For decades this Italian Gothic tower hovered over the skyline of Old Detroit. For most of its' existence the Book was a premier hotel. In the 1980s a declining economy forced the troubled hotel shut. The historic Book Cadillac sat abandoned for more than 25 years. It was sparred the wrecking ball more than once. The Coleman Young administration favored knocking it down, but it proved to be too costly to the city. Years went by as the elements and thieves pryed away at the structure leaving their mark. Detroiters protested the idea of destroying it until an ambitious renovation plan was announced by then Mayor Kilpatrick. Today this building stands before us, restored, and as magnificent as the day it was built. Now known as the Westin Book Cadillac, its' doors are once again open to the world.

Just over one hundred years ago this city set out on a mission to change the world. The invention of the mass assembly line changed Detroit and America. Detroit grew and so did Packard as it churned out perfect replicas of classic designs. Luxury and flawless detail were the trademarks of the Packard brand and helped it become the goliath that it became. As time passed, a half-century went by and the brand lost luster as other classics like Cadillac and Chrysler took over as the dominating luxury designers of the day. The Albert Khan designed factory that had undergone so many additions over the years slowly started to go empty. Studebaker Automotive absorbed the Packard Auto Co. in a foolish attempt to salvage their ever increasingly obsolete and irrelevant line of cars. By 1966 they decided to “exit” the auto industry all together.

Today the empty carcass of the old factory is in the process of being scrapped of every last ounce of metal. Thieves have begun removing the steel and disrupting sewer / water lines in some areas, drastically compromising the overall structure of the site. Even the bricks will be gone in a few short years. As the economy crumbles so does the Packard. Explorers, graffiti artist and scrap thieves all leave their mark on the factory as they come and go. Recently, the sale of the famous marble doorway at auction gives hope that eventually the epic saga of this once mighty factory will come to a close…one way, or the other.

Leaning over Comerica Park like a brooding dark mass, the Broderick tower is an epic symbol of loss and despair for the Detroit historic community. Abandoned over a decade ago the 32-floor tower sits on the edge of Grand Circus Park. Its noble presence calls to urban explorers and those who are captivated by the site of towering decay and immense blight. Dusty and painted windows leave passers by with only a slight glimpse of the abandoned treasures that lie inside. Doctor’s equipment and law records are heaped in piles through out the building. Amazing pieces of antique furniture lie curiously placed from the bottom retail stores all the ways to the elegant Parisian penthouse. A view from the roof of this stately giant will grant you a sight like no other building in the city; An unimpeded 360-degree view of Detroit. Engulfed in the center of the urban metropolis you can see all of Bell Isle and as far as Southfield. In the distance you can even make out the skyline of Pontiac, over 30 miles away. My exploration of the Broderick Tower was one I will never be able to forget. Bogged down in legal and financial “mud” I don’t know if Detroit will ever see this great building return to its former gloried days. I believe it stands a chance, only if people see it for its true beauty and dedication to craftsmanship… and not its current unsightliness.

Long forgotten, and tucked in the corner of Grand Circus Park lies the United Artists Theatre. At one time its halls resonated with the sounds of movies and people, but now the only sound present is from water that seeps through the roof and debris falling to the floor. Towering above is an 18-story office building that has met a simpler fate. Now left behind for over two decades this building exhibits the same familiar sighs of blight as so many others from the same era: scrappers, vandals and the elements. There are minor traces of the tenants left that once occupied this space. Filled with master craftsmanship displayed in the plasterwork of the United Artist Theater and its Spanish design, it is unique to Detroit.

This blog and its commentary are inspiried by the above 2004 Detroit Free Press article.

The “Big Twelve Towers of Neglect” was published by the Detroit Free Press in 2004. This article more than any other set clear benchmarks for urban explorers in Detroit. Not only did it set the standard, but also gave us goals. Even though some buildings are now forever out of reach the list still remains with other notoriously neglected buildings taking their place. In later blogs we will cover all the buildings of the original Big Twelve and others that we have deemed next on the list. The Dirty Dozen blog will give you a good background on these buildings, a common starting point for the first of many future blogs relating to these buildings. As always, you will be taken on an inside tour of most neglected buildings and areas of the city that can truly be called onlynDetroit.

The Fine Arts building is a dilapidated 7-story office building owned by Olympia Entertainment. Its future is unclear. There is a possibility it may be renovated, but given the fact that the inside has nearly completely collapsed to the lobby, it will likely be torn down. In fact, this building is so dangerous, the sidewalk in front has been closed by the city.

The Adams theatre is a small red brick building that sits on Elizabeth Street. It is tightly boarded up making access extremely limited. Once inside, ornate architecture and plasterwork can still be observed. It is rich with history, but it has now succumbed to the elements of the city like so many others like it. Its future is unclear, perhaps it will be saved.

The Metropolitan Building is one of the most spectacularly crafted pieces of architecture in this entire city. It has also been of great fascination to me since I discovered it back in high-school. Years later I would have the chance to explore one of the great neo-gothic goliaths left toady. My first solo exploration of a large building was one I will never forget. The title, “Diamonds and Cuffs”, refers to this first exploration of the once lustrous jewelers market, and my eight hour escapade of urban adventuring. All the while the DPD parked outside, waitingfor me. The evening I spent inside for the first time, and the photgraphs taken were the motivating force leading me to create this websites.