We who dash in and out of the city are not able to understand the complexity of failure, decision-making and risk, but are thankful to those within to give us material and opinion to better understand.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Hard Choices for Detroit
Thanks to Austin Black II of City Living Detroit for bringing this Detroit Free Press op-ed to my attention.
We who dash in and out of the city are not able to understand the complexity of failure, decision-making and risk, but are thankful to those within to give us material and opinion to better understand.
We who dash in and out of the city are not able to understand the complexity of failure, decision-making and risk, but are thankful to those within to give us material and opinion to better understand.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Parking: Detroit
Yesterday I had to drive over the canyons in the rain to West Hills in, of course, the western region of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. As it is getting on till christmas and out there on an errand but delighted that for once traffic was light on this rainy day, I stopped in at one of the Valley's ubiquitous malls to pick up a small item.
Driving through the acres of concrete that consist of flat outside parking lots and then multi-level structures that accompany them and provide shoppers with as little foot traffic as possible so that all they can do is purchase is always an interesting experience, one necessitating certain social skills - who is that waiting an interminable amount of time for the one parking spot as close to the mall entrance as possible? - and time, while waiting to go around that one person, to engage in mind-numbing rumination of parking as a state of existence, at least in California.
So it is with great curiosity and a bit of - wtf? - that I discovered, on Model D this morning, the website Michigan Needs More Parking, one of the oddest proposals for Detroit, and elsewhere that I've seen.
I started to lose it when I discovered their suggestion to turn beautiful Belle Isle into one large parking lot...
Below and posted before: my pic of the Michigan State Theatre, now turned into (turned back?) into a parking lot as well as one across from the historic Annis Furs Building of the parking lot where before existed Hudson's...
Driving through the acres of concrete that consist of flat outside parking lots and then multi-level structures that accompany them and provide shoppers with as little foot traffic as possible so that all they can do is purchase is always an interesting experience, one necessitating certain social skills - who is that waiting an interminable amount of time for the one parking spot as close to the mall entrance as possible? - and time, while waiting to go around that one person, to engage in mind-numbing rumination of parking as a state of existence, at least in California.
So it is with great curiosity and a bit of - wtf? - that I discovered, on Model D this morning, the website Michigan Needs More Parking, one of the oddest proposals for Detroit, and elsewhere that I've seen.
I started to lose it when I discovered their suggestion to turn beautiful Belle Isle into one large parking lot...
Below and posted before: my pic of the Michigan State Theatre, now turned into (turned back?) into a parking lot as well as one across from the historic Annis Furs Building of the parking lot where before existed Hudson's...
I have to admit I marvelled at the Facebook page's description of traffic in Detroit.
As a Californian who has to leave the beach two hours before a scheduled something in LA downtown, driving to appointments down Woodward, Detroit's historic first paved highway, or on the freeways even in the greatest rush hour seems like a Sunday drive. In a city ripe for redevelopment, providing space to bring more cars into the city seems like the wrong direction in which to move.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Documenting the Turnaround/Europe
Detroit continues as a news item in both the American and European photo/news market.
In the States, some say, "enough already," about the many stories - positive and not - emanating from this city. Some continue to worry - not without reason - that this almost caricature of decay over the decades could also happen to them.
Photos have been made, some haunting and emotional, most significantly by Andrew Moore in his lush, poetic and startling project, exposition and book: DETROIT DISASSEMBLED.
In Europe, the Steidl book of photographs by the Marchand/Meffre team, taken at the same time as Andrew's, is also significant in guaging the interest in this decline of the American industrial power.
At November's LensCulture/FotoFest/Paris reviews I just attended, I found still an increasing amount of interest in what is happening to this city, a now fabled one perhaps more in the moral sense of Aesop, yet with hope expressed for the future. I will return there this coming year of 2013 to continue my DETROIT: DEFINITION and I cannot wait to see the change after a year's absence.
