The East Side & Midtown: One last look at Detroit.
Time to wrap up this three stage tour of the largest city in the Great Lakes State. Today's focus will be on Detroit's East Side and Midtown.
Admittedly, the city is more than just a fixer-upper. It has deep, serious problems that have been stewing together for over 60 years. The trouble has gone on much longer than the past few years of mainstream media coverage. Can these issues be resolved? People propose answers, and progress is being made in several areas, but the truth is, only time, and positive human effort, will make a difference. We do know this: Over time, social and economic issues have desolated parts of the city. No where is that more evident than the east side of Detroit. This area has seen more factories close, more people move, and more degradation, than any other.
Last Thanksgiving, my grandma was telling stories of her days growing up in Detroit in the 1930's. I told her we should use Google Maps to have a look at her old house. She had lived on Venice Ave. at Harper. Her father had been a police officer that worked out of a precinct on Cheyne, and her mother raised 6 kids. Well, we were pretty surprised when we found that her former home was no more. That conversation inspired these photos. Here's a look at life then...
And now...
And seen here standing tall over East Palmer Avenue, that masonry monster, weighing in at 200,000 tons and covering
40 acres: The Packard Plant!
They are assembling Cadillacs over in Milwaukee Junction...
And it's business as usual in Pole Town East. That's the Detroit Transportation Department at the top of the frame. Just to be clear, this photo was taken on a Sunday at like 5 PM. That's why there is absolutely nothing going on. It is not because I took the photo and forgot to add things. Sure.
I believe Detroit is on the upswing, and good things are in its future. The Wayne State University corridor has seen some revitalization in the past few years. Here's a late fall view of the southern portion of the university grounds.
One of the northern area.
And here is how it looks along Woodward Ave. The Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Main Library are two prominent buildings seen here. Judging by the busses it was a day for field trips, test drives, or automa overpopulation. Who knows.
Heading a little further east we see where new housing has been showing up north of Warren Avenue, near I-75. I think they call this area Art Center.
Midtown has become a juxtaposition of old and new... WHOA! Looks like that red car rear ended the purple one there! Don't text and drive people! Watch the road! A message from MDOT, MDCH, and MSP. If you can unscramble that alphabet soup, then you know your stuff.
Here's a parting shot of the Morningside neighborhood. I do enjoy grids.
That's all for this tour of Detroit neighborhoods. It's a cool old city and if you haven't visited, heard its history, or learned of the contributions that many of its residents have made to society, well you should. Most importantly, remember to:
I hope to start work on Michigan's Vacation coast, where US31 runs from the border of that state to the south, right on up to Sleeping Bear and Mackinac, very soon. I hope you all stay safe and have a great day.
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