HomeDiagramsDatabaseMapsForum About
     

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Photography Forums > My City Photos


Reply

 
Thread Tools Display Modes
     
     
  #1  
Old Posted Jan 19, 2013, 9:27 AM
whatsthepoint13's Avatar
whatsthepoint13 whatsthepoint13 is offline
Motor City Mountaineer
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Detroit | Toledo
Posts: 686
Cool DETROIT through my eyes (285+ pics)

I moved to Detroit about a year ago. I ended up here by accident with no intention to stay, but something drew me in. Ever since, I’ve been amazed and fascinated by the city’s history, decline, architecture, and the beginning of its revival. I decided to show the Detroit I see and know through my eyes, which avoids the ruin porn as much as possible to focus on the positives (not acknowledging it doesn’t exist). Anyway, I apologize ahead of time for some of the pictures- the older ones are of lower quality and ones taken from my car/buildings may have some glare. It also seems that resizing the pictures made them grainier. The thread is long, diverse, and random; I took whatever seemed fascinating going about my everyday life. Everything was taken within Detroit city limits. This is essentially the result of seven months of snapping pictures.

Let’s start with my dinner from Mexicantown:


Hello there, Detroit (from I-75 North):


From my mother’s hotel room in the Westin Book Cadillac, Downtown Detroit:


Old Main at Wayne State University, Midtown:


An alley behind an apartment building at 4th and Willis, Midtown:


Third Street, Midtown:


The M-10/Lodge Freeway at rush hour:


I just thought this looked cool, Midtown:


Looking toward Campus Martius on Woodward Ave., Downtown:


The Wayne County Building, Downtown:


U.S./Canada border in the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel:


Detroit reflecting on the water from Windsor, Ontario:


The Detroit Institute of Arts, Midtown:




Building lit during Dlectricity, Detroit’s festival of light, art, and sound, Midtown:


East Ferry Street, Midtown:


A dreary winter day view of Detroit and Windsor, Belle Isle:


Belle Isle is full of beautiful statues and fountains:


Canadian geese! Belle Isle:


Dlectricity, Midtown:


Detroit’s East Side from Belle Isle:


Indian Village:


Dancing, colour-changing robot at Dlectricity, Midtown:




Indian Village:


West Village:




Pallister Street, New Center:

East Jefferson Avenue, The Villages:


Joseph Barry Subdivision:




Boston-Edison:


Joseph Barry again:


The Manoogian Mansion, official residence of the Mayor of the City of Detroit, Joseph Barry:


Delaware Street, New Center:




Driving along East Jefferson Ave. through Detroit’s Lower East Side:


Popular Cuisine restaurant, New Center:


Second Avenue, New Center:




Buildings at Campus Martius, Downtown:


Cadillac Place, HQ of the State of Michigan in Detroit, New Center:


Hotel St. Regis, New Center:


Ice skating at Campus Martius, Downtown:


Alfred A. Taubman Design Centre, Cadillac Place, and the Fisher Building, New Center:


Bagley Street, Corktown:


Found by College for Creative Studies, Midtown:


Leverette Street, Corktown:


Wayne State University, Midtown:


West Warren Avenue, Midtown:


Detroit Science Center (Now re-opened as the Michigan Science Center), Midtown:


Rowhouses on Hancock Street, Midtown:


Old Main at Wayne State, Midtown:


Hancock Street, Midtown:


Alleys are always cool, Midtown:


Approaching Downtown from (I believe) John R Street:


Campus Martius in the evening, Downtown:


I love graffiti, Midtown:


Shelby Street on a Sunday night, Downtown:


Alleys and graffiti are amazing, Midtown:


West Forest Avenue, Midtown:




State Street, Downtown:




West Forest Avenue, Midtown:


Prentis Street, Midtown:




Saint Antoine Street, Greektown:


The red building is currently being restored. Second Avenue, Midtown:


Second Avenue, Midtown:




Cass Avenue, Midtown:




Leverette Street, Corktown:


Leverette St. & Eleventh St., Corktown:


Hilbury Theatre, Midtown:


