As a Historic Preservationist, I am very happy to see Detroit restoring historic old buildings rather than demolishing them ! Hits off to you Detroit 😊
As someone Born in Detroit, whose family lived within the city limits of Detroit for over a hundred years, I'm glad to see it once again rising from ashes. Detroiters are tough. We keep getting up no matter how many times we get knocked down. I have a long love of historic preservation, so thank you for taking care of our building and making it so beautiful again. My mom worked in the Metropolitan Building when I was in grade school. It was beautiful even then, if a little worn. You've done a remarkable job.
As a Detroit Native and Resident, I really appreciate the recognition this video gives my city. We’ve been through a lot but beyond that Detroit is a beautiful city. Thank you for showing my city in a different light ❤️
Cannot express how wonderful it is to see these old gems in my hometown saved. Detroit is full of incredible architecture. The city gets a bad rap often but she is as beautiful as she is resilient.
There are so many beautiful old buildings, with masonry and iron work that can't be matched today. It makes so much sense to renovate and bring these buildings back to life.
I was wondering do you know anything about the residential housing market in Detroit the last time I checked there were houses available for dirt cheap I'm guessing that they're few and far between but then again who knows
Detroit is definitely America’s most underrated and unappreciated major city. It is a big architectural treasure chest. Detroit is still an elegant older intact city with a beautiful cityscape. It has the world’s third largest collection of historic pre depression skyscrapers.
I was born and raised in the metro Detroit area, and I went to school in Detroit and worked on many Detroit projects as an architectural designer. I currently live in Austin, TX, so it makes me very happy to see a Texan contractor visiting Detroit to appreciate our beautiful architecture and history!
Detroits economic collapse at just the right time actually saved so many buildings from being torn down and replaced.... leaving many relics still standing from a time when architects built beautiful buildings. If I were a billionaire with the cash, I would wager on restoring Detroit into a 1920s high roller era city, a sort of living museum to a great age of America's history and then simply rake in the tourist bucks.
Ask George Soros or Zuckerberg and others on the elite democratic lists, their thoughts about this instead of pouring millions and millions into tearing down our country to rebuild a SOCIALIST COUNTRY
It's great that they are saving and restoring these old, beautiful buildings. I find few modern buildings to be visually attractive. Regards from Finland! 🙂
Being from the UK ..DETROIT was and always will be the motor city and motown for me (i'm now 53 at the time of posting!) I have seen it from the outside as as a viewer go from prosperity to decay ..with the car plants (that were the mainlife blood and employers in Detroit) closing down .....and that had an OBV effect on the surouding suburban areas with abandon homes , fires ect ect .....BUT FOR ME the fact that they they are now investing in properties (especialy the historic ones like this and the old Michigain station ect) and trying to bring Detroit back to what it once was is a major plus in my book ....not just from a historic stand point BUT also (as i said im from the uk) a tourist stand point as well ... Detroit has so much rich history that needs to be explored tourist wise ...not just cause of the birth place of motown or the car industry ........it has so much to give in historic buildings and the culture and history of not just people of color but all races that settled there and made Detroit thier home ...and as was known back in the day the power house of America ...Detroit was at the forefront of the autombile industry ect and that legacy should never be forgotten in my book! On tv Detroit is often portrade (in the uk at least ..even on YT sometimes) as a city that is derelict ect BUT it is far from it .....YES there are a lot of suburbs that have gone into decline and an exodus of folks ......BUT thats happened everywhere even in the UK ......areas that were once afflunet are now considerd no go areas ect ect it happens in every city across the world! As i said im so glad they are preserving these historic buildings and they havent been torn down ..... sad to see though that some of the old theaters /cinemas finaly me that fate that were built in the 20's 30's at the hight of art deco, cinema opulance ..across the world these have sucumbed to the wrecking ball ...even if they were pritected as an historic place ...due to the owners letting the go into disreapare to the point they were structualy unsafe and needed to be demolished (as is sadly OFTEN the case with old cinemas / theatres) as its easier to do that so the owners can then build on the land after the place has been deemed usafe and its usualy appartments or homes ect!
Hey mate I live about 20 minutes from Detroit and that's nice what you say over the pond, but the reality is about 80% of Detroit is not good with crime and spirit stores on every corner, homeless and drugs and burned out homes. Many homes are gone now and just empty grass lots. That's funny I've been to Europe many times and there's 1000s of years of history over there, here we don't have much. Granted these 120 year old buildings being restored is nice, the reality is as I said most of Detroit is still a long ways from 50 years ago
Wow! Recognized my city from the thumbnail! If I had known The Build Show was coming to Detroit I would absolutely have come down to say hello🙂 I am 🤐 years old and have spent my entire life listening to people make fun of my city. So happy to see it finally being restored to its former glory. Thank you to Matt and The Build Show for spreading the word. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 P. S ... and I would absolutely have done the Build Show close 😂
We LOVE Detroit,, we live downtown, so much to do, incredible architecture, restaurants, cultural areas, bike-walkways…..we have come miles in recent years finally, so exciting..
@@m42037 , actually there’s lots of places that I would not go out late at night walking, including a lot of rural areas and small towns which are pretty scary so that’s kind of a mute point, elegant wife??? Hmmm interesting conclusion and well your way off, which is too funny 😂
Love that you came to the motor city. We have a lot of awesome buildings here, and I'm glad to see them being used and the city is thriving once again.
It’s so exciting to live in Detroit while it’s been experiencing its comeback. So many of its buildings are so unique and beautiful and watching them get restored has just been so cool. Please check out more of the outstanding architecture in this area. Matt, you should reach out to Bedrock Detroit. That’s the company Dan Gilbert founded to buy and rehab over 100 properties in Detroit when they were priced super low. They’re some of the nicest buildings in the city now. I’m sure Bedrock has some good stories to tell.
I work for Walbridge Aldinger (just Walbridge now), which was the original general contractor of this building per an article I read. Walbridge has a very storied history of building a lot of Detroit and its automotive and industrial plants. Cool to see such a beautiful building being preserved.
