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

[GUSHI]

C stuff by Costco on hall road, behind CostCo

[Don K]

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.

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.

[cmubryan]

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.

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.

[Shollin]

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

[Meddle]

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

[Bham1982]

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

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.

[JBMcB]

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!

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.

[Goose]

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....

[Shollin]

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.

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.

[antongast]

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.

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.

[DetroitPlanner]

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

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.

[Shollin]

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.

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.

[Bham1982]

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).

[KJ5]

"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.

[DetroitHabitater]

i think this person has documented some of it

http://suburbandecaydet.blogspot.com

[antongast]

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.

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.

[gazhekwe]

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.

[Shollin]

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.

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.

[Bham1982]

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

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.

[JenniferL]

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.

[Detroitej72]

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 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.

[Shollin]

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.

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.

[nain rouge]

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.