![Illuminated Mural, Katie Craig. Viewable from East Grand Boulevard, a mural on the wall of a nine-story vacant building becomes a beacon in the landscape, symbolizing the action and happenings in the neighborhood. A group of young people from community and public arts programs created the mural using drips of paint that flowed down the wall and splattered. The project worked to connect artists with the building owner, creating a collaborative relationship, with the artists now using the ground floor as studio space. [Photos: DCDC]](https://placesjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/pitera-23-detroit.jpg)
Cities are ecological systems. Their populations grow and shrink. In fact, at least 374 cities worldwide have been losing population since 1950 (and incidentally, Detroit does not top this list; according to German Cultural Foundation’s study “Shrinking Cities,” it ranks 32). Currently, there are many models for urban expansion, few for urban contraction. What we need, then, are not simply patterns or plans for growing or shrinking populations; what we need are appropriate strategies for adapting to inevitable and often unpredictable changes.
Despite the many challenges facing Detroit, despite population loss and economic decline, the city has an extraordinary, perhaps unique, opportunity to craft a new paradigm based on new economic and physical realities and also on its many assets. These assets include major anchor institutions, physical infrastructure, public spaces and networks of community organizations; but at the heart are Detroit’s people and their potential for human capital exchange, creativity and innovation. These assets, and Detroit’s citizens, are my point of departure for this online exhibition of Detroit initiatives, which is centered on amplifying existing creative and alternative projects and events.
A syncopated urban landscape is not a vision of Detroit as a large park. Rather, it acknowledges that the city consists of a series of systems that interact.
The idea of a “syncopated urban landscape” reflects Detroit’s rich music history, and extends it to the city’s landscapes. In music, to syncopate means to take the stronger, more dominant notes and make them weaker, and at the same time to take the weaker notes and make them stronger. In Detroit, something akin to this process has been happening organically, over decades. The vibrant economy of the mid-20th century has been weakening — and yet it remains, and will continue to be a force in the city. And new forces are emerging. The status quo is shifting.
Taken together, the projects presented here suggest that we should work to direct this shift, and not let it simply happen. The goal of a syncopated urban landscape is to reinforce a new asset-based economy — a dynamically balanced network of diverse industries and services at different scales, from the small business to large corporation. Assets grow and change. A flexible and nimble economy grows and changes accordingly.
A syncopated urban landscape is not a vision of Detroit as a large park. Rather, it acknowledges that the city consists of a series of systems that interact and inspire each other. Throughout the United States, cities and towns have been rebranding themselves, often attempting to replace one strong asset with another. This might be helpful as a short-term tactic; but as a long-term strategy the focus on any single asset, no matter how powerful, will likely fall short — as the experience of Detroit shows too well.
The initiatives in the accompanying gallery are organized into three categories:
Productive Landscapes
Heidelberg Project, Tyree Guyton. The Heidelberg Project is a Detroit-based community organization designed to improve lives and neighborhoods through art. Created by local resident Tyree Guyton, the project aims to rebuild under-resourced communities, making them economically viable, enriching lives and welcoming all people. The project was initiated in 1986 through a neighborhood effort to clean up vacant lots, using refuse and colorful paint, to create “lots of art” that integrate the street, sidewalk and vegetation into an urban art landscape. [Photos: Detroit Collaborative Design Center]
Heidelberg Project, Tyree Guyton. The Heidelberg Project is a Detroit-based community organization designed to improve lives and neighborhoods through art. Created by local resident Tyree Guyton, the project aims to rebuild under-resourced communities, making them economically viable, enriching lives and welcoming all people. The project was initiated in 1986 through a neighborhood effort to clean up vacant lots, using refuse and colorful paint, to create “lots of art” that integrate the street, sidewalk and vegetation into an urban art landscape. [Photos: Detroit Collaborative Design Center]
Spirit Garden. The Spirit Garden acted as a catalyst for neighborhood renewal and community enrichment in the Brightmoor section of northwest Detroit. The spiral garden and sandstone sculptures were built by students and artists through a collaboration between Detroit Community Schools and Leland Missionary Baptist Church. The effort has nurtured community partnerships and inspired young people to rebuild their neighborhood through, practical hands-on art and landscape projects. [Photos: DCDC]
Spirit Garden. The Spirit Garden acted as a catalyst for neighborhood renewal and community enrichment in the Brightmoor section of northwest Detroit. The spiral garden and sandstone sculptures were built by students and artists through a collaboration between Detroit Community Schools and Leland Missionary Baptist Church. The effort has nurtured community partnerships and inspired young people to rebuild their neighborhood through, practical hands-on art and landscape projects. [Photos: DCDC]