One benefit of Detroit being broke back then was that unlike many other cities that demolished buildings like this and build newer ones and in my opinion cheaper more inferior quality, Detroit wasn't able to afford to demolish many of these old buildings and sites. So now many of them are being restored like this one and brings out the uniqueness of the city.
The older architecture has so much more character! Detroit has some very attractive buildings! One of the better aspects of traveling by car is the ability to stop and view or, if lucky enough, is to tour the older more traditional churches.
These homes were built during a time when craftsmanship was paramount. Growing up in the inner city of CNY our home had stained glass windows, carved handrails, molding around every door, and that’s what you could see with your plain eyes. The work you gentleman do is very moving to me because these buildings are works of art. They are a Wonder because every detail has been taken into consideration.
I’m in the suburbs of Detroit. I’ve done much work in Downtown Detroit and have been in many of those buildings. They are truly beautiful. Dan Gilbert and his various company’s have done much to bring D back.
It was referred to as the Paris of Midwest. The architecture of some of the buildings is practically irreplaceable. . Please note if it was not to a few billionaires none of this would be taking place.
@@JayKast Dan Gilbert, the owner of Rocket Mortgage has put several billion dollars into buying and rehabing major properties over the last decade plus.
@@JayKast and Michael Ilitch and Robert Pensky. They all have made major investments in downtown Detroit. To the point of creating private security to protect their investments from vandalism. The investments continue also.
Wow, I had NO idea that this was going on (downtown revitalization) in Detroit, and I am so happy to see this. I had last seen the downtown area really just passing through in 2009 when I taught a class at U.S. Steel, and I could see the blight and abandoned buildings, so sad then. Again, this is really great to see, thanks for posting this Matt and co!
Beautiful video giving a synopsis of what's been going on in Detroit for the past ten years. Wonderful to see such an important American city experiencing a building renaissance!
It's the Paris of America because it was founded by french explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, Detroit is a french word meaning Strait. Detroit history is Amazing.
Detroit has more pre depression highrises and skyscrapers than any other city in America. Detroit still holds the record as a matter of fact of how many skyscrapers were built within one decade which was the 1920's. Detroit has had a bad reputation for decades but many do not realize that it was the nations third largest city right after WW2 with 2.1 million and 2.2 million including two of its enclaves. It once was considered a world class city with one of the nations largest ports, second largest rail transit and freight rail systems, and had the nations highest average household incomes. At one time many of these classic buildings sat empty but in the last 20 years most of them have been restored and reopened making them the symbols of Detroits long but sure comeback.
Fabulous 2nd building atrium. Stone possibly from Indiana Quarrys back in the day. If new, a lot of work with Masons, stone, and scaffolding. Been there, and when it's finished, it's a piece of Art.
I am so happy to see the progress and restoration of the old buildings in Detroit , unfortunately so very much has been lost of a great American city . My family have a long history in Detroit and the state over two hundred years . Thank you so very much !
Detroit used to be very wealthy and very beautiful . People flocked there just to be part of something amazing. I hope this is a portent of great things to come.
Visit the Fisher Building and theater in the New Center neighborhood, next to the 1920s GM building. These were always maintained. Two more Fisher towers were originally planned, but then came 1930. Detroit's buildings might have rivaled Chicago.. Hundreds, possible thousands of beautiful homes were lost in the 1980s and 90s. I lived in Detroit in 1984-85. I think a major difference in Chicago is many wealthy lived in the Gold Coast on the north lakefront, but the wealthiest families had already left Detroit in the 1920s. Chicago has also experienced huge losses of jobs in the south and west sides , but many of the wealthy influence makers remain residents of Chicago.
@@dreadred92 Even with decades of population decline Detroit remains the home of more residents than Atlanta - both cities are about 140 square miles. I once lived in Ferndale, just north of 8 Mile Road, recently Ferndale was selected as one of the best places for first time home buyers in the U.S., but just to the south was another small city, Highland Park, which was somewhat of a model city a century ago with excellent schools, but the once ideal H.P. is now largely abandoned.
Dreadred Most people don’t even know that WAS the case that’s why we had/have such a wealth of historic Architecture it’s unfortunate for the REAL reason why the people , business and tax base left the city and even deeper why manufacturing left with those. people and eventually left the country with the blessing and help of the state and federal government .
So glad to see the D show the country what it’s all about during the recent NFL draft and shattering attendance records!🔥 Detroit holds some of the absolute most beautiful architecture in America, so glad to see many of them being brought back to life. It’s a tough go when 1.5 million people leave the city. One building I was would have been saved was the Hudson’s building
I was raised in Detroit during the Motown era. It was the best place to live because it was rich in talent, history and pride. I still say I’m from Detroit, even though I’ve lived in LA most of my life, because Detroit had such a profound effect on who I am…even now. I didn’t realize until recently, that my love for architecture came from being exposed to so many beautiful buildings, all over the city!
Matt, big fan of your channel, but today's focus on Detroit hit home. in 1996 I was working for an insurance company out of Chicago that was the lender on The David Whitney Building. Being from Chicago, Daniel Burnham was well known to me and revered and I was appalled when I did a site visit in connection with my job as an asset manager since the building was essentially vacant and was in need of significant capital infusion, but the insurance company didn't want to foreclose due to a concept called lender liability and the City wouldn't let us seal-up the building due to the fact that the People Mover Station was integral to the building and had to be accessible at all times. During my visit I to was struck by the beauty of the main atrium and the stone that surrounded it. The loan on the building was in default for several years prior to our involvement (we acquired Continental Insurance out of NYC and they were the original lender) and during my visit I went to the higher floors and found newspapers from the early 1980's in Dentists offices stuck in a time warp and the penthouse had broken windows and birds flying around! At the time, many of the lender's were more than happy to give away buildings for pennies on the dollar. We were initially offered $700,000 for the 19-story David Whitney Building and I fought my bosses hard to reject the urge to take the money and run. Out of the blue (I think it was in 1997), I received a call from a financial advisor to a local pension fund that offered us $2.3MM to purchase the note and since my company refused to foreclose, I convinced management to take the higher offer from the pension fund rather than the quick cash from a prominent local family that was offering the $700,000 and was buying up buildings left and right in downtown at the time. Over the years since my involvement, I have spoken to many locals about The David Whitney Building and everyone remembers it fondly as a place where they went to the dentist (maybe not as fondly since it was the dentist :)) and how vibrant it was in the atrium and the retail that surrounded it.. It is great to see that someone cared enough to bring the building up to modern standards and at the same time retain its original beauty and grandeur and is doing the same to many similar downtown buildings of that era! Btw, over a decade later (in 2009), I went to work for a company headquartered out of Farmington Hills, MI called Village Green and Village Green was one of the first to complete a large-scale renovation converting one of the older buildings into residential in Detroit's downtown. Keep up the good work, Matt and everyone should check out the Dayton Arcade in Dayton, OH for another incredible restoration!
