Detroit has Died, but it hasn't fallen over yet

[wcc]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Actually I have enjoyed it, not too hot, not very muggy. Went out to Ann Arbor to have lunch with John70T and Kachi and they gave me a tour of the city. Very nice, very clean. About 45 miles East of Detroit.

In Detroit, now that you mention it, I didn't see any abandoned or burned cars, but I haven't driven the whole city. The streets are actually pretty litter free, which is surprising.

Can you imagine starting with GM 30 years ago, taking out a mortgage and when you're ready to retire your home is worth nothing cause it's surrounded by burned out houses? All that principal and interest for 30 years and now you've got nothing to show for it.

Yeah west, but whatever, Ann Arbor is totally different with the campus and all. A lot better there. And, yes again I can imagine not having anything to show for a home. We bought our first home that my parents and the in-laws said a home was the 'BEST' investment to make. It WON'T decline in value or lose money. Yeah right! The value of our home has dropped to about what we paid minus the 'upgrades' and any other upkeep expenses. We've lost money by owning a home. So yes, I get it... Fricken Suks!

[Oh Haha]

Originally Posted by McLovin

Looks like after dark it can get quite muggy there. A little stabby too.

Classic!!!!


The family that helped in the decline is finally getting their just rewards. The Kilpatricks have raped the city of what Coleman Young left that Dennis Archer was able to save. Bunch of crooks!

Flint is a hole. The new mayor is trying and things are better "looking" but it will take a long time before it gets better.

[tabs]

I gotta laugh my azz off on this one...Remember all those Threads of mine bout Merica turning into Detroit....Well now U know what the fk I was talking bout..

The only happy memories people have of the town are those who are buried in the cemeteries.

Don't forgit the Kowalski's....

U know what might be a good hobby in Detroit is metal detecting...bet there a a lot of old coins in those vacant lots..

[Hugh R]

I was thinking about what Steve (cdnone1) mentioned about his friend. The Feds should do just that with people on Section 8 housing and such. Rather than subsidizing them with my tax dollars for rent in areas they want to live, but can't afford, (Los Angeles for example) they should encourage urban homesteading where you take over a block of former Detroit housing, with one or two viable houses left, let them live there, plant crops, improve the property and live tax free for say 10 years and they get the place for nothing or very little.

[john70t]

Abandoned is good, actually.
When the "revitalization" starts many centuries from now, there will be all sorts of materials reclaimation companies building large estates.

The downtown of Oakland, CA was a ghost town with 3 squad cars for every block. Then tidy little picket fenced homes started sprouting up between the burned out cars.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by john70t

Abandoned is good, actually.
When the "revitalization" starts many centuries from now, there will be all sorts of materials reclaimation companies building large estates.

The downtown of Oakland, CA was a ghost town with 3 squad cars for every block. Then tidy little picket fenced homes started sprouting up between the burned out cars.

And in Oakland for every white picket fence there is a nice tidy white cross in the cemetary.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by McLovin

Looks like after dark it can get quite muggy there. A little stabby too.

I'm McLovin it.

[Crowbob]

Definite props for McLovin!

[Sarc]

Sorry I missed you, Hugh. Would have loved to have given you a driving /walking tour.

I was touring a building recently in the necklace district that, save for the grade-level pharmacy, has been unoccupied for close to 30 years. In its former life, it was a thriving department/jewelry store whose main competitor was the J.L. Hudson company across the street on Woodward. As with quite a few vacant high rises here in the city, this one had remained quite secure and weather-tight so needless to say I was looking forward to (legally) exploring the building.

I wasn’t disappointed; multiple levels not only intact but completely furnished. Coffered wood ceilings. Wrought iron elevator lift doors with leaded glass. Elaborate display cases untouched. Clothes(!) still on the racks, that sort of thing. It was quite incredible to pass through this space. One highlight for me was the studio where all the print ads were created. Not only was the room fully furnished, complete with the calendar on the wall displaying May 1976, the printing press and all the associated tools/engraving plates were present and accounted for. It was as if everyone went home on a Friday and never returned. Very, very strange feeling being in that space, but an incredible experience. I’ve been in most of the vacant buildings around here at one time or another and this one was by far in the most original condition.

I liken Detroit to that 911S languishing away in a field for the past 30 years. To 99% of the general public, it’s a loss. A total write-off where the cost and effort to make it right is not worth it. Yet every so often someone, usually full of youthful optimism, comes along and is taken by what they see. Little by little, the restoration progresses. A section of neighborhood is fully restored. A new market is being constructed. But like any restoration, surprises appear and setbacks develop. Kwame Kilpatrick. A Corrupt city council. Those things will pass. It will take generations for Detroit to return to any semblance of fully livable, vibrant urban city.