In the interim, the Detroit Free Press, chronicles again hope for the turnaround that innovative spirit, youth and a government that is trying hard, seems to be successfully promoting:
http://www.freep.com/article/20121125/BUSINESS06/311250293/Is-Detroit-s-turnaround-turning-a-corner-Development-spreads-to-new-neighborhoods?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
In the States, some say, "enough already," about the many stories - positive and not - emanating from this city. Some continue to worry - not without reason - that this almost caricature of decay over the decades could also happen to them.
Photos have been made, some haunting and emotional, most significantly by Andrew Moore in his lush, poetic and startling project, exposition and book: DETROIT DISASSEMBLED.
In Europe, the Steidl book of photographs by the Marchand/Meffre team, taken at the same time as Andrew's, is also significant in guaging the interest in this decline of the American industrial power.
At November's LensCulture/FotoFest/Paris reviews I just attended, I found still an increasing amount of interest in what is happening to this city, a now fabled one perhaps more in the moral sense of Aesop, yet with hope expressed for the future. I will return there this coming year of 2013 to continue my DETROIT: DEFINITION and I cannot wait to see the change after a year's absence.
In the interim, the Detroit Free Press, chronicles again hope for the turnaround that innovative spirit, youth and a government that is trying hard, seems to be successfully promoting:
http://www.freep.com/article/20121125/BUSINESS06/311250293/Is-Detroit-s-turnaround-turning-a-corner-Development-spreads-to-new-neighborhoods?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
It is not just Detroit
We have all known this, but perhaps choose to forget that Detroit is just an example of what has been happening for decades around the US.
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/08/we-buy-houses-decline-and-opportunity-pittsburghs-east-suburbs/3013/
Detroit serves however as an example of people and business - those in and out of the city - who are working, often successfully, for its regrowth. Here is one great example from Model D, always a terrific resource on what is happening in Detroit:
http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/detroitfellowslove712.aspx
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/08/we-buy-houses-decline-and-opportunity-pittsburghs-east-suburbs/3013/
Detroit serves however as an example of people and business - those in and out of the city - who are working, often successfully, for its regrowth. Here is one great example from Model D, always a terrific resource on what is happening in Detroit:
http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/detroitfellowslove712.aspx
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Forgotten City
About Windsor, Canada from Atlantic Cities:
LIFE INSIDE THE BROKEN CITY http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2012/06/how-mend-broken-city/2324/
Visited on a VERY cold spring Sunday last year, primarily to meet some East Coast friends at a casino and photograph the Windsor Chinatown, Windsor appeared in this short visit as a lovely quiet town.
LIFE INSIDE THE BROKEN CITY http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2012/06/how-mend-broken-city/2324/
Visited on a VERY cold spring Sunday last year, primarily to meet some East Coast friends at a casino and photograph the Windsor Chinatown, Windsor appeared in this short visit as a lovely quiet town.
Yet the vacancy and sense of abandonment was even then visible.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
EXPAT Organizations & "The Whole Story"
An expat - although from something I never really knew as I was one year old when I left - I've been following some of the expat sites that are encouraging ex-Detroiters to return and, most significantly, invest in the City.
A very active one: DETROIT NATION - http://www.detroitnation.org/ - formed by Rachel Jacobs, part of a group of New York-based expats (formerly called 635 Mile, for the distance from Detroit) who have now developed an active program with folowers and chapters throughout the nation.
Among their programs, a job posting for work in Detroit. Also very active on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DetroitNation
A new one just discovered: BORN AND RAISED IN DETROIT (BARD) http://bornandraiseddetroit.org/
Probably more for there seems to be now more than nostalgic interest in those who are from Detroit about the state of the City. OTH, it would be good if they all got together into just one powerful organization and with the power of many could not only contribute financially but with the power of numbers support and make effective change.
'CAN WE TELL THE WHOLE STORY?"
again, always reading the comments as well, this article by the General Manager of Detroit's NPR station, WDET is worth a look: http://wdet.org/shows/wdetraw/episode/can-we-tell-the-whole-detroit-story/?hq_e=el&hq_m=1671315&hq_l=1&hq_v=e6609d3a02
LAST - another magazine/blog. Always learning more about the city from many different perspectives; THE HOUR/DETROIT http://www.hourdetroit.com/
A very active one: DETROIT NATION - http://www.detroitnation.org/ - formed by Rachel Jacobs, part of a group of New York-based expats (formerly called 635 Mile, for the distance from Detroit) who have now developed an active program with folowers and chapters throughout the nation.
