would translate into people doing something positive,” he said Saturday while visiting the field. It’s the project part of his senior thesis but he’s also using it to raise money to erect a memorial statue of the Tigers legendary announcer Ernie Harwell, who died May 4, 2010, at age 92.
Benghauser left plenty of clues for the devoted Tigers fan that his sign is fake. The name of the dealership, Navin, comes from the old name of the concrete and steel stadium built in 1911. The name of the architect listed on the sign, George Bennet, comes from Bennett Park, the name of the first stadium built on the site in 1895 by Detroit Tigers owner George Vanderbeck. Vanderbeck’s name is also referenced on the sign.The website www.navinautosales.com links to a Kickstarter page for the project, which has garnered 10 backers and $365 as of Saturday night. The goal is to raise $10,000 by Dec. 7.
Benghauser says he chose to use an auto dealership because of the controversy it would stir.
“An auto sales place would do that because it takes the space people are still using to play ball and turns it into a parking lot. Complete opposite of how the people use the park,” he said.