Just Another Afternoon in Detroit - 11.10.2006

[Exodus]

Originally Posted by Michi

Indeed it is!

http://www.westinbookcadillacresidences.com

Fort Street is not scary at all. It's just an old industrial corridor that leads to the Ambassador Bridge. And how do you get off the freeway too early? Signage to the tunnel and bridge is clear as day. Sounds like your typical Detroit fantasy story to me. Fort Street is harmless and has a lot of nice old buildings.

Yeah, a city should not be judged because of an old industrial area. Of course factorys can be an eye sore, but that's factorys for you. I can only guess what his real problem about the city was

[skyfan]

While we're talking about urban exploration, does any else think that this has become too popular? There was an interesting post today on the subject in Detroitblog. I have to agree that are just too many people trying to showing how cool they are by entering an empty building in Detroit Not enough like in this thread that just want to show the decayed beauty of these buildings.

There is no better example of that than the Whitney Building while it's still in good condition, until this year the place was pristine. Now you have people like UE bloggers wideopendetroit, that tagged buildings they've explored. With scrappers aggressive as ever, a lot these people are leaving buildings even more open to attack.
http://www.detroitblog.org/

[LMich]

I think it's an issue of sour grapes, personally. People don't have a problem with exploring a building, but have problems with other's doing it. It smacks of hypocrisy, as if you can somehow judge that your motives for urban exploration are better than everyone elses. I think all urban explorers need to remember (including those that started it) that the access to these buildings is no more your own than anyone elses. And that, in fact, the building belongs to someone else so you have no right to elevate yourselves above others. The original explorers also need to realize they are opening a Pandora's Box, in the first place, by shooting within these buildings. It's an elitism that's always bothered me, and I can understand that there are some people that are experienced and less helpful than others, but who are you to judge the whole?

As the old saying goes, those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, and this is no exception.

[mSeattle]

The Detroit Story... excellent stuff.

[matt602]

Originally Posted by skyfan

While we're talking about urban exploration, does any else think that this has become too popular? There was an interesting post today on the subject in Detroitblog. I have to agree that are just too many people trying to showing how cool they are by entering an empty building in Detroit Not enough like in this thread that just want to show the decayed beauty of these buildings.

There is no better example of that than the Whitney Building while it's still in good condition, until this year the place was pristine. Now you have people like UE bloggers wideopendetroit, that tagged buildings they've explored. With scrappers aggressive as ever, a lot these people are leaving buildings even more open to attack.
http://www.detroitblog.org/

As someone who is deeply vested into the hobby, I agree with you. The hobby has gotten too publicized and there's a lot of people who just take it too seriously or on the other extreme, not serious enough. It has introduced a lot of the wrong people through this over publication and really... this is a hobby that belongs in the underground, like the places we go. People will never understand it like us, and I don't think we should want them to. Really the bottom line about it is to experience these old nooks and crannies and to document them... because some day they won't be around anymore, and it's all we'll have.

I can't believe someone under the guise of an "urban explorer" would have the heart to tag up a place as beautiful as this. I could never imagine doing that, simply experiencing the sheer beauty would be enough for me. I know this is Detroit, but damn. That doesn't mean you have to follow suit on the mentality. Leaving the buildings open is even worse of course. I always make as much as an attempt as possible to leave a building in the same way I came across it. As a thank you for being able to experience it. We may be trespassing, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't give a shit about the security of the place.

Anyway sorry to rant, bottom line is I agree with you. The Whitney building is just beautiful beyond nearly any place I've ever seen. The picture of the roof with Comerica in the background is just awe inspiring. What an angle.

I also have a question. What state is the Wurlitzer building in? Looks nice.

[LMich]

Check this out, Matt:

http://www.buildingsofdetroit.com/places/wurl

[oliveurban]

Incredible. There's really no other word. One of the best Detroit threads yet. Some magnificent old buildings. Eerie, fascinating and beautiful.

Question: What is that MCS building ?

