Lower Woodward Heavily Vandalized

[DetroitDad]

Shortly before the fireworks, while DetroitYES was down for repairs, I noticed that lower Woodward Avenue has been heavily vandalized. Graffiti, removal of boards on vacant buildings, and broken windows were the main forms of destruction. Oddly, it appears that only vacant storefronts were targeted. The new street scape enhancements and new businesses did not appear to be touched.

The banner advertisement on the Broderick Tower has also torn down, and lays in shreds on top of the Madison/Angelina's Building.

Combined with the horrible state of the Broderick Tower and Como's Pizza Building, Michigan's mainstreet looks worse than it has in years. Thanks a lot vandals!

Attachment 6517
While hard to see in my photos from my low-tech camera phone, all storefronts on the first blocks South of Grand Circus Park have graffiti over their boards or windows, with the exception of Bleu and the new insurance company across the street.

Attachment 6518
This set of buildings on the Whitney block of Lower Woodward has graffiti on it's windows...

Attachment 6519
While some buildings have their windows entirely broken out. While it is hard to see from the pictures, some of these broken windows have been boarded up, while others have not. Shards of glass lay all over the sidewalk, and are dangerously protruding from some windows, like glass daggers in some horrific movie.

Attachment 6516
Meanwhile, the Broderick Tower has had several windows and boards smashed in or removed.

Attachment 6515
And the giant whale mural is once again visible as the ad banner lay in shreds on the roof of the adjacent building. You can see part of the banner still hanging on the top left corner of the above picture.

[wolverine]

There's been hundreds of broken windows on lower Woodward for years, mostly Broderick Tower. A few new tags is nothing new in the neighborhood.

[DetroitDad]

There's been hundreds of broken windows on lower Woodward for years, mostly Broderick Tower. A few new tags is nothing new in the neighborhood.

This all happened on the same night. Like I said, it is much worse than it appears to be in the photos.

It's interesting that you think that broken windows, graffiti, and mass vandalism is A-O-K on Michigan's most prominent avenue, Wolverine.

[Stosh]

This all happened on the same night. Like I said, it is much worse than it appears to be in the photos.

It's interesting that you think that broken windows, graffiti, and mass vandalism is A-O-K on Michigan's most prominent avenue, Wolverine.

Once you promote a culture of destruction, why would it not surprise you that people feel that the whole thing is their oyster? Promoting a "urban explorer" city model sure works well, doesn't it?

[cman710]

Once you promote a culture of destruction, why would it not surprise you that people feel that the whole thing is their oyster? Promoting a "urban explorer" city model sure works well, doesn't it?

Stosh, I agree that urban explorers who destroy things are of no help to anyone. That said, I do not see how anyone has promoted an urban explorer city model. If anything, the model is utter neglect and lack of resources. If someone does not believe they will get caught putting graffiti up and down Woodward, they will be less deterred from doing so. Increased vandalism may be a result of Chief Evans deploying more resources to the neighborhoods. While I think that he is taking a good approach, they also cannot let downtown suffer too badly, because it is what most visitors see.

[Retroit]

Perhaps if the building owners, the city, and the police department got together and blanketed the area with surveillance cameras, vandalism could be discouraged. These cameras have come down in price in recent years and would more than pay for themselves.

[Stosh]

Stosh, I agree that urban explorers who destroy things are of no help to anyone. That said, I do not see how anyone has promoted an urban explorer city model. If anything, the model is utter neglect and lack of resources. If someone does not believe they will get caught putting graffiti up and down Woodward, they will be less deterred from doing so. Increased vandalism may be a result of Chief Evans deploying more resources to the neighborhoods. While I think that he is taking a good approach, they also cannot let downtown suffer too badly, because it is what most visitors see.

A lack of respect for property rights breeds contempt for other's property.

A quick look around the internet produces a plethora of people that love the destruction wrought by neglect. What's a little more to add to the ambiance?

[wolverine]

This all happened on the same night. Like I said, it is much worse than it appears to be in the photos.

It's interesting that you think that broken windows, graffiti, and mass vandalism is A-O-K on Michigan's most prominent avenue, Wolverine.

