Found a site with some good historic reference;
Forgotten Detroit
http://www.forgottendetroit.com/
Detroit is known for one of the most stunning collections of pre-depression architecture in the world. The past two decades have seen several of these treasures sit vacant, waiting for economic revival. On these pages you will find information about the past, present, and future situations of a few of these landmarks. It is my hope that this information helps you gain an appreciation for the importance of both the history and continued survival of these buildings.
- Statler ***
- Book-Cadillac ***
- Fort Shelby ***
- Lee Plaza
- Madison-Lenox ***
- Tuller ***
United Artists -
*** Madison -
National -
*** Adams -
- Metropolitan Bldg.
- Kales Bldg. ***
- Farwell Bldg.
- Peoples Outfitting ***
Michigan Central -
G.A.R. -
Fisher Body 21 -
*** St. Cyrils -
*** Jefferson Baptist -
One of my favorites;
Detroit- City in Ruins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeUQLMEwUz4&feature=fvw
Set to the rhythms of Marvin Gayes Whats Going On? and Inner City Blues, this video captures the fabulous ruins of Detroit, past and present.
Re-post of website on historical and disappeared Detroit:
The Fabulous Ruins of Detroit
http://www.detroityes.com/home.htm
Seems to be a good adjunct the great website you gave the link to.
Re-post of website on historical and disappeared Detroit:
The Fabulous Ruins of Detroit
http://www.detroityes.com/home.htm
Seems to be a good adjunct the great website you gave the link to.
It's been more than the past two decades. I'd say since the riots of 67 and the election of Coleman Young and subsequent Democrat mayors. Detroit never recovered from the riots and it kept deteriorating from then on. Urban "renewal" was a bad joke. The projects, welfare, gang culture, unwed teenaged mothers, crime and corruption. Coleman got rid of "STRESS", a DPD unit that targeted hard-core crime, so the criminals were allowed to thrive. (That's what got him elected. He said he'd get rid of STRESS and he did). Crime was rampant after that and Detroit just couldn't recover. All of the money moved to the 'burbs. No one wanted to live in a crime infested rat hole like Detroit. All of those hundreds of youtube videos of Detroit are all from different neighborhoods. It's a shame what happened to Detroit. It was once beautiful and vibrant. It had a huge population with neighborhoods that stretched for miles from the the middle of the city outward. Believe it or not, it used to be known as The Paris of the Midwest. The homes were beautiful and the streets were treelined. Every neighborhood had it's own shopping districts and churches and schools. Now it's nothing but miles and miles of slums.
Thanks for posting that link - I absolutely got lost on that site for an hour - looking at the photos.
I despair...