Looking for eerie/ironic suburban communities & forgotten retail stores to photograph

Hello,

I am a local photographer who is working on a body of work focusing on the suburbs/metro detroit/pontiac/port huron area. I'm looking for any suburb communities that have some eerie or ironic qualities to them, perhaps situated on a large landfill, or rows of homes wrapped in Tyvek, a half finished community that has been neglected. I live in the city so my knowledge of the suburbs is a bit limited, but I was wondering if anyone might know what would fit this criteria. I am also interested in any forgotten big box retail stores, like the K-Mart on Livernois in Troy. If anyone has any suggestions, I would very much appreciate it. Thank you.

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Originally Posted by amaninachair

Hello,

I am a local photographer who is working on a body of work focusing on the suburbs/metro detroit/pontiac/port huron area. I'm looking for any suburb communities that have some eerie or ironic qualities to them, perhaps situated on a large landfill, or rows of homes wrapped in Tyvek, a half finished community that has been neglected. I live in the city so my knowledge of the suburbs is a bit limited, but I was wondering if anyone might know what would fit this criteria. I am also interested in any forgotten big box retail stores, like the K-Mart on Livernois in Troy. If anyone has any suggestions, I would very much appreciate it. Thank you.

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Tech Plaza at 12 and Van Dyke in Warren.

Bloomfield Park, Telegraph north of Square Lake. When Bloomfield wouldn't go for it, the property was annexed by Pontiac. Construction was well under way when real estate crashed in late 2008 and no leases were forthcoming. Construction ceased and the place is was never completed.

not exactly what you're asking for but highland park has a bunch of crappy suburban looking stuff that was shoddily built and many never got certification for occupancy...south of mcnichols and east of woodward

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=103+St...IkwVF6CQiEGkeA

northern macomb county is full of this stuff...heres a few examples. though this may be built out more since google drove by.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=macomb...,,0,-2.15&z=17

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=macomb...4,,0,4.97&z=17

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=macomb...,95.45,,0,4.92

I appreciate the suggestions so far. Thank you. Keep them coming!

Hybridy, while that scene you posted does look quite interesting, the series is conceptually tied together by it's investigation of the suburb as a false antidote to the tensions leading to the "decline of Detroit", and of many urban areas.

Go down to 12 Mile Rd and Van Dyke at the Tech Center Strip. Where there was a Wal-Mart anchor store now its a total blight!

Wow at all that sub "urban" blight....I wonder if the people who llive out that way blame Detroit for all that madness?

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Originally Posted by Detroit Stylin

Wow at all that sub "urban" blight....I wonder if the people who llive out that way blame Detroit for all that madness?

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They probably do.

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Originally Posted by Detroit Stylin

Wow at all that sub "urban" blight....I wonder if the people who llive out that way blame Detroit for all that madness?

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I live out that way and I would rather have blighted store fronts than having my home robbed and car stolen and listening to gunshots at night.

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Originally Posted by Danny

Go down to 12 Mile Rd and Van Dyke at the Tech Center Strip. Where there was a Wal-Mart anchor store now its a total blight!

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Before Walmart it was a Kmart and there was also a JCPenny and Sears Hardware and Value City furniture. To be fair Walmart just moved to 14 Mile to open up a Supercenter.

Here is a thread about a House candidate filming himself at a beautiful empty strip mall in Oakland County.

http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...ght=bentivolio

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Originally Posted by gazhekwe

Here is a thread about a House candidate filming himself at a beautiful empty strip mall in Oakland County.

http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...ght=bentivolio

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Oh you mean that "Beautiful....beautiful strip mall......." -that looks like just about every other strip mall in North America?

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Originally Posted by Shollin

I live out that way and I would rather have blighted store fronts than having my home robbed and car stolen and listening to gunshots at night.

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Hurt Pride? Funny I dont remember anyone referencing gunshots....now BLIGHT on the other hand....funny how the "problems" of the city you claim you were running away from move in right next door to you...

Thanks for posting this. This is a really weird video. How can you purport that the construction and architecture of that strip mall is anything beyond functional? So weird.

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Originally Posted by Detroit Stylin

Hurt Pride? Funny I dont remember anyone referencing gunshots....now BLIGHT on the other hand....funny how the "problems" of the city you claim you were running away from move in right next door to you...

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They haven't. Since moving to Sterling Heights my house hasn't been burglarized. My car hasn't been broken into. I haven't heard a gunshot. These are all things I experienced in the city. I don't care about blight. Sterling Heights has more of it than Harper Woods. I never ran away from blight.