Cass Avenue, Midtown:




Avalon Bakery and lofts on West Willis Street, Midtown:


The Garden Bowl/Majestic Theatre/Magic Stick complex- a music venue and the oldest continuously operating bowling alley in the United States, Midtown:


Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company (hipsters!), Midtown:


Garden Theatre block on Woodward Avenue, a massive restoration and new construction project, Midtown:




Looking down Woodward Avenue from Midtown to Downtown:


Detroit Fire Department, Midtown:


Alexandrine Street (I believe), Midtown:


Fourth St. & Willis St., Midtown:


West Willis Street, Midtown:


West Forest Avenue, Woodbridge:


Commonwealth Street, Woodbridge:














Woodbridge Pub (yum), Woodbridge:


Community garden on Trumbull Street, Woodbridge:


Even the seats were camo… Oh, Detroit. Between Midtown and Woodbridge:


Wayne State University, Midtown:




The Mac Shack food truck/cart at Wayne State, Midtown:


More Wayne State:


El Guapo food truck at Wayne State, Midtown:


Along Cass Avenue, Midtown:


Maccabees Building, Midtown:


Detroit Institute of Arts and Park Shelton Condos on Woodward Ave., Midtown:


Detroit Public Library Main Branch, Midtown:





West Canfield Street, Midtown:








The Green Garage and Model D HQ on Second Avenue, Midtown:


New hookah bar on Second Avenue (notice the smoke coming out of the skyline on the building?), Midtown:


Prentis Street, Midtown:






Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) and Woodward Ave., Midtown:




Woodward Avenue, Midtown:










West Palmer Avenue, Midtown:




Cass Avenue, Midtown:


DDOT bike racks on Woodward Avenue, Midtown:


Wayne State at night:


The flag of the City of Detroit:


Woodward Avenue, Downtown:


Detroit and Windsor at sunset from Belle Isle (not the most flattering view and the colours were much more radiant):


The Renaissance Center, Downtown:


Woodward Avenue in the Theatre District, Downtown:




Prentis Street, Midtown:








Second Avenue at dusk, Midtown:


Great Seal of the City of Detroit at the Detroit Historical Museum, Midtown:


Old Detroit Exhibit, Detroit Historical Museum:




Minoru Yamasaki designed buildings at Wayne State University:




Schaap Chemistry Bulding, Wayne State:


Cass Avenue, Midtown:




Park Shelton Condos on Woodward Ave., Midtown:


Woodward Avenue, Downtown:


Sprit of Detroit Statue at City Hall:


Part of the Downtown skyline from Hart Plaza:


Congress Street, Downtown:


In the Detroit Financial District, Griswold Street, Downtown:






Fort Street, Financial District/Downtown:






Rosa Parks Transit Centre, Downtown:


Michigan Avenue, Downtown:


Washington Boulevard, Downtown:




Intersection of Michigan Ave., Griswold St., and Lafayette Blvd., Financial District/Downtown:


State Street, Downtown:


Griswold Street, Capitol Park/Downtown:






Downtown Synagoge and Café D’Mongo’s Speakeasy on Griswold St., Capitol Park/Downtown:


Clifford Street, Downtown:


Grand Circus Park, Downtown:










Woodward Avenue, Detroit Theatre District/Downtown:




Comerica Park- Go get ‘em Tigers! Downtown:


Hockeytown Café, Detroit Theatre District/Downtown:


Park Avenue, Downtown:


West Elizabeth Street, Downtown:




Addison Building, home of Atlas Bistro, Lower Midtown:


Woodward Avenue, Lower Midtown:


New grocery store- Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe, Lower Midtown:


Detroit’s Whole Foods under construction, Midtown:


People’s Records, Midtown:


Driving Michigan Avenue at dusk, Downtown and Corktown:










Mexicantown:










Urban Put Put in Roosevelt Park, Corktown:


Michigan Ave. Block of Slows BBQ, Sugar House, Astro, AJ’s Lager House, Mercury Bar, and soon to be Gold Cash Gold, Corktown:


Abandoned Michigan Central Station + Roosevelt Park, Corktown:


