Tourists in Detroit?

[Tyger]

So, this morning there was a talk on 89x about having vans go around tour Detroit.

Heres the show:

http://www.89xradio.com/podcast/0125102.mp3

What do you think?

When they talk about a guy taking photos of Detroit I think they mean:

http://www.marchandmeffre.com/index.html

(I totally want to go to these places)

[AstralCrux]

We get tourists, and there are tour groups you can take. I'll have to listen to the radio show clip to get a more specific answer for you.

[AstralCrux]

The thing about the gang tours... I would think it would discourage criminal activity. You'd get busted too easy with a huge bus full of people as witnesses. Though, criminals aren't always bright, some are deviously so. It could backfire in a bus bombing type of way.

We already have a tour of Detroit's ruins. I'd go on it, but I just haven't bothered to look into it enough to go. It would be fun.

[Msterbeau]

There's an over abundance of people shooting the decay in Detroit. It's cool to shoot from an artistic perspective... but at the same time, people should be trying to focus on what's positive and worthwhile here. At the very least, take people to see places that could be purchased and renovated cheaply to encourage regrowth.

[pomba gira]

I wanted to do "alternative" tours of Detroit when I lived down there, but never got the gumption to actually put the idea into action. Not necessarily focusing on the decay aspect, but places like Elmwood Cemetery, the Heidelberg Project, and a few places with really sweet tagger art.

I agree with Marc, though... if someone is going to do this on a larger scale there should be a more positive focus. And I have extreme issues with the idea of people gawking at the less fortunate like they're some kind of zoo exhibit.

Edited January 25, 2010 by pomba gira

[Msterbeau]

It's not just at the people.. The whole Urban exploration thing amongst photographers and smaller media is getting crazy.

[Tyger]

There's an over abundance of people shooting the decay in Detroit. It's cool to shoot from an artistic perspective... but at the same time, people should be trying to focus on what's positive and worthwhile here. At the very least, take people to see places that could be purchased and renovated cheaply to encourage regrowth.

Id like to do a bit of both. Id like to go around and capture the decaying parts of the city, and also capture the flourishing parts.

I hear of certain places in Detroit growing and becoming safe. Gated communities and such. Id like to document those.

I like the decaying parts of the city because in some parts it still has a great amount of history. I like finding things that are still there from the past like ruins and such, so to find places that havnt been touched is what I like taking pictures of.

[AstralCrux]

Outer Dr. has some great communities located off it. The northern part seems well maintained. Beautiful homes and such.

[pomba gira]

Id like to do a bit of both. Id like to go around and capture the decaying parts of the city, and also capture the flourishing parts.

I hear of certain places in Detroit growing and becoming safe. Gated communities and such. Id like to document those.

There are, and always have been, a lot of thriving, well-maintained neighborhoods in Detroit. And not just the really upscale ones like the golf course and Palmer Woods. The fact that so many are unaware of this just underscores what Marc & I are saying.

[Tyger]

There are, and always have been, a lot of thriving, well-maintained neighborhoods in Detroit. And not just the really upscale ones like the golf course and Palmer Woods. The fact that so many are unaware of this just underscores what Marc & I are saying.

I dont live anywhere near Detroit (right across the border doesnt count). I havent been exposed to it, and Ill admit it, Im a very ignorant person. I dont pay attention much to things. I would love to see Detroit as it is, but Ive only driven in a few parts of it. All Ive seen is right downtown around where City is. So its not much.

[AstralCrux]

I dont live anywhere near Detroit (right across the border doesnt count). I havent been exposed to it, and Ill admit it, Im a very ignorant person. I dont pay attention much to things. I would love to see Detroit as it is, but Ive only driven in a few parts of it. All Ive seen is right downtown around where City is. So its not much.

I think predominantly Pomba was referring to the fact that the suburban Michiganders don't have a clue about Detroit. And, that is a shame. So many are afraid of Detroit- I run across it alot with coworkers or new friends, because they never spend time in Detroit. Those of us, myself included, that grew up in Detroit know that there are some things that are not to be missed. We've seen the good and the bad- and damn there's alot of good!

Trying to inform those not from MI is even harder, because our statistics suck. We're on the top 10 for murders. We make compton look good. I've met people from Compton afraid of going down into Detroit. (I work in hospitality, so I get a really interesting perspective about what people think because I talk to them about it)

[Tyger]

I think predominantly Pomba was referring to the fact that the suburban Michiganders don't have a clue about Detroit. And, that is a shame. So many are afraid of Detroit- I run across it alot with coworkers or new friends, because they never spend time in Detroit. Those of us, myself included, that grew up in Detroit know that there are some things that are not to be missed. We've seen the good and the bad- and damn there's alot of good!

Trying to inform those not from MI is even harder, because our statistics suck. We're on the top 10 for murders. We make compton look good. I've met people from Compton afraid of going down into Detroit. (I work in hospitality, so I get a really interesting perspective about what people think because I talk to them about it)

I get that. But I think Windsor (or atleast close to downtown Windsor) should be more aware of what going on across our border. I mean we live 5 minutes drive, not even that, if there was not a border. I think its silly that people dont open there eye.

Im not afraid of Detroit, I just never get around.

[angry_darkness]

I love Detroit, it is so full of rich history. when my friend from Iowa was here I took him all over the city and showed him as much I could, and of course I took him to the city club on Saturday night. It would be cool to have tours of the historical parts of the city.