Spirit Garden. The Spirit Garden acted as a catalyst for neighborhood renewal and community enrichment in the Brightmoor section of northwest Detroit. The spiral garden and sandstone sculptures were built by students and artists through a collaboration between Detroit Community Schools and Leland Missionary Baptist Church. The effort has nurtured community partnerships and inspired young people to rebuild their neighborhood through, practical hands-on art and landscape projects. [Photos: DCDC]
Spirit Garden. The Spirit Garden acted as a catalyst for neighborhood renewal and community enrichment in the Brightmoor section of northwest Detroit. The spiral garden and sandstone sculptures were built by students and artists through a collaboration between Detroit Community Schools and Leland Missionary Baptist Church. The effort has nurtured community partnerships and inspired young people to rebuild their neighborhood through, practical hands-on art and landscape projects. [Photos: DCDC]
Roosevelt Park; Phillip Cooley, Melissa Dittmer, Tadd Heidgerken, Noah Resnick. A collaborative team of designers saw an opportunity to revitalize an underused city park through a volunteer effort. Roosevelt Park is located in front of the Michigan Central Station, a now-iconic abandoned building in western Detroit. The first phase of the park master plan, a reflection garden, in front of the station, was constructed in the summer of 2009 by volunteers who used material and equipment donated from local communities and businesses. The project is ongoing, and currently seeking funding for implementation of the next phase. [Photos: DCDC and designers]
Roosevelt Park; Phillip Cooley, Melissa Dittmer, Tadd Heidgerken, Noah Resnick. A collaborative team of designers saw an opportunity to revitalize an underused city park through a volunteer effort. Roosevelt Park is located in front of the Michigan Central Station, a now-iconic abandoned building in western Detroit. The first phase of the park master plan, a reflection garden, in front of the station, was constructed in the summer of 2009 by volunteers who used material and equipment donated from local communities and businesses. The project is ongoing, and currently seeking funding for implementation of the next phase. [Photos: DCDC and designers]
Roosevelt Park; Phillip Cooley, Melissa Dittmer, Tadd Heidgerken, Noah Resnick. A collaborative team of designers saw an opportunity to revitalize an underused city park through a volunteer effort. Roosevelt Park is located in front of the Michigan Central Station, a now-iconic abandoned building in western Detroit. The first phase of the park master plan, a reflection garden, in front of the station, was constructed in the summer of 2009 by volunteers who used material and equipment donated from local communities and businesses. The project is ongoing, and currently seeking funding for implementation of the next phase. [Photos: DCDC and designers]
Roosevelt Park; Phillip Cooley, Melissa Dittmer, Tadd Heidgerken, Noah Resnick. A collaborative team of designers saw an opportunity to revitalize an underused city park through a volunteer effort. Roosevelt Park is located in front of the Michigan Central Station, a now-iconic abandoned building in western Detroit. The first phase of the park master plan, a reflection garden, in front of the station, was constructed in the summer of 2009 by volunteers who used material and equipment donated from local communities and businesses. The project is ongoing, and currently seeking funding for implementation of the next phase. [Photos: DCDC and designers]
Roosevelt Park; Phillip Cooley, Melissa Dittmer, Tadd Heidgerken, Noah Resnick. A collaborative team of designers saw an opportunity to revitalize an underused city park through a volunteer effort. Roosevelt Park is located in front of the Michigan Central Station, a now-iconic abandoned building in western Detroit. The first phase of the park master plan, a reflection garden, in front of the station, was constructed in the summer of 2009 by volunteers who used material and equipment donated from local communities and businesses. The project is ongoing, and currently seeking funding for implementation of the next phase. [Photos: DCDC and designers]
Roosevelt Park; Phillip Cooley, Melissa Dittmer, Tadd Heidgerken, Noah Resnick. A collaborative team of designers saw an opportunity to revitalize an underused city park through a volunteer effort. Roosevelt Park is located in front of the Michigan Central Station, a now-iconic abandoned building in western Detroit. The first phase of the park master plan, a reflection garden, in front of the station, was constructed in the summer of 2009 by volunteers who used material and equipment donated from local communities and businesses. The project is ongoing, and currently seeking funding for implementation of the next phase. [Photos: DCDC and designers]
Farnsworth Community. The Farnsworth Community, on the near eastside of Detroit, is focused on exploring sustainable living. Community gardens provide produce for local health food stores and restaurants. The community is hoping to expand and thus strengthen a sustainable local agriculture and economy. [Photos by DCDC]
Farnsworth Community. The Farnsworth Community, on the near eastside of Detroit, is focused on exploring sustainable living. Community gardens provide produce for local health food stores and restaurants. The community is hoping to expand and thus strengthen a sustainable local agriculture and economy. [Photos by DCDC]
Some surveys suggest that there are about 40 square miles of undesignated open space (i.e., vacant land and buildings) within the limits of Detroit. This is almost the size of San Francisco — 46.69 square miles — and twice the size of Providence, Rhode Island —18.47 square miles (U.S. Census Bureau). But to be conservative, let’s say there are 30 square miles, and divide that into 800,000 inhabitants (another potentially conservative number). The result: approximately 1,045 square feet of open, green space for each Detroiter. Which suggests that Detroit has the potential to be the greenest city in the United States — a prospect that could influence the quality of life for every resident.
