Rush Hour, Detroit: 1942

I would like to disagree with the 'ghost town' references. Yes, there are several nice old buildings that are not being used. And while there is always talk of their renovation, they are currently 'abandoned'.

But there is also new life in Detroit. Since Compuware moved their headquarters to Campus Martius and GM relocated to the Renaissance Center, things are beginning to change for the better. Sure, there are still homeless people begging and sad stray dogs walking, etc. But there are also swanky new loft apartments, new night clubs, retro resale shops, and eateries. I work in Detroit and every day I am impressed with the changes that I see. And the old buildings are magnificent!

So please, don't perpetuate stereotypes of Detroit by labelling it "absolutely terrifying." Your doing a disservice to this grand city.

Peggy D.
Metro Detroiter

Gas rationing shows by the lack of rush hour traffic in this picture. I was born in Detroit in 1939 and remember the downtown in the years right after the war. When I drive through it today I want to cry.

dennis

Yes, look at the Live Search link modern view--I'm looking at it in the middle of the day on a Friday and there are barely any cars visible, and more than one of those buildings appears abandoned. Downtown Detroit is a ghost town these days, looks like a post-apocalyptic movie set. Absolutely terrifying. (Disclaimer: I grew up there in the 70s, when it was slipping but not yet deserted. Pictures like this are like a knife in the gut.)

Chris V. -- please tell me you're joking. Downtown Detroit has "less buildings" (and fewer occupied buildings) largely because of the decimation Detroit's economy over the last 30 years...

That was the M.A. La Fond tobacco shop ("The Pipe Store"). If you look around a little you'll see that downtown Detroit is turning into a kind of urban ghost town, with many empty lots where buildings used to stand. General Motors moved out of the GM Building (now called Cadillac Place -- state government offices) years ago. The city has lost half its population since 1960.

Comparing the current view with the old photograph, it looks like there's a park where that general store was. Kudos to the city for trying to keep things green; usually you see more buildings, not less.