  Fareastsider Member Username: Fareastsider Post Number: 125 Registered: 08-2006 |
I found this interesting group of homes near Gratiot&I-94. Does anyone know about this spot. The subdivision name? What Private Claim it would be in? I found it while looking around on Google Earth I got the aerial image and some ground shots. I know that some of you guys can come up with some older maps of the area. Google earth close up http://i141.photobucket.com/al bums/r50/fareastsider/jamesCt. jpg further out http://i141.photobucket.com/al bums/r50/fareastsider/JamesCt2 .jpg ground shot http://i141.photobucket.com/al bums/r50/fareastsider/Detroit2 08.jpg ground shot http://i141.photobucket.com/al bums/r50/fareastsider/Detroit2 07-1.jpg 1949 aerial for fun http://techtools.culma.wayne.e du/media/wayne/1949/ha-3-136.p df 1956 aerial...look at the mark from I-94 excavation! http://techtools.culma.wayne.e du/media/wayne/1956/ga-1-61.pd f The links are the best way i know how....i know that the pros can find the street in the old aerials... | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 560 Registered: 10-2006 |
That is very very unusual, esp. for Detroit. Most ordinances require that every property have access to street frontage! | ||
Neilr Member Username: Neilr Post Number: 460 Registered: 06-2005 |
The houses on Shipherd Court in West Village are also built on a court rather than a streetfront. There is also another in northwest Detroit. I don't remember exactly where; but I read about it here on DY and went to see it. The homes on these two courts are much more similar to their neighbors and closer together than the James Court houses appear to be. | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 6176 Registered: 10-2003 |
I think it looks like an enterprising developer figured out how to make a few bucks from a planning anomaly. The 1915 Map, shows the chunk of land as a strange "no-mans land" between Holcomb, Belvidere and Lambert. *As an o/t side note it would appear that the Arcadia Theatre at Gratiot and Lambert is still standing. The book "Motor City Marquees" doesn't even list an Arcadia theatre on the east side.*  The next map in the series isn't until 1949. By then James Ct. is full of houses, and according to the map it was a street. I'm guessing the roadway was too narrow and at one point it was filled in.  And Today:  A close up of the 1949 Maps shows that there were 9 houses on the Court. It looks like 7 are still standing as well as the "Awning Factory". Of note the two most southern houses were assigned Lambert Ave. addresses. Architecturally, it looks like the houses are post WWI era. Probably built around 1918-1925.  | ||
Fareastsider Member Username: Fareastsider Post Number: 137 Registered: 08-2006 |
Guessing since it was platted all around it in 1915 it was probably unplatted until someone bought it later. Perhaps it held a original land owners home until later. I wish I had a subdivision name or knew what Private Claim it was in so I could look it up on the State Subdivision Website. great maps! thanks! | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3107 Registered: 10-2003 |
Nice find! Try the Christy Sub - if not report back here. | ||
Fareastsider Member Username: Fareastsider Post Number: 140 Registered: 08-2006 |
Nope Christys Sub is the one to the East of this small court. There is a possibility the site is a metes and bounds description and would not technically be in any sub. You can See in the Christy sub wraps around the site where James Ct. is. here is a link http://www.cis.state.mi.us/pla tmaps/dt_image.asp?BCC_SUBINDE X=9765 | ||
Fareastsider Member Username: Fareastsider Post Number: 141 Registered: 08-2006 |
It appears to be in Private claim 10 the Alley west of belvidere is the Westerly Private Claim line and my search in P.C. 10 doesnt find it. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3108 Registered: 10-2003 |
That link is useless unless you want to share your password. Looks like it's part of private claim 10 or maybe Strom's Sub. | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1448 Registered: 04-2005 |
That link worked for me, It asked if I would accept and unsigned certificate, I clicked yes, then it loaded java. A Acrobat looking page opened and allowed you to scroll around and zoom. No save button though. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3109 Registered: 10-2003 |
All I get is this pop-up:  | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1449 Registered: 04-2005 |
Try this page: http://www.cis.state.mi.us/pla tmaps/sr_subs.asp thats the main search page | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3110 Registered: 10-2003 |
Yes, that works fine, and it displays a list of results. When I click on any subdivision in the results page, the pop-up window appears. That's as far as I can get. | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1450 Registered: 04-2005 |
bummer I will reboot and clear all my cookies... see what happens. | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1451 Registered: 04-2005 |
works fine. I blew out my cookies too, even selected no for trusting the certificate. I don't have PS on the laptop, so I cant get a screen cap for you. Anyone else having problems seeing the plat from the above link? | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 3702 Registered: 10-2003 |
^^ Read the rats at Taco Bell thread if you need to clear you cookies. Interesting find. I never saw that 'street' in all my Sears delivery former life years. Deliverymen hated courts like that -- had to wheel every thing in from the street, like apartments with deep courts. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 1602 Registered: 12-2005 |
I received some kind of "this site's digital signature has an error" notice so I clicked "Cancel" and the map loaded regardless. Also, my system is blocking a popup from this site. Mikem, more than anyone else, deserves access to this resource! | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3111 Registered: 10-2003 |
