Hayward

I like the construction threads over there. That's pretty much where all my posts are...that and My City Photos. That Google Sketchup thread sure contains some disastrous cities and worries me about our future architects and planners.

Aesthetically it's terrible I agree, but the sh!t still holds together. I think the 2nd and half floors were an addition. You can kind of tell the house looked "normal" at one time, and also note where excavation occurred, the siding is staggered on the lower level indicating there was once graded land.

At this time when I think of canada, All I can say is mmmmuffins I mean http://www.mmmuffins.com/

Now in all fairness, that yellow house is probably constructed correctly. Those appear to be steel posts supporting a transfer beam, on which wood joists meet. The same type of construction you find in the basements of most homes constructed after 1940. This actually almost looks over-built since they have two columns, and the beam doesn't appear to be cantilevered, but joined with the corner of the house..

Yeah they got Fish City now. oooooooooo!

If you do, can we please not go to MGM casino food court. I've only been there 15 times in the past 3 weeks. I know it's the greatest, but I need a break from that $6.50 bucket of chicken.

Wow, what a waste. But it's also too bad it couldn't have been managed correctly. We have malls here in Michigan that have fallen from greatness, but have become full of independently owned stores, with low rents. It may seem like to the typical person "a failure" since it doesn't have your chain or high-end stores, but when you look at their actual sales/sq ft, they put most malls to shame. But I do have to say, what a terrible renovation. What is up with that flood court? "Loy-dee-doy... make tiles look picnic blankets.......Picnic-on-the-river!!!" It looks like a 7th grade art project.

I can't seem to get this to work. I have double monitors and it creates a distorted image when I hit prnt scrn

So I was back downtown today, and man do Detroiters like to talk up a storm. One person had to tell me how his new job pays over $1000 /week but he still prefers to claim someone else's 3 kids on his income tax. Another told me how he's trying to build "an estate" around his home by buying up the vacant lots nearby. Not complaining though, better interesting and nice people than those who say nothing at all...aka the suburbs. But they'll talk for 10 blocks about whatever, and elevate their voices so everyone nearby or across the street can hear. Regardless of how bad things can get, I don't think I've ever met someone from Detroit who was depressed. People in general there always seem happy. There's always been this attitude where no matter how bad things get, everything always works out in the end.

There's been serious problems where boards placed over windows 18 floors up have fallen and smashed vehicles. Fortunately no one has ever been hurt. Don't know if this is because of vandals or purely neglect. Actually, some vandals shoved a piano out of a floor high up in the abandoned Broderick Tower allowing it to smash to pieces on Woodward Ave.

I don't think we'll ever see MCS converted into rail purposes ever again. It's far too distant from downtown to be a convenient destination. Much of the passanger rail has already moved up to New Center as well. Freight trains still pass through and perhaps the international trading center is still the best re-use for the facility. Keep in mind, the building is privately owned, and the current owner is so powerful, that not even the federal government can strong arm this building from his grasp. There's more than enough money to renovate this building a hundred times over, but the owner is far too stubburn to do anything. I agree 327, downtown is still very functional, but it could be far better if the neighborhoods could support it. While many people work downtown, there's not a whole lot of places to shop or eat which would require the residential base to support it. Did the neighborhoods ever develop? They did, in fact they were once quite dense. As Detroit declined, most of everything was demolished that was vacant.

What an excellent and comprehensive series mrnyc. Thank you for taking the time posting these. I really love the Bronx so this was a huge treat.

This building, I discovered, lacks stairways or any form of vertical circulation. Regardless, it's still a solid building and hopefully will be renovated soon one day. (and they will include stairways)

The mood here is captured well for the city at the moment. Back in 2005, things appeared much different. Houses in Brush park were beginning their "pre-renovations," buildings downtown were being fixed up, our stadiums were bright and shiny, and though struggling... the auto industry did not seem to be on the brink of disaster. Today a lot more has been lost. If not a difficult market for new development around the city, the global market has made it impossible. Foreclosure has devastated tens of thousands of more homes in just a few years, and much of what has just been built sits empty. I really can't say things will get much better soon when the city faces a crisis of non-existence. If you've been following Detroit news locally, just about every facet of this city faces disaster. Detroit will rise again, but in an entirely different form. There's no such thing as failure forever, just as there is no such thing as perpetual success. When the city does revive itself, I can most certainly guarantee you that very few things you see in these photos will exist in 30 years. Even at this point, at least half a dozen of Fang's photos show buildings who's futures are numbered in days. Its best gems like the guardian and fisher buildings will continue to exist for another century, but their surroundings will have made drastic adjustments. I really love these Detroit threads, and appreciate how well you captured the city considering it was such a rushed tour. Not to mention your photos are stunning of a particular building that at least 90% of photographers have an impossible time photographing with such low light.

