  Spirit2028 Member Username: Spirit2028 Post Number: 28 Registered: 01-2007 |
A recent video of the Metropolitan Building. www.youtube.com/watch?v=adMKG2 glttw | ||
Gsgeorge Member Username: Gsgeorge Post Number: 703 Registered: 08-2006 |
Dude, nothing like spelling it out for the whole world to see and ruining a fairly well-kept secret. Can't wait to see what's taken from this place and/or more destroyed now thanks to the in-depth look you're giving everyone. Won't it be great when all the Royal Joak highschoolers find this video and start invading the place like they do the MCS, precipitating its otherwise lumbersome decay. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4097 Registered: 10-2003 |
If you were going to post this, at all, you probably should have done it in the existing thread on this building: https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/5/172588.html | ||
Hockey_player Member Username: Hockey_player Post Number: 296 Registered: 10-2003 |
So irritating. | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 2338 Registered: 08-2007 |
amaturish, childish, innane ... a classic example of what is wrong with urbex assholes. | ||
Navi Member Username: Navi Post Number: 37 Registered: 09-2005 |
You do realize that there are people that go to these places that do other things besides documenting, right?  | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1700 Registered: 05-2005 |
perhaps these videos can be used as evidence in your prosecution? | ||
Artistic Member Username: Artistic Post Number: 90 Registered: 09-2006 |
Are you kidding me with this....a video of a vacant building with some verbal documentation of the moment is getting boo hooed. I found it interesting. All people who have the desire to destroy or strip out have done it and will continue to discover other building's and will do the same. You did not seem to destroy anything, you simply walked through it, that is the illegal thing. | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 1686 Registered: 11-2005 |
"Can't wait to see what's taken from this place and/or more destroyed" I agree in most cases. You don't want to encourage it. But with the Metropolitan, the front door was, literally, wide open. What's left to take? What's left to destroy? I'm a hard-core preservationist, but between the contamination, unsound structure, ineptness of the owner (the City of Detroit), location, etc., etc., this one's prospects of saving are slim to none. Next time you're in it (or close enough to get a good look), take a look at how the windows were done in this building and the damage to the brick around them. | ||
Mortgageking Member Username: Mortgageking Post Number: 259 Registered: 12-2006 |
The narration sounds like it could be Pat Caputo's son. | ||
Gsgeorge Member Username: Gsgeorge Post Number: 706 Registered: 08-2006 |
Rhymeswith, I have been many times, and I can say that the building is far from being in a hopeless state and is in fact quite salvageable. And the door is only wide open when it's left wide open by inept urban explorers; typically the door is shut and is quite hard to push open. It is true that the CoD does not do a good job securing this building, but there is plenty left there to save and preserve, including the original wrought-iron railings, plaster & tile work in the lobby, and more. I spoke to the developer a week ago and he assures me that the building will not be destroyed by the city without his consent. He and a partner have full development rights, but the CoD owns the building and is responsible for its upkeep & security. However, plans still exist for the building (apartments for rent) and it is not hopeless. Yes, the windows would have to be replaced, but big deal. The building is structurally sound and still has many of its original architectural elements that are very desirable for developers and tenants. But for now the fact that the building is open should be kept quiet, for the sake of the city, its citizens, and the building itself. We cannot afford another tragic raping of an historic structure (MCS). If scrappers or irresponsible people et. al come across this youtube video, it will be Christmas in February for them. So I say to Spirit and others like him: do the smart thing, and STFU and don't ruin a good thing just because you want to show people you visited an abandoned building. | ||
Rjlj Member Username: Rjlj Post Number: 774 Registered: 11-2003 |
Who has development rights and until when? | ||
Gsgeorge Member Username: Gsgeorge Post Number: 707 Registered: 08-2006 |
Since we spoke in confidentiality, it would be improper of me to display his name online, but I will say that it is a noted downtown nightclub owner. He and a partner have development rights until 2014. Back when I first visited the Metropolitan Building in 2003 I knew it needed to be saved against all odds. Not only that but it seemed (for a while at least) to be the area's "best kept urban exploration secret". A few months back I started tracking down its ownership. As it turns out the CoD does, in fact, own the building, and are responsible for its security. However, the CoD must bow to the developers who have exclusive rights to the building thanks to a needless-to-say "interesting" agreement back in the mid-1990s. After some research, and a lot of asking around downtown, I tracked down the developer, who was, as it turns out, right under my nose the whole time. He assures me that the building is safe, so long as it's in his hands, but he's certainly unhappy about everyone, and this includes me, tromping through the place like we own it -- which we don't -- and is rightfully concerned about its preservation. The more people know about this building, the more they will try to get in, and the more it will deteriorate. This video does not help. | ||
