I stopped by Detroit a week ago. Unfortunately I was only there about an hour so I didn't get to see a lot, but there is actually a lot of activity in and around downtown, so I'll post the few shots I have.

 

This is the Grand Army of the Republic building. It was recently restored with a street level restaurant and upper level offices.

Restored GAR Castle by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

The Fine Arts Building was demolished 6 years ago, but the facade was saved for future use

Fine Arts Building Facade by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

Kale's Building & Grand Circus Park by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

The David Broderick Tower was converted to residential in 2012

David Broderick Tower by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

The David Whitney Building was recently renovated into an Aloft Hotel and apartments. Part of the renovation including replacing the cornice that was removed in a 1950s renovation

David Whitney Building's New Cornice by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

The same building last September before the new cornice

David Whitney Building by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

Woodward Avenue is improving. Note the mew streetcar tracks

Downtown Detroit - Woodward Avenue by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

M-1 Rail Under People Mover Track by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

The Wright-Kay building recently had its storefront restored and an upscale men's fashion store occupies it

The Wright-Kay Building by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

The Pierson Building will house the offices of Rocket Fiber internet company

Wrapping Up Pierson Building Renovation by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

Valpey Building will be 42 apartments

Valpey Building Renovation Begins by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

Grand River Avenue by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

Woodward Avenue by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

The Metropolitan Building has been abandoned since 1978. It was recently announced it will become an extended stay hotel

Metropolitan Building by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

Next to the Metropolitan Building is the Wurlitzer Building, abandoned since 1982. Just recently a New York developer bought it and plans to turn it into a hotel

Wurlitzer Building by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

The Ransom Gillis House is a long abandoned Brush Park landmark. It is now being restored. Look for a show on HGTV in November named Rehab Addict. Apparently this season will all be about this house.

Gillis House Restoration by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

Also, not my photo, but this is what the house looked like in 2004

Ransom Gilles House by G.G., on Flickr

 

Gillis House Turret by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

Midtown the streetcar construction in front of the buildings

Midtown Begins by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

Ecumenical Theological Seminary

Ecumenical Theological Seminary by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

The James Scott Mansion. The crazy thing is a developer says he will spend $7-million to renovate (rebuild) this place into 25 condos. I'll believe that when it happens

James Scott Mansion by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

I couldn't get a good view but the cranes are building the new Red Wings arena. The 1 tall building is an old hotel that will be redeveloped. Earlier this year its similar sized neighbor was imploded

New Arena Coming by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

Park Avenue

Park Avenue by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

Corktown

Detroit's Oldest Neighborhood by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

The symbol of Detroit's decline, the Michigan Central Station, is even seeing some activity. It is getting over 1,000 awful looking windows. On the bright side they should help keep the interior from decaying further

Michigan Central Station Gets Windows by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

 

MCS's Ugly New Windows by Brandon Bartoszek, on Flickr

Nice shots. I'm looking forward to getting back up there this fall. I also love the uniformity of Detroit's downtown street lamps.

MCS should be a casino. 

 

Great shots.

Thanks for the photos!  It's great to see all of the redevelopment.

 

I'm a big fan of Nicole Curtis and Rehab Addict.  It's one of the few home improvement TV shows that preaches restoration over renovation.

Nice set, Eridony... Haven't been over to Motown in a few years, but it's nice to see downtown getting some TLC and is coming back nicely... There's still how a loooooong way to go, esp in the decimated neighborhoods... As for downtown, it's amazing that mid and high rise office buildings have sat vacant for nearly 40 years!  Glad to see these getting repurposed... I still can't imagine how any city could allow office towers not only sit vacant that long, but to allow them to defaced with such hideous graffiti for such long periods as well.  I remember driving through with a girlfriend being repulsed at the silent corridors of defaced office towers that echoed the desperation of Detroit’s burned out residential areas… Cleveland has had its share of vacant office buildings, but nothing anything like that, esp in the core CBD.

Thanks for the photos!  It's great to see all of the redevelopment.

 

I'm a big fan of Nicole Curtis and Rehab Addict.  It's one of the few home improvement TV shows that preaches restoration over renovation.

 

It's easily the best show on HGTV, for that reason.  I'm really glad to see it gaining popularity.

Nice set, Eridony... Haven't been over to Motown in a few years, but it's nice to see downtown getting some TLC and is coming back nicely... There's still how a loooooong way to go, esp in the decimated neighborhoods... As for downtown, it's amazing that mid and high rise office buildings have sat vacant for nearly 40 years!  Glad to see these getting repurposed... I still can't imagine how any city could allow office towers not only sit vacant that long, but to allow them to defaced with such hideous graffiti for such long periods as well.  I remember driving through with a girlfriend being repulsed at the silent corridors of defaced office towers that echoed the desperation of Detroit’s burned out residential areas… Cleveland has had its share of vacant office buildings, but nothing anything like that, esp in the core CBD.

 

I felt the same way during my first visit to Detroit.  Another crazy thing is how wide some of the main streets into Detroit are, the lack of density along those streets, and the enormous setbacks of major buildings.  It gives you a feeling that you need a car to go anywhere, which I guess makes sense, given the city's history. 