Van Dyke in Sterling Heights seems to have a huge amount of vacant strip mall space.

And the stuff that is occupied seems to be heavily weighted towards the "cash for gold/payday loans/99 cent dream" variety.

Plymouth Rd. in Livonia is very similar, though they have some nice streetscape improvements.

Sterling Heights, as a community, though, is probably as safe as ever.

Not as eerie as those Macomb shots, but check out the 'mixed use' development at Mound and 12 Mile. The strip mall side alongside Mound is doing okay, but the residential side has stalled pretty bad. There's been at least one house with stuff flapping in the breeze for probably a year or more now.

Yes,that 'beautiful' should have been in quotes, it's Bentivolio's vision.

Thanks everyone. I will be heading to many of these locations today, and I will keep you updated on the status of the project. Please keep the suggestions coming!

This arrested development in Utica hasn't changed since before 2009 despite all the other improvements in the area. E. g. the plot across the street with the tent has been transformed into the beautiful Monument Park along the Clinton River.

Note the odd entryways into the second floor. Rumor [[false?) is that the developer vanished without a trace.

What about that weird, half-built "Downtown Shelby Township" at Van Dyke and 24 Mile?

Who ever thought that would work? I don't get those exurban, pseudo-downtown areas. I thought the point of living out there was to get away from density.

The peripheries of major shopping centers may offer what you are looking for. These are from Westland.

- http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...1334#post61334

- http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...1626#post61626

Bloomfield Plaza is by far the most dramatic and ironic, the MCD of suburban ruins.

- http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...-they-thinking

Almost as dramatic but less forlorn following demolition of never-used properties is Novi's Fountainwalk where the fountain is gone.

- http://www.detroityes.com/webisodes/...nities/002.htm

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Originally Posted by Lowell

Bloomfield Plaza is by far the most dramatic and ironic, the MCD of suburban ruins.

- http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...-they-thinking

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Bloomfield Park is definitely the most dramatic example. Probably the dumbest project imaginable. NYC-style density in Pontiac, and with Bloomfield prices. Soon to be a vacant lot.

Bloomfield Plaza is a different complex at Maple/Telegraph. It appears to be very succesful. Probably about as nice as one can make a strip mall.

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Originally Posted by Shollin

Before Walmart it was a Kmart and there was also a JCPenny and Sears Hardware and Value City furniture.

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how bout a legendary future White House candidate filming himself at that beautiful empty strip mall in Warren?
http://books.google.com/books?id=CkNb6j5oNfoC&pg=PA126
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=74228

In downtown Utica there was a row of tall townhomes things built next to the Clinton River there that are only partially finished.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=utica+...57.92,,0,-1.66

C stuff by Costco on hall road, behind CostCo

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Originally Posted by Bham1982

Bloomfield Park is definitely the most dramatic example. Probably the dumbest project imaginable. NYC-style density in Pontiac, and with Bloomfield prices. Soon to be a vacant lot.

Bloomfield Plaza is a different complex at Maple/Telegraph. It appears to be very succesful. Probably about as nice as one can make a strip mall.

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Well, not exactly NYC density; after all, these were mid rises...

But yes, that was a pretty dumb project, and for that I blame the banks that financed it until they decided not to.

Bloomfield Plaza is reasonably successful. There's one empty storefront that appears to be in the process of being remodeled, and an empty Kroger that I keep hoping Hiller's will lease so I don't have to make the drive out to Haggerty and 14 Mile for my weekly shopping.

Oh yes, we do have a relatively small Kroger at Long Lake/Telegraph and a goofy one [[small, and half prepared food with only half actual grocery) at Maple/Lahser, so we're not under-Krogered here.

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Originally Posted by Don K

Well, not exactly NYC density; after all, these were mid rises...

But yes, that was a pretty dumb project, and for that I blame the banks that financed it until they decided not to.

Bloomfield Plaza is reasonably successful. There's one empty storefront that appears to be in the process of being remodeled, and an empty Kroger that I keep hoping Hiller's will lease so I don't have to make the drive out to Haggerty and 14 Mile for my weekly shopping.

Oh yes, we do have a relatively small Kroger at Long Lake/Telegraph and a goofy one [[small, and half prepared food with only half actual grocery) at Maple/Lahser, so we're not under-Krogered here.

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Don K-The Kroger at Maple and Lahser is amazing compared to my closest one at 13 and Woodward. When we want a good Kroger we drive past that one and head to the one at Maple and Coolidge. Or, if we don't need good deli meat, the Kroger at Greenfield and 9.5 mile is not bad.