Mercury Bar with Michigan Central looming, Corktown:


Detroit People Mover:






Randolph Street, new Buffalo Wild Wings, soon to be joined by a new Bagger Dave’s, Downtown:




Monroe Street, Downtown:


Woodward Avenue Merchant’s Row (new retail!), Downtown:








Random Downtown Alley:


Library Street, Downtown:


Clifford Street, Downtown:


Broadway, Downtown:






Harmonie Park, Downtown:










(Soon to be former) Detroit Police HQ, Downtown:


Monroe Street, Greektown:




Looking Down Congress Street and Cadillac Square, Downtown:


One of my favourite murals, Downtown:


Curl Up & Dye Salon on Cass Ave., Midtown:


West Village:




Downtown from Belle Isle:


Secret spot!


Lafayette Gardens, Downtown:


Grand River Avenue, Downtown:


Woodward Avenue, Downtown:


Foot of the Penobscot Building, Downtown/Financial District:


Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Campus Martius, Downtown:


Campus Martius, Downtown:




Inside the Guardian Building, Downtown/Financial District:


Griswold Street, Downtown:


Congress Street, Downtown/Financial District:


Food Truck Rally, Eastern Market:


Chalking for the Detroit Design Festival, Midtown:


West Canfield Street, Midtown:


Bagley Street, Corktown:


Church Street, Corktown:




Labrosse Street, Corktown:






Downtown skyline from Wayne State University:


Dally in the Alley, Midtown:


Skyline from Wayne State:


Part of the East Side from 54 floors up:


Palmer Woods, Detroit’s best neighourhood:






Woodward Avenue through New Center:


Gratiot Avenue, East Side:




Heidelberg Project, East Side:






Unique building on Gratiot Avenue, East Side:


Michigan Avenue at Campus Martius, Downtown:


The Detroit Club, Downtown:


Redevelopment on Cass Avenue, Midtown:


Goodbye, from south of the border in Windsor, Ontario!

Last edited by whatsthepoint13; Jan 19, 2013 at 9:37 AM.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #2  
Old Posted Jan 19, 2013, 10:19 AM
BnaBreaker's Avatar
BnaBreaker BnaBreaker is offline
Future God
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Chicago/Nashville
Posts: 19,476
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Don't ever sleep on D-Town!!
__________________
"Emancipate yourself from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds."

-Bob Marley
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #3  
Old Posted Jan 19, 2013, 1:47 PM
JivecitySTL's Avatar
JivecitySTL JivecitySTL is offline
St. Louis. Bitch.
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: St. Louis City
Posts: 7,029
Simply outstanding thread. Who couldn't love Detroit?
__________________
You can't spell STYLE without STL.
www.stl-style.com
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #4  
Old Posted Jan 19, 2013, 2:14 PM
STLgasm's Avatar
STLgasm STLgasm is offline
Red brick mama.
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: City of St. Louis
Posts: 4,724
Your pics prove that Detroit is still very much alive, and that it still has a built environment that many other cities could only dream of.
__________________
http://stl-style.com
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #5  
Old Posted Jan 19, 2013, 3:30 PM
dc_denizen's Avatar
dc_denizen dc_denizen is offline
Selfie-stick vendor
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New York Suburbs
Posts: 10,999
absolutely f__ing glorious.

Makes me want to move to Detroit and start renovating a delapidated property.

Detroit deserves to be America's Berlin.

I would love to live there. You're lucky!
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #6  
Old Posted Jan 19, 2013, 4:49 PM
The North One's Avatar
The North One The North One is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,486
Quote:
Originally Posted by dc_denizen View Post
absolutely f__ing glorious.

Makes me want to move to Detroit and start renovating a delapidated property.

Detroit deserves to be America's Berlin.

I would love to live there. You're lucky!
Unfortunately most people are afraid to go down there because of the stereotype that the city is plagued with. People in the metro area need to realize that downtown isn't dangerous, and the best thing we can do for the city is shop there and simply not be afraid to go down there.

