The Notorious Brewster Projects

[mikeg19]

Why are you so quick to destroy a place with so much important history??

Trust me, if somebody had a viable plan to rehab these buildings than I'd be all for it. But that's probably not the case. The buildings have been stripped and squatted in and are completely open to the elements all year long. They are going to just sit there for 10 years and rot, and those are the first high rise buildings you notice when you are driving into downtown on I-75. Plus they are right across from the entertainment district and just off where the new light rail line will be built [[fingers crossed). I'm all for preservation in this city as we've already lost so many great buildings, but I feel we could do without these and put something else on the plot of land. I'm not aware of how many acres the Brewsters encompass but wouldn't you rather see new housing on the land, a retail center, or technology park there than a bunch of eyesores?

[izzyindetroit]

I'm not aware of how many acres the Brewsters encompass but wouldn't you rather see new housing on the land, a retail center, or technology park there than a bunch of eyesores?

There are acres upon acres of already vacant land that could be used to develop retail centers, technology parks, and new housing.

The project still has the same use it did 60 years ago when they were built. Rather than tear them down, use them to house the people in already blown out neighborhoods. This way the city doesn't have to continue providing utilities and services to 1 or 2 houses on a block.

[unclefrank]

The project still has the same use it did 60 years ago when they were built. Rather than tear them down, use them to house the people in already blown out neighborhoods. This way the city doesn't have to continue providing utilities and services to 1 or 2 houses on a block.

High rise project buildings just become cesspools of crime. Blow them up!

[izzyindetroit]

Oh yes unclefrank, high rise buildings like the Kales, Millender Center, and Washington Square are the most dangerous parts of the city.

It's not the projects or the buildings that create the crime it is the people you put in them.

Quit being ignorant.

[Traveller1]

It would seem like the Brewster projects would be a valuable piece of property but they aren't because they are basically seperated from downtown by the freeways on both sides of them. Eventually one day they will be torn down like the Jefferies projects were, but it just takes money to do so.

I'm probably dreaming, but wouldn't be kind of cool if something was built there, like a big attraction or something, and it could be connected to downtown by an enclosed highway foot bridge. Kind of what Greektown casino built in Greektown over Monroe Street but on a larger scale.

The only question is, what would actually work there?

[bartock]

It would seem like the Brewster projects would be a valuable piece of property but they aren't because they are basically seperated from downtown by the freeways on both sides of them. Eventually one day they will be torn down like the Jefferies projects were, but it just takes money to do so.

I'm probably dreaming, but wouldn't be kind of cool if something was built there, like a big attraction or something, and it could be connected to downtown by an enclosed highway foot bridge. Kind of what Greektown casino built in Greektown over Monroe Street but on a larger scale.

The only question is, what would actually work there?

I think modern condos would work there. Perhaps build a pedestrian bridge over I-75 into the Eastern Market area with some sort of style to it. While the freeway is something of an obstacle looking South, perhaps this would be a selling point as limiting access in recent years has seemingly been more popular than opening up access. Besides, the aparments are not that far away from Woodward/DMC/Lower Midtown/Brush Park however you want to refer to it.

...of course the above would be based on the huge assumption that there would be demand for this sort of thing.

[mikeg19]

There are acres upon acres of already vacant land that could be used to develop retail centers, technology parks, and new housing.

The project still has the same use it did 60 years ago when they were built. Rather than tear them down, use them to house the people in already blown out neighborhoods. This way the city doesn't have to continue providing utilities and services to 1 or 2 houses on a block.

See I think that's a great idea. Will it happen? No.

I just look at it as the Brewster property is prime location. Right on the freeways, a stone throw from the entertainment district, and soon to be a stone throw from the new light rail line. Do you really want low rent housing and all the problems that that brings with it right near the heart of where many outsiders and suburbanites are going to be? I'd rather them take some other empty buildings, say Lee plaza, and convert that into low rent housing, buy up all the vacated property, and market that or use it for urban farming.

[unclefrank]

Oh yes unclefrank, high rise buildings like the Kales, Millender Center, and Washington Square are the most dangerous parts of the city.

It's not the projects or the buildings that create the crime it is the people you put in them.

Quit being ignorant.

Read the post! I said "project" high rise. Name one in any city that didn't turn into a massive failure run by drug gangs.