Interesting history lesson , Beautiful restoration ! .. Thank goodness it and many others have been spared the wrecking ball .. But many too more were not
The book "Strong Towns" goes into detail about how our post WWII shift to a car-centric infrastructure at the expense of the human-centric one we had caused cities like Detroit to collapse and is a major reason why the US is going broke today.
@@IndependenceCityMotoring there are so many layers to how this relatively new way of organizing society has devastated us. There are several quality RUclips channels that go into detail about it, but Not Just Bikes is by far my favorite
@@thelonewanderer420 I don't blame him. It's a complex issue that requires layers and layers of solutions that are different everywhere. He does address the core principles though, and that's half the battle. Urban 3 seems to be a great consulting firm to put real solutions into action though.
Watching your video from Canada, l am really impressed & inspired by the restoration of so many grand old buildings ( so glad they weren't knocked down like so many in Toronto & Montreal, l actually have a whole book of destroyed Toronto buildings called Lost Toronto, it's enough to bring you to tears). Inspiring to see the increasing re-birth of downtown Detroit, never thought l would see it. Keep up the good work, cheers!
Absolutely love the amount of beautiful, historic buildings still standing in Detroit. One of the few benefits of the city’s decline is the amount of historic buildings still standing in the city core that would have been torn down in a city like New York or Chicago.
I have been to Detroit 3 times in my life in 2005, 2015, and 2019. The downtown area has come along way since my first stay at the hotel at the GM building. The architecture definitely rivals Chicago but I still like Chicago a little more. Good to see these old buildings are getting rehabbed. I just hope developers don’t loose site of the natives of Detroit and the overall economic hardship Michigan has faced economically in many cities/towns across the state the last 40+ years.
I appreciate you saying that. I’m from metro Detroit and this is by far my biggest worry. We need to make sure we invest in the communities of Detroit not just big corporations and ppl from outside the city. The residents have been through sooooo much and we need to make sure they are not bullied, forgotten and taken advantage of.
I live in Detroit and I disagree with both of you. We need to kick out a lot of the "messy ppl" in the city and get some new blood in the city. There are beautiful neighborhoods in Deroit next to some awful neighborhoods. The mindset of the city needs to change. A high percentage of the renters, that don't live downtown, just don't care about anything. Kick them out!!!! I love the old architecture but, could care less about the natives. Because it was the so called natives that let the city get to the way it was. I'm a homeowner and lots of other homeowners here in Detroit feel the same way.
@@Turshin Detriot will never recover that way. A city is about the people. Are you talking about setting up a sanctuary city, perhaps seeing if immigrants from Latin America will do better than native Detroiters?
As the automakers took off and started “designing” vehicles artisans from all disciplines came to Detroit, new construction methods were developed in Detroit. And then the historic homes, the theaters, arenas, and stadiums, art museum, African museum, such a historic city, I have some childhood memories when I 9 yr old white boy could run around the block at 7 Miles and Livernois. I spent 12 years in the Detroit metro area, I enjoyed it and only a had a bit of trouble.
Go and visit this beautiful city. I had the pleasure of being there in February the buildings are beautifully restored and the area downtown is full.of amazing local food and people who are welcoming and tons of things to do. I would dare say that besides NYC the metropolitan area is amazing.
Wow! I just found your channel when I was looking for info on radiant cooling and I'm based in Detroit! Will you build here? I just sent my customers to The Monarch Club yesterday. Detroit is a French founded city and the original street layout was designed by a guy from Washington DC with hubs and spokes. (DC is based on Paris.) That's why we're the Paris of the Midwest.
You should take a peek at the Larson Building in Yakima Washington. It's a 1920's Art Deco with most of the original work still intact. It hadn't been abandoned but over the decades it had been modernized with acoustic drop down ceilings, carpets etc. All the updates were removed by the new owners and the building restored. The Davenport Building in Spokane has a has similar back story but with a lot more work done to it. It's definitely eye candy with all the detailing. President's used to stay at the Davenport back in the day.
Thank goodness a newer architect generation is saving buildings and have visions like many other cities in America. There is still an older generation that just wants to tear it all down. 70s and 80s a lot came down. A city’s character is its buildings and history. Detroit has a very historical past. There is a Detroit Historical Society.
I love the Commercial Style, or Chicago Style, whichever one you prefer. Truly love the architecture. When you see an old Commercial Style building next to a modern counterpart you can see in stark reality who absolutely sterile, brutish, and sometimes, bizarre 21st Century style has become. Never let it be said that architecture does not reflect it's times.
If Architectural distinction is the definition of being "The Paris of America" or the midwest, how can you say Detroit eclipses Chicago. Many of those architects who built in Detroit, were actually Chicago based architects. This being said, I think Detroit is definitely a hidden gem, and I would consider moving my business to, due to affordable housing, great opportunity, and finally, something America needs to pay close attention too, plenty of areas to develop for industrial production, and bring vital manufacturing back to the USA to be less dependent on foreign actors who will hold us hostage in international affairs until we can tell them to pound ground. Another city similar but with much less vacant space, is Kansas City. Ideally located for small manufacturers almost exactly in the middle of the country.
Detroit is referred to as the Paris of the Midwest Mainly for 2 reasons. 1 being the architecture, but 2 is the main one; we have a similar radial road layout like Paris does, all be it smaller!!