But there's definitely a renaissance going on in Detroit.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #7  
Old Posted Jan 19, 2013, 4:54 PM
montréaliste montréaliste is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Chambly, Quebec
Posts: 1,995
Good stuff! Your pictures seem to give more insight on successful retail and manicured architecture. This is refreshing and as STLgasm says, it is in many ways a built environment that many cities can only dream of. There was news of Moosejaw, an outfitters store that had popped up and announced this week their intention to be permanent downtown. Excellent for Detroit!

Last edited by montréaliste; Jan 20, 2013 at 3:45 AM.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8  
Old Posted Jan 20, 2013, 12:13 AM
DetroitSky's Avatar
DetroitSky DetroitSky is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Detroit
Posts: 2,434
Great stuff! Thank you for showcasing the city's revival.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #9  
Old Posted Jan 20, 2013, 3:47 AM
JonathanGRR JonathanGRR is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Posts: 364
Quote:
Originally Posted by dc_denizen View Post
absolutely f__ing glorious.

Makes me want to move to Detroit and start renovating a delapidated property.

Detroit deserves to be America's Berlin.

I would love to live there. You're lucky!

***These pictures are great! Thank you for such a refreshing view of Detroit!


How do you envision Detroit as America's Berlin? I do not necessarily disagree with you, but I've just never heard (or thought) of Detroit and Berlin together.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #10  
Old Posted Jan 20, 2013, 4:03 AM
MolsonExport's Avatar
MolsonExport MolsonExport is offline
The Vomit Bag.
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Otisburgh
Posts: 44,639
My God, so much gold. Amazing stuff.
__________________
"If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."-President Lyndon B. Johnson Donald Trump is a poor man's idea of a rich man, a weak man's idea of a strong man, and a stupid man's idea of a smart man. Am I an Asseau?
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #11  
Old Posted Jan 20, 2013, 6:26 AM
jodelli's Avatar
jodelli jodelli is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Windsor, ON
Posts: 1,277
It was great! Who cares what some of the pictures looked like.

Quote:
Originally Posted by whatsthepoint13 View Post
Secret spot!

GM Tech Center?
__________________
No NIMBYs
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #12  
Old Posted Jan 20, 2013, 5:05 PM
dc_denizen's Avatar
dc_denizen dc_denizen is offline
Selfie-stick vendor
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New York Suburbs
Posts: 10,999
Quote:
Originally Posted by jonathan.jam View Post
***These pictures are great! Thank you for such a refreshing view of Detroit!


How do you envision Detroit as America's Berlin? I do not necessarily disagree with you, but I've just never heard (or thought) of Detroit and Berlin together.
Basically, as a city reinvigorated by younger people moving in from more expensive areas to take advantage of a very cheap cost of living and solid housing bones. A hipster haven, if you will.

The US is odd in that the arts and musical communities are centered in expensive locales like LA and NY. No reason why this should be the case. Williamsburg would be better off in Detroit: cheaper rents.

Obviously Detroit should aspire to be more than a hipster magnet but certain areas of the city seem ripe for this kind of transformation.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #13  
Old Posted Jan 21, 2013, 1:30 AM
kcexpress69's Avatar
kcexpress69 kcexpress69 is offline
Beer Stampede
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Metro KCMO
Posts: 2,283
Quote:
Originally Posted by STLgasm View Post
Your pics prove that Detroit is still very much alive, and that it still has a built environment that many other cities could only dream of.

Stole my thunder!! I can't agree more. Detroit is far from dead..and I hope to see this continue!! Great job on the thread!
__________________
"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." Kurt Vonnegut
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #14  
Old Posted Jan 21, 2013, 9:29 AM
LMich's Avatar
LMich LMich is offline
Midwest Moderator - Editor
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Big Mitten
Posts: 31,745
One of the most comprehensive photo tours of the city on here in a very long time, particularly of the greater Midtown area. Lots of shots in the neighborhoods that have never been posted on the site. Maybe, one day I'll try to get some out-city shots along Livernois and out in Warrendale, Brightmoor in the like, but I haven't haven't been bit by the photobug in years. We lost of this when Tony moved.

