So over in the General Discussion section, someone created a thread for us SSP Old Timers. Having been on the forum since 1997 I certainly qualify and being 51, well I'm also fully proficient in yelling "get off my lawn!"
I've been going through my archives as part of a personal project and came across some photos I took on a day trip to Detroit. Mind you, this was nearly 20 years ago so I was using a Minolta point and shoot so the photos aren't bright and crisp like what you're all used to. These aren't in any particular order, and I know Detroit has changed a lot but thought these might interest some of you.
We had stopped at the top of the Marriott at the RenCen - for whatever reason they had these ginormous oversized chairs in the lobby. Me at 31 - seems like eons ago.
Former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick:
I love historic homes but this is absolutely 100% my vibe.
Not that Cleveland is/was lacking for derelict vacant buildings but seeing this from the highway was well... So glad to see it's been repurposed and found new life.
Detroit certainly has one of the best collection of pre WW2 skyscrapers. And lovely grand old estate homes.
The expression on your face is almost "take a number, and get in line" to meet the famous MayDay. Autographs $20, signed photos $25 (2004 pricing)
Nice pictures! The first thing that came to mind for me was seeing if the baseball stadium and football stadium had been built. The midwest isn't quite on my radar, so it is harder for me to remember if they predate Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field or not.
At roughly 20 years old, these pics make me think of the old days on the forum in the early '00s when Robert Pence (RIP) would post old city pics he took on film back in the '70s and ''80s, and we would all ohhh and ahhh over them.
Seeing these pics now is a similar trip through time, distance-wise.
This was awesome, thanks!!!
__________________ "Missing middle" housing can be a great middle ground for many middle class families.
This was 19 years ago?!! Are you serious!? I took that photo of you in that glamorous (cheap) chair, IIRC. And wasn't that skyline from from the Park Shelton (Tony's old apartment)? God, the memories.
This was 19 years ago?!! Are you serious!? I took that photo of you in that glamorous (cheap) chair, IIRC. And wasn't that skyline from from the Park Shelton (Tony's old apartment)? God, the memories.
And wasn't...Miketoronto there?!??
Is Miketornonto still around? I remember how people gave him such a hard time.
Good find! I visited Detroit for the first time in 2005 and reading through this prompted me to search back for my own photos. I could find the photo threads over on SSC but not here.
I originally planned to return to Detroit earlier this year and even plotted out the itinerary and finding out how to get to the Henry Ford by transit from downtown. Too bad the trip didn't materialize in the end.
I was there 4 years earlier in 2000. Crazy where the time goes. Thanks for the tour. Had me reminiscing like crazy. I liked Detroit. It has some good bones.
AviationGuy, I think the only major building that was demolished was the Statler but perhaps someone from Detroit would have some insight? It’s been great to see the city’s rebirth, even virtually.
Murphy, those are fire escapes steps on the Book Tower, that was unreal to see it get restored.
North One, thanks for the chuckle - it’s been quite a few years since anyone has associated me with that term - at 51 years old, I’m very okay with that
geomorph, that’s the lobby of the Compuware building - not sure if it still looks like that.
AviationGuy, I think the only major building that was demolished was the Statler but perhaps someone from Detroit would have some insight? It’s been great to see the city’s rebirth, even virtually.
geomorph, that’s the lobby of the Compuware building - not sure if it still looks like that.
The Lafayette and People's Outfitting Company buildings have also been demolished. A lot of new stuff has been built, including on the sites of Statler and People's (the Lafayette site is now a park) and pretty much every building downtown is occupied, as opposed to nearly half the buildings in these photos being vacant.
It does, although the building is currently called One Campus Martius as Compuware has shrunk their workforce. It's still at 100% occupancy (or nearly), though. That fountain shown in the pic was "the tallest indoor water feature in the world" or something like that when it was built. No idea if it still is or not.
SSP Old Timers - Detroit Photo Thread from 2004
I certainly qualify and being 51, well I'm also fully proficient in yelling "get off my lawn!" 
So glad to see it's been repurposed and found new life. 
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