I have seen this city from the 60’s to now thru multiple phases and it is so wonderful to see its resurgence. You see as many cranes and construction projects, now, as you would see in the early 60’s. And the new Gordy Howe bridge is looking much as the construction on a brand new I-75 back in ‘64. You should check out the largest Masonic Temple. It has a Parisian stage, which is quite astounding and the acoustics are outta this world! They have tours you can take on the weekends. Check out Belle Isle, it is larger than Central Park! Visit the Aquarium, Arboretum, Dossin ship museum, and the Nature Center. Go over to Pewabic Pottery, (their tiles are in the Atrium at the DIA). Grab some lunch at Sinbad’s and hike the Riverwalk. We have a world-class symphony and the DIA - Detroit Institute of Arts has a huge Diego Rivera mural that you must see! The Detroit Historical Museum has a recreation of Detroit streets from waaaay back. Jack White’s record store and production; Third Man records is worth checking out. If you have time, have dinner at the Whitney House and take a Ghost tour. There are nice shops downtown. We have the Fox theatre, which was beautifully restored, the Fillmore, Detroit Opera House, Max Fisher Music Hall, Tiger baseball, at Comerica Park, RedWings and Pistons at Little Caesar’s Stadium, Lion’s football at Ford Field. This city has it all! I just hope someone restores the Penobscot building. They used to have a viewing area at the top, like at the Empire State Building.
About 4 years ago I said to myself damn I've got to get one of these $1,000 houses that they were selling and you know time goes on and on Life happens and then the day comes when you realize you could have been involved in a market that skyrocketed I did it in New Brunswick and New Jersey with a $5,000 house that eventually became to be worth $300,000 and when I bought my house there were 30 40 houses available at super cheap prices you got to strike when the fire is hot
Troppi edifici storici negli Stati Uniti sono stati distrutti, troppa arte e bellezza è stata persa. Il restauro è importante serve x preservare le nostre radici
The building looks gorgeous. A little disappointed that you used foam instead of using limestone for the carved moulding but it’s expensive so it’s understandable.
This is INCREDIBLE quality and creative work! Nice to see some positive news about Detroit! Good luck to you all! On an aside on this channel: I stopped taking FineHomeBuilding because, despite the excellent quality, it was too much like focusing on work--after working all day. But you make similar content entertaining enough and focus on building science which is more what I need now than the latest saw. No offense to FHB. This is somehow more consumable for me at the moment.
This question is off topic for this video but it's your latest video and I was wondering about your opinion on something. You're a big fan of the Zip System. So I figured you would have an opinion on the practice of singling over Zip roof decking. They're building a development behind me and they used the brown Zip panels, taped the seams, and then nailed the shingles right on top of the sheathing with no underlayment. Is that the industry standard? I'm a fan of the zip system but it makes sense to have an underlayment between the shingles and the decking. I guess it passes code but it seems to be a cheap shortcut.
![Digital Circus Episode 4 [TRAILER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/abZtsmMUbJo/mqdefault.jpg)
As a Historic Preservationist, I am very happy to see Detroit restoring historic old buildings rather than demolishing them ! Hits off to you Detroit 😊
As someone Born in Detroit, whose family lived within the city limits of Detroit for over a hundred years, I'm glad to see it once again rising from ashes. Detroiters are tough. We keep getting up no matter how many times we get knocked down. I have a long love of historic preservation, so thank you for taking care of our building and making it so beautiful again. My mom worked in the Metropolitan Building when I was in grade school. It was beautiful even then, if a little worn. You've done a remarkable job.
As a Detroit Native and Resident, I really appreciate the recognition this video gives my city. We’ve been through a lot but beyond that Detroit is a beautiful city. Thank you for showing my city in a different light ❤️
Yes it is. Even it's so much bigger than NY.
the city i live in*
@@donnybowser imagine thinking your “correction” is any different than what was originally said….thanks for the insight though.
Detroit is a beautiful city! And you're in good hands with Brent Hull
@@erickfisher7501sorry to say this Erick, but you know New York is a bigger city than Detroit, much much bigger.
Cannot express how wonderful it is to see these old gems in my hometown saved. Detroit is full of incredible architecture. The city gets a bad rap often but she is as beautiful as she is resilient.
There are so many beautiful old buildings, with masonry and iron work that can't be matched today. It makes so much sense to renovate and bring these buildings back to life.
Historic buildings tell the story of the city.
Every city should have a historic preservation community.
Not everything is worth preserving. -This was worth it.
Michigan Resident here, glad to see you finally stopping by, we have lots of nice stuff here both new and historic.
I was wondering do you know anything about the residential housing market in Detroit the last time I checked there were houses available for dirt cheap I'm guessing that they're few and far between but then again who knows
@@arlenmargolin4868 Depends on the area. Metro Detroit still has a housing shortage
We do? Much of it in Michigan from 100+ years ago was torn down and office buildings were put in
Detroit is definitely America’s most underrated and unappreciated major city. It is a big architectural treasure chest. Detroit is still an elegant older intact city with a beautiful cityscape. It has the world’s third largest collection of historic pre depression skyscrapers.
I was born and raised in the metro Detroit area, and I went to school in Detroit and worked on many Detroit projects as an architectural designer. I currently live in Austin, TX, so it makes me very happy to see a Texan contractor visiting Detroit to appreciate our beautiful architecture and history!
Detroits economic collapse at just the right time actually saved so many buildings from being torn down and replaced.... leaving many relics still standing from a time when architects built beautiful buildings. If I were a billionaire with the cash, I would wager on restoring Detroit into a 1920s high roller era city, a sort of living museum to a great age of America's history and then simply rake in the tourist bucks.
Ask George Soros or Zuckerberg and others on the elite democratic lists, their thoughts about this instead of pouring millions and millions into tearing down our country to rebuild a SOCIALIST COUNTRY
They can afford to gamble their money on a high crime city, I wouldn't do it. I'd take my money to NY after Biden is gone!
@@m42037 The Gilded Age shaped and formed NY's politics well into our own era. Good luck untangling that any time soon.
@@m42037 Trump is promising tanks in the streets and mass arrests so you can only pray Harris gets elected.
