Discuss Detroit » Archives - Beginning January 2006 » Greetings from Shrinking Region to Shrinking City « Previous Next »
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Rob
Member
Username: Rob

Post Number: 1
Registered: 12-2005
Posted From: 141.44.226.49
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 1:52 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Folks,

I've just signed up and wanted to say hallo.

I'm studying in Magdeburg (pop. 200,000), East Germany, and here we're facing similar problems as you do in Detroit - shrinking wise.

With this picture I'd like to give you an example on how it looks in many parts all over East Germany. It gives you a glimpse at the city's center in Halle a town close to Magdeburg.

Does this look in a way familiar to you?
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Lilpup
Member
Username: Lilpup

Post Number: 756
Registered: 06-2004
Posted From: 66.89.12.30
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 2:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Is that the average condition there or a worst case example?
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Jmy8
Member
Username: Jmy8

Post Number: 2598
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 12.75.24.118
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 2:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

How much does a fixer-upper like that go for? Maybe it's time to decamp to the former East Germany.
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E_hemingway
Member
Username: E_hemingway

Post Number: 393
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.42.176.123
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 2:38 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I've seen blocks in Detroit look that bad but that doesn't characterize how the city looks. There are a lot of incredibly beautiful and well-kept neighborhoods in the city, too.
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Ndavies
Member
Username: Ndavies

Post Number: 1422
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 129.9.163.234
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 2:40 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What's the age of that building? I'm sure it's much, much older than our ruins. Most of our decaying buildings are only on the order of 100 years old.

(Message edited by ndavies on December 14, 2005)
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Gdub
Member
Username: Gdub

Post Number: 918
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 68.248.15.192
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 2:44 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

You should start your own site, Rob. "The Fabulous Ruins of East Germany". Maybe Lowell could be hired to consult.
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Sknutson
Member
Username: Sknutson

Post Number: 400
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 67.114.23.202
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 3:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I see a loft opportunity!
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Psip
Member
Username: Psip

Post Number: 642
Registered: 04-2005
Posted From: 69.246.13.131
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 3:34 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Welcome to the Forum Rob, send more pictures.
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Psip
Member
Username: Psip

Post Number: 644
Registered: 04-2005
Posted From: 69.246.13.131
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 4:02 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Now I have the right photomap:
Magdeburg
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Super_d
Member
Username: Super_d

Post Number: 439
Registered: 08-2005
Posted From: 69.245.76.200
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 4:09 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Is it the future home for retail and residential space?

super d(motordetroit)
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Rob
Member
Username: Rob

Post Number: 2
Registered: 12-2005
Posted From: 62.180.168.45
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 5:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Alright, thanks for your interest but I need to be short 'cause I'm working on a presentation about D (If I may say so although I'm not from Detroit neither live there?)due tomorrow at 3 p.m. (I think that's 9 a.m. your time.)
For that one I'll open up a new thread hoping for Your participation. Now:

@Lilpup: This is about worst condition but I couldn't find a better or more different pics as quickly on the web.

@Jmy8: Sorry, but "fixer-upper" (?)I don't get it right now.

@e-hemingway: Of course you're right and I didn't mean to compare what the pic is showing with the look of detroit. It was supposed to be an eye-catcher giving you a worse example for the shrinking process in East Germany. In a sense that you can see the obvious parallels.
Well, East Germany is about one third of Texas and there are many beautiful places as well and for the most part life is not too bad for the people (that's what I think). But since the end of socialist society in 1989 and reunification with Western Germany in 1990 we are experiencing a transformation process from socialist-planned-economy to social-market-economy, from single-party-state to western democracy and all within the context of globalization and seemingly everlasting progress in technology...More into detail and about the effects like high unemployment, empty-left-spaces and suburbanization (like in Detroit) another time

@Ndavies: I don't know maybe about 100 years old or give it another 50 years. Probably much older regarding the basement on which it was put up. I can't tell by the picture and I would need to ask an expert as well.
Magdeburg turns 1200 years this year but due to 2nd World War it lost 80% of its old substance. And after 40 years of the socialist German Democratic Republic blocks of flats are dominating the panorama. (In these days many empty ones among them;)

@Gdub: Thanks for the hint but actually I'm too lazy for such things:-)

@Sknutson: The right attitude I'm sharing!

Psip: Thanks. Some day I'll take the time to take some pics on my own around here and I'll post'em.

@Psip: Yep, you've found me. I live close to the two lakes in the north.

By the way, the answer to how I got the idea to join the Detroit Discuss Forum has something to do with this link: shrinkingcities.com
This topic is part of my studies and as already mentioned I need to do a presentation on D tomorrow....Gosh, I need to get back to work;)
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Rob
Member
Username: Rob

Post Number: 3
Registered: 12-2005
Posted From: 62.180.168.45
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 5:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

@Super_d: I don't know. I've never been there (as stated above, just an example). It looks to me like a backside and hopefully they won't tear it down. There is probably a law protecting it. The problem is that investors are missing. And who wants to invest in a city where jobs are missing and people are leaving anyway?
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Rrl
Member
Username: Rrl

Post Number: 417
Registered: 12-2003
Posted From: 70.58.219.220
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 7:21 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Seems to be that socialism promotes decay wherever it is attempted...
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Detroitduo
Member
Username: Detroitduo

Post Number: 384
Registered: 06-2005
Posted From: 84.156.31.229
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 7:58 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Actually, here in Germany, the preservation laws are extreme. When I discuss with my friends, here, they think it's crazy. What's funny is they talk about things going on in Detroit and all these "old useless building" being torn down. They think it's great, because they cannot do it here.

So, the building pictured is probably protected, because it is so old. Preservationists beware, although saving history is important, it is also very expensive. Germany has done a good job of preservation, but almost a little too good. I sense in another 30 years, you will see further changes in their preservation laws, too.
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Jmy8
Member
Username: Jmy8

Post Number: 2599
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 12.75.49.68
Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2005 - 12:36 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Rob, I was wondering what a nice little place like the one in your picture would cost.
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Rob
Member
Username: Rob

Post Number: 6
Registered: 12-2005
Posted From: 62.180.211.217
Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2005 - 2:46 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

@Jmy8: I have no idea. They (the city) probably would give it to you for free or 1 EUR. But of course would make you to invest what it takes to restore it (obeying preservation laws;)
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Matt_the_deuce
Member
Username: Matt_the_deuce

Post Number: 418
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 69.14.27.204
Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2005 - 4:00 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Many of Germany's cities have an abundance of modern/post WWII buildings for obvious reasons.

It always struck me when I traveled over there at how much modern architecture they have - and some great work too. Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt... amazing buildings.

A lot of "wrapped" Buildings. An actual second layer of skin on the building done in glass and stainless steel, and many times in non-linear form, undulations, curves etc.

Maybe they are very sensitive to tearing down the old because they don't actually have that much "old" left?
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Rob
Member
Username: Rob

Post Number: 7
Registered: 12-2005
Posted From: 141.44.226.90
Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 11:27 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Matt_the_deuce: "Maybe they are very sensitive to tearing down the old because they don't actually have that much "old" left?"

-> Good point! Being German and grown up in the Eastern part where they had been especially determined to get rid off old ("luxurious") architecture, not suitable for a socialist view on life, I do agree that many people ARE very sensitive to tearing down the old.

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