[vash]

can someone post up some pictures of some of the "good" areas? the abandoned building pictures are amazing. crazy, just like everyone just got up and left. crazy.

[Racerbvd]

I just did a search and really can't believe some of the building that have been abandoned, it is very sad, like watching the Omega Man. Says alot for the local & state government to make a place with architecture like that into a ghost town.. Who owns those buildings????

ruins-of-detroit_marchand-and-meffre_2

[RKC]

When I moved from San Diego to Chicago in 1988, I had to deliver some plans and legal papers to the old South Dearborn Station area south of the Chicago Loop - it was like a scene from Blade Runner/Batman. I couldn't understand how such poverty and destruction could exist just 5-6 blocks from downtown. But I understood that it WAS that way, and had been for some time. Everything in the world indicated these trends would continue. And I couldn't understand what kind of "idiot" would be doing the work that I was delivering the architectural plans for down there. After all, what kind of fool would throw money at such an area? Turns out, those guys had drive and vision and guts, and threw their efforts into the area at just the right time, and cashed out big time. Turns out, change happens continually, whether or not we feel it can or should.

When I delivered those plans, the Berlin Wall was still standing, and looked likely to stand many, many decades more.
Now that wall is gone, and that area of Chicago is gleaming and shiny and safe (as is Berlin, for that matter). Never can tell how long it takes for an area to be reborn. Look at Pittsburgh or NYC in the 1970's, and look at them today. Doesn't take that long in a dynamic country like ours to turn things around. I'd bet that 30-40 years from now, things will be quite a bit better in Detroit.

[Hugh R]

Here are a couple of shots looking up and down Woodward. Almost all of the buildkings appear to be empty, I mean the multi-story ones as well. There really is no trash anywhere. I took these pics at lunch time, you can see how few people are on the streets. Very little traffic, I guess because no one is working downtown.

[vash]

MAN! you stand in the street like that to take a picture in SF..you will get run over.

sad. the buildings are kinda nice. would be cool to convert one of those brick units into some badass bachelor pad.. the entire building.

[jcommin]

Dave Bing, the current mayor, actually wants to shrink the city limits. The city cannot afford to maintain sewers, utilities and services in many areas that just have 1 or 2 homes standing. It's an agressive idea but It may help save the city and focus the money in a smaller area.

Bing is a savvy business man.

Flint, MI, Ponitac, MI, Harvey ,IL all look similar on a smaller scale. There are probably other cities and towns that are just as economically depressed that relied soley on one industry or manufacturing.

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by vash

can someone post up some pictures of some of the "good" areas?.

Sure...

West Canfield historic district.





The Westin in the Book-Cadillac building. Not the best area per-se, but worthy of posting since 3 years ago it looked like that second video from McLovin.



The Fisher Building lobby in the New Center Area.



The Fisher from the New Center commons historic district.



Ferry Street



Indian Village

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Here are a couple of shots looking up and down Woodward. Almost all of the buildkings appear to be empty, I mean the multi-story ones as well. There really is no trash anywhere. I took these pics at lunch time, you can see how few people are on the streets. Very little traffic, I guess because no one is working downtown.

This is the Necklace District, named for the amount of jewelry and department stores occupying this area in Detroit's prime. This area was extensively renovated in preparation for the super bowl and yes, most are vacant. In fact, in the first picture the building to the right of the left red stoplight is the building I mentioned in my last post. The Hudson's department store occupied the lot to the left.

[Cdnone1]

Nice shots. If your back lit you should hide your shadow in the tree

Just my 2 cents

Steve

[Sarc]

Thanks, but they're not my photos.

[tabs]

Do you see how the West Canterfield District houses look....THAT WAS HOW ALL OF DETROIT LOOKED 50 YEARS AGO... I remember, I was there..

Do you see the entrance to the Westin Hotel, one July evening in 1967 I was standing right there after being dropped off by the Airport shuttle...took a city bus that evening out to Grand Ma's house out on 5 Mile and Van Dyke..in back of the City Airport...THAT WAS THE NIGHT DETROIT STARTED TO BURN.. I remember that bus ride because of something that happened which reflected that tension was in the air that night.

That JL Hudson store Downtown...I remember it...it was THE PLACE to shop for DECADES..after the 67 riots and Northland being opened...IT DIED. Say thank you to urban renewal and Federal Aid to the cities in the late 60's and the corresponding LIBERAL governements that were elected.

And EVERY Building in that Downtown area is EMPTY....they just make em look purty so that it doesn't look like a bombed out city from WW2.

What the Liberals did to Detroit they are well on their way to doing to America..Hughs picture of Downtown Detroit is the NEW FACE OF AMERICA. Welcome to Change you can count on..