Abandoned Detroit

[and the]

Try the area around Sweetest Heart of Mary Church (where the star is)
Map of Sweetest Heart of Mary Church, 4440 Russell St Detroit, MI by MapQuest

Imagine how vibrant the area used to be when it supported THREE large Catholic parishes, Sweetest Heart, St. Albertus and St. Josephat, not to mention the other churches. And look at it now. It's just north of Eastern Market so you'll be able to find other stuff to do besides consider what used to be. Go during the pierogi festival!!

OR.....go check out the area of 1740 Collingwood. That's where the infamous Purple Gang Collingwood Street Massacre took place at the apartment building, #211...

[jeffncandace]

Originally Posted by tuebor

There was an interesting article in a recent issue of _Harper's_ magazine about Detroit. The author argues that Detroit is developing a "post-American" landscape, and that that's not all bad. She notes that some areas have gone beyond blight and ruin and have completely returned to nature, and that some people have started growing their own food in some of these areas. She sees this glass as half-full: people have, of necessity, turned away from consumerism and developed a more sustainable way of life. The author suggests that Detroit may someday actually be a model for other cities, when the unsustainable way of life favored by most Americans inevitably begins to collapse and people are forced to look for alternatives.

Sorry I can't remember which issue it was, or the name of the author or the article, but it was recent. Did anyone else read this article, and if so, what did you think of it?

No, I tried to find this online and Harper's doesn't allow you to read it without a subscription.

Here is an article about the article though. Very interesting.

[jumpygh]

Check out Detroit Blog. This guy is an "urban explorer" who has photographed a ton of abandoned buildings in Detroit. You should drive through the State Fair neighborhood, described on Detroit Blog. Sounds pretty sureal. Here's the link:
detroitblog » Blog Archive » Wrong side of the tracks

[usroute10]

The neighborhood called the North End, has some large, run-down, sometimes abandoned mini-mansions and pretty rowhouses. This large neighborhood is east of Woodward and north of East Grand Boulevard.

The Brush Park area has old mansions from the 1800's some of which have been abandoned for decades. This neighborhood is north of downtown and east of Woodward Avenue.

The Cass Corridor has some rather large apartment buildings that are decayed and decrepit. This neighborhood is north of downtown and west of Woodward Avenue.

The La Salle Boulevard (from West Grand Boulevard to West Chicago Boulevard) has some gigantic homes in sad disrepair, as well as some of the mansions of the Boston-Edison District. The Boston-Edison District is located 4 to 5 miles north of downtown and stretches from Woodward Avenue to Linwood Avenue. Some of the neighborhoods immediately north of Boston-Edison have some large abandoned homes.

Most of the neighborhoods with the large are in relatively good condition, though.