Again, I am not proposing that this green space should be parkland. That notion is unsustainable, and, moreover, has no direct correlation to job creation (another key factor in a citizen’s quality of life). What I am suggesting is that this green space should be conceptualized as a network of “productive landscapes” — spaces that engage the public while also enabling a diverse economy of products and services. An example of a productive landscape in another post-industrial city is Steel Winds, a wind farm in Lackawanna, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. Starting in 2006, Steel Winds returned a former Bethlehem Steel mill to productive use, incorporating a wind farm and public park in the former plant. The result is a place where energy is produced, jobs are created, and people have a place to play.
Urban Ephemera
Ice House, Gregory Holm + Matthew Radune. Ice House Detroit is an art installation by photographer Gregory Holm and architect Matthew Radune. Located on the east side of the city, the project takes one of many abandoned homes slated for demolition and freezes the structure in solid ice. The project is spurred by the desire to raise awareness of the high foreclosure rate and many abandoned homes in the city. It was supported through an online blog and has attracted national and international as well as local attention. The house is being disassembled and the material salvaged rather than demolished and destroyed. [Photos: N. S. Piotrowski]
Ice House, Gregory Holm + Matthew Radune. Ice House Detroit is an art installation by photographer Gregory Holm and architect Matthew Radune. Located on the east side of the city, the project takes one of many abandoned homes slated for demolition and freezes the structure in solid ice. The project is spurred by the desire to raise awareness of the high foreclosure rate and many abandoned homes in the city. It was supported through an online blog and has attracted national and international as well as local attention. The house is being disassembled and the material salvaged rather than demolished and destroyed. [Photos: N. S. Piotrowski]
Hanging Gardens, Team Detroit Marketing. A fire ravaged the historical Forest Arms Building in Midtown Detroit in February 2008. Seventy volunteers from the Team Detroit Marketing group planted 400 plants in hanging containers made of recycled material, and hung them in the windows while the building was being renovated. The seedling grew through the summer, and the matured plants were donated to a nearby community garden. [Photos: DCDC]
Hanging Gardens, Team Detroit Marketing. A fire ravaged the historical Forest Arms Building in Midtown Detroit in February 2008. Seventy volunteers from the Team Detroit Marketing group planted 400 plants in hanging containers made of recycled material, and hung them in the windows while the building was being renovated. The seedling grew through the summer, and the matured plants were donated to a nearby community garden. [Photos: DCDC]
Hanging Gardens, Team Detroit Marketing. A fire ravaged the historical Forest Arms Building in Midtown Detroit in February 2008. Seventy volunteers from the Team Detroit Marketing group planted 400 plants in hanging containers made of recycled material, and hung them in the windows while the building was being renovated. The seedling grew through the summer, and the matured plants were donated to a nearby community garden. [Photos: DCDC]
The Beehive Project, Vanessa Miller + Kate Daughdrill. The beehive project is an art installation by an interdisciplinary community of Detroit artists and thinkers. Artists assembled the structure using recycled material; the structure has functioned as a gathering place, first at a downtown festival and then at a midtown community center. The beehive metaphor serves as a model for community, celebrating a symbol of industry, collaboration and resourcefulness, and reflecting Detroit’s history and hopes for the future. [Photos: DCDC + Vanessa Miller]
The Beehive Project, Vanessa Miller + Kate Daughdrill. The beehive project is an art installation by an interdisciplinary community of Detroit artists and thinkers. Artists assembled the structure using recycled material; the structure has functioned as a gathering place, first at a downtown festival and then at a midtown community center. The beehive metaphor serves as a model for community, celebrating a symbol of industry, collaboration and resourcefulness, and reflecting Detroit’s history and hopes for the future. [Photos: DCDC + Vanessa Miller]
The Beehive Project, Vanessa Miller + Kate Daughdrill. The beehive project is an art installation by an interdisciplinary community of Detroit artists and thinkers. Artists assembled the structure using recycled material; the structure has functioned as a gathering place, first at a downtown festival and then at a midtown community center. The beehive metaphor serves as a model for community, celebrating a symbol of industry, collaboration and resourcefulness, and reflecting Detroit’s history and hopes for the future. [Photos: DCDC + Vanessa Miller]
Illuminated Mural, Katie Craig. Viewable from East Grand Boulevard, a mural on the wall of a nine-story vacant building becomes a beacon in the landscape, symbolizing the action and happenings in the neighborhood. A group of young people from community and public arts programs created the mural using drips of paint that flowed down the wall and splattered. The project worked to connect artists with the building owner, creating a collaborative relationship, with the artists now using the ground floor as studio space. [Photos: DCDC]