[Michi]

MCS stands for Michigan Central Station. It was built as Detroit's "Grand Central Station" and was in fact designed by the same architect.

It was built during a time of high growth in Southeast Michigan. The structure was built about a mile west of downtown and it was anticipated that downtown Detroit would grow into the MCS. But the Great Depression hit and everything took a turn for the worst. It was also built in this location because downtown had no land left to built a transportation hub.

Today, the MCS is a beast of a ruin. Plans have come and gone to renovate it, but obviously it's been proven too massive of an undertaking. The dose of good news, however, is that Corktown (the neighborhood adjacent to the MCS) is under a pretty impressive revival. Michigan Avenue has a lot of reinvestment occurring on it and the neighborhood is very diverse. The MCS towers over a transition-space between Corktown (traditionally Irish) and Mexicantown (Latino).

Coinciding with LMich's link above, I'd encourage you to try this one:

http://www.buildingsofdetroit.com/places/mcs

[MSPtoMKE]

Amazing tour!

[LMich]

Originally Posted by Michi

MCS stands for Michigan Central Station. It was built as Detroit's "Grand Central Station" and was in fact designed by the same architect.

It was built during a time of high growth in Southeast Michigan. The structure was built about a mile west of downtown and it was anticipated that downtown Detroit would grow into the MCS. But the Great Depression hit and everything took a turn for the worst. It was also built in this location because downtown had no land left to built a transportation hub.

Today, the MCS is a beast of a ruin. Plans have come and gone to renovate it, but obviously it's been proven too massive of an undertaking. The dose of good news, however, is that Corktown (the neighborhood adjacent to the MCS) is under a pretty impressive revival. Michigan Avenue has a lot of reinvestment occurring on it and the neighborhood is very diverse. The MCS towers over a transition-space between Corktown (traditionally Irish) and Mexicantown (Latino).

Coinciding with LMich's link above, I'd encourage you to try this one:

http://www.buildingsofdetroit.com/places/mcs

A few other interesting facts about the Michigan Central Station include the fact that the top few floors were never built out/finished, and that even soon after its completion the developers realized that it was built too far outside of downtown. It's kind of ironic that the problem with it then is the same problem with it now: location and size. Inversely, now, though, the problem with Detroit development seems to be that things not built large enough, whereas the problem used to be that things we built too large.

[1ajs]

thanks for sharing

anyhow

they demolishing this building or restoring it?

[LMich]

Renovation into Westin Book-Cadillac which will contain a hotel and serviced apartments along with restaurants.

http://www.westinbookcadillacresidences.com/index.htm

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by LMich

Renovation into Westin Book-Cadillac which will contain a hotel and serviced apartments along with restaurants.

http://www.westinbookcadillacresidences.com/index.htm

sweet

[DANTHEDISCOMAN]

My curious mind is driving me mad...how did you get access to those abondoned buildings?! Surely they they are boarded up right? Also, how did you get down into that dark basement...you were not worried about falling into any shafts in dark?! Please ease my mind of anxious curiousity!

[Cory]

A lot of new and interesting angles in here. Great stuff.

[toog05]

Yea why is some of the building gone, has it always been like that?

[CGII]

Geez, from this photo it looks occupied and restored.

[Michi]

Originally Posted by toog05

Yea why is some of the building gone, has it always been like that?

Which building? The MCS or the Book Cadillac? The MCS lost all of its window because of vandalism over the years. Same with the Book Cadillac, however a lot of changes have been made since work crews began attending to her. I'm sure a lot of the windowless holes are due to the renovation.

[boden]

other-worldly

[dfane]

its so sad to see a once great city be turned into a deserted wasteland. i Guess this what you get when you keep voting crooks into office and they run the city like a city in Rwanda and run everything into the ground.

Doesnt Detroit's mayor look like a pimp? lol

I hope the people get smart there 1 day and stop voting for their boys and vote people in who want to bring jobs in etc.