It's great that they are saving and restoring these old, beautiful buildings. I find few modern buildings to be visually attractive. Regards from Finland! 🙂
Thanks there is a lot of Finlanders in Michigan my family moved here in 1911
Being from the UK ..DETROIT was and always will be the motor city and motown for me (i'm now 53 at the time of posting!) I have seen it from the outside as as a viewer go from prosperity to decay ..with the car plants (that were the mainlife blood and employers in Detroit) closing down .....and that had an OBV effect on the surouding suburban areas with abandon homes , fires ect ect .....BUT FOR ME the fact that they they are now investing in properties (especialy the historic ones like this and the old Michigain station ect) and trying to bring Detroit back to what it once was is a major plus in my book ....not just from a historic stand point BUT also (as i said im from the uk) a tourist stand point as well ...
Detroit has so much rich history that needs to be explored tourist wise ...not just cause of the birth place of motown or the car industry ........it has so much to give in historic buildings and the culture and history of not just people of color but all races that settled there and made Detroit thier home ...and as was known back in the day the power house of America ...Detroit was at the forefront of the autombile industry ect and that legacy should never be forgotten in my book! On tv Detroit is often portrade (in the uk at least ..even on YT sometimes) as a city that is derelict ect BUT it is far from it .....YES there are a lot of suburbs that have gone into decline and an exodus of folks ......BUT thats happened everywhere even in the UK ......areas that were once afflunet are now considerd no go areas ect ect it happens in every city across the world!
As i said im so glad they are preserving these historic buildings and they havent been torn down ..... sad to see though that some of the old theaters /cinemas finaly me that fate that were built in the 20's 30's at the hight of art deco, cinema opulance ..across the world these have sucumbed to the wrecking ball ...even if they were pritected as an historic place ...due to the owners letting the go into disreapare to the point they were structualy unsafe and needed to be demolished (as is sadly OFTEN the case with old cinemas / theatres) as its easier to do that so the owners can then build on the land after the place has been deemed usafe and its usualy appartments or homes ect!
Hey mate I live about 20 minutes from Detroit and that's nice what you say over the pond, but the reality is about 80% of Detroit is not good with crime and spirit stores on every corner, homeless and drugs and burned out homes. Many homes are gone now and just empty grass lots. That's funny I've been to Europe many times and there's 1000s of years of history over there, here we don't have much. Granted these 120 year old buildings being restored is nice, the reality is as I said most of Detroit is still a long ways from 50 years ago
Wow! Recognized my city from the thumbnail!
If I had known The Build Show was coming to Detroit I would absolutely have come down to say hello🙂
I am 🤐 years old and have spent my entire life listening to people make fun of my city. So happy to see it finally being restored to its former glory. Thank you to Matt and The Build Show for spreading the word.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
P. S ... and I would absolutely have done the Build Show close 😂
Great inspiration. As a builder, it makes me want to move back home to Detroit and start being apart of the Come Back of the City.
We LOVE Detroit,, we live downtown, so much to do, incredible architecture, restaurants, cultural areas, bike-walkways…..we have come miles in recent years finally, so exciting..
Now go out of downtown and take a walk at midnight with your elegant wife and tell me you would feel safe 🤨
@@m42037 , actually there’s lots of places that I would not go out late at night walking, including a lot of rural areas and small towns which are pretty scary so that’s kind of a mute point, elegant wife??? Hmmm interesting conclusion and well your way off, which is too funny 😂
Love that you came to the motor city. We have a lot of awesome buildings here, and I'm glad to see them being used and the city is thriving once again.
It’s so exciting to live in Detroit while it’s been experiencing its comeback. So many of its buildings are so unique and beautiful and watching them get restored has just been so cool. Please check out more of the outstanding architecture in this area.
Matt, you should reach out to Bedrock Detroit. That’s the company Dan Gilbert founded to buy and rehab over 100 properties in Detroit when they were priced super low. They’re some of the nicest buildings in the city now. I’m sure Bedrock has some good stories to tell.
I work for Walbridge Aldinger (just Walbridge now), which was the original general contractor of this building per an article I read. Walbridge has a very storied history of building a lot of Detroit and its automotive and industrial plants. Cool to see such a beautiful building being preserved.
Once a very wealthy city at a golden era, it is like a dream for restorators/revival 🤩👏👏👏
Greetings from Buenos Aires 🙂
This Gave Me Joy Listening to these guys enjoying my City
I was totally blown away by Detroit. Loved it!
It was great to see Detroit getting some love. There is an amazing collection of beautiful buildings here.
One benefit of Detroit being broke back then was that unlike many other cities that demolished buildings like this and build newer ones and in my opinion cheaper more inferior quality, Detroit wasn't able to afford to demolish many of these old buildings and sites. So now many of them are being restored like this one and brings out the uniqueness of the city.
The older architecture has so much more character! Detroit has some very attractive buildings!
One of the better aspects of traveling by car is the ability to stop and view or, if lucky enough, is to tour the older more traditional churches.
These homes were built during a time when craftsmanship was paramount.
Growing up in the inner city of CNY our home had stained glass windows, carved handrails, molding around every door, and that’s what you could see with your plain eyes. The work you gentleman do is very moving to me because these buildings are works of art. They are a Wonder because every detail has been taken into consideration.
These are huge and this guy is way too chill with the beauty they created.
I’m in the suburbs of Detroit. I’ve done much work in Downtown Detroit and have been in many of those buildings.
They are truly beautiful.
Dan Gilbert and his various company’s have done much to bring D back.
It was referred to as the Paris of Midwest. The architecture of some of the buildings is practically irreplaceable. . Please note if it was not to a few billionaires none of this would be taking place.
Can you expound on the 'if it were not for a few billionaires' part? I'd like to learn who was responsible for the revival of Detroit!
@@JayKast Dan Gilbert, the owner of Rocket Mortgage has put several billion dollars into buying and rehabing major properties over the last decade plus.
Add Bill Ford to the mix. Bringing back the Michigan Central Terminal is a big rebuild.
