# Photos reveal tiny urban island of downtown Detroit **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 17, 2014, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459 "2014-12-17T01:18:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/1 "2014-12-17T01:18:00Z")
I had no idea how much of Detroit is gone. They’ve obviously put a lot of work into tearing down entire blocks of dangerous and empty housing. The photos show there’s still much more to tear down. I’m glad the land is being restored back to green space. I’ve read in other articles that city utilities no longer serve many empty areas. It’s too expensive and the infrastructure is broken. > **[The tiny urban island of downtown Detroit, lost in the wide open spaces of a...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2875525/The-tiny-urban-island-downtown-Detroit-Aerial-pictures-city-s-skyscrapers-surrounded-abandoned-homes-housing-plots-mansions-sprawling-countryside.html)** > > In 1950, Detroit was America's fifth largest city and one of the most prosperous on the back of its booming motor industry. Almost 55 years on thousands have left, creating vast open spaces. The aerial photos speak for themselves. Downtown Detroit is basically an Island now. The big question is what to do with all that vacant space? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/2 "2014-12-17T01:32:26Z")
I was struck by the greenery – lots of trees and the lawns look kept in many pix. Maybe that’s just the height, and it’s really an illusion. If not, I’d say it’s ripe for redevelopment – the land must be dirt cheap by now. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/3 "2014-12-17T01:35:04Z")
I never visited Detroit. Was the downtown area with office buildings always limited to only one side of the river? Is that a different city on the opposite side of the river? There’s almost no high rise buildings on that side. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/4 "2014-12-17T01:35:25Z")
Wow! It’s pretty and all but the contrast of a couple blocks is shocking. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/5 "2014-12-17T01:39:26Z")
Actually the [new owner of the Packard plant](http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/detroit/index.ssf/2014/03/detroit_free_press_unveils_pac.html) recently [began renovations](http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2014/10/look-theyre-really-working-on-the-packard-plant.php). ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/6 "2014-12-17T01:40:43Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I never visited Detroit. Was the downtown area with office buildings always limited to only one side of the river? Is that a different city on the opposite side of the river? There’s almost no high rise buildings on that side. It’s a different country actually. Windsor, Ontario. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/7 "2014-12-17T01:41:32Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Is that a different city on the opposite side of the river? Yes. It’s a different country too. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/8 "2014-12-17T01:42:14Z")
Makes me think of Trantor, post-sack. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/9 "2014-12-17T01:46:34Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > It’s a different country actually. Windsor, Ontario. :o Oh, I totally forgot that the river is a border between the two countries. Thank you for reminding me. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/10 "2014-12-17T02:40:38Z")
Yes, it’s also the answer to a trivia question: from what major US city do you look south to see a Canadian city? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/11 "2014-12-17T03:01:27Z")
Aerial photos of the frozen Detroit River taken Jan 2014 > **[FOX 2 Detroit](https://www.fox2detroit.com)** > > Detroit news, weather, sports, and traffic serving all of southeast Michigan and Metro Detroit. Watch breaking news live or see the latest videos from programs like The Nine, Let it Rip, and FOX 2 News. Good shot of both cities. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/12 "2014-12-17T03:04:29Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Makes me think of Trantor, post-sack. I actually thought of the Fall of Rome. Same difference, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/13 "2014-12-17T03:06:58Z")
[Here’s my photo](https://www.flickr.com/photos/75905404@N00/5166862304/) of Detroit taken 4 years ago from south of the border in Windsor. You can just see the high-rise in downtown Detroit, and not the urban blight of the inner suburbs. And [here’s a photo](https://www.flickr.com/photos/75905404@N00/5160787895/) taken the same day in downtown Detroit, with the Wayne County Building “for sale or lease by owner”! ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/14 "2014-12-17T03:56:02Z")
As a lifelong resident, it makes me happy seeing those pictures. Big improvement from 15 years ago. I’ve seen some small flickers of hope lately. They finally got rid of most of the corrupt asshole politicians. The new mayor Mike Duggan, has made great strides in bringing this city back from hell for the short time he’s been in office. One is getting rid of dangerous, dilapidated, cracked out houses. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/15 "2014-12-17T04:35:41Z")
Demolishing the vacant buildings and creating urban farms is a great improvement. Detroit may eventually recover. Smaller and better than ever. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/16 "2014-12-17T04:43:36Z")
Unfortunately Detroit’s biggest problem right now in those areas is the couple of houses that are standing, not the ones torn down. Trying to keep the infrastructure(roads, lighting, emergency coverage, etc) together for 2 houses per block is expensive as hell. ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/17 "2014-12-17T06:42:58Z")
I wish I could get a glimpse into the future of Detroit 100 years from now. I’m betting it will be a glorious place. A new type of city/ town/ rural hybrid that might also be the way of other large cities as societies and how we live and work in the future change. Hopefully… ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/18 "2014-12-17T07:05:56Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Demolishing the vacant buildings and creating urban farms is a great improvement. Detroit may eventually recover. Smaller and better than ever. A challenge to farming that’s not obvious at a glance is what lies beneath the soil of those vacant lots; even the acreage where a tire plant once sat near the Belle Isle Bridge is going to have to be dug up, hauled away and burned a la Superfund; anywhere else it’d be a multi-million dollar piece of property. Those empty blocks that in theory could make great urban farms have who-knows-what in the soil. I went to Wayne State and in our Urban Planning classes we went over every silver bullet program there could be for urban farming; water’s a huge concern since it’s hella expensive to turn water on at a street where there are no taxpayers to pay for it; even a tree farm needs water. And you can’t simply give the lots away; as old as some areas are the cost of determining a clear and quiet title would be enormous in a city over 300 years old and w/ no money to spare for such a thing. I love my hometown, flaws and all. I’m a Detroiter by birth forever. But its soil will be no easier to ameliorate than its systemic political corruption before either bears fruit that nourishes the people. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/19 "2014-12-17T08:11:33Z")
Detroit always seems to have a good hockey team. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459/20 "2014-12-17T12:14:40Z")
Some of those remaining houses look like they belong on a historic register of some kind. I hope they can be preserved. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-reveal-tiny-urban-island-of-downtown-detroit/707459.md?page=2)