Brush Park loses another

**DetroitZack** · December-17-09, 07:48 PM

I noticed this rubble when I was driving through Brush Park today. Amongst it you can see one of those historic rehabilitation signs.

I was looking back at older pictures of Brush Park in my collection and found one of the building. It is on the far right.

**EastsideAl** · December-17-09, 07:56 PM

Another Detroit historic rehabilitation job well done! Contributing to our fine historic collection of lots full of rubble, unmatched anywhere in these United States.

And always remember our new motto: "demolition means progress!" We've sure come a long way from "demolished by neglect," haven't we?

**wolverine** · December-17-09, 08:21 PM

Interesting the "exciting development opportunity" sign is just wedged there in the rubble. It's almost quite predictable that it would end up like that, and certainly there is more to go in Brush Park

**Traveller1** · December-17-09, 08:21 PM

It's almost a joke how they left the rehabilitation sign right there on the top of the rubble. The sign itself on the pile of rubble is like a symbol.

Some of those signs have been up for almost a decade in some areas of Brush Park. Obviously, they were never completely serious about rehabilitating all those beautiful mansions.

**jt1** · December-17-09, 08:24 PM

Although the city is quick to demo people should have a clue before talking.

This building went up in flames a year or two back, the roof was completely gone and the building was collapsing in on itself. There was no hope or opportunity for anything to happen with the place after the fire.

Put please back to your scheduled programming.

**cman710** · December-17-09, 08:52 PM

When I get a chance this weekend, I will post a picture that I took of this house this past summer. It was in very poor condition, though it did not appear on the precipice of collapse. Do we know whether this house just collapsed on itself? Given the winter weather, that is a strong possibility.

Retroit · December-17-09, 09:03 PM

Get your free Brush Park Souvenir Brick!

While supplies last.

**Huggybear** · January-15-10, 08:54 AM

Good point. Detroit is not a SimCity variant where there is a cheat code for unlimited money and development resources [[though it certainly seems that some people believe that preservation and rehabilitation are solely a matter of will).

If there is no funding and no demand for rehabilitated housing in Brush Park, things will move much more slowly. They've saved a few of these houses, but the ROI can't be there when you basically remove everything but the exterior floor beams and walls and basically build a new house on that.

And wood-framed 1890s houses don't last very long when exposed to the elements. Some of these houses have been vacant for 50 years. The homeless people and local firebugs have been doing their part, setting fires that finish off a lot of these structures.

Originally Posted by jt1

Although the city is quick to demo people should have a clue before talking.

This building went up in flames a year or two back, the roof was completely gone and the building was collapsing in on itself. There was no hope or opportunity for anything to happen with the place after the fire.

Put please back to your scheduled programming.

**ghettopalmetto** · January-15-10, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by jt1

Although the city is quick to demo people should have a clue before talking.

This building went up in flames a year or two back, the roof was completely gone and the building was collapsing in on itself. There was no hope or opportunity for anything to happen with the place after the fire.

Put please back to your scheduled programming.

Well, jt1, I do have a clue when it comes to this kind of thing, and I can tell you that no fire put those bricks all over the damned place like that. People rebuild houses after fires all the time--especially since their insurance company covers the loss. There's really no excuse for this kind of neglect.

Huggybear mentioned that preservation and restoration can't subsist on will alone, but they certainly can't subsist without it.

**jt1** · January-15-10, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by ghettopalmetto

Well, jt1, I do have a clue when it comes to this kind of thing, and I can tell you that no fire put those bricks all over the damned place like that. People rebuild houses after fires all the time--especially since their insurance company covers the loss. There's really no excuse for this kind of neglect.

Huggybear mentioned that preservation and restoration can't subsist on will alone, but they certainly can't subsist without it.

Do you know the condition of the house after the fire? It was completely exposed for a long period of time
Do you know who owns the home and did they have insurance?
Do you honestly believe that insurance would pay to completely rebuild a home that was already a mess?

Ther is so much wrong with your statement it is laughable.

**ghettopalmetto** · January-15-10, 10:01 AM

JT1, Detroit's fine tradition of Neglect and Demolish continues because people like you continually set the bar low.

If the building was exposed to the elements for a long time after the fire, that's not a result of the fire itself. That's the result of neglect.

