Now going on 7 years living in the city, I was first exposed to the streets of Detroit at the all so innocent age of 11. Detroit was more than just a city I went to from time to time as a kid; it was where my mom was receiving her treatment for a terminal case of Leukemia. She fought and survived this rare and devastating disease. I spent almost every night of those years in and around the Medical district on Mack Ave. Before long I was exploring areas of Brush Park that most people sensible enough to know better would never venture through.

By the time I reached High school I was becoming more and more advantageous in Detroit. It wasn’t just the urban decay that got me, but also the underground nightlife of Detroit Techno parties known around the world. By 1997 I was deeply emerged in the underground rave culture and its vices. My parallel worlds of suburban schooling and Detroit inner city exploits would stand in great contrast for years. Never feeling like I fit into the whole suburban lifestyle and its many deceptions of false wealth and stature, I opted to move to the heart of the city and begin life as I saw fit.

I was born and raised here in metro Detroit. It’s hard to even think about living in another city. Until I was in High School, I lacked the freedom to make it downtown unless it was with my family going to Old Tiger Stadium or a Wings game at the Joe; Basically normal family stuff. Fascinated with the design and abundance of buildings the city had to offer, I could not get the city out of my thoughts. This led to dreams of being lost inside abandoned skyscrapers. Possibly the Train Station or the Book Tower, I remember that it was mostly dark, smelly, and filled with trash and smoke. I was about ten years old in my dream, roaming inside a large abandoned building, looking for windows as to gauge where I was.

When I was a bit older, I was still drawn to the city, mostly going to concerts or shows downtown. Somewhere along the way, Techno and Detroit’s rave scene sucked me in, and I found myself partying through the night in dirty warehouses across the far corners of the city. After high school I attended Wayne State University, before landing a job in a prominent downtown office. While making my daily commute, I would pass by the Packard Auto Plant. The size and immensity had something to offer my curiosity. The aging rust covered structure was just begging to be entered. In fact, a couple years later I broke my cherry with the Packard. Exploring, and being somewhere I knew I shouldn’t be triggered a huge rush of adrenaline. I was inside… and I was hooked.