I was born in Detroit [1] and while I wasn't exactly raised there, I did spend many summers there (technically, Royal Oak [2], a suburb just north of Detroit) so I have somewhat of a softspot for it (although I'm sure that one winter spent there would cure me of that affliction).
But certain events (Organizaiton of Petroleum Exporting Countries / 1973) [3] caused a once great city of over two million to decline, leaving much of the city abandoned. And a shame too, since many of the buildings are (or were) beautiful. Or at least something other than steel, glass and concrete.
So in coming across The Fabulous Ruins of Detroit [4] (via life from los(t) angeles [5]) I'm getting this great feeling of nastalgia. Not that I've seen many of the buildings pictured, but enough of them and it's a shame to see them destroyed [6]. I mean, how many apartment buildings [7] do you see with corner based semi-turreted coner balconies?
And okay, I have a fondness for brick buildings. I mean, can you imagine living or working in a building this grand? [8]
Sigh.
[1] http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/
[2] http://www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us/
[3] http://www.buyandhold.com/bh/en/education/history/2000/opec1.html
[4] http://detroityes.com/home.htm
[6] http://detroityes.com/hudreq/index.html
[7] http://detroityes.com/hudreq/index.html