Detroit was often referenced to as the Paris of the Midwest. Why you might ask, for it's architecture. The Fisher Building (images 4 & 5), a landmark in New Center distinct, built in 1928 in the grand Art Deco style. It's gold facade and doors welcoming the workers and shoppers alike. This is what Detroit was, and this is what Detroit is. Soon after moving to this corner of Michigan, I stayed away from mentioning Detroit on the blog a lot, probably for the fear of plummeting view numbers more then anything. But as a result, I have so many snapshots and memories of a city that have never made their way onto this blog. Even in the short time some of the photographs captured, the buildings have changed, being demolished, redeveloped or found a new life as as the city's fortunes start to change.
These photographs capture a quick glimpse into Corktown and the New Center area. To out-of-towners, to the ruin porn lovers Corktown is the home of the Michigan Central Station (second image). Across the street from the infamous and super tasty Slows, the former grand railway station which at it's date of construction in 1912 was the tallest such station in the world. It now lies as a ghost, the king of all images of ruin porn (urgh dislike - previous rant about it here). Several windows have been re-glazed since these photographs were taken in 2011, although it's long term future is still up in the air even after rumors of a $676k refurb. For me, well I can only imagine how grand arriving into Detroit by train must have been stepping out that station.
While the photographs may have been hidden away in dusty files on the computer, it's time they started seeing the light of day.
I had no idea, but these photos are beautiful! I love nice architecture! The gold facade is so intricate. It is all in the detail!
ReplyDeleteI like to think I came to your sight unbiased, not really knowing anything about Detroit. I think, if you construction sign was missing from the station, I wouldn't even have noticed it was abandoned, it's a beautiful building and I would jump at the chance to ride a train through there! I do love a good train station :)
ReplyDeleteI hear your rant. I love old buildings, I love places that haven't been touched for years and years and everything remains the same. That's what I love about the 'ruin porn'... not the destruction and the negativity, that just puts the world in a bad light. The station should be showcased to show how amazing it was, not how crappy everything has become... what a waste of breath. Sigh.
This architecture is too awesome to hide away!
Yeah sadly the ruin porn images are too often used by the media to continue their assumptions and perceptions that Detroit is a ghost town. The way the station is shown it's always like it's abandoned and no one owns it, when it fact it's owned by one of the richest guys in Michigan yet just doesn't want to do anything with it for whatever reason. But that can be left for another rant another day!
DeleteThese are some beautiful photos you've taken. It's nice to have these photos to look back on as the world moves so fast around us.
ReplyDeleteRhiannon x
I know absolutely nothing about Detroit apart from what you have told me or what you've written on this log. To be honest, I don't really think there is anywhere in the US that I know too much about.
ReplyDeleteI actually find your posts on Detroit really interesting. Your photographs of the architecture and streets are always so beautiful and I find it pretty fascinating to be able to peek into your world :)
Debi x
Thank you! It's hard sometimes to capture the pictures and let them show how beautiful they are and we certainly don't head into town enough! I've managed to find a lot of photographs so hopefully i'll get them all into posts through the coming weeks.
DeleteI've only done a couple posts of the train station on my blog for that reason. Too many people take too many pictures of it. It is a nice building but sadly it sits there in decay and who knows if whatever hundreds of thousands Mr. Maroun decides to put up are even going to fix it. Detroit has some pretty awesome architecture though.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it's too little too late with his sudden attempt at putting in a freight elevator and putting in some windows. And while the star lights at Christmas were pretty, i'm sure it's future is still as clouded as it ever was. Always surprises me that for a train station, it's so far away from downtown.
DeleteThings change so much in cities, I have recently taken to photographing buildings in my city periodically because you just never know how long they'll stick around!
ReplyDeleteThings change so quickly don't they?! They have a "demolition" watch on social media for so many of the buildings in Detroit that might or not might get knocked down, it's crazy. Even more crazy to think about all the buildings that have been knocked down over the years without a second thought.
DeleteI don't know where my preconceptions about Detroit came from but this was not what I was expecting! It's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAnd that station is incredible. It drives me nuts, these buildings would make a stunning....something. If only people gave a monkey's.
M x
Thing is with the train station it's owned. People think it's abandoned, but it's owned by a guy (a billionaire) that doesn't want to put the money into saving it. He put £33 million into campaign ads against allowing the building of another bridge across the river between Detroit and Windsor (Canada) because he owns the one standing atm, so he certainly isn't short of money.
DeleteWhen it originally closed as a train station there were ideas about turning it into municipal offices but that never paid off. Now ideas from museums to flea markets get thrown around. The owner says he wants it tenanted and used, but his actions are slow and seem to go against what he says. So who knows.