@@JayKast and Michael Ilitch and Robert Pensky. They all have made major investments in downtown Detroit. To the point of creating private security to protect their investments from vandalism. The investments continue also.
@@robertlee6781 Although a bit late ,its great to see Ford motor make the investment to get that beautiful building functional again.
Hi Matt Risinger, I'm Dennis Daniels from Cleveland, Ohio! Thanks for sharing your video about your restoring Detroit!
I'm another Clevelander (former) and love seeing the rebirthing of our Rustbelt Cities!! I've been following Matt for years now too!!
Lol the reality is Detroit has decades to go to get it back to 50 years ago it's still about 80% ghetto
Wow, I had NO idea that this was going on (downtown revitalization) in Detroit, and I am so happy to see this. I had last seen the downtown area really just passing through in 2009 when I taught a class at U.S. Steel, and I could see the blight and abandoned buildings, so sad then.
Again, this is really great to see, thanks for posting this Matt and co!
Easily best episode yet. Truly great interview, content and Matt’s awesome personality
Really would love to hear more about the structural and base building aspects of that building
Thank you sooooo much for restoring this building. So worth the time and money to keep this beautiful building. I hope more to come!
Beautiful video giving a synopsis of what's been going on in Detroit for the past ten years. Wonderful to see such an important American city experiencing a building renaissance!
It was called the Paris of the Midwest because it was founded by the French, and many of the streets have French names.
Thanks for giving us Props at the Book Tower!!
It's the Paris of America because it was founded by french explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, Detroit is a french word meaning Strait. Detroit history is Amazing.
Detroit has more pre depression highrises and skyscrapers than any other city in America. Detroit still holds the record as a matter of fact of how many skyscrapers were built within one decade which was the 1920's. Detroit has had a bad reputation for decades but many do not realize that it was the nations third largest city right after WW2 with 2.1 million and 2.2 million including two of its enclaves. It once was considered a world class city with one of the nations largest ports, second largest rail transit and freight rail systems, and had the nations highest average household incomes. At one time many of these classic buildings sat empty but in the last 20 years most of them have been restored and reopened making them the symbols of Detroits long but sure comeback.
LOVE to see these HISTORICAL FACTS. that MANY are not aware of about Detroit !
i don’t like how matt totally hijacked that conversation when they got inside. i want to hear about what he learned.
Fabulous 2nd building atrium. Stone possibly from Indiana Quarrys back in the day. If new, a lot of work with Masons, stone, and scaffolding. Been there, and when it's finished, it's a piece of Art.
I am so happy to see the progress and restoration of the old buildings in Detroit , unfortunately so very much has been lost of a great American city . My family have a long history in Detroit and the state over two hundred years . Thank you so very much !
Detroit used to be very wealthy and very beautiful . People flocked there just to be part of something amazing. I hope this is a portent of great things to come.
Visit the Fisher Building and theater in the New Center neighborhood, next to the 1920s GM building. These were always maintained. Two more Fisher towers were originally planned, but then came 1930. Detroit's buildings might have rivaled Chicago.. Hundreds, possible thousands of beautiful homes were lost in the 1980s and 90s. I lived in Detroit in 1984-85.
I think a major difference in Chicago is many wealthy lived in the Gold Coast on the north lakefront, but the wealthiest families had already left Detroit in the 1920s. Chicago has also experienced huge losses of jobs in the south and west sides , but many of the wealthy influence makers remain residents of Chicago.
Detroit was once the wealthiest city in the world, full stop. Chicago and New York didn't hold a candle at the time.
@@dreadred92 Even with decades of population decline Detroit remains the home of more residents than Atlanta - both cities are about 140 square miles. I once lived in Ferndale, just north of 8 Mile Road, recently Ferndale was selected as one of the best places for first time home buyers in the U.S., but just to the south was another small city, Highland Park, which was somewhat of a model city a century ago with excellent schools, but the once ideal H.P. is now largely abandoned.
Dreadred Most people don’t even know that WAS the case that’s why we had/have such a wealth of historic Architecture it’s unfortunate for the REAL reason why the people , business and tax base left the city and even deeper why manufacturing left with those. people and eventually left the country with the blessing and help of the state and federal government .
So glad to see the D show the country what it’s all about during the recent NFL draft and shattering attendance records!🔥
Detroit holds some of the absolute most beautiful architecture in America, so glad to see many of them being brought back to life.
It’s a tough go when 1.5 million people leave the city.
One building I was would have been saved was the Hudson’s building
It’s harder to reno than build new when replicating custom designs and forgotten original style. Understated technical work and skill.
What a revival, love to see it.
Matt, love this! Thank you! Preservation matters so much.
I was raised in Detroit during the Motown era. It was the best place to live because it was rich in talent, history and pride. I still say I’m from Detroit, even though I’ve lived in LA most of my life, because Detroit had such a profound effect on who I am…even now. I didn’t realize until recently, that my love for architecture came from being exposed to so many beautiful buildings, all over the city!
Matt, big fan of your channel, but today's focus on Detroit hit home. in 1996 I was working for an insurance company out of Chicago that was the lender on The David Whitney Building. Being from Chicago, Daniel Burnham was well known to me and revered and I was appalled when I did a site visit in connection with my job as an asset manager since the building was essentially vacant and was in need of significant capital infusion, but the insurance company didn't want to foreclose due to a concept called lender liability and the City wouldn't let us seal-up the building due to the fact that the People Mover Station was integral to the building and had to be accessible at all times.
During my visit I to was struck by the beauty of the main atrium and the stone that surrounded it. The loan on the building was in default for several years prior to our involvement (we acquired Continental Insurance out of NYC and they were the original lender) and during my visit I went to the higher floors and found newspapers from the early 1980's in Dentists offices stuck in a time warp and the penthouse had broken windows and birds flying around! At the time, many of the lender's were more than happy to give away buildings for pennies on the dollar. We were initially offered $700,000 for the 19-story David Whitney Building and I fought my bosses hard to reject the urge to take the money and run. Out of the blue (I think it was in 1997), I received a call from a financial advisor to a local pension fund that offered us $2.3MM to purchase the note and since my company refused to foreclose, I convinced management to take the higher offer from the pension fund rather than the quick cash from a prominent local family that was offering the $700,000 and was buying up buildings left and right in downtown at the time.