Ktkeller08 Member Username: Ktkeller08 Post Number: 26 Registered: 10-2008 |
I guess I'm not an urban explorer nor am I really a Detroit regular, but even I knew this building was vacant. Maybe I am ignorant to as to who urban explorers are (I assume they destroy stuff?) but it doesn't take a whole lot of looking around to find out that the Metropolitan building is vacant (and the same goes for every major vacant building in and around Detroit). I guess I just thought it wasn't much of a secret at all. | ||
Mauser765 Member Username: Mauser765 Post Number: 2973 Registered: 01-2004 |
If that building being abandoned and wide open was ever a secret, it was the worlds worst secret. That bitch has been open for years and years and the people on this thread are the first Ive ever heard of who might be surprised by this. How about bitching about some owners for a change. Thats whos fault an abandoned building is, period. | ||
Leannam1989 Member Username: Leannam1989 Post Number: 185 Registered: 06-2008 |
Although I don't think it's wise to trespass, or to video it and put it on the internet, I don't see how it's breaking and entering when the door is wide open. The owners should be prosecuted for not securing the building. Most people who go into the building probably plan to do something other than take videos. | ||
Rjlj Member Username: Rjlj Post Number: 775 Registered: 11-2003 |
Thanks for the information Gsgeorge. You pretty much imply that nothing will happen to the building for the next 5 years. Leannam1989, next time I see the front door of your home open, I hope you don;t mind that I just walk in. | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 2351 Registered: 08-2007 |
the guy with develepment rights is Larry Mongo, actually it is his wife, but that is just a niffnaw. I don't have time to do into the details, but in under the Archer administration's rush to spur the rehabbing of downtown they tossed around development rights like water in a hurricane. | ||
Cman710 Member Username: Cman710 Post Number: 593 Registered: 07-2006 |
It is true that it is not breaking and entering to walk through a wide open door. It would be trespass, however. | ||
Gsgeorge Member Username: Gsgeorge Post Number: 708 Registered: 08-2006 |
Ktkeller, not all urban explorers destroy stuff, in fact that is usually a small minority of them and they give the 'sport' a bad name. But urban explorers usually do their work discreetly, and do not post videos online of their every move. Usually they go for mysterious photos, or just to experience a building that has been long forgotten. Hanging out on the roof is common, as is exploring seldom-seen corners of structures, like utility rooms, attics, and sub-basements. | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 1711 Registered: 11-2005 |
"The owners should be prosecuted for not securing the building." So what? The City of Detroit prosecute the City of Detroit itself? Good luck.  | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 1717 Registered: 11-2005 |
By the way, if any of our fair DY readers DO go urban exploring in the Metropolitan Building, I urge you all to wear masks or respirators, cuz that schitt is as Toxic as Britney Spears. No lyin'. | ||
Gsgeorge Member Username: Gsgeorge Post Number: 719 Registered: 08-2006 |
Rhymeswith, thanks for the tip, but I feel fine. | ||
Spirit2028 Member Username: Spirit2028 Post Number: 33 Registered: 01-2007 |
Gnome, Thanks for the info. You are indeed correct. I spoke with Larry last evening and he confirmed it. He will be working with the developer of the Argonaut Building hopefully in the near future to turn things around at the Metropolitan. Despite what a lot of people think who post their opinions on this site, the reason I showed this video was not to accelerate the dismantling of an architectual gem. It was to get people talking about what to do etc. etc. etc... and to some degree maybe we can say mission accomplished. Now let's stay focused and make sure something positive happens. Larry surprisingly was not upset with me but unlike a lot of people on this forum he was concerned for me personally. He knows the building is not secure and homeless people at times will set up camp. Rather than wishing a homeless person would knock me off as many people hope for, he told me this type of exploring is dangerous. That point is accepted and duly noted. There may come a day when all abandoned buildings in Detroit have found a re-use. That day will come only after people collectively put on their thinking caps and come up with creative solutions. And while I'm posting let me add a few more comments. "Navi" is that you behind the camera lens ? "Lmichigan" thanks for providing the link to the previous thread and "Gsgeorge" can you share with everyone again the proper protocol for posting videos on the web. I wasn't aware of any of this until you decided to lay down the rules. As a side note, I was one of those kids who couldn't color between the lines. And finally thanks for everyone who adds something in general to any post. I get a wealth of information from this blog that rivals anything I can get from the TV stations, the radio, the newspapers or any other source. It seems this blog is 2 steps ahead of anyone else. And for that reason I am grateful. |