Kind of came in late to this thread, but I've heard about a test run of the "pods on a track idea" done somewhere in Europe. I personally think it's a great idea and technically functions both as mass transit and an independent vehicle. Cities are expected to get a lot more crowded so a system that organizes and regulates mobility is definitely a solution, at the same time passengers are offered the option to break free if they need to travel somewhere remote. I guess within at least the next 10 years, the only real changes we'll see are hopefully more light rail system and increasing options for non-motorized transit. As for a more temporary fix for commuting issues.... I'll suspect AAC technology will develop into everyday existence within a few years where cars are regulated by computers within relation to one another. Humans are awful controllers for vehicles. In fact we brake on the highways when we really shouldn't. It sends a huge compression wave backward that can halt traffic for no particular reason. Since most cars on the road are ready to 'accept' this technology, implementation shouldn't be that monumental of a task. The idea seems futuristic, but really it's been around for a very long time. On historic preservation, remember that preservation is also being green. It's putting old buildings back into use, or alternative use. I think we'll see some innovations in building materials that will allow us to retrofit existing buildings into being environmentally friendly. I think nowadays our ideas of architecture have become so mixed. Technology has always directed architecture, yet some would argue it's merely added more options to the types and styles of architecture we create. I think the future will continue to bring a hodgepodge of buildings except the gap between new and old "styles" (I hate using that word in architecture) will grow a bit larger. What I mean by this is you will see a lot of leading edge, contemporary design on one end, and more throwbacks of bygone eras on the other end.....and I actually think traditional design will improve in the future compared to the b.s. fake crap we have now. I predict there will be radical contrast between these two and not a lot of structures in between.

Niagara Falls doesn't have to be tacky to cater to tourists. Imagine if they had gone for something like "quaint historic" like Michigan's Mackinaw Island. Many of the buildings are also 3-4 stories, and they managed to tastefully integrate huge hotels. The nice architecture is all still there under all that paint. The problem is they went without a plan, and garish architecture was an easy out. It's actually difficult to say whether they would have made more money with a better "city design" but considering the negative comments I hear from people regarding the city itself, I think they are actually missing out. I mean, I'll probably never return ever again unless it's on the way.

As much as I got sick of seeing the CN tower pop over everything. It looks awesome above those row of businesses on Spadina.

That's something my friend James would do. Hes OBSESSED with squirrels. He wanted me to see "Over the Hedge" with him when it came out lolol I'm sure he'd pissed to see what my fellow employees do on their smoke breaks. They take a ball of rubber bands outside and shoot them at the squirrels on campus.

The extended warranty + insurance helps. I know Dell warranties go up to 3 or 4 years. It's sucks shelling out $120 after purchase, but worth $30/year to get your comp through at least 4 years of good to perfect operation. And if it gets dropped or stolen, it can be entirely replaced at little or no cost. Really, by the time the warranty runs out, you a ready for the next best thing.

Agreed. I was very impressed with Graeter's, and continue to be every time I visit Cincinnati.

Speaking of the free food, there was 200 people in line at Starbucks and the same number in line at Ben and Jerry's on Ann Arbor's state street. Two places offering free products right next to each other on a congested intersection...huge mess, but lots of excitement! I voted absentee. I chose to continue "voting in" Saginaw since I still really care a lot about my hometown even though I don't live there anymore. I wouldn't even know the precinct locations in Ann Arbor lol. Props to my state for voting Obama!

I don't think either of us have checked to see. Chris would know when he posts. That or else video footage from The Bridge Company.

You forgot to mention what the guy said to Coldayman after he hit the car. He basically came up and said "I hate those damn bumpers these days, whatever happened to the metal ones!!! You know it's all good, you know those damn bumpers!!! I'll pay for anything that's wrong." I was thinking what is wrong with this picture 1. Who cares material its made of, you hit us. What does the bumper have to do with your idiocy. 2. Plastic is better than if he would have dented a metal bumper 3. How are you going to pay for it when you didn't tell us your address or let us tell ours. Additionally, the guy was like 85, and he didn't have his lights on! I think the guy lost his ability to drive that night. The Bridge Company was informed of this, and they don't let bad drivers go away easily.

LOLOLOLOL!!

Hey ColDay, tell everyone what happened to us at border customs in Detroit. Great story, Great story..