Over the years since my involvement, I have spoken to many locals about The David Whitney Building and everyone remembers it fondly as a place where they went to the dentist (maybe not as fondly since it was the dentist :)) and how vibrant it was in the atrium and the retail that surrounded it.. It is great to see that someone cared enough to bring the building up to modern standards and at the same time retain its original beauty and grandeur and is doing the same to many similar downtown buildings of that era!
Btw, over a decade later (in 2009), I went to work for a company headquartered out of Farmington Hills, MI called Village Green and Village Green was one of the first to complete a large-scale renovation converting one of the older buildings into residential in Detroit's downtown.
Keep up the good work, Matt and everyone should check out the Dayton Arcade in Dayton, OH for another incredible restoration!
Interesting history lesson , Beautiful restoration ! .. Thank goodness it and many others have been spared the wrecking ball .. But many too more were not
To me, your information was more important than the content of the video,
Thank you. 👌🏽
Absolutely George our rehab. Things are really changing. Detroit is looking good!
Wow!! That building is gorgeous!
Detroit was a triple A city no doubt! The historic significance is second to none.
The book "Strong Towns" goes into detail about how our post WWII shift to a car-centric infrastructure at the expense of the human-centric one we had caused cities like Detroit to collapse and is a major reason why the US is going broke today.
Bingo. Not to mention at the human experience level, is unhealthy (less walking) and inherently unsocial.
@@IndependenceCityMotoring Yes, walking in a 1950s suburb everyday is depressing and tiresome
@@IndependenceCityMotoring there are so many layers to how this relatively new way of organizing society has devastated us. There are several quality RUclips channels that go into detail about it, but Not Just Bikes is by far my favorite
@@Will_JJHP I like his content but he never brings up the solutions. Probably because he doesn't care anymore living in the Netherlands and all 😂
@@thelonewanderer420 I don't blame him. It's a complex issue that requires layers and layers of solutions that are different everywhere. He does address the core principles though, and that's half the battle. Urban 3 seems to be a great consulting firm to put real solutions into action though.
"Paris of America" - I believe it actually has to do with the city planning and layout rather than the buildings. It was based on Paris.
Watching your video from Canada, l am really impressed & inspired by the restoration of so many grand old buildings ( so glad they weren't knocked down like so many in Toronto & Montreal, l actually have a whole book of destroyed Toronto buildings called Lost Toronto, it's enough to bring you to tears). Inspiring to see the increasing re-birth of downtown Detroit, never thought l would see it. Keep up the good work, cheers!
Hopefully you got a chance to peek in the Guardian Building's lobby, that's my favorite in Detroit.
What a treasure....delighted it was saved! Save more old buildings.
Detroit: the Paris of the Midwest... back in the day. It was really something!
Absolutely love the amount of beautiful, historic buildings still standing in Detroit. One of the few benefits of the city’s decline is the amount of historic buildings still standing in the city core that would have been torn down in a city like New York or Chicago.
That is incredible work
AABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! THANK YOU!
fantastic i a DETROITER i love too see people see the wonderful place DETROIT is
Fantastic content! Thanks for taking time to visit Michigan.
When crappy little 3br houses are $300,000+ and still hard to get, of course they’re finally going to see the housing potential of these old gems.
My family and I lived in Detroit 62-72. Received my doctorate while there. Lived in Sherwood Forest
It’s still as beautiful as I hope you remember !
I have been to Detroit 3 times in my life in 2005, 2015, and 2019. The downtown area has come along way since my first stay at the hotel at the GM building. The architecture definitely rivals Chicago but I still like Chicago a little more. Good to see these old buildings are getting rehabbed. I just hope developers don’t loose site of the natives of Detroit and the overall economic hardship Michigan has faced economically in many cities/towns across the state the last 40+ years.
I appreciate you saying that. I’m from metro Detroit and this is by far my biggest worry. We need to make sure we invest in the communities of Detroit not just big corporations and ppl from outside the city. The residents have been through sooooo much and we need to make sure they are not bullied, forgotten and taken advantage of.
I live in Detroit and I disagree with both of you. We need to kick out a lot of the "messy ppl" in the city and get some new blood in the city. There are beautiful neighborhoods in Deroit next to some awful neighborhoods. The mindset of the city needs to change. A high percentage of the renters, that don't live downtown, just don't care about anything. Kick them out!!!! I love the old architecture but, could care less about the natives. Because it was the so called natives that let the city get to the way it was. I'm a homeowner and lots of other homeowners here in Detroit feel the same way.
@@Turshin Detriot will never recover that way. A city is about the people. Are you talking about setting up a sanctuary city, perhaps seeing if immigrants from Latin America will do better than native Detroiters?
@@squirlmy no I'm talking about kicking out the ninjas. And this is coming from a black man.
@@Turshin I work in the not so nice part of Detroit. The crime is ridiculous, need to bring chief Craig back
As the automakers took off and started “designing” vehicles artisans from all disciplines came to Detroit, new construction methods were developed in Detroit. And then the historic homes, the theaters, arenas, and stadiums, art museum, African museum, such a historic city, I have some childhood memories when I 9 yr old white boy could run around the block at 7 Miles and Livernois. I spent 12 years in the Detroit metro area, I enjoyed it and only a had a bit of trouble.
We do a lot of work on similar buildings here in Milwaukee. Really cool to see.
Go and visit this beautiful city. I had the pleasure of being there in February the buildings are beautifully restored and the area downtown is full.of amazing local food and people who are welcoming and tons of things to do. I would dare say that besides NYC the metropolitan area is amazing.
Wow! I just found your channel when I was looking for info on radiant cooling and I'm based in Detroit! Will you build here?
I just sent my customers to The Monarch Club yesterday.
Detroit is a French founded city and the original street layout was designed by a guy from Washington DC with hubs and spokes. (DC is based on Paris.) That's why we're the Paris of the Midwest.
