 
Andylinn
Member
Username: Andylinn
Post Number: 8
Registered: 04-2006
Posted From: 68.40.195.233
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 3:10 pm: |    |
as proud detroiters, what are your opinions of urban explorers? note, these are not vandals or thieves, (that's a different case) but rather those who break/sneak into abandoned buildings and take pictures, and the majority of the time nothing more. discuss. |
Ray1936
Member
Username: Ray1936
Post Number: 470
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 207.200.116.139
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 4:21 pm: | |
I think they do the community a service in their photography. I would hope that in years ahead they consider donating their photo collections to an appropriate facility, such as the Detroit Historical Museum, the Burton Collection, or the WSU archives. I, for one, am grateful to them for what will be a last look into many Detroit landmarks. |
Ddaydave
Member
Username: Ddaydave
Post Number: 383
Registered: 04-2005
Posted From: 67.149.185.244
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 4:52 pm: | |
good point ray the people how people who take these pictures seem to have a real love of the city and the buildings the harm I see being done isn`t by these people..
To me more harm is being done by people like the ones who own building like the wurlitzer building buy it for 220,000 and won`t sell it for under 2 million while the roof rots and vandels destroy it
(Message edited by ddaydave on April 17, 2006) |
Gmich99
Member
Username: Gmich99
Post Number: 80
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 65.29.97.102
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 7:24 pm: | |
Historians |
The_aram
Member
Username: The_aram
Post Number: 4794
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 141.213.175.233
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 8:54 pm: | |
andy, you don't happen to go to UM, do you? |
Kova
Member
Username: Kova
Post Number: 215
Registered: 12-2003
Posted From: 141.213.184.173
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 10:22 pm: | |
Aram, check the "Detroit born and raised" facebook group and you have your answer. |
Iheartthed
Member
Username: Iheartthed
Post Number: 16
Registered: 04-2006
Posted From: 68.40.50.194
| | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 11:57 pm: | |
I was wondering was that him too. |
The_aram
Member
Username: The_aram
Post Number: 4795
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 141.213.175.233
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 12:06 am: | |
Thought that name looked familiar. |
Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok
Post Number: 1994
Registered: 08-2004
Posted From: 4.229.105.242
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 12:07 am: | |
As a warning to newbies.... Lowell has made a point repeatedly in the past to not allow folks on this forum to plan any urban explorations (or other illegal activities).... it puts him at legal risk.
I know that is not what is being discussed here, just the concept of urban exploration experience, but I just wanted to add that caution to your discussions.... discuss! 
Hey Jjaba, I'm getting close to 2,000 Posts!!!
(Message edited by Gistok on April 16, 2006) |
Andylinn
Member
Username: Andylinn
Post Number: 9
Registered: 04-2006
Posted From: 68.40.195.233
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 12:12 am: | |
Aram, yes, i'm the Andy Linn from U-M. I'm all about the D. Are you someone I personally know, or are you a person who knows me through the model d "detroit by choice" article/facebook/campus activist community?
Gistok, thanks for the caution. Understood, makes sense. |
The_aram
Member
Username: The_aram
Post Number: 4796
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 141.213.175.233
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 12:40 am: | |
i'm an RC kid. i've seen your name around. |
Iheartthed
Member
Username: Iheartthed
Post Number: 18
Registered: 04-2006
Posted From: 68.40.50.194
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 12:48 am: | |
I'm in the facebook group. |
Erobtheone
Member
Username: Erobtheone
Post Number: 19
Registered: 08-2005
Posted From: 12.146.72.169
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 1:48 am: | |
I truly enjoy the urban explorations. they all seem to care deeply about detroit. I also enjoy the pictures of building and places that I have not gotten to see myself.
