AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) — The former home of the Detroit Pistons is in the process of being torn down.
The Palace of Auburn Hills will be torn down to make way for corporate redevelopment.
Residents say it's bittersweet. The palace held a special place in the hearts of people who watched the Pistons play there, along with other special events.
"It is sad," said Dennis Haines from Shelby Township. "I took my son there to see the Globe Trotters once. A lot of memories of firsts for him. It is sad."
The city manager of Auburn Hills says taking down the lettering on the outside of the building is the start of a six-month demolition process.
The first phase, which is already underway, also includes removing items inside of the building, like sets.
In January, the building itself is expected to come down, although developers have not yet applied for a demolition permit.
March is expected to mark phase three, which includes taking down steel framing and concert walls. Once that is completed, phase four, which will occur sometimes in spring 2020, will fill in the excavated hole.
There are plans to turn the space into offices for research and technology. However, there is no timeline yet on when the rebuild will be happening.
