 
E_hemingway
Member
Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 1779
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 10:59 am: |    |
Drove by this morning and saw a number of the windows out and the drop ceilings torn apart. Looks like they really have been going to town on it. |
Wolverine
Member
Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 609
Registered: 04-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 11:03 am: | |
I noticed any effort to protect the building was ceased months ago. On every visit to Detroit, doors open.
(Message edited by wolverine on August 27, 2008) |
English
Member
Username: English
Post Number: 794
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 11:12 am: | |
Former Cass Tech teacher here... sigh. |
Crystal
Member
Username: Crystal
Post Number: 266
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 11:15 am: | |
Offspring of Class of '48 Cass Tech grad here... sigh. |
Digitalvision
Member
Username: Digitalvision
Post Number: 1174
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 11:44 am: | |
Almost hate to say it but with so many scrapper reports on here there should maybe be a megathread. That way the cops and residents can just sift through that to keep an eye out. |
Kova
Member
Username: Kova
Post Number: 155
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 11:47 am: | |
someone should just stat a blog with google maps |
Broken_main
Member
Username: Broken_main
Post Number: 1556
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 11:48 am: | |
CT grad c/o 1983 Please join us September 19th at the DIA to help preserve the old Cass Tech |
D_mcc
Member
Username: D_mcc
Post Number: 1159
Registered: 12-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 11:51 am: | |
Its sad...if only there was a greater real estate market. That old building could be converted into some really beautiful loft spaces or design studios... |
Detroitnerd
Member
Username: Detroitnerd
Post Number: 3096
Registered: 07-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 11:59 am: | |
That's the city's plan: Demolition by neglect. |
Cman710
Member
Username: Cman710
Post Number: 464
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 12:23 pm: | |
As someone not from Detroit, this situation sounds ridiculous. And it really is absurd. It should not be the case that scrappers are allowed to roam the city with reckless abandon. Of course, the massive vacant-ness of the place encourages scrapping, but where is the police protection?
I really feel like the DPD needs to step things up as a prerequisite to other great things happening in the city. Why not start with the scrappers and scrap yards? For one, the police can get tips on activity from people like us, who are more than happy to help. Secondly, why not go after the scrap dealers? This would need to be done regionally, and should be doable.
It is a shame that the city lets these kinds of things happen. |
D_mcc
Member
Username: D_mcc
Post Number: 1160
Registered: 12-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 12:26 pm: | |
Could you file a lawsuit for willful neglect against the city? |
Gravitymachine
Member
Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 2256
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 12:29 pm: | |
did anyone really expect anything different?
i totally agree on making a scrapper megathread |
Cman710
Member
Username: Cman710
Post Number: 465
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 12:30 pm: | |
As someone not from Detroit, this situation sounds ridiculous. And it really is absurd. It should not be the case that scrappers are allowed to roam the city with reckless abandon. Of course, the massive vacant-ness of the place encourages scrapping, but where is the police protection?
I really feel like the DPD needs to step things up as a prerequisite to other great things happening in the city. Why not start with the scrappers and scrap yards? For one, the police can get tips on activity from people like us, who are more than happy to help. Secondly, why not go after the scrap dealers? This would need to be done regionally, and should be doable.
It is a shame that the city lets these kinds of things happen. |
Ndavies
Member
Username: Ndavies
Post Number: 3052
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - 12:38 pm: | |
If they had torn down the building like originally planned, the scrapping wouldn't be an issue. |
Charlottepaul
Member
Username: Charlottepaul
Post Number: 2647
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2008 - 9:54 pm: | |
The interesting thing, and in my opinion, what makes Cass Tech scrappers different from say those going into a vacant home, for example, is the fact that Cass Tech is owned by the city more or less. Technically speaking, owners of privately owned property can do whatever they want with their property. If they want to let it sit and rot and leave doors open for people to come, they can do that. On the other hand, the city does not have the right to allow its property to go into disrepair. Essentially publically owned property has an obligation to be protected. |
Cman710
Member
Username: Cman710
Post Number: 471
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2008 - 10:07 pm: | |
Hi Charlottepaul,
I agree for the most part. I do believe that the city has a special obligation to keep its structures and property from being vandalized (disrepair would also be good, but given the city's current record, that might be asked to much). For me, the city has an obligation to do everything that it can to maintain its properties, and to prevent them from losing their value.
I do think that private owners should be allowed more latitude in how they maintain their property, but I would not go as far as you, Charlotte. I do think that private owners should be made to make reasonable efforts to keep their properties secure if they are vacant. Ultimately, however, it is the city's responsibility to take criminals to task who vandalize and scrap properties. |
Charlottepaul
Member
Username: Charlottepaul
Post Number: 2649
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2008 - 1:23 pm: | |
"...it is the city's responsibility to take criminals to task who vandalize and scrap properties."
Agreed. That is the real issue here. |
Ladia
Member
Username: Ladia
Post Number: 102
Registered: 05-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2008 - 2:04 pm: | |
the old cass tech is historical,they should keep it preserved as something. |
Sean_of_detroit
Member
Username: Sean_of_detroit
Post Number: 1679
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2008 - 3:02 pm: | |
The more I think about it, the more surprised I am that it is still vacant and unprotected.
Any idea how much DPS wants for leasing or selling it?
(Message edited by Sean_of_Detroit on August 31, 2008) |
Ravine
Member
Username: Ravine
Post Number: 2654
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2008 - 3:08 pm: | |
Don't be surprised if DPS has no answer to that question, Sean_of; it is more their style to just walk away and leave the building, even if it contains good, usable (or even brand-new) materials, to sit there and rot in the sun like a dead animal by the roadside. |
Leoqueen
Member
Username: Leoqueen
Post Number: 2163
Registered: 07-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2008 - 4:08 pm: | |
I started a thread a few weeks ago when I noticed that vandals had gone into Cass Tech to paint on all of the window on the South side of the building, and then opened all of the windows exposing the building to the elements. Regardless of the politics of the DPS,the way this city abandons its older yet still useful structures, etc., or the fact that I have an emotional tie to Cass because I am a 1972 alum, I am still of the mind that because of the history of this place and that it is, at least for the time being, a sturdy structure, it can be refitted in some useful way. |
Gravitymachine
Member
Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 2264
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2008 - 4:26 pm: | |
there are also scrappers in the school across 75 from the bing facility between clay and holbrook. they have all of the ground floor enterances covered (from what i can see driving by) with those big metal panels too, but they still are tearing out window frames on the 2nd and 3rd floors. |