Among their programs, a job posting for work in Detroit. Also very active on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DetroitNation
A new one just discovered: BORN AND RAISED IN DETROIT (BARD) http://bornandraiseddetroit.org/
Probably more for there seems to be now more than nostalgic interest in those who are from Detroit about the state of the City. OTH, it would be good if they all got together into just one powerful organization and with the power of many could not only contribute financially but with the power of numbers support and make effective change.
'CAN WE TELL THE WHOLE STORY?"
again, always reading the comments as well, this article by the General Manager of Detroit's NPR station, WDET is worth a look: http://wdet.org/shows/wdetraw/episode/can-we-tell-the-whole-detroit-story/?hq_e=el&hq_m=1671315&hq_l=1&hq_v=e6609d3a02
LAST - another magazine/blog. Always learning more about the city from many different perspectives; THE HOUR/DETROIT http://www.hourdetroit.com/
About Detroit: More Videos and Such
Two more videos from Richard Florida on Detroit from Atlantic Cities:
Now the Fourth:
The Businesses That Will Lead Detroit http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2012/06/businesses-will-lead-detroit/2176/
Focusing on "cheap, affordable space and innovation. "If you want to rebuild a neighborhood, you're a lot better off starting with stuff people eat and drink. Movie theaters, fine, baseball stadiums great. But where people really want to go is to find places to eat and drink." -- Richard Florida
and the Fifth: The Future of Detroit
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2012/06/future-detroit/2237/
Who is Detroit attracting? the new urbanite, diverse, open to innovation.
BUT THEN the comments - I always read them, continually wanting to hear the voice of Detroit - linked me to this terrific video, great music and truly full of those voices:
Alex Gallegos' DETROIT BIKE CITY http://vimeo.com/25805461
In Detroit last spring I visited the Earthworks Urban Farm on the Eastside, run by the Capuchin Soup Kitchen/Capuchin Freres http://www.cskdetroit.org/EWG/ and was invited to return on that Wednesday for their weekly bike repair clinic. A place to be: for recreation, for living lives amid and connecting to others, for skills, for both youth and others, and for the dire reason that among the problems Detroit has faced that doesn't help those there to rise: the lack of public transportation that prevents those able to find a job to get to one.
Now the Fourth:
The Businesses That Will Lead Detroit http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2012/06/businesses-will-lead-detroit/2176/
Focusing on "cheap, affordable space and innovation. "If you want to rebuild a neighborhood, you're a lot better off starting with stuff people eat and drink. Movie theaters, fine, baseball stadiums great. But where people really want to go is to find places to eat and drink." -- Richard Florida
and the Fifth: The Future of Detroit
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2012/06/future-detroit/2237/
Who is Detroit attracting? the new urbanite, diverse, open to innovation.
BUT THEN the comments - I always read them, continually wanting to hear the voice of Detroit - linked me to this terrific video, great music and truly full of those voices:
Alex Gallegos' DETROIT BIKE CITY http://vimeo.com/25805461
In Detroit last spring I visited the Earthworks Urban Farm on the Eastside, run by the Capuchin Soup Kitchen/Capuchin Freres http://www.cskdetroit.org/EWG/ and was invited to return on that Wednesday for their weekly bike repair clinic. A place to be: for recreation, for living lives amid and connecting to others, for skills, for both youth and others, and for the dire reason that among the problems Detroit has faced that doesn't help those there to rise: the lack of public transportation that prevents those able to find a job to get to one.
Shane Bernardo (r), Outreach Coordinator of the The Capuchin Soup Kitchen -Earthworks Urban Farm
UPDATE 18 June 2012
The Detroit Bus Company, started as a private venture by Andy Didorosi, and trying to balance the needs of those in need of transportation with an economic structure that focusus on the tour industry while also aiming to connect jobs and the suburbs to the Detroit economic plan. "For every seat purchaed on a regular route, tour or private rental, we'll provide another Detroiter in need a free ride to work.".
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