Packard: Packed

**Traxus** · March-08-12, 01:05 PM

Forgive the cynicism if you can, it's lighthearted and in my nature to begin with. If ever there was a case to wall the place off and charge for entry, this would be it.

I stopped through Packard on Sunday, I couldn't help but notice something was diffrent...

Oh, this must be it, another collapse on the South West roof. I finally have an interesting foreground for this shot! Much like Michigan roads, the ice seeps into cracks in the concrete and through thawing and refreezing, unsettles the roof and supports, making spring a more dangerous time to explore.

No... wait... something else is different. Hmmm.Wait, who the hell is that? Get out of my shot! This light is fleeting!

Oh wait... Another one?! It's usually just me and the scrappers in here...

Wait, there's a scrapper! Look in the background... Hold on, are they... Scrapping the wood floor?!? [[they had thrown the planks from the floor above and were loading them into their car)

...wait who are they?!

Where are all of these ants marching to?

Uh, huh. Oh! This must be that International Ruins Pornographer Week I've been hearing about! $5 a car to park!

The plant is fully handicap accessible! [[not really)

Fun for the whole family! [[I couldn't tell whether they were taking the pvc as scrap, or protection... didn't make sense either way).

The Packard provides many romantic vistas for you and your loved one!

Photographers: remember to shoot the most generic angles, in poor lighting, as to most efficiently highlight Detroit's downfall.

To be fair, this guy was shooting [[or trying to shoot) this room...

I always try to wear bright colors whilst sneaking around abandon buildings.

Go ahead, take a ceiling light!

Or a...tire[[?)

On the other hand, all these people make great reference points for conveying the scale of this place:

And then, suddenly, a moment of silence. Where did they all go? I've been waiting for years to re-shoot this angle, the scrap crew usually has their trucks in the alley. Too bad the light was so drab...

**neavling** · March-08-12, 01:16 PM

So only you are entitled to enter the Packard with so-so photos?

**Traxus** · March-08-12, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by neavling

So only you are entitled to enter the Packard with so-so photos?

I couldn't help but take a Vice magazine/journalistic approach on this day, perhaps I can sell these to Life.com, their quality control wouldn't know the difference.

**Ray1936** · March-08-12, 01:27 PM

Ignore neavling above, Traxus. I thought it was a great photo essay. Thanks for taking the time to post those pictures!

**Wheels** · March-08-12, 02:19 PM

Can't wait until they put the fence up, so we get get some good shots of it being scrapped.

**Traxus** · March-08-12, 02:38 PM

The question now is, will the regulars be scrapping it, or will the suburbs beat them to it in their silver sedans?

**Maof** · March-08-12, 04:15 PM

actually, i kinda like that industrial light fixture. i would've grabbed more than one.

**Wheels** · March-08-12, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by Maof

actually, i kinda like that industrial light fixture. i would've grabbed more than one.

I am amazed there was one left!

**Traxus** · March-08-12, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by Wheels

I am amazed there was one left!

The other guy had one as well, there *we're* two.

somehow, this reminds me of the looting vs finding incident with AP during hurricane katrina:

**Maof** · March-08-12, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by Wheels

I am amazed there was one left!

very true wheels.

**Richard** · March-08-12, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by downtown_racine

ONLY in Detroit. A very unique city.

I agree. Old Remington arms factory about the same size vacant thirty years ,still filled with equipment and only has a few broken windows . I guess some respect and others do not.different cities.

**Wheels** · March-08-12, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by Richard

I agree. Old Remington arms factory about the same size vacant thirty years ,still filled with equipment and only has a few broken windows . I guess some respect and others do not.different cities.

Other cities have hidden gems and barn finds. Detroit has nothing to hide attitude.

**Richard** · March-08-12, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by Wheels

Other cities have hidden gems and barn finds. Detroit has nothing to hide
attitude.

Thank you ,I needed a good laugh today.

**EZZ** · March-08-12, 10:27 PM

Beautiful pictures -Thank You...

**BEEAH** · March-09-12, 06:27 PM

Haha, that was great, its funny to see how popular ruin porn is. Granted the SECOND I buy my first SLR and need to learn how to use it I'll be shooting a few thousand crappy shots of my own ruin porn and be sheeple.

**dawn26** · March-10-12, 08:40 AM

love the pics...and especially the comments

i spend a lot of time in detroit shooting ruin porn. i guess that makes me a sheeple, although i do it because i appreciate the details in the buildings. haven't been to the packard yet. seeing so many other "pornographers" running around would be unnerving...i prefer to do my porn in private

**Sailor Rick** · March-10-12, 10:53 AM

So this is what the vaunted "creative class" that's supposed to rescue the city do to fix it?
They're no better than the hoodlums that steal the hub-caps from our Rambler or knock the bird-feeder over every devil's night!

**Traxus** · March-10-12, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by Sailor Rick

So this is what the vaunted "creative class" that's supposed to rescue the city do to fix it?
They're no better than the hoodlums that steal the hub-caps from our Rambler or knock the bird-feeder over every devil's night!

I would hardly consider most of the people that were there 'creatives'...

I bumped into a group of kids from royal oak, as well as some jock types from WSU. More of a general curiosity/jumping on the urban exploration bandwagon.

Occurrence · March-10-12, 05:01 PM

What the hell is going on there now today? I was in the area and drove by, only to see another parking lot of cars. I also saw a couple "Smart" cars parked in the lot. When people driving Smart cars start visiting the place, it's the official nail in the coffin.

**Traxus** · March-10-12, 05:11 PM

Someone is going to get mugged of their DSLR, or fall into a hole and injure themselves [[knocking on wood myself here), and then the city/owner/someone will *have* to do something about it.

I've had half a mind to just gate off the parking lot and charge $10 a car...

**BEEAH** · March-14-12, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by dawn26

love the pics...and especially the comments

i spend a lot of time in detroit shooting ruin porn. i guess that makes me a sheeple, although i do it because i appreciate the details in the buildings. haven't been to the packard yet. seeing so many other "pornographers" running around would be unnerving...i prefer to do my porn in private

Heh, I think it plays on several levels. Ruin porn, exploring a bit and enjoying a hobby. I want a camera and the one I want is that T2i but just don't want it to be one of them things you drop cash on and don't use enough. I suppose they sell easily enough If you had too.

Maybe I'll start something new to be different, I'll shoot ruin porn-porn. I need some volunteers! Maybe I'll start a ruin porn wedding photo bussness? Or not do anything and just troll forums. o_0

**downtown_racine** · March-14-12, 05:40 PM

Ruin porn porn has already been done at Packard atleast once.

http://worldofwonder.net/archives/20...happened_next/
There was a nastier pic but I dont see it on Google.

**jackie5275** · March-10-12, 10:46 AM

Even without your preface, I'd have been laughing. Your clever comments are too funny.

Occurrence · March-10-12, 05:24 PM

There were a couple shady looking local folk roaming around the street in front offices and parking lot harassing the photographers going in and out. I'm actually surprised nobody has been jacked for their stuff yet. I did notice a lot of piles of glass in the lot, so a few people have had their cars broken into.

**Richard** · March-10-12, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by Occurrence

What the hell is going on there now today?
I was in the area and drove by, only to see another parking lot of cars. I also saw a couple "Smart" cars parked in the lot. When people
driving Smart cars start visiting the place, it's the official nail in the coffin.

Kinda shows driving a "smart" car does not make one more intelligent .