Man, if only there was some massive infill north of Gratiot, that would become an entirely new area from which to continue the inner-city revival. There is so much gone, you could start over from scratch on the 30-foot-wide residential lots.
__________________
Where the trees are the right height
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #15  
Old Posted Jan 21, 2013, 12:22 PM
mousquet's Avatar
mousquet mousquet is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Greater Paris, France
Posts: 4,548
This synagogue sometimes gets to be showed on the other hand:



Damn... How's the local Jewish community doing by the way? Seeing that religious building of theirs is worrying, they need to refurbish it if they didn't convert yet.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #16  
Old Posted Jan 21, 2013, 12:31 PM
LMich's Avatar
LMich LMich is offline
Midwest Moderator - Editor
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Big Mitten
Posts: 31,745
The Jewish community is doing just fine in Detroit; it's now - much like everything else - based in the suburbs. The specific congregation you pictured is also doing just fine. In fact, they are growing. Probably a good example on why to not judge a book by its cover.
__________________
Where the trees are the right height
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #17  
Old Posted Jan 21, 2013, 12:36 PM
mousquet's Avatar
mousquet mousquet is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Greater Paris, France
Posts: 4,548
^ Good. Cheer them so they refurbish their religious spot.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #18  
Old Posted Jan 21, 2013, 4:07 PM
Danny's Avatar
Danny Danny is offline
Universal Traveler
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Madrid
Posts: 2,165
Smile

Thanks for the tour and pics of Detroit, whatsthepoint13!

I like the winter scenery of Detroit. Some hoods are really nice, and the downtown too. I like the GM building, I´ve always liked it.

Congrats and greetings from Madrid, Spain!
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #19  
Old Posted Jan 21, 2013, 4:33 PM
north 42's Avatar
north 42 north 42 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Windsor, Ontario/Colchester, Ontario
Posts: 5,803
Awesome shots! I love the D, and am proud to live right across the river from it! So many people have written Detroit off, and this tour shows its on the rise again. Go D!!!!
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #20  
Old Posted Jan 21, 2013, 6:41 PM
Rizzo Rizzo is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Chicago
Posts: 7,280
Excellent work! I was back home for a visit in Detroit. Every time I come back, something has changed for the better. This visit was perhaps the most encouraging and I know there are some big things to come.



Quote:
Originally Posted by dc_denizen View Post
Basically, as a city reinvigorated by younger people moving in from more expensive areas to take advantage of a very cheap cost of living and solid housing bones. A hipster haven, if you will.

The US is odd in that the arts and musical communities are centered in expensive locales like LA and NY. No reason why this should be the case. Williamsburg would be better off in Detroit: cheaper rents.

Obviously Detroit should aspire to be more than a hipster magnet but certain areas of the city seem ripe for this kind of transformation.
I get what your saying. And you're right that Detroit makes sense for people who want to maximize their creative potential. In fact, I'd personally love to start a business in Detroit. However, the bold part above is important to note.

Solid housing bones may not be all that true. It's a weird situation. Renovated property is extremely expensive. It's equivalent to downtown Chicago rents. There's so little renovated property because the banks aren't lending that you have a short supply at skyrocket rents. Then you have your average vintage apartment. But young professionals and students have already picked alot of that up. What you're left with is alot of property in disrepair....ALOT. Or...maybe a home is in reasonable condition and on the market for cheap but is very pricey to heat and maintain. My friend bought a larger brick home in Detroit that is $1000/month to heat!

So that's why you aren't seeing this huge gold rush crowd to Detroit. There's a severe housing shortage in Detroit. "Water, water, every where,: Nor any drop to drink" right? There just needs to be a bigger push toward affordable housing. Or maybe some collectives to rehab homes. But it all takes confidence from banks and some really organized and ambitious people (like Dan Gilbert). I hope that time will eventually come.
Reply With Quote
     
     
This discussion thread continues

Use the page links to the lower-right to go to the next page for additional posts
 
 
Reply

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Photography Forums > My City Photos
Forum Jump


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 7:45 AM.

     
SkyscraperPage.com - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.