I find many things about Detroit to be incredibly depressing. The worst, however, has to be the decay of the beautiful and decadent buildings near the city's center. There are entire neighborhoods of abandoned mansions that date back to the boom years of the automotive industry. There are giant hotels that sit silently crumbling. There are vacant lots where monoliths of urban life once stood.
However, I find none of these as depressing as the fate of the Michigan Central Station. Located in the Corktown neighborhood, home of the also tragically abandoned Tiger Stadium, the twenty-four story structure dominates the skyline when you enter Detroit from the west. Opened in 1913 and abandoned in 1988, it was built by the same firms that built Grand Central Terminal and, in its time, sported many of the same architectural flourishes. Sadly it now is slated for destruction.
Posted by mikewolf at April 24, 2003 12:28 PMI remember as a kid, riding to the airport and always being fascinated by the old V.A. hospital. It's so enormous and imposing looking.
Posted by: Kirsten on April 24, 2003 09:59 PMWhen I lived in Windsor, we went over to the Amtrak station to pick someone up. It was a little white shack across the way from this abandoned and deteriorating grand old train station. Sad.
I saw some video that someone shot inside the station. What a great old building it must have been in its prime.
Posted by: Jim on April 24, 2003 11:08 PMI do miss old Tiger stadium. While I have not been there more than a few times, I was hart broken when I heard that they were going to build a new one. The last time I was there the game went like 14 innings and they finally called it as they could not start a new inning as it was like 2 am. I was hoping that they would reconsider and upgrade the old one. I have lived in Michigan all my life and yet I almost never visit Detroit. Usually I only go once a year to see the Auto Show. There is not much there that interests me. I would rather spend the same amount of time driving and go to Chicago.
Posted by: Christy on April 25, 2003 06:35 AMIf downtown Detroit is going to survive it needs major work. I am afraid it my be too little too late. What caused this? an uncaring public lead by bad government. I almost shed a tear looking at those pictures. I am so glad Christy and took Alex by train to Chicago so he can see what happens when people care about buildings. Our son looked in awe when we went into the Grand Hall at Union Station. Don't let history die.
Posted by: Brad on April 25, 2003 04:25 PM