photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Steve Pepple | all galleries >> Detroit - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly >> The City > Oct. 16, 2004 - Downtown Detroit
previous | next
Oct. 16, 2004 Steve Pepple

Oct. 16, 2004 - Downtown Detroit

Detroit, Michigan

Downtown Detroit is such an enigma. It is trying so hard to make a comeback and some parts
of it are truly wonderful (Ren Cen, Comerica Park, Ford Field), but then you go a block over and
it is as pitty as you can get. Right now half of the downtown streets are torn up as the city tries to
polish its image for when the Superbowl comes to town. This shot is right in the middle of what
was (should be) the prime downtown retail district.


other sizes: small medium original auto
previous | next
comment | share
Eric 20-Jul-2005 01:21
That IS a great photo. The building is called the Metropolitan Building and has recently been cleaned up inside for a loft conversion. Time will tell when the financing of the private developer will come through for progress to be undertaken. The Metropolitan sits in what was once dubbed "The Necklace District" named for the way in which the streets are layed out in a U-shape, supposedly resembling a neclace. It's also fitting that the building use to be a palace where watches were made or you could go there to purchase fine jewelry.

The brand new Woodward Avenue streetscape is one block to the left and the new Downtown YMCA is finishing construction on the immediate right.
Gayle P. Clement17-Oct-2004 14:43
BTW, very strong photo.
Gayle P. Clement17-Oct-2004 14:42
I remember this side of Detroit from a visit many years ago. I'm glad to hear that there is work to revive the downtown area.
Guest 17-Oct-2004 03:18
This is an interesting image, Steve. I like the way the student is framed bt the two orange barrels, and the lone cop way off down the street. This is a photo full of metaphor, and meaning.
Guest 17-Oct-2004 00:42
Detroit you say, and I thought it is somewhere in the Harlem :) A lot of similarities.