Over the years, the Ilitches quietly snapped up land north of the Fischer Freeway and we never knew why until it was publicly announced that they were building a new hockey arena and massive commercial and residential development.
Now, Louis Aguilar of The Detroit News writes that the Ilitch organization is on another land-buying spree, this time in an area just beyond the 45 blocks of Detroit where it's developing the hockey arena.
The News reports the focus of the land grab is around around the MotorCity Casino Hotel on West Grand River, which Ilitch's wife Marian owns.
The Ilitches have spent more than $10 million in at least 15 different sales since 2011, News research shows.
All in all, the collection of properties rivals the 650,000-square-foot new home of the Detroit Red Wings, six blocks away from MotorCity.
The Ilitches haven't publicly disclosed what they're up to and declined comment, Aguilar writes.
