Detroit: August 27, 2004 (Part 1 of 2)

[Allan]

Since yesterday was Friday, and I didn't have loads of homework that had to be done right away, I went to Detroit after class. This thread will primarily cover New Center, but a couple shots of downtown will be mixed in.

New Center was envisoned as a second city center for Detroit. General Motors built their massive world headquarters here, as did the Fisher Body Company. GM has since left their buildings for the Renaissance Center downtown, but the beautiful buildings remain today. The area is approximately three miles up Woodward Avenue from downtown.

The Fisher Building. The building as it exists today is only a portion of the original plan. The original plan called for three towers: two short towers (like the one that exists today) and an 800 foot tall central tower. Unfortunately, the depression killed the rest of the plans, leaving us with just one-third of the original plan.

Cadillac Place was one the GM world headquarters. After GM moved downtown, the state of Michigan bought the building and refurbished it. It now houses several thousand state employees.

The Argonaut Building was also used as GM offices, but it will soon be redeveloped into 250 condominums.

The Fisher Building

Inside, there are seveal mosaics similar to this one. Unfortunately, this is the only decent pic I got.

The ceiling

Continue on to Part 2

[Brickcity]

Sweet!

[BrandonTO416]

Absolutely awesome pics of Detroit, you've showed a side of the city most people don't think about. Detroit's problem isn't its beautiful architecture - its the attitude and social aspect that the city isn't important. Detroiters are going to have to stop segregating themselves and come back to the city - and the transit has to be improved obviously.

[Allan]

Detroit does have some major social stumbling blocks to overcome. Living only two miles from the city limits, I go into the city to do quite a bit of my shopping (or at least I try to). More than once I've gotten the "What the heck are you doing in my city?" look. But I guess that's what happens in the most segregated metro in the country.

Gentrification is starting to occur in midtown. Northern midtown is farther along in the gentrification process than southern midtown is. I just hope that's what's happening in midtown can spread throughout the city. Midtown is actually becoming a diverse neighborhood.

[monsoon]