Illuminated Mural, Katie Craig. Viewable from East Grand Boulevard, a mural on the wall of a nine-story vacant building becomes a beacon in the landscape, symbolizing the action and happenings in the neighborhood. A group of young people from community and public arts programs created the mural using drips of paint that flowed down the wall and splattered. The project worked to connect artists with the building owner, creating a collaborative relationship, with the artists now using the ground floor as studio space. [Photos: DCDC]
Illuminated Mural, Katie Craig. Viewable from East Grand Boulevard, a mural on the wall of a nine-story vacant building becomes a beacon in the landscape, symbolizing the action and happenings in the neighborhood. A group of young people from community and public arts programs created the mural using drips of paint that flowed down the wall and splattered. The project worked to connect artists with the building owner, creating a collaborative relationship, with the artists now using the ground floor as studio space. [Photos: DCDC]
Illuminated Mural, Katie Craig. Viewable from East Grand Boulevard, a mural on the wall of a nine-story vacant building becomes a beacon in the landscape, symbolizing the action and happenings in the neighborhood. A group of young people from community and public arts programs created the mural using drips of paint that flowed down the wall and splattered. The project worked to connect artists with the building owner, creating a collaborative relationship, with the artists now using the ground floor as studio space. [Photos: DCDC]
Urban environments are composites of long-term and short-term initiatives. Short-term events — major league games, fireworks displays, music festivals or art installations — may last a couple of hours, or a couple of days or weeks, but they can leave a lasting impression on residents, and often they are what attract visitors. They may also leave traces on the city’s physical and psychological landscapes.
Architectural Interventions
2126 Pierce Street, HousingOperative [Thomas Gardner and Matthew Miller]. 2126 Pierce Street is the first new single-family house built in this Detroit neighborhood in almost 80 years, with a gross habitable area of approximately 900 square feet. The project is intended as a framework for thinking about urban re-settlement and domesticity, and, in a modest but significant way, for attending to the needs of the citizens and the neighborhood. The work is independent, minor and vernacular, standing apart and yet contributing to the collective life of the place. [Photos: DCDC and Thomas Gardner]
2126 Pierce Street, HousingOperative [Thomas Gardner and Matthew Miller]. 2126 Pierce Street is the first new single-family house built in this Detroit neighborhood in almost 80 years, with a gross habitable area of approximately 900 square feet. The project is intended as a framework for thinking about urban re-settlement and domesticity, and, in a modest but significant way, for attending to the needs of the citizens and the neighborhood. The work is independent, minor and vernacular, standing apart and yet contributing to the collective life of the place. [Photos: DCDC and Thomas Gardner]
2126 Pierce Street, HousingOperative [Thomas Gardner and Matthew Miller]. 2126 Pierce Street is the first new single-family house built in this Detroit neighborhood in almost 80 years, with a gross habitable area of approximately 900 square feet. The project is intended as a framework for thinking about urban re-settlement and domesticity, and, in a modest but significant way, for attending to the needs of the citizens and the neighborhood. The work is independent, minor and vernacular, standing apart and yet contributing to the collective life of the place. [Photos: DCDC and Thomas Gardner]
Peacemakers Garden International. Gardens flourish alongside a chicken coop in a repurposed building in Detroit’s near Eastside, with a sky for a roof and an earthen floor enclosed by brick walls. The semi-indoor garden, along with an outdoor ‘hooped’ garden and greenhouse on an adjacent lot, supplies produce for recovering addicts in the area. Many of the resident-addicts help in the gardens and are supported by the Peacemakers Ministry, whose mission is to get addicts off the streets and into jobs. [Photos: DCDC]
Peacemakers Garden International. Gardens flourish alongside a chicken coop in a repurposed building in Detroit’s near Eastside, with a sky for a roof and an earthen floor enclosed by brick walls. The semi-indoor garden, along with an outdoor ‘hooped’ garden and greenhouse on an adjacent lot, supplies produce for recovering addicts in the area. Many of the resident-addicts help in the gardens and are supported by the Peacemakers Ministry, whose mission is to get addicts off the streets and into jobs. [Photos: DCDC]
Some estimates suggest that from 2005 to 2009 the number of foreclosures in Detroit exceeded 50,000; as a result the number of abandoned structures might very soon rise sharply. Given the scale of the problem, few will be reinhabited, at least with their prior uses. If they are not renovated, most will be demolished. There appears to be little middle ground. And some might be left standing in limbo, slowly deteriorating — a blight on both the physical and the psychological landscape. Some of the projects shown here offer alternative strategies for reuse.
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