Metro Detroit Photo of the Day

[Michi]

There once was this guy named Dale. One day, he went running through some ferns. He got tired of running and decided to built a fort. It grew really fast and he called the hamlet Ferndale.

[urban_izzy]

Was in Grosse Ile the other day on a field trip with fellow planning students. Got the opertunity to go up on the roof of the old Navy Airport which is now the Township Hall. It wasn't the best day for pictures and this is all I got.

Trenton Power Plant

The Airfield

[fareastsider]

Here are some random pics from the Anchor Bay area communities.

New Baltimore

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far...nEquinox021.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far...altimore032.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far...altimore024.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far...altimore012.jpg

Chesterfield Twp

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far...Pictures158.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far...ht/100_8838.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far...ld/100_1728.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far...ld/100_1719.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far.../Picture178.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far...er/100_6949.jpg

Anchorville

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far...ht/100_1747.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far...ht/100_1848.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far.../IraTwp3-26.jpg

Fair Haven

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far...ht/100_1711.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far...n/IraTwp3-8.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/fareastsider/01-1.jpg

Pearl Beach

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far.../IraTwp3-13.jpg

Old Channel Lights

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r50/far.../Detroit3-2.jpg

[martinpon]

I have some artist renderings of a proposal for downtown Pontiac if anyone is interested. They're not photos, so if there is no interest, I won't post them. It was part of a presentation the Mayor of Pontiac gave last week.

Edited December 7, 2007 by martinpon

[YoungProfDetroit]

Post them!

[martinpon]

For those not familiar with Pontiac, Woodward Avenue loops around the city like a giant moat separating it from the rest of the city. Until the sixties, the south end of town was known for its large theaters as the Clinton River snaked its way through the south end of town. In the 1960's, most of the south end was torn down and is now the Lot 9 parking lot and the Phoenix Center Amphitheater/Parking Garage. The Clinton River was straightened out and buried underground running through pipes.

Most of the renderings I have are at another computer and I'll upload them Monday.

The below picture is what is proposed for Lot 9 and for Woodward Avenue. The one-way southbound loop of Woodward would be converted to a two-way boulevard running along the west side of the city. Eventually this boulevard will meet up with Oakland Ave./Dixie Highway.

Lot 9 will house a new city hall and library as well as some mixed-use commerical buildings.

The Clinton River (not in this view) will be re-opened on the east side of Pontiac. The current one-way northbound Woodward Avenue will become something like a Clinton River Parkway, with office and residential buildings running along the river (pictures coming Monday) as well as a walkpath.

It's unclear where the money will be coming from for this financially strapped city. I imagine the presentation was a way to garner support. The city hall idea was bantered about a few years ago before they got into so much debt and it looked like they were going to get a large sum for the sale of the silverdome.

New Look for lot 9 with closeup of proposed City Hall.

Proposed changes to Woodward Avenue and the Re-opening of the Clinton River:

Edited December 11, 2007 by martinpon

[Gangway1111]

Looks good, any idea of the likeliness of this happening?

Also where can you find the full details of this plan?

Finally I wish they would do somthing to bring up the Red Run river near downtown Royal Oak.

Thanks

[hudkina]

I hope all of the best for Pontiac. It really needs to become as stable as the other Woodward Corridor communities.

[martinpon]

The mayor's presentation is at:

Mayor's City Design Presentation

I've seen a lot of this stuff before at:

http://www.nationaltrust.org/community/pontiac_pdi_final.pdf

Edited December 21, 2007 by martinpon

[martinpon]

Now that the Pontiac West Assembly plant is all but a parking lot now, I'm going to start a project in spring.

A few of the automotive plants from a hundred years ago that were bought up to become part of General Motors are still standing. These include the Standard Motors and the Oakland Motor headquarters buildings. I'm going to go around and snap some shots while the buildings are still around.

[wolverine]

From my front window this morning:

[ZachariahDaMan]

The Historic Wayne Theatre in downtown Wayne could be demolished in April. It opened in 1926, a huge fire in 1985 cause about a million dollars worth of damage and it hasn't opened since. There has been much effort to raise money to save it.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...58/1410/METRO01

http://www.historicwaynetheatre.com/

[Michi]

What's the front look like? I've always been wanting to get to Wayne for some photos, but haven't been able to make it over there yet.

[Jasoncw]

uhh, so if my understanding is correct, they want to bulldoze the historic structure, and replace it with a fake new historic strucutre?

[wolverine]

There is no front, or any structure to bulldoze. A fire destroyed the building, leaving only the seating area. The empty lot is where it once stood, and where the new building is proposed.

[andrew.w]

There is no front, or any structure to bulldoze. A fire destroyed the building, leaving only the seating area. The empty lot is where it once stood, and where the new building is proposed.

[hudkina]

From the look of that picture the area where the stage is/was is still there. That taller section at the end of the building is usually where the stage is located on a theatre.

[Eridony]

These are almost a year old, but I finally uploaded them.

West Dearborn Business District

[Michi]

Oh man...Detroit is so ugly this time of year. Just looking at that picture (w/ Le Cigar) makes me want to go lie down and not wake up until that weather is here!

[hudkina]

The weather was nice the last few days, and in a month or so we'll start seeing more green.

[ZachariahDaMan]

The Montgomery Ward Building in East Dearborn. Montgomery Ward closed its doors in 2001 and the city bought it in 2005. There has been several proposals for what to do with it including making it the headquartars of an unnamed company which would bring 500 employees.

Edited April 9, 2008 by ZachariahDaMan

[wolverine]

Hopefully the new complex will make a strong impression on that corner. I always liked the MW building. Shame to see it go.

[martinpon]

Edited April 11, 2008 by martinpon

[ZachariahDaMan]

Romeo

[rbdetsport]

I spent my summer days as a child eating ice cream at that parlor on the left. Good memories!