A few photos from Detroit...

[Tofufi]

Well, this morning I trundled into Detroit with my camera...

The main road - Michigan Avenue - heading into Detroit.

Michigan central station, Detroit. It was built in 1912-1913, although the upper floors were never completed or used. It was closed in January 1988 and has not been used since.

This is a suburb less approx 1 mile from downtown Detroit.

This road, in downtown Detroit was closed... look closely

The view in the mirror - central Detroit.

The skyline...

Again, only a mile or two from the downtown area:

This used to be all houses...

Only two houses left on this road...

and still so close to the central area...

Some roads are just covered in litter, rubbish and debris.

Even the biggest houses are not immune...

There are still some people living here - and if you go a couple of blocks it appears almost normal again

Some houses still even have contents and stuff in them.

Although many are returning to nature quite fast.

and many have been hit by arsonists...

I'm told many empty houses are burnt by the neighbours, to prevent drug dealing or other problem residents moving in - I don't know if there is any truth to this...

More arson:

and finally, heading out past the (in)famous:

It's a strange, sombre place.
You can go through areas like those above, and a couple of blocks later everything seems quite presentable. There are still some residents who have clearly been there a while and are still going about life as usual.

Let's hope history learns from this place

 

[rickyrooo1]

i'd heard it had turned into a ghost town, is this due to the fall of the manufacture of motors in the area? shame to see it like that as a massive kiss fan i'd always had this idea that detroit was cool "detroit rock city"

 

[bananacustard]

Love the photos. Fascinating place and a reminder to all of us how quick things turn around when 'capitalism' isn't working. Thanks for sharing.

(I never cease to be amazed how well travelled your bus is )

 

[Tofufi]

i'd heard it had turned into a ghost town, is this due to the fall of the manufacture of motors in the area? shame to see it like that as a massive kiss fan i'd always had this idea that detroit was cool "detroit rock city"

Think the decline of the motor and manufacturing industries in the area is a significant cause, although I'm no expert. Lots of people round here have very strong opinions on who and what is to blame.

Love the photos. Fascinating place and a reminder to all of us how quick things turn around when 'capitalism' isn't working. Thanks for sharing.

(I never cease to be amazed how well travelled your bus is )

:lol:
It's probably a good job I couldn't bring it, to be honest - everyone here does 70+ on the motorways, even lorries and cars towing trailers. Earlier today, I was overtaken by a Dodge Ram towing a 4 wheel trailer which must have been doing 80 or so... the trailer was weaving all over the place.

I can't wait to be back behind the wheel of my bus again soon... 8)

For now, I've got this:

It's a 3.5l Ford Taurus (Granada sized, so bigger than the Fusion/Mondeo), which stood out as a bit shiny in some of the areas I visited earlier :shock:

 

[Tofufi]

It's probably a good job I couldn't bring it, to be honest

That said, from the state of some of the cars over here, my bus would fit right in :lol:

 

[aspro]

Awesome pics Jim.

Love the run down industrial look of the city. My sort of hood. 8)

 

[RICH-I-AM]

What other reasons do the locals have for the decline becides the drop of the car industry?
Doesnt look like the US government have stepped in to help.
Cool pix by the way.

Rich

 

[slow-lane-Matt]

"rat look" city !!!!

 

[Tofufi]

Cheers guys

What other reasons do the locals have for the decline becides the drop of the car industry?

I've heard all sorts - it's been blamed on both flavours of politician, estate agents encouraging/scaring people into selling houses and moving away. To my mind, the decline in the car industry has probably led to the greatest change. Sure I've heard more suggested reasons, but I can't think of them right now

The station has its own reasons for closure - it was built without a car park, and a bit away from the central downtown area. The 'city' area never really expanded far enough to reach it.

 

[BenSSP]

Great pics, such a shame that Motown has hit hard times

 

[71Westy]

This is very sad. I spent 6 months in Detroit in 2004, living downtown. It wasn't exactly selubrious then... Lots of the places that you took pictures would not have been safe to stop in back then. Basically, anything a few blocks north of downtown through to 8 mile was a bit of a no go area with at least a couple of murders a night. At 8 mile it turned safe again, relatively. But I did develop a soft spot for the place - the Fox Town Grill (in your rear view mirror shot) served the best calamari I have ever had. And I had some memorable evenings in Jacobi's, a german bar - where I rarely paid anything like full price for the evenings drinks. They were trying very hard to revive it in readiness for the superbowl. But then I guess the recession hit hard. Shame.

Great photos though!

 

[68_early_bay]

Cracking pics mate 8) it's a bit of an eye opener though :?

 

[jonboylaw]

Would be cool to go inside some of the place for some urbexing, especially the station but it looks gutted now. I used to do a bit but not been out for ages, too busy really.
It does make you wonder where all the money went eh? I mean it did not just disappear and with quantitive easing a shed load of currency has been injected into the US (and UK) economies, but to what effect? Keeping the banks happy and the boys at the top in the riches they certainly do not deserve.


Sent from my GX64 SatCom phone using Tapatalk

 

[BARKING MARK]

Love the photos. Fascinating place and a reminder to all of us how quick things turn around when 'capitalism' isn't working. Thanks for sharing.

(I never cease to be amazed how well travelled your bus is )

"capitalism" is based on an ever expanding economy and this is what happens when it fails. I think these pictures are a stark warning of what is to come !!!! As all the economies of the world can not keep expanding and consuming the worlds resources at rate they are at the moment..... OK dooms day comments over, :lol:
Excellent pics and thanks for sharing.

 

[BrotherNumberOne]

Superb photos. Detroit's decline is utterly compelling isn't it? A scary vision of the future for the West maybe.
If you haven't seen it, 'Requiem for Detroit' is a brilliant documentary and well worth watching even if you don't like cars.

 

[Myvanway]

Great shots, some sorry sights there dude... maybe things aint so bad here.... ya know?! :?

Good to have an eye-opener now and again to how it is for others..