| Jump to bottom |
lecture
I'm sorry I can't be there Monday, I have to work that evening. Can you get somebody to videotape it so you can share it?
Fisher Building views, etc.
To Kevg below, in Troy -- ArchBlogger would be delighted if you posted the Fisher Bldg. image on your facebook page. Just credit A.B! Additionally, he would be THRILLED to see the view from your office. A.B.'s been wanting to find some up-high vantage points from which to document downtown in great light. You -- or anyone -- can reach A.B. directly at:
mhodges@detnews.com
And to the rest of you who have posted comments -- A.B. would like to thank and applaud you, since he knows the sign-up for this bulletin board is a bit like negotiating a maze. Cheerz, and keep looking up at buildings!
Fisher Building
Great shot of the Fisher Tower, I can see my office on the 22nd floor. If you ever want a great shot from my balcony viewing south and west, let me know. BTW, can I post this image on my FB page?
Is Susanka an Architect?
Susanka is an architect, a member of the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects, and formerly a principal with Mulfinger, Susanka, Mahady & Partners in Minnesota.
Is Susanka an Architect?
Ms. Susanka is not listed as a licensed architect in North Carolina on the states Board of Architecture website. If she is not a licensed architect, don't refer to her as an architect! If she is, have her contact the board to correct the error. Sounds like she may simply be a "designer" being referred to as an architect, which is overstating her qualifications.
Cherry Hill Village?
Cherry Hill Village in Canton is a local implementation of New Urbanist planning. Early phases are great, but the downturn in the economy has really hurt later phases and crippled the intended development of the downtown area.
LAFAYETTE BUILDING
I see the windows of this building when I go into Little Caesars meetings at the Fox building. The messages are always interesting. It's a shame that it has to come down. If a park goes up instead, I always prefer nature to an abandoned building. But if nothing goes up, I sure prefer an abandoned building to an abandoned lot.
Don't Forget Washington Boulevard
Not quite on topic, but don't forget their urban renewal project for Washington Boulevard (1979) that I would also classify as a "missed opportunity." Thankfully it was undone and returned to a more European style.
Inside vs outside
Interesting that you bring up the Auburn Hills YMCA in the context of insides trumping outsides. Have you been inside? A dear friend who is exceptionally sensitive to any space he occupies became visibly distressed the first time he entered that building. He was completely put off by the MASSIVE support column that confronts the visitor like an impenetrable wall as you step through the door. The building looks cool from the outside, but I agree with my friend - due solely to those columns, I hate the inside, especially the entrance areas.
Guerilla art
Hey, nice article about HDL--it reminded me of the buildings that were painted Tiggerific Orange by Object Orange (for a reminder, check out http://video.yahoo.com/watch/80897/1045734). Keep up the good work.
ArchBlogger posts
On a grey wet summer Saturday morning, I just took the coolest tour of SE Michigan art and architecture w/o leaving my easy chair. A big shout out to Michael Hodges for his beautiful photos and clever commentary. Keep up the excellent work!
The teepees on Cass
A tip of the feathered headdress to you both, gentlemen. Great photo, and the usual illuminating commentary from Mr. Arch.
Chelsea and Ypsi
Thank you for your photos and commentary on Chelsea and Ypsi. I left MI 28 years ago and spent many enjoyable days in those towns. One of my prized posessions is an antique trunk purchased in Depot Town in the early 1970's. You missed photos of Ypsi's resident symbol of manhood, in the middle of a street, as I recall.
A suggestion for future columns: Milan and the Irish Hills area, including Brooklyn. My grandfather had a cottage in the Irish Hills and I rememeber visiting Brooklyn as a young boy and recall it being a quintessential Midwest farming town.
Depending on how much time you have, continue west to Jackson.......
Ypsilanti Architectural History
Come back again and again!
BTW, all of our downtown and our blocks and blocks of stately homes and churches are contained within the second largest contiguous Historic District in Michigan, second only to Grand Rapids. And all of the homes you showed and more belonged to the many business people, bankers and educators who founded and developed Ypsilanti. The twin tower church you featured is thee First Presbyterian. Our beautiful Victorian farm homes are along Forest Avenue to the north of the city and around the outskirts of town.
If I may contribute somethng I wrote for the Preserve America program ...
Less than two generations after mid-eighteenth century French explorer de LaSalle navigated the Huron River, one of the larger tributaries that feeds the Great Lakes, three large tracts of land known as the French Claims, including the site of a key pre-1780 trading post at the intersect of the Sauk and Potawatomi trails and the Huron River, are combined (1823) by three eastern settlers, Woodward, Stewart and Harwood, to plat a city. Woodward names it (1825) for Greek patriot, Demetrius Ypsilantis. Ypsilanti soon becomes Michigan's second city, after Detroit.
Settlement and economic development are Ypsilanti's initial drives. The Huron River quickly transitions from bateau byway to hydro resource for Ypsilanti mills and factories. Settlers build schools (1824) and apprentice teachers (1835). New roads from Detroit to Ypsilanti and westbound carry adventurous settlers, as many as 2000 per week at time, while Ypsilanti's burgeoning milled and finished goods flow east in great abundance. Following on the heels of Michigan statehood (1837), the railroad reaches Ypsilanti and dramatically expands commerce (1838).
Building upon its solid commercial base, Frontier America's cultural needs and teacher shortage are answered in Ypsilanti by the founding of Michigan Normal (1849), now Eastern Michigan University, which broadens Ypsilanti's social, civic and workforce skills. Opening the frontier also demands new farming implements answered by A. O. Thompson, the call for construction equipment answered by Michigan Ladder, and railroad engineering genius fulfilled by Elijah McCoy, father of "The Real McCoy." Following the many inventive geniuses in Ypsilanti, Henry Ford's unique manufacturing drive helps raise the conomic bar less than a century later (1930s) with automobile production in Ypsilanti. Ford takes us to even greater heights with his WWII effort, as his Willow Run auto plant rapidly converts to B-24 bomber assembly, building one an hour, 8000 total, setting the stage for Ypsilanti's post-war economic boom. New economic initiatives continue to today as Ypsilanti reinvents itself from heavy manufacturing to technology, health care, and other new industries through the SPARK business incubator, B2B youth entrepreneur programs, and other civic/business/university partnerships.
As for our 19th century architecture ...
Ypsilanti's formal embrace of preservation is its rejection of Urban Renewal (1960s) and its commitment to preservation by ordinance. Ypsilanti can boast of our intact 19th Century center city, our multi-cultural community heritage, and our vibrant mercantile, arts and entertainment-focused downtown ringed by elegant homes, walkable neighborhood streets, inviting landscaped parks, our riverfront, and the Depot Town district. All are protected within our Historic District. Our Historic Commission guides continued restorations. And activities of our Historic Museum and Archive, Historic Foundation, Automobile History Museum, Fire Museum, the oldest continuous 4th of July Parade in the United States, and numerous other cultural and entertainment festivals support Ypsilanti Preservation.
It's our geography ...
The confluence of the Indian trails made it highly desireable for commerce. The river gave us power. And the railroad (Michigan Central) made Ypsilanti one of its largest rail yards, building not just a lovely depot, but a 6500 square foot brick Italianate Freighthouse. Only Jackson's yard became larger in time, due to the intersect of north-south and east-west rail lines. Ann Arbor's lovely depot was never paired with a large freight yard and freighthouse.
And there you have it.
Please do come back ... often. In October 2010, ride the train to Ypsilanti and stay a while.
Thanks.
architecture blog
Finally, an architectural blog for the area.
Hard to find on the website, but definitely worth it.
| Jump to top |
