Detrocity

An Afternoon on Park

noreply@blogger.com (The Weckler) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:56:00 +0000

Down the street from the Fox and Comerica Park is a great place to hang out called Park Bar. You can grab some awesome Romanian food at the attached Bucharest Grill and shoot the breeze while rubbing elbows with baseball fans and business people!

The area is in various stages of being renovated.

They took the building off of this facade.

A mail slot.

One of my favorite Detroit buildings. It looks like something out of a Dickens novel to me, for some reason. It is a tiny place squished between a couple other buildings.

I especially love the balconies on the small windows.

What remains of an intercom system.

While I haven't been posting...

noreply@blogger.com (The Weckler) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:17:00 +0000

I have been really busy! But, I haven't really stopped taking pictures.

I actually kind of had a blog-o-crisis. I felt really, really self-centered and silly thinking that what I had to say and the pictures I take are of any value. I mean, the buildings and such exist outside of this blog, so other people could just go look at them, right? I am not a skilled or trained photographer so my pictures aren't great. I am too afraid to actually get out of my car at the really cool scenes I pass--and not because they are in bad areas, but because I will look like a goon taking pictures of urban decay rather than digging in and helping the people who live nearby.

There are numerous other such thoughts bouncing around in my head, but there are also pictures piling up on my hard drive, so I thought I would just silence the voices for a bit and post some of these photos.

First, shots from a ridiculously fabulous sunset last spring. It was right after a rain. The air was golden. It was beyond this world.

Serving

noreply@blogger.com (The Weckler) — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 11:54:00 +0000

Today, over 1,200 people from my church found themselves participating in activities for people and organizations all around the Metro Detroit Area as a part of Spring Serve. The team I was on headed down to Hamtramck and a street lined with majestic giants that had all seen better days. We were told we would be clearing out the yard of Father Kelly's house, and while none of us knew what exactly that meant, it seemed our destination was significant.

Father Kelly isn't living here--and we got mixed word on where he is currently. Some said in a nursing home, but the neighbors indicated that he had passed away. The yard, especially in the back, hadn't been tended to in a while and was in need of some serious cutting back and clearing out.

We got to work, focused on our objectives of raking, chopping, digging, carrying, cutting. I figured hard labor would be the pay-off: knowing we did something for a community that needed some help.

But, the gems of the afternoon were two conversations I had with women from the neighborhood.

The first woman told me about Father Kelly. He was a retired Monsignor, he had also served as a priest in World War II with the Army Air Force and had traveled extensively. He was very proud of war veterans and showed anyone who was interested his scrapbook which included signatures from heroes like Westmoreland. If he met a person who had served his/her country, he would have them sign alongside such Greats.

He was a small man, full of kindness, and readily welcomed into every home on the block. His significance, it turned out, was etched onto the lives and hearts of those around him.

The second woman talked more about the street in general. Of the 10-20 houses on the block, approximately 7 were uninhabited. This woman explained that in an effort to make their neighborhood safe for their children and grandchildren to play, the neighbors worked together to keep the abandoned homes somewhat presentable.

Most people left on the street are elderly and struggle to attend to their own homes, but they watch out for the houses left vacant too. She pointed out that her son, a man in the Police Reserves, ends up mowing 5-6 yards each time he pulls out his lawnmower. Sick of thieves and vandals, many of the neighbors have padlocked the empty homes on their own and tried their best to keep a decent front on the crumbling buildings.

The knowledge and insight I gained from these little chats really has blossomed in my mind. The concept of 'safety', I learned, is relative. In my 'safe' suburban neighborhood, I know my neighbors by sight, but I don't interact with them. My sense of physical safety and security, albeit probably flawed, comes from my own efforts, or my own understanding of what to defend myself against. There aren't many clear and present dangers here. Families are out and about on bikes, people pull boats behind minivans down to the lakefront and spend the afternoon frolicking in the sunshine.

But, seeing the Community rooted in an 'unsafe' neighborhood where terms like "The Thieves" and "Abandoned Home" are said without any shock or fear, makes me long for something more. I might have increased physical safety, but what about the security of a community surrounding me--do I have that? Which is more important to me--protecting my stuff or embracing and being embraced by people around me? If I gave up some of my personal safety, would it compel me to rely on the relationships I have with others?

"Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life--fear of death, fear of judgement--is one not yet fully formed in love. We though, are going to love--love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first." --1 John 4:18-19

Signs, Signs, Signs

noreply@blogger.com (The Weckler) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 20:22:00 +0000

Churches

noreply@blogger.com (The Weckler) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:03:00 +0000

Stop?

Dead tree, dead church.

Center of the neighborhood.

Delray

noreply@blogger.com (The Weckler) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:46:00 +0000

Aside from Mexican Village, I haven't spent much time in Southwest Detroit. It's one of those places I have always been kinda happy that the freeway has a high bridge over. Because, from the looks (and smell) of it, it's a dreary place. And for goodness sake, there's a place down there called Zug Island...

My usual route to work has been under construction lately, so I have been taking I-75 instead. And every time I descend the bridge in that area, two majestic towers of a church rise out of the drab and catch my eye and curiosity.

With some extra time on my hands, and some beautiful weather at my back, I finally answered the call and ventured off the freeway. It took me two trips to locate the church, but I also found a whole world that is foreign to me.

Delray is one of the most industrially influenced areas of Metro Detroit. Iron, steel, refineries, pollution, etc. Here is where the Rouge River cuts in from the Detroit River.

Angels in the Outfield-of-sorts.

You can't turn back the hands of time.

Finally found it! Last named "Manifest Destiny Church." But, has since closed. It was really bizarre to see not just one, but four or five churches boarded up around this neighborhood. It's not a sight I am used to.

Well, I am not used to most of the sights down here...

Sarcasm

noreply@blogger.com (The Weckler) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:04:00 +0000

Portable mailboxes. All the rage for establishments nowadays.

Let me guess, you're going to school to become an electrician.

Don't you, ummm, buy everything?!

End of an Era

noreply@blogger.com (The Weckler) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:56:00 +0000

Sorry, I don't even feel bad for you.

"Let us out!"

Ever wonder why we don't see these realistic winterscapes on Christmas cards?

Transition.

Melissa's Davenport

noreply@blogger.com (The Weckler) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:38:00 +0000

In one of my fantasies, I own this building and it is spectacular.

Although, I don't know if it can get any more spectacular than it is now.

Brush Park

noreply@blogger.com (The Weckler) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:29:00 +0000

Today was a gorgeous day. The kind where you feel the need to bring your coat with you, but are so happy to leave it in the car.

Brush Park was crystalline.

Morning Has Broken

noreply@blogger.com (The Weckler) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:22:00 +0000

Winter Moon

Frosted

Introductions

noreply@blogger.com (The Weckler) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:02:00 +0000

This here is a collection of images from the world around me, The Metro Detroit Area.

Funny, pretty, heartbreaking...it is what it is. Detroit City...Detrocity.