Nice set, Eridony... Haven't been over to Motown in a few years, but it's nice to see downtown getting some TLC and is coming back nicely... There's still how a loooooong way to go, esp in the decimated neighborhoods... As for downtown, it's amazing that mid and high rise office buildings have sat vacant for nearly 40 years!  Glad to see these getting repurposed... I still can't imagine how any city could allow office towers not only sit vacant that long, but to allow them to defaced with such hideous graffiti for such long periods as well.  I remember driving through with a girlfriend being repulsed at the silent corridors of defaced office towers that echoed the desperation of Detroit’s burned out residential areas… Cleveland has had its share of vacant office buildings, but nothing anything like that, esp in the core CBD.

 

Yeah, Detroit hasn't become a model city or anything, but it is doing much better than just a few years ago. Mostly Downtown, Midtown, and Corktown are seeing investment. Those are 3 small pieces of a huge city, but you have to start somewhere.

 

Anyway so many of these once abandoned downtown buildings have been bought by Dan Gilbert. In fact just a few days ago it was announced he bought Book Tower, one of the last major abandoned buildings downtown. Book Tower Sells to Dan Gilbert for $30 Million

 

I felt the same way during my first visit to Detroit.  Another crazy thing is how wide some of the main streets into Detroit are, the lack of density along those streets, and the enormous setbacks of major buildings.  It gives you a feeling that you need a car to go anywhere, which I guess makes sense, given the city's history. 

 

That's the thing I never really liked about Corktown. There are some great restaurants, bars, and residential areas, and not only are they spread out, but Michigan Ave is so wide that it really kills the sense of place there. And the stretches of vacant land and gas stations along the road don't help with that either.

^ well, there used to be a lot more density…!

 

its great to see these revival updates.

 

as we keep reading about and can see here it's all coming along for the better (given the mcs windows are temporary ha).

Nice set, Eridony... Haven't been over to Motown in a few years, but it's nice to see downtown getting some TLC and is coming back nicely... There's still how a loooooong way to go, esp in the decimated neighborhoods... As for downtown, it's amazing that mid and high rise office buildings have sat vacant for nearly 40 years!  Glad to see these getting repurposed... I still can't imagine how any city could allow office towers not only sit vacant that long, but to allow them to defaced with such hideous graffiti for such long periods as well.  I remember driving through with a girlfriend being repulsed at the silent corridors of defaced office towers that echoed the desperation of Detroit’s burned out residential areas… Cleveland has had its share of vacant office buildings, but nothing anything like that, esp in the core CBD.

 

I felt the same way during my first visit to Detroit.  Another crazy thing is how wide some of the main streets into Detroit are, the lack of density along those streets, and the enormous setbacks of major buildings.  It gives you a feeling that you need a car to go anywhere, which I guess makes sense, given the city's history. 

 

I agree.  Even Midtown, which is a truly up and coming area, seems spread out along very wide Woodward Ave.  There are some very nice, lively nodes along the Midtown corridor, but it's easier to drive from place to place in Midtown than it is to walk.  Detroit's transit system is horrible of course (the M1 LRT is a start), but if there is one Detroit non-downtown neighborhood that's reasonably transit friendly, it's Midtown -- Because many bus routes are funnelled along Woodward, it seems there's a bus coming every 5-8 minutes throughout the day.  Of course, Midtown borders downtown.

 

Those super wide streets and often set-back stores and commercial strips in much of the City do indeed really hurt density.  People talk about Corktown like it's a big deal -- one Detroit guy I know who is knowledgeable about Cleveland, often compares it to Ohio City and Tremont... I'm sorry, but I just don't see this by any measure.  I know Slows and a couple other Corktown bars are somewhat popular and there are a couple adjacent streets with rehabbed Victorian homes and small apts, but overall, Corktown seems dead to me -- a tiny island amidst a sea of decay.  Even 10-15 years ago, when Ohio City was struggling and looking for some kind of life beyond the WSM, it was preferable (to me, at least) than Corktown -- the big reason: Ohio City's walkability and excellent transit access... Nowadays, of course, OC has much foot-traffic and lots of density in its core... Some people make it seem like the MGM Grand Casino is right in the center of Corktown and really rejuvenating it-- I've seen Detroit promotional literature which says this ... neither of which is true.  The most activity I used to see in Corktown was before and after Tiger's games in/around the old Tiger Stadium before the team moved to Comerica Park and TS was demolished.  And then you've got that weird bricked portion in of Michigan Ave but there's hardly any traffic... Then just a a block or so west is the hulking, spooky Michigan Central Station (which thankfully is getting sealed with the new windows which should at least perk up this old forgotten beauty until Detroit finally decides what to do with it). 

 

If Detroit isn't the poster child/city of everything wrong the automobile can wreak on an established, major metropolitan city, I don't know what is.  Hats off to Dan Gilbert for rolling up his sleeves and, practically, single-handedly breathing life into his old hometown.  He's still got a big job ahead of him.

I cannot understand how the Book Tower sold for $30 million. The LeVeque Tower in Columbus sold for less than $5 million a few years ago, and it was something like 70% occupied.