Erob
Chicago by way of Detroit |
Huggybear
Member
Username: Huggybear
Post Number: 195
Registered: 08-2005
Posted From: 69.212.122.154
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 8:08 am: | |
Thrill-seekers, trespassers, involuntary asbestos breathers, and pathfinders for scrappers. |
Andylinn
Member
Username: Andylinn
Post Number: 11
Registered: 04-2006
Posted From: 68.40.195.233
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 2:09 pm: | |
in my experience, er, from what i hear, urban explorers are beaten to the scene 100% of the time by scrappers... so i agree with most of you guys. the experience offers a glimps of a strange kind of beauty and adventure not known in almost any other major city in america... Especially in buildings downtown, this exploration offers us a selfcontained discussion on urban decay... i'll post some drawings/prints I just completed dealing with this when I get them returned from my art review. |
Wolverine
Member
Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 138
Registered: 04-2004
Posted From: 141.213.225.83
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 3:02 pm: | |
I formed the "Michigan Urban Explorers" facebook group, but its membership isn't all that high. It's made up of a few my friends who went in the Broderick or MCS like once or twice.
I think urban exploration is a bit more respectable despite security concerns nowadays. I guess it's because the public is seeing these buildings fall into major disrepair and feel that someone is obligated to document them properly, even if that means bending the law a bit.
IMO, if building owners knew urban explorers wouldn't hold them liable for any injuries and weren't doing anything destructive, It's doubtful they'd even care whether people were going in their building or not.
BTW, here is some of my work:
http://flickr.com/photos/70205638@N00/sets/506760/
(Message edited by wolverine on April 17, 2006) |
Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok
Post Number: 1995
Registered: 08-2004
Posted From: 4.229.9.227
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 5:18 pm: | |
I remember a rather rotund Katherine Clarkson, former Executive Director of Preservation Wayne nearly crashing thru a floor vent of the United Artists Theatre about 6 years ago. Fortunately for her, her girth is what kept her from going all the way in. BTW, she and a few other Preservation Wayne members had gotten permission for the exploration.
People have gotten killed in Urban Explorations around the country. It's easy to say that you won't sue a building owner for injuries... but is your family as forgiving if it proves fatal to you? In this day and age, it is soooooo easy to "Call Sam". |
Ray1936
Member
Username: Ray1936
Post Number: 475
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 207.200.116.139
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 6:37 pm: | |
There's a similar band of folks in the west that explore old mining tunnels and shafts. It's not without dangers...cave-ins, methane gas, and, not least, friendly little rattlesnakes who love the dark recesses in the summer heat.
I did some when I was a bit younger out here (southern Nevada, NW Arizona), but have pretty much given it up as my hair has turned gray. It's exciting, especially if you have learned a little bit of mineralogy and can understand the rocks a tad. Artifacts are scarce but can be found in remote areas.
Generally, there is no law against it, unless someone has renewed the claim. If they have, you're trespassing. Problem is a renewed claim is rarely posted.
Never stumbled on a rattler in my explorations, but disturbed a few barn owls who seem to like these places also. Pretty birds. |
Livedog2
Member
Username: Livedog2
Post Number: 119
Registered: 03-2006
Posted From: 24.223.133.177
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 7:41 pm: | |
Gistok said, "As a warning to newbies.... Lowell has made a point repeatedly in the past to not allow folks on this forum to plan any urban explorations (or other illegal activities).... it puts him at legal risk." I can understand this position theoretically. But, in practice are there cases that anyone knows about where the law has gotten after anyone for “Urban Exploration”? What about the detroitblog guy? So much of what is on his blog is about “Urban Exploration” and if there was a problem it would seem that he would have stopped “Urban Exploration” long ago. Can anyone speak to what I am saying?
Livedog2 |
Wolverine
Member
Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 141
Registered: 04-2004
Posted From: 141.213.196.136
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 7:46 pm: | |
IMO, I think Mike Ilitch is the only individual that has to worry about lawsuits. Fortunately for him, his buildings appear to be well sealed since the Superbowl. I'll give the fine Arts maybe 1 or 2 more years until the entire building collapses in on itself, onto the Kales building, or onto Adams Street. As for the rest of Detroit's major abandoned buildings, the chance of falling through a floor (unless you walk into a hole) is slim to none. |
Andylinn
Member
Username: Andylinn
Post Number: 14
Registered: 04-2006
Posted From: 68.40.195.233
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 2:18 am: | |
in terms of danger of falling... i've not encountered any as of yet... most of those old buildings/factories seem to be built with pretty solid concrete and steel floors... even roofs have seemed solid as hell... I wouldn't ever put myself in serious danger... |