Yes, I've cleared my cookies too. Still get the pop-up. I never get this option either, like it says first time users might see:  Are any of you using IE7? Can you post a print-screen image of what I'm missing? | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1452 Registered: 04-2005 |
I just tried it with IE7 and all I got was the header and a little box with a red x. It didn't have any popup boxes. I use Firefox, and XP Media on the this laptop. Do you have Java installed? Lowell, Taco Bell, makes me run to the ..... and it isn't the boarder! | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3112 Registered: 10-2003 |
Java was the problem. Got it working now. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1776 Registered: 04-2005 |
Are there any maps online showing the subdivision names? You can get an alphabetical list if you just use the search by county. (Message edited by Hornwrecker on February 25, 2007) | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 1604 Registered: 12-2005 |
Whew. | ||
Planner_727 Member Username: Planner_727 Post Number: 91 Registered: 07-2006 |
I think the problem here is that there wouldn't be room for a cul-de-sac, etc. All of the homes had access to alleys (although it appears that homes on the NW side don't have them anymore. The sidewalk space and gap in between is likely public right-of-way similar to typical sidewalk and curb lawns. Interesting that these houses are all still around and most neighbors are cleared... I am constantly amazed, even having experienced and driven through countless east- and west-side neighborhoods with 60, 70, 90, 100% of homes gone, that neighborhoods can have such a short life cycle. By examining these aerials, most of the homes around this court were built in the 40's... and 60 years later they have gone through a full life cycle of new home, recently built home, remodeled home, aging home, derelict home, abandoned home, razed home, and cleared lot. How the City handles the reconstruction of the areas that are present-day 70%+ cleared lots will define it's future in the next 10-40 years. Just an aside. | ||
Fareastsider Member Username: Fareastsider Post Number: 142 Registered: 08-2006 |
Planner_727 I agree completely it is AMAZING! these homes could easily last about 150 years if well taken care of....I guess it just shows our throw away society. If only we knew what would happen to our cities after WWII at that time.... | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 629 Registered: 12-2005 |
quote: Nobody throws away equity. What this shows is that the property owners lost the equity in their property and walked away from it. Why did they lose their equity? Too few buyers and too many properties for sale. Why the imbalance? Answer that question and you are a lot closer to the root cause than the "throw away society" excuse. Personally, I would answer it by saying that it was a combination of crime/fear of crime and taxes that were too high for the level of services provided. | ||
Fareastsider Member Username: Fareastsider Post Number: 148 Registered: 08-2006 |
Because we built a new urban environment in the suburbs cause it was strongly subsidized and profitable. Another aspect of a throw away society. Why invest in a city when we can build more over here? To say it is because of a throw away society is a very generalized statement I understand but it is certainly part of the problem. | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 630 Registered: 12-2005 |
quote: Why "invest in a city" when there is no return on your investment? Most people understand that basic bit of economics and they vote with their feet. To blame it on new construction elsewhere means that there is no hope for the future of Detroit - or any other city, for that matter - and I strongly reject that argument. | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 571 Registered: 10-2006 |
First of all Mikeg, it's only economically feasible to move out into the cornfields because it is subsidized by several levels of government. Secondly, the city of detroit is one of the only places in the metro area that has a rising real estate value. it doesn't take a genius to find those neighborhoods in the city that have to best opportunity of a return on that investment. DetroitYES! | ||
Fareastsider Member Username: Fareastsider Post Number: 151 Registered: 08-2006 |
My point is that is what our regions have done. I think by building elsewhere is WAY to simple of an argument. It is just one of many reasons that our region is in the state it is. The more I think about it the more your equity argument makes sense. After all look at NYC people keep moving in and investing and look at the value of the land! | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 634 Registered: 12-2005 |
quote: Apparently Charlottepaul believes that only certain cities like Detroit should receive subsidies from higher levels of government. What has happened to cause the vast areas of abandoned neighborhoods in Detroit had nothing to do with a "throw away society" and everything to do with negative equity. There are many intact neighborhoods in Detroit where property values bottomed out and have since risen strongly. How can that be, despite all of those cornfields out in the subsidized hell of suburbia, ready and waiting for them to flee? I think you will find that they have a strong neighborhood association that keeps a lid on petty crime and blight and which provides the services the city still charges for but no longer provides. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3164 Registered: 10-2003 |
Sorry, I can't remember the year of the atlas I found this in; 1904 seems to ring a bell:  Mr Robert Watson apparently held out as long as he could. | ||
Fareastsider Member Username: Fareastsider Post Number: 202 Registered: 08-2006 |
Excellent Find!!! |
