The stroke of a pen on Jan. 21 wiped out the last major legal hurdle before substantial construction starts on the creation of the Detroit Lions new stadium, Ford Field.

The Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority and the Lions signed off on a deal that gathers up some land and allows the incorporation of the old Hudson's warehouse into the stadium's south wall. "This now allows the Lions to move forward on the entire construction process," said Mary Zuckerman, assistant county executive to the Observer and Eccentric Newspapers. "They'll now be moving ahead full force."

Excavation work on the site has already begun, and construction work on the 65,000-seat domed stadium is expected to begin Feb. 1. Early on, a 48-inch water main along Adams Street will have to be relocated.

The Lions have not named a construction manager for the $300 million project, which is expected to be ready for action in August 2002.

Level 3 of the warehouse will be developed into suites, club seats and concessions. Levels 4-6 will also be suites, while the press box will be located on Level 7. Office/commercial areas will also be incorporated into the building.

GROUNDWORK has begun on the $300 million Ford Field in Detroit, going up next door to the new Comerica Park. In the background is the north wall of the Hudson's warehouse, which will be incorporated in the design and refurbished into luxury suites.