[showstoppa]

the pictures showing the stadiums in the background are amazing. This is what I think is wrong with not only Detroit, but the state of Michigan ! The potential of this area is limitless ! I understand the economy is in the tank, but how about tearing these buildings down and build from there. There can be the Red Wings stadium, maybe condos, apartments, hell maybe a mall ! or clubs that can be like the Detroit version of wrigleyville ! These ideas will not only create business opportunities for Detroit, but create a environment for our beloved Lions and Tigers that carry into the games and hopefully more wins ! [[the Lions need all the help they can get right ?)

[Lowell]

From the last days of occupancy in Dec. 2005.

[p1acebo]

From the last days of occupancy in Dec. 2005.

Wow, they still had residents in 2005? That is not that long ago.

[wolverine]

Trust me, if somebody had a viable plan to rehab these buildings than I'd be all for it. But that's probably not the case. The buildings have been stripped and squatted in and are completely open to the elements all year long. They are going to just sit there for 10 years and rot, and those are the first high rise buildings you notice when you are driving into downtown on I-75. Plus they are right across from the entertainment district and just off where the new light rail line will be built [[fingers crossed). I'm all for preservation in this city as we've already lost so many great buildings, but I feel we could do without these and put something else on the plot of land. I'm not aware of how many acres the Brewsters encompass but wouldn't you rather see new housing on the land, a retail center, or technology park there than a bunch of eyesores?

What you don't know......

[Goose]

Wow, they still had residents in 2005? That is not that long ago.

and they even had windows!!!!


are they really that historical??? who gives a crap that some famous motown performers were born there??? are you going to feel special viewing the toilet that Diana Ross took a dump in when she was 5??? Are musicians and actors so important that everything they touched from birth to death should be preserved despite being dilapitated eyesores?? i look at it as a symbol of oppression, psuedo jail cells that the poor were rounded up and were told they were lucky to live in...... a symbol of the nanny state.....

[p1acebo]

and they even had windows!!!!


are they really that historical??? who gives a crap that some famous motown performers were born there??? are you going to feel special viewing the toilet that Diana Ross took a dump in when she was 5??? Are musicians and actors so important that everything they touched from birth to death should be preserved despite being dilapitated eyesores?? i look at it as a symbol of oppression, psuedo jail cells that the poor were rounded up and were told they were lucky to live in...... a symbol of the nanny state.....

Haha ya the whole window thing blew me away.

[LodgeDodger]

and they even had windows!!!!


are they really that historical??? who gives a crap that some famous motown performers were born there??? are you going to feel special viewing the toilet that Diana Ross took a dump in when she was 5??? Are musicians and actors so important that everything they touched from birth to death should be preserved despite being dilapitated eyesores?? i look at it as a symbol of oppression, psuedo jail cells that the poor were rounded up and were told they were lucky to live in...... a symbol of the nanny state.....

I don't see anyone rushing to save anything Martha Reeves lived in. ;-)

[mikeg19]

What you don't know......

Enlighten me.....

[Pcm]

I see that someone finally got ballsy enough to head up there and tag one of the towers facing east.

I had always wondered why there wasn't any more prominent graffiti on those buildings. Probably because they're actually pretty scary.

Shortly after I posted this, the graf was covered with brown paint. How is it that there is interest in keeping the sides of the Brewster towers free of graffiti?

[mauser]

detroit is pimping that ruin for hollywood

[Hypestyles]

.. never saw the appeal of projects.. especially in the 'contemporary' era, some folks holding on to them like they weren't places where generational poverty replicated itself.. raze all of these buildings, then possibly create something for mixed-income residential use..

[mikefmich]

I use to tutor grade school kids here in the mid-60's. Lost track of my kids when I went on active duty, often wondered what became of them.

[esp1986]

.. never saw the appeal of projects.. especially in the 'contemporary' era, some folks holding on to them like they weren't places where generational poverty replicated itself.. raze all of these buildings, then possibly create something for mixed-income residential use..

using what money?

[Lowell]

Post Script 2014. Images from other DetroitYES threads....

[Neilr]

The Brewster-Douglas wasn't always the way most of us will remember it. To put some faces to the Brewster-Douglas Projects of old:







Detroit: The Black Bottom Community, Jeremy Williams, 2009

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

That time lapse video kind of looks like a giant creepy insect devouring the building.

[Huggybear]

So what explains the sudden uptick in demolition speed in the last week? Did Homrich figure out it wasn't being paid by the hour on this project?

HB