You should take a peek at the Larson Building in Yakima Washington. It's a 1920's Art Deco with most of the original work still intact. It hadn't been abandoned but over the decades it had been modernized with acoustic drop down ceilings, carpets etc. All the updates were removed by the new owners and the building restored. The Davenport Building in Spokane has a has similar back story but with a lot more work done to it. It's definitely eye candy with all the detailing. President's used to stay at the Davenport back in the day.
I lived in Detroit in 2013 (moved _from_ Austin). What he said about raves and walking right through the building is no exaggeration.
Love the video and resurgence of Detroit. Would love to take an architectural tour of the city.
Thank goodness a newer architect generation is saving buildings and have visions like many other cities in America. There is still an older generation that just wants to tear it all down. 70s and 80s a lot came down. A city’s character is its buildings and history. Detroit has a very historical past. There is a Detroit Historical Society.
Eat at The Dime Store when you're down there! Best food in Detroit
I wired this building!
Sweet! Such a cool building
2:35 Cincinnati was referred to as the Paris of America, not Detroit.
Detroit was called the Paris of the Midwest. Look it up!
@@marcbillingsley359 Paris of the Midwest is not the same thing as Paris of America...
I love the Commercial Style, or Chicago Style, whichever one you prefer. Truly love the architecture. When you see an old Commercial Style building next to a modern counterpart you can see in stark reality who absolutely sterile, brutish, and sometimes, bizarre 21st Century style has become. Never let it be said that architecture does not reflect it's times.
If Architectural distinction is the definition of being "The Paris of America" or the midwest, how can you say Detroit eclipses Chicago. Many of those architects who built in Detroit, were actually Chicago based architects.
This being said, I think Detroit is definitely a hidden gem, and I would consider moving my business to, due to affordable housing, great opportunity, and finally, something America needs to pay close attention too, plenty of areas to develop for industrial production, and bring vital manufacturing back to the USA to be less dependent on foreign actors who will hold us hostage in international affairs until we can tell them to pound ground.
Another city similar but with much less vacant space, is Kansas City. Ideally located for small manufacturers almost exactly in the middle of the country.
Detroit is referred to as the Paris of the Midwest Mainly for 2 reasons. 1 being the architecture, but 2 is the main one; we have a similar radial road layout like Paris does, all be it smaller!!
THANK YOU for EXPLAINING THAT to him ! ( and also those of us that weren’t aware either ... I knew half the story .
I have seen this city from the 60’s to now thru multiple phases and it is so wonderful to see its resurgence. You see as many cranes and construction projects, now, as you would see in the early 60’s. And the new Gordy Howe bridge is looking much as the construction on a brand new I-75 back in ‘64. You should check out the largest Masonic Temple. It has a Parisian stage, which is quite astounding and the acoustics are outta this world! They have tours you can take on the weekends. Check out Belle Isle, it is larger than Central Park! Visit the Aquarium, Arboretum, Dossin ship museum, and the Nature Center. Go over to Pewabic Pottery, (their tiles are in the Atrium at the DIA). Grab some lunch at Sinbad’s and hike the Riverwalk. We have a world-class symphony and the DIA - Detroit Institute of Arts has a huge Diego Rivera mural that you must see! The Detroit Historical Museum has a recreation of Detroit streets from waaaay back. Jack White’s record store and production; Third Man records is worth checking out. If you have time, have dinner at the Whitney House and take a Ghost tour. There are nice shops downtown. We have the Fox theatre, which was beautifully restored, the Fillmore, Detroit Opera House, Max Fisher Music Hall, Tiger baseball, at Comerica Park, RedWings and Pistons at Little Caesar’s Stadium, Lion’s football at Ford Field. This city has it all!
I just hope someone restores the Penobscot building. They used to have a viewing area at the top, like at the Empire State Building.
Can't introduce the guy as Brett Hull and expect us not to automatically assume it's the former red wing lol
Awesome stuff Matt! 😃👍🏻👊🏻
About 4 years ago I said to myself damn I've got to get one of these $1,000 houses that they were selling and you know time goes on and on Life happens and then the day comes when you realize you could have been involved in a market that skyrocketed I did it in New Brunswick and New Jersey with a $5,000 house that eventually became to be worth $300,000 and when I bought my house there were 30 40 houses available at super cheap prices you got to strike when the fire is hot
Could have movies in those beautiful buildings.
Troppi edifici storici negli Stati Uniti sono stati distrutti, troppa arte e bellezza è stata persa. Il restauro è importante serve x preservare le nostre radici
detroit has some incredible architecture its sad to see it slowly being destroyed.
Welcome to Detroit Matt.
The building looks gorgeous. A little disappointed that you used foam instead of using limestone for the carved moulding but it’s expensive so it’s understandable.
I was just working in the white buildings that are behind Shane at the beginning of the video on LinkedIn's new office conference rooms.
"Bums," I like this guy already!
Thank You
Nice hotel stayed there last summer
Great group of craftsman.
Restore the whole city and bring back the American car factories !! It's time!
Wonderful!
LOL i love that he uses the word "Bums"
That word caught my attention too don’t hear that used much now days for the people he’s referring too
Brent Hull? That's funny because Brett Hull played for the Red Wings from 2001-2004 Winning the 2002 Stanley Cup with the Wings!!!!!
This is INCREDIBLE quality and creative work! Nice to see some positive news about Detroit! Good luck to you all! On an aside on this channel: I stopped taking FineHomeBuilding because, despite the excellent quality, it was too much like focusing on work--after working all day. But you make similar content entertaining enough and focus on building science which is more what I need now than the latest saw. No offense to FHB. This is somehow more consumable for me at the moment.
This question is off topic for this video but it's your latest video and I was wondering about your opinion on something.
You're a big fan of the Zip System. So I figured you would have an opinion on the practice of singling over Zip roof decking. They're building a development behind me and they used the brown Zip panels, taped the seams, and then nailed the shingles right on top of the sheathing with no underlayment.
Is that the industry standard? I'm a fan of the zip system but it makes sense to have an underlayment between the shingles and the decking. I guess it passes code but it seems to be a cheap shortcut.
I didn't know Detroit was on the up!
I know this building, it’s so worth saving.