LOL the banks get blamed when the foreclose and now get blamed when they lend money. That's rich.

I think it's ironic you're not looking for iconic properties.

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Originally Posted by cmubryan

Don K-The Kroger at Maple and Lahser is amazing compared to my closest one at 13 and Woodward.

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The Maple/Lasher Kroger appears to be their fanciest location.

They're obviously using that location as a showplace to try and compete with the Papa Joes/Whole Foods/Plum Market locations in the vicinity.

Even the other Birmingham/Bloomfield Krogers look dingy in comparison.

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Originally Posted by Danny

Go down to 12 Mile Rd and Van Dyke at the Tech Center Strip. Where there was a Wal-Mart anchor store now its a total blight!

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Better hurry, a Menard's is going in there in a few months.

My favorite right now is the "Southfield Commons" sign at the Lodge and civic center drive. It's faded to the point where you can see the old "Bendix Plaza" sign beneath. Not much blight around there, though - the old Bendix HQ is now a BCBS building.

its odd that with all the government roads and bridges provided to business owners, the special teachers in their past, and the support of the entire community, that these buildings/businesses aren't successful... I'm sure the owners work hard.... and I'm sure they are pretty smart... wonder why they weren't successful??? they didn't build it alone....

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Originally Posted by JBMcB

Better hurry, a Menard's is going in there in a few months.

My favorite right now is the "Southfield Commons" sign at the Lodge and civic center drive. It's faded to the point where you can see the old "Bendix Plaza" sign beneath. Not much blight around there, though - the old Bendix HQ is now a BCBS building.

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So it's confirmed Menards is going into Tech Plaza? I heard it was going in Warren and my first thought was it should go in Tech Plaza.

I did a little suburban exploring myself. I noticed the most blighted areas of Warren and Sterling Heights are along Van Dyke and 8 Mile. I went down Hoover and found the Hoover/11 center still doing well. Not quite as busy as I remember it, but not bad. Driving up Hoover was pretty much as I remember it. The empty strip malls seem to be along Van Dyke. Now that got me thinking. What is the major artery and major bus line that runs through Warren and Sterling Heights and also goes through the middle of Detroit? Is anyone surprised the blight and crime is connected to Detroit in these two communities? I know, I know. I'm a racist for even suggesting such a thing.

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Originally Posted by Shollin

I did a little suburban exploring myself. I noticed the most blighted areas of Warren and Sterling Heights are along Van Dyke and 8 Mile. I went down Hoover and found the Hoover/11 center still doing well. Not quite as busy as I remember it, but not bad. Driving up Hoover was pretty much as I remember it. The empty strip malls seem to be along Van Dyke. Now that got me thinking. What is the major artery and major bus line that runs through Warren and Sterling Heights and also goes through the middle of Detroit? Is anyone surprised the blight and crime is connected to Detroit in these two communities? I know, I know. I'm a racist for even suggesting such a thing.

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So you're saying that Detroiters spend an hour catching two buses up Van Dyke into Warren or Sterling Heights, knock over a strip mall or two, and then go stand at the bus stop outside the strip mall they just robbed, holding a bag of stolen loot, and wait half an hour for the bus to come take them back to 8 Mile so they can wait for another bus to get home, and that's why Van Dyke is blighted? Help me out here, I'm kind of confused.

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Originally Posted by JBMcB

Better hurry, a Menard's is going in there in a few months.

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I seem to remember that on this board ot being said that a bar was closing with a driving range for the menards further north.

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Originally Posted by antongast

So you're saying that Detroiters spend an hour catching two buses up Van Dyke into Warren or Sterling Heights, knock over a strip mall or two, and then go stand at the bus stop outside the strip mall they just robbed, holding a bag of stolen loot, and wait half an hour for the bus to come take them back to 8 Mile so they can wait for another bus to get home, and that's why Van Dyke is blighted? Help me out here, I'm kind of confused.

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Shop at the Walmart at 14 and Van Dyke and you'll understand. I'll give you a hint, it's not people from Sterling Heights making that store miserable. Van Dyke is also where people moving out of Detroit to Warren are settling. Is it really shocking that Warren's highest crime areas is south of 10 Mile? It's funny you think taking stolen goods on a bus is so outrageous. It happened in Harper Woods all the time. Eastland would get ripped off and they would care their goods on the bus all the time. Go by 13 mile and Van Dyke at night and keep an eye out for prostitutes. Apparently 8 Mile isn't as good of money maker for them anymore so they've come north next to the cheap motels. I was at the Speedway at 14 and Van Dyke and a guy asked me for a ride to 6 and Van Dyke. I said no. He said why not? I said I'm not heading that way. He continued to ask me. He followed me to my car. Luckily for me a Warren cop pulled in and he peeled off and ran to the bus stop. But hey, it's just a coincidence that the only connection with Detroit has the highest crime and blight.

