Hayward

My first interview for a job at an architecture firm back in 2006 was ridiculous. Basically I had got a call during March from the company saying, "we aren't hiring right now, but we'd happy to give you a tour of the office." I decided to pass,months go by and kind of lost connection. Somehow they got my home phone of my parents, called them, which then my parents called me saying they wanted me to come in immediately. My first interview was in the conference room, boss with the tie, and me with the Ecko Hoodie, Detroit fitted hat, jeans, and a pair of Nikes on. I got the job, and started immediately.

Plastic baseball lights, ferris wheel, and the Big Cat Court, it's felt more like a circus adaption than an American Ballpark to me.

You should have called me up, I have keycard access to the tops of a few buildings. Did you hit up Bay City?

Hello Chicago! My new home for many years to come. I'll be moving to my new apartment sometime next week. Here's the view from what will soon be my office, though I'll probably be about 10 feet back fro the windows

There's really never any effort to protect vacant property in Detroit. Alot of the local laws and relaxed enforcement make it difficult to prohibit unauthorized entry. You basically have to hire a guard when the building goes empty, but that's even proven useless in the past. Only two vacant buildings in downtown Detroit currently post security staff 24/7: The David Whitney and the Book Tower. The DW has been abandoned since the late 90's and was in the same [excellent, and I mean EXCELLENT] condition when the guard was briefly let go in 2006. In just one month the interior underwent severe damage from scrappers and vandals. Fortunately, the guard was put back on duty and the building was surprisingly repaired. The Book tower was only open for a couple weeks after it went vacant in 2008. Scrappers hadn't reached it yet, and it was basically a bunch of urban explorers getting in and a couple petty vandals who scribbled in permanent marker on some of the walls and windows. A guard was immediately staffed on the ground level and a security system was installed. Just a few weeks ago they walled off the entire ground floor. It was just announced the tower will be renovated last week by Ferchill Group, the developer who successfully renovated the Book Cadillac.

I recall a Detroit Metro starbucks have the entire outer layer of brick of the second floor collapse onto everything out front: awning, tables, railings, plants etc. It happened an hour before opening fortunately, so no one was hurt. Michigan winters got into the space beneath the block and the brick and weakened the ties. The building has long since been repaired.

It was announced the historic Cass Tech will be demolished soon. Photo from wikipedia: I think the above image might be a year old. Currently it looks like there was a fire, all the windows were stolen, and parts of the interior look heavily damaged from neglect and the elements.

Love it!

Been trying to get some photos of cities around Michigan near where I grew up before I move. There will likely be a Saginaw/Bay City tour if I can make some time. The sunset was really nice the evening I took these. Taken between 8:00-9:00 pm on Tuesday Renovations Bah, wish I brought the tripod.

Hoping to see more old pictures.

Is that first picture of the Lockland Ramp of death I see?

They aren't traditional strips of businesses along a thoroughfare in this particular neighborhood like the rest of Detroit. Stores occupy various corners and are flanked by apartment buildings. The major commercial strip somewhat closeby is on Jefferson, which is nine lane avenue with larger commercial buildings and apartments

It is senseless. Just from the photographs this property would likely be listed as SAVE + SECURE + RENOVATE in a Michigan vacant property directory. Does Cincy have a land bank? They are pretty effective at getting houses of architectural value into the hands of reputable owners and burned out hulks demolished. Had a land bank been around this home would have a future.

Ytown, excellent essay and I hope to see more. I'm really intrigued by old abandoned industrial facilities.

Great shots Zach! There's some houses in there I've never seen before. Usually, I drive through there after I circle the Packard Plant.

It's always sad when towns get ripped apart like this, fortunately this one fared pretty well. Let me tell you, tornadoes are not fun and exciting things to be in.

Woah that's quite impressive.

LOLOLOL. I always thought the HOV lanees on Michigan Ave were such a mistake. They belong on Woodward or Gratiot which have tons of traffic. At least it's wide enough to accommodate light rail. This was one of the decided routes, but MDot chose Woodward instead for the new LRT system. MTS, did you know this is the exact same Michigan Ave that travels to Chicago? It's the old route between the two cities before the freeways were built. What a contrast.

Car chase of a stolen truck through Detroit Streets ends in a fiery explosion. What's so odd about this video is seeing empty 9 lane streets. Yes, it's literally that dead on most of the city's thoroughfares. Fortunately no bystanders or others motorists were hurt. The thief of the stolen vehicle died in the fire. http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/20383074/index.html

Yeah, like an actual living city, with occupied commercial districts and neighborhoods that actually have houses, and a natural mix of cultures. Not to say Detroit couldn't aspire to be that. Lima reminds me so much of Jackson, MI. The only bad thing I have against that place is my truck broke down there after midnight. Fortunately my car "fixed itself" and I was able to make it back to Ann Arbor

I mean the parking lot behind the state capitol....right on the mall! It's got to go. I wonder what space belongs to Jenny from the block.

I've gotten to know Windsor a bit more during the day. It used to be typical of us college kids to head over there as freshman to drink. I think it's interesting you got a pic of the Tim Horton's cup. When I was down on the Windsor riverfront last there were a bunch of them scattered about along the railing. BTW, please tell me you didn't support the troll. Then again, I take it you skipped the bridge to avoid having blind and drunk people ram the back of your car in the customs line. The latest flack against Matty is that they are deliberately diverting confused drivers who make a wrong turn to Canada. Most people in the Detroit area know it's an easy mistake to accidentally drive into a different country. And Tiger stadium...sad......I think they are tipping over the very last of it this week, which is an elevator tower.

Most of us here in Michigan just accept it. When the economy tanks and neighborhood crime escalates, people leave. Whatever direction Detroit's economy steers toward will decide whether the buildings above will be saved or demolished.

How dare you put Grand Rapids and Lansing in the same thread. Way to end on a bad note ColDayMan! Although the last shot of Ditroit was nice.

Great videos! Well, cities during the late 1800's were horrible places. Dead horses and dogs rotting in the middle of city streets. The acrid smell of industry. Inadequate waste disposal. Roads not even paved. Architecturally, bigger cities were also still relatively homogenous and barely rose above 5 floors. It was until 1900 that cities cleaned up their act and big plans were put into motion. so I'd definitely like to step back and see the 1920's