Nov 28, 2016
Nov 27, 2016
Abandoned Brush Park in Detroit: Then & Now
The origins of Brush Park date back to the 1850s when development began on this affluent neighborhood in midtown Detroit, Michigan. Ornate homes and grand mansions continued to spring up towards the end of the 19th century, earning Brush Park the nickname the "Little Paris of the Midwest". Sadly, this distinction was relatively short lived.
With its close proximity to downtown Detroit, by the early 20th century many of the residents of Brush Park began moving to more modern, quieter districts. The neighborhood quickly transformed as Detroit's demand for more working-class residents increased. By the 1970s the economic downturn hit this area hard. Crime rose and depopulation continued through the 1980s, and soon Brush Park had become stereotypically symbolic of Detroit's decline.
Archival images paint a picture of Brush Park during its heyday. Following my exploration and photo essay of the neighborhood, I felt compelled to learn more. The contrasts between past and present are glaring, however there is a bright spot to this story. There have been several high profile property restorations in Brush Park in recent years, and with the new arena for the Detroit Red Wings under construction nearby there's also been a lot of talk about redevelopment. Several significant projects have already been put forward.
The "Little Paris" aesthetic of Brush Park now only exists in a few surviving historic homes, but the area does seem on the cusp of some major changes. As abandoned as it may appear, the impression I got from researching the area is that this is simply the equivalent of pulling everything back to the studs before starting a major renovation. Whether you see it as good or bad, like it has several times before, Detroit's Brush Park is once again evolving.
With its close proximity to downtown Detroit, by the early 20th century many of the residents of Brush Park began moving to more modern, quieter districts. The neighborhood quickly transformed as Detroit's demand for more working-class residents increased. By the 1970s the economic downturn hit this area hard. Crime rose and depopulation continued through the 1980s, and soon Brush Park had become stereotypically symbolic of Detroit's decline. Archival images paint a picture of Brush Park during its heyday. Following my exploration and photo essay of the neighborhood, I felt compelled to learn more. The contrasts between past and present are glaring, however there is a bright spot to this story. There have been several high profile property restorations in Brush Park in recent years, and with the new arena for the Detroit Red Wings under construction nearby there's also been a lot of talk about redevelopment. Several significant projects have already been put forward.
The "Little Paris" aesthetic of Brush Park now only exists in a few surviving historic homes, but the area does seem on the cusp of some major changes. As abandoned as it may appear, the impression I got from researching the area is that this is simply the equivalent of pulling everything back to the studs before starting a major renovation. Whether you see it as good or bad, like it has several times before, Detroit's Brush Park is once again evolving.Demolition of Redcliff Pressed Brick Co.
After standing for over a century, on Friday the abandoned Redcliff Pressed Brick Co. / I-XL factory in Redcliff, Alberta was brought down. Having photographed much of the historic clay district in and around the Medicine Hat area, I know a lot of people share my interest in these unique structures, kilns, and abandoned spaces in general. I echo a lot of similar sentiments in that it is sad to see a familiar landmark like this go.
The site is set to become a historical park using bricks from the demolition in its construction. In recent years the kilns and smokestacks had become increasingly unstable and there were practical concerns that they would collapse. With nearby sites like Medalta Potteries and the protected I-XL Brick Factory in Medicine Hat, it's understandable that there were a lot of challenges and costs involved in trying to preserve this crumbling factory as it was. Reinventing the site as a park seems like the next best thing.
I photographed the Redcliff Pressed Brick Co. at the end of 2012 and was invited to document the interior in 2014. It's amazing that after only a few years another collection of images from my Around the Hat series have become archival. Here's a look at the former Redcliff Pressed Brick Company following its recent demolition.
The site is set to become a historical park using bricks from the demolition in its construction. In recent years the kilns and smokestacks had become increasingly unstable and there were practical concerns that they would collapse. With nearby sites like Medalta Potteries and the protected I-XL Brick Factory in Medicine Hat, it's understandable that there were a lot of challenges and costs involved in trying to preserve this crumbling factory as it was. Reinventing the site as a park seems like the next best thing. I photographed the Redcliff Pressed Brick Co. at the end of 2012 and was invited to document the interior in 2014. It's amazing that after only a few years another collection of images from my Around the Hat series have become archival. Here's a look at the former Redcliff Pressed Brick Company following its recent demolition.
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| Redcliff Brick Factory in December 2012. |
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| The site following demolition in November 2016. |
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| Redcliff Brick Factory in December 2012. |
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| Redcliff Brick Factory in December 2012. |
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