There is defintely decline heading up Van Dyke.

Whether "Detroiters" are causing the blight is kinda besides the point. People who happen to be of a lower socioeconomic strata are moving in [[into Warren, and to some extent, into Sterling Heights), and existing residents are moving out [[to Shelby and Macomb Townships).

"Ruin porn" comes to the suburbs, huh? There's a vacant big box building that used to house a K Mart on 13 Mile just east of Little Mack. It's been empty for a few years now.

i think this person has documented some of it

http://suburbandecaydet.blogspot.com

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Originally Posted by Shollin

It's funny you think taking stolen goods on a bus is so outrageous. It happened in Harper Woods all the time. Eastland would get ripped off and they would care their goods on the bus all the time.

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Where was Eastland security when this was going on? They've harassed me when I was catching the bus out of there, and I wasn't even carrying anything. It boggles my mind that someone could stand at that stop [[which is located on Eastland's private property), holding a bunch of items matching the description of stuff that was just stolen from the mall, and wait as long as it takes these days for a DDOT bus to show up, without the security people bothering to do anything about it. That sounds like about the worst getaway strategy in the history of crime.

That reminds me, beautiful, empty downtown Cherry Hill, Cherry Hill Road near Ridge Road.
And the mostly empty live and work concept development near the Birmingham train station, Eton south of Maple Road.

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Originally Posted by antongast

Where was Eastland security when this was going on? They've harassed me when I was catching the bus out of there, and I wasn't even carrying anything. It boggles my mind that someone could stand at that stop [[which is located on Eastland's private property), holding a bunch of items matching the description of stuff that was just stolen from the mall, and wait as long as it takes these days for a DDOT bus to show up, without the security people bothering to do anything about it. That sounds like about the worst getaway strategy in the history of crime.

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You don't have to have a basket full of stolen goods. People can conceal stolen goods on their person. Besides, the more brazen ones just carjacked someone in the parking lot in their getaway. I know, it's one big coincidence that all the links to Detroit is where the crime and blight is concentrated at.

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Originally Posted by gazhekwe

And the mostly empty live and work concept development near the Birmingham train station, Eton south of Maple Road.

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I don't think anything is empty over there. The few retail spaces are filled.

There's a construction site for a new restaurant [[I think a brewpub), but that's the closest thing I can think of that would resemble an "empty development".

I have no idea why someone would want to buy a cheaply built three-level condo next to train tracks, and not really walking distance to downtown Birmingham, but that's another story.

The empty Jim Fresard dealership on North Main Street in Royal Oak might provide what you're looking for. There are quite a few empty storefronts in that area, in sharp contrast to the bustling downtown south of 11 Mile.

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Originally Posted by Shollin

Go by 13 mile and Van Dyke at night and keep an eye out for prostitutes. Apparently 8 Mile isn't as good of money maker for them anymore so they've come north next to the cheap motels. I was at the Speedway at 14 and Van Dyke and a guy asked me for a ride to 6 and Van Dyke.

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I call b.s. on this one. I've got property at 13 and Van Dyke, am in the area quite frequently, and have never seen any prostitutes. And, as terrified as you may have been when some guy asked you for a lift to 6 Mile, that kind of stuff is hardly exclusive to blighted areas.

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Originally Posted by Detroitej72

I call b.s. on this one. I've got property at 13 and Van Dyke, am in the area quite frequently, and have never seen any prostitutes. And, as terrified as you may have been when some guy asked you for a lift to 6 Mile, that kind of stuff is hardly exclusive to blighted areas.

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Go to the Motel 6. I watched a woman walk from Van Dyke to Motel 6, walk along all the rooms. She then talks to someone in a car. She starts to walk back towards Van Dyke, he pulls into Lowes to cut her off and she gets in. Judging by her clothing this wasn't just some average woman asking for a ride. IIRC the King Richard motel and Tech Center motel charge by the hour.

I can tell you for a fact that there's prostitution going on in many hotels/motels in the inner ring suburbs. I don't care if you're in Warren or Madison Heights, it happens. That said, it's completely confined to the hotels/motels, so you generally won't see it unless you look for it, or if you're a travelling businessperson trying to pinch pennies.