That's what you want me to think isn't it? Obviously I never said that in the one post I made earlier in this thread. Woodward's conditions a few years ago were unacceptable. Today, Woodward's conditions are unacceptable. I recall a big tag being splashed across the entire front facade of a renovated building near Compuware....a far bigger slap in the face than some of the recent tags on glass in your photo.

The other poster is right. No, I don't know day to day conditions of Woodward, but every visit I make it looks the same. It needs some work.

I wouldn't be throwing shots DD, I imagine your civic responsibilities by volunteering and participating in neighborhood cleanups has been Zero since you've moved there, otherwise we would have heard an entire thread about it. Consider getting involved in making your neighborhood better. Posting photos in a thread may bring attention to the situation, but it won't fix the problem.

[bailey]

This all happened on the same night. Like I said, it is much worse than it appears to be in the photos.

It's interesting that you think that broken windows, graffiti, and mass vandalism is A-O-K on Michigan's most prominent avenue, Wolverine.

even the most prominent avenues run through bad parts of town.

[Zacha341]

No, there are some recent actions. I noticed it last week when cruising down there. Some large plate glass windows where broken last week. It is getting ugly, real ugly just like the rows and rows of abandoned home with nothing up to windows. Just laying open. Plywooding seems to be abadoned.

There's been hundreds of broken windows on lower Woodward for years, mostly Broderick Tower. A few new tags is nothing new in the neighborhood.

[gazhekwe]

When somebody messes up your home neighborhood, it really gets your attention. Wolverine obviously doesn't live downtown. I hope this can get handled soon, Ddad. Maybe a volunteer effort? I remember a while back one of the mayor candidates went around and boarded up windows. I forget his name, he ran a few times. That was his most memorable campaign tactic.

[DetroitDad]

When somebody messes up your home neighborhood, it really gets your attention. Wolverine obviously doesn't live downtown. I hope this can get handled soon, Ddad. Maybe a volunteer effort? I remember a while back one of the mayor candidates went around and boarded up windows. I forget his name, he ran a few times. That was his most memorable campaign tactic.

Gaz, you are a genius!

[detroitsgwenivere]

OSB prices went up to over 12 bucks a board. Probably the reason no one's bothered to do any boarding.

I'm sure the weather hasn't been any help either.

[kathy2trips]

Where can you direct your anger when confronted with this? Art? Politics? Activism?

[DetroitDad]

I just spent the past few months watching people hard at work with Downtown beautification projects. Lamp posts and fire hydranst have been repainted, sidewalks are being fixed, and new trees and gardens have been planted. New businesses have opened, and I have been impressed by the owners, who seemed to simply realizing their dreams right here in Detroit. I've seen a substantial rise in foot traffic every year on Lower Woodward, enjoying the nice new street scape, if nothing else.

So, when I see stuff like this, knowing that allowing it leads to the impression of not caring by locals, and then more vandalism, I get upset. While we might not have the resources to fix everything, vandalism is unacceptable on Lower Woodward.

Attachment 6527
[[Above) Trees have been arriving at the "Tuffy" Station to be planted on Woodward Avenue in Midtown and Downtown.

[DetroitDad]

Ok, I had the pleasure of talking to one Woodward shop owner, and they informed me that Merchant's Row, Woodward Center, Compuware, and the Broderick Tower either have fixed there storefronts, or are working on it this week. Unfortunately, enough buildings likely will not fix the vandalism. Most of these buildings appear to be city owned, or have absent landlords.

On my walk I made a list of what needs to be done to clean up a little more.

1. Graffiti on 1519 windows
2. The gold building on the corner is probably in the worst shape. Graffiti and broken windows are pretty bad here.
3. Lamp post has been smashed on Woodward and Clifford [[not related, but needs to be fixed).
4. Electrical box graffiti on Woodward and Clifford.
5. Bus shelter graffiti.
6. The Wig Shop and Singer Sewing Machine graffiti.
7. The windows have graffiti on the building South of Bleu.
8. The one story "Como's Building" North of Bleu has new and old graffiti on it, boards have been removed.
9. Otto's on the lower level of the Broderick still has graffiti.

