So, the Detroit Historic Commission, with the enthusiastic support of the non-professional preservation community and against the opposition by its own staff and that of development agencies in Detroit, allowed Higgins to install a 3 acre billboard on the side of the Borderick.

The goal of this billboard, on a historic building and over looking a historic district, was to raise funds for pre-development work.

Three, nearly four full years later - there is no movement towards completion of the building. The only two points of activity have been the condementation and closure of the Pit Stop and the collapse of an adjacent, Higgins owned building.

The Broderick, which was less than 30 days away from being foreclosed upon, is still in the hands of Higgins.

So, giant billboards have led to nothing but further decay and the inability of the City to foreclose to get the building away from a slumlord. Is this advertsing thingy really a viable model for other buildings as has been suggested?

Can some one tell me if the scaffolding is still up, protecting passersby from material falling from the building? If so, why is there no outrage about a private owner not taking steps to "mothball" the building?