Brick masonry construction does not collapse due to mere exposure to elements. Either damage was inflicted upon the building post-fire, or someone failed to stabilize the structure after the fire.

The building may not have been insured, but certainly there is a property owner somewhere. Other cities have historic districts with requirements to maintain architectural standards that come into play with situations like this. Detroit could give a shit less.

You're just repeating the old George Jackson assumption that if a building has been sitting around for a while, it's obviously structurally unsound, and therefore must be demolished.

In any event, it all adds up to a community simply not giving a shit about what it looks like. Yet y'all wonder why businesses don't locate in Detroit....

**leland_palmer** · December-17-09, 09:30 PM

I was just thinking about this house earlier in the week while reviewing my photos from this past year. I was upset that the house burned after all the work was done to stabilize it. It's been toast since at least January.Attachment 4378

**Gsgeorge** · December-17-09, 10:21 PM

Yes, this building seemed a goner since it unfortunately went up in flames a while back. I still was surprised last time I drove by and it was a pile of bricks. I figured at least the facade or entrance could have been saved.

This happens a lot down in this part of town; lots of empty, unsecured buildings and lots of squatters to break in and make fires inside. Not to mention they're all ancient structures, and aren't the most stable in the world. Once there's damage or exposure, it's hard to stabilize these historic buildings.

A real shame.

**detroitsgwenivere** · December-17-09, 10:42 PM

If that is by the corner of John R and Edwards, that I think it's safe to assume it was brought down intentionally. A development project is about to start kitty corner from that building. A large, brick, historical building is going to be restored and turned into a music museum. At least we know they're going to save one of these rare places.

I miss walking through Brush Park when the streets were still closed off and filled with old homes, even if they were empty and succumbing to the elements.

**barnesfoto** · December-17-09, 11:46 PM

Ironic. That building was still a functioning "social club" of some sort long after many other Brush Park Buildings were crumbling shells. It seems like it was only empty and boarded in the last decade.

**detroitbob66** · December-18-09, 01:37 AM

YEah....WTF? I thought this was supposed to be rehabbed into hip city living! Brush Park is getting more desolate each day with nothing from the city but broken promises. Heres some recent proof and I got pics of that building too

Attachment 4379

Attachment 4380

Attachment 4381

**Gsgeorge** · December-18-09, 03:32 AM

Originally Posted by detroitbob66

YEah....WTF? I thought this was supposed to be rehabbed into hip city living! Brush Park is getting more desolate each day with nothing from the city but broken promises. Heres some recent proof and I got pics of that building too

Two different buildings here, but point taken. Thanks for the pics.

**Gsgeorge** · December-18-09, 03:31 AM

I remember when the streets were closed off too. What was with that? Some kind of effort to improve the neighborhood, like closed streets are for wealthy people, kinda like Pallister in New Center, or was it because they were trying to drive down foot & auto traffic to cut down on crime?

**Gsgeorge** · December-18-09, 03:54 PM

I don't endorse taking property that's not yours, but they're all over the street, sidewalk, and alley.

**Wintersmommy** · December-18-09, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Gsgeorge

I don't endorse taking property that's not yours, but they're all over the street, sidewalk, and alley.

I am too chickensh*t ...But i really really would love to have them..I assume that they are just going to go to a landfill somewhere and i could do a lovely garden wall with them ....

**Gsgeorge** · December-18-09, 05:47 PM

There are plenty of piles of rubble in the city that you could pilfer. Take a drive through Delray lately?

**Wintersmommy** · December-18-09, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by Gsgeorge

There are plenty of piles of rubble in the city that you could pilfer. Take a drive through Delray lately?

well i did a couple of months ago when they tore down a school with beautiful yellowish bricks and convinced my friend to go brick shopping with me thru the piles..but when we went back there was a cop arresting someone right in front of my prize and we decided that wasnt the best time to help ourselves..life got in the way and we never made it back..wonder if they are still there ?

**DetroitZack** · December-19-09, 12:17 AM

I guess I think differently then a lot of you. I don't see taking a brick or 2 to be that big of a deal. Especially when they are right out in the open, no fence or anything to block people from entering the property.

**leland_palmer** · January-15-10, 12:41 AM

Here is my photo history of the house.
http://fadeddetroit.blogspot.com/201...39-john-r.html
I went through Brush Park last weekend for the first time in a few months and it turns out we lost three other houses during that period as well. More on that later.