Does anyone have experience removing graffiti from windows, so they are not damaged?

[GOAT]

What fixes the problem is breaking the fucking hands of assholes with spray cans. Seriously, when will our bleeding heart liberal judges start to get serious about "minor" crimes such as this? The broken window theory can be applied for this type of scenario.

The question isn't why aren't neighbourhood residents diong anythig to fix it. The question should be why aren't the owners of these buildings on top of it to remove the graffitti immediately?

It has been shown that fixing broken windows and removing graffitti immediately stifles the growth of that type of crime.

In Windsor we have a program called StreetSmarts [[run by St. Leonard's House) that allows those who have just left prison the ability to help their community by removing such graffitti. Or if they have the talent, they are hired to do murals. This all goes hand in hand with becoming a productive member of society and has really worked out well for former inmates.

With all of the crime that happens in Detroit this should be a no-brainer.

Here are two links for both the St. Leonard's Society in Windsor and the StreetSmarts program.

http://stleonardswindsor.com/Home.html

http://www.streetsmartswindsor.com/Home.html

[Danny]

What can you all say about Detroit? Grabbing a baseball bat or throw a rock to break a window or spray a 'DEAD [[C)KRAK HEAD' sign in a local vacant building.

Most folks don't care about our city and its rich history long ago, just survival.

WORD FROM THE STREET PROPHET.

Because talking about Detroit's problems is not going to make these everyday eyesores go away. It's going to take community power.

In Memoriam: Neda

[DetroitDad]

What can you all say about Detroit? Grabbing a baseball bat or throw a rock to break a window or spray a 'DEAD [[C)KRAK HEAD' sign in a local vacant building.

Most folks don't care about our city and its rich history long ago, just survival.

WORD FROM THE STREET PROPHET.

Because talking about Detroit's problems is not going to make these everyday eyesores go away. It's going to take community power.

In Memoriam: Neda

Yet it's the problems they don't have time to solve now that cause the problems of their future, and individuals demise.

A couple years ago, a few of you were discussing why some streets in Detroit "hung on", while others in the same neighborhood went to pot. What makes the difference had to do with the above mentioned Broken Window Theory. If you parked a nice car, in an area, a time will go by with nothing happening. If you break a window on that car, further vandalism will usually occur.

Vandalism attracts problems, as it appears no one cares. To make matters worse, once something is left in disrepair, eventually something else gets broken. It could be an accident, regardless, it isn't fixed. Graffiti and other vandalism starts to appear. More and more damage begins to build up. In a short time, problems and damage add up, and as the citizens get out, they are replaced with criminals. Eventually, it all comes crashing down.

[detroitsgwenivere]

I can't get over some of the "deterrants" you guys are coming up with. Breaking taggers hands? Millions of cameras everywhere?!! This shit hasn't worked in any other big city on the planet so why do you think it will work here?

One answer is that the taggers need to start policing themselves. The good ones all know each other and most are avid Pro-Detroiters. If they catch an asshole in the act, they can issue a beat down, with no cop interference necessary.

Another thing is to provide space for the taggers to work on, that's what 5 Elements gallery did in Corktown, and we've managed to keep the graffitti down significantly over there.

And what does Liberalism have anything to do with taggers? Most of em are anarchists or can barely spell liberalism, hence the "krakhead"and "ghey" tags....

[DetroitDad]

I can't get over some of the "deterrants" you guys are coming up with. Breaking taggers hands? Millions of cameras everywhere?!! This shit hasn't worked in any other big city on the planet so why do you think it will work here?

One answer is that the taggers need to start policing themselves. The good ones all know each other and most are avid Pro-Detroiters. If they catch an asshole in the act, they can issue a beat down, with no cop interference necessary.

Another thing is to provide space for the taggers to work on, that's what 5 Elements gallery did in Corktown, and we've managed to keep the graffitti down significantly over there.

