Perils in Detroit – A Warning for Historic Preservation Elsewhere

January 3, 2011 by Marie Posted in Culture, History, Lowell, Politics 3 Comments

The ruined Spanish-Gothic interior of the United Artists Theater in Detroit. The cinema was built in 1928 by C Howard Crane, and finally closed in 1974.

Something for everyone in Lowell to keep in mind as the struggle to save the city continues.  Seeing the decaying theaters and churches it makes you think of the effort to save Smith Baker Center before it becomes a total loss.

Check out this link at The Guardian in the UK.

3 Responses to Perils in Detroit – A Warning for Historic Preservation Elsewhere

  1. Bob Forrant says:

    One only need look at these photos to see how we’ve squandered the nation’s urban history and how the systematic neglect of the cities and failed and sometimes nonexistent urban policy by both Dems and Reps has created what for me amounts to a national disaster. The ‘Motor City’s’ demise is a blot on our entire system of government, an indication of a failed industrial policy, and a serious indictment of how the nation has handled urban segregation/equality issues. Painfully sad set of photos for me to look at.

  2. corey says:

    Agreed. While Detroit takes the concept of “boom town” and “company town” to an extreme (I’m saying the economy was never healthy because it was never diverse and the population was never healthy because it was never very rooted), there is no excuse for how bad things have really gotten out there.

  3. JoeS says:

    Ironically, Detroit’s businesses welcomed the interstate highway system to expand the market for their automobiles, yet that very system provided the flexibility to move businesses out of the city into previously virgin land.