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: | |
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 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? |
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: | |
Is that the average condition there or a worst case example? |
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: | |
How much does a fixer-upper like that go for? Maybe it's time to decamp to the former East Germany. |
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: | |
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. |
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: | |
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) |
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: | |
You should start your own site, Rob. "The Fabulous Ruins of East Germany". Maybe Lowell could be hired to consult. |
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: | |
I see a loft opportunity! |
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: | |
Welcome to the Forum Rob, send more pictures. |
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: | |
Now I have the right photomap:
|
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: | |
Is it the future home for retail and residential space? super d(motordetroit) |
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: | |
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;) |
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: | |
@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? |
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: | |
Seems to be that socialism promotes decay wherever it is attempted... |
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: | |
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. |
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: | |
Rob, I was wondering what a nice little place like the one in your picture would cost. |
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: | |
@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;) |
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: | |
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? |
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: | |
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. |