And what does Liberalism have anything to do with taggers? Most of em are anarchists or can barely spell liberalism, hence the "krakhead"and "ghey" tags....

When a fly gets trapped in a web, it see's the spider and panics, entangling itself even more. The fly cannot see that untangling itself is more productive than panicking or facing the spider.

[warsaw7]

I Most of em are anarchists or can barely spell liberalism, hence the "krakhead"and "ghey" tags....

I personally know Ghey and he/she is actually a very smart individual. That it just his/her tag name. A lot of STREET ARTISTS use words that imply no meaning, it doesn't mean that they can't spell. Please do your homework first before you come on here and express your one-sided views on STREET ARTISTS.

[DetroitDad]

I personally know Ghey and he/she is actually a very smart individual. That it just his/her tag name. A lot of STREET ARTISTS use words that imply no meaning, it doesn't mean that they can't spell. Please do your homework first before you come on here and express your one-sided views on STREET ARTISTS.

We do have places designated for graffiti. The entire Dequindre Cut allows it, and the city even protects it. Some local restaurants have also jumped on board, allowing graffiti on there walls, or installing chalk boards in the restrooms.

When everything is profane, than nothing is sacred.

Smashing windows and painting misspelled obscenities is not art, mainly because it is not intended to be a contribution to the community, but meant to detract from it. The fact that these otherwise graffiti artists stopped doing, or showed no interest in doing what they do in the areas set aside, and instead stick to the most prominent buildings, leads me to believe they are self serving. They are not artists, but chasing fame. Their work's primary goal is to get the name of the vandal "out there".

[warsaw7]

We do have places designated for graffiti. The entire Dequindre Cut allows it, and the city even protects it. Some local restaurants have also jumped on board, allowing graffiti on there walls, or installing chalk boards in the restrooms.

When everything is profane, than nothing is sacred.

Smashing windows and painting misspelled obscenities is not art, mainly because it is not intended to be a contribution to the community, but meant to detract from it. The fact that these otherwise graffiti artists stopped doing, or showed no interest in doing what they do in the areas set aside, and instead stick to the most prominent buildings, leads me to believe they are self serving. They are not artists, but chasing fame. Their work's primary goal is to get the name of the vandal "out there".

OK where in my statement do I mention anything on promoting vandalism or justifying that "graffiti" is legit? If you want to get into that debate I will gladly debate you. Yes there is a difference between graffiti and street art. I do not agree with individuals putting their work up on non vacant buildings and smashing windows, those individuals give STREET ARTISTS a very bad name. I do entertain the idea of vacant buildings acting as a canvas to many talented STREET ARTISTS, it is the purest form of art.

[DetroitDad]

OK where in my statement do I mention anything on promoting vandalism or justifying that "graffiti" is legit? If you want to get into that debate I will gladly debate you. Yes there is a difference between graffiti and street art. I do not agree with individuals putting their work up on non vacant buildings and smashing windows, those individuals give STREET ARTISTS a very bad name. I do entertain the idea of vacant buildings acting as a canvas to many talented STREET ARTISTS, it is the purest form of art.

Until the home or building you were saving for gets much more expensive because it then includes "art" cleanup. Or, until that building is down the street from you, and you have to deal with all the people who think tags and graffiti are a sign of people not caring, and then cause further vandalism or a attitude of not caring [[littering, accidental vandalism, etc.).

I agree it's all perception and interpretation, and some of it is amazing, but that is irrelevant to me. It goes against maintaining and improving Detroit either way, and makes it harder for me to open or keep businesses and residents here, so it really doesn't matter what you and I view as art.

My respect for the graffiti and the artists who create them are contingent with them respecting my home and community, especially when the artists aren't even from the region, let alone city.

PS: Woodward Center [[former Athlete's Foot and Nike Stores) managed to damage the glass windows taking this stuff off. The only way to fix the windows now is to replace them, as far as I know. I'm sure those windows are not cheap.

If that keeps up, it won't be long until we have bars or shutters on all the buildings again, in order for building owners to protect their buildings. It's also frustrating that the precious few volunteers have to waste time on this, when there are a million other things around here that need to be done.