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F 4130PLORING

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examine their surroundings.

PHOTOSTORY BY
SAM
HOLLENSHEAD

Noah Courant, left, Amos Shirato, center, and Matt Nisbett pause as they take in the beauty of the Michigan Central Railroad Station, which is one of Detroit's most famous abandoned buildings.

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W ith a booming economy and a bustling population, Detroit was once
a model American city. Although many now consider it a symbol of
urban blight, a vitality and rich history endure within Detroit's dete-
riorating cityscape.
An iconic representation of Detroit's urban decay is the Michigan Central
Railroad Station, which looms over Detroit like a an ancient fortress.
Opened in 1912 and built in the Beaux Arts style, the station is best known
for its architecture, particularly the colonnade that encircles the upper floors
of the building. The last train departed from the station on January 6, 1988.
The current disrepair of the building is a result of the owner's neglect.
The desire to explore abandoned structures stems from a fascination with
cities, architecture and American history. While walking through the corridors
of crumbling buildings, one gains an appreciation of past realities. Documents
and old photographs are a manifestation of the hardworking employees and
thriving businesses that once filled these buildings.
Exploring urban spaces also represents a reaction to the growth and culture
of suburban communities, which to many seem devoid of history and tradition.
Environmentally destructive, suburbs now house many of the people and much
of the wealth that once supported Detroit. At its peak, Detroit had a population
of nearly 2 million people. Today, as the city is celebrating its 300th anniver-
sary, Detroit is now home to just under a million people.
Although an intrinsic beauty exists in the decay of cities like Detroit, urban
renewal is vital to the construction of a sustainable society that manages space
efficiently and employs the use of public transportation systems. Failure to
revive urban centers will result ia an America dominated by.homogeneous
sub-developments and segregated sprawl.

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entering roug open windows.

scene in many Matt Nisbett an avid urban explorer, uses his control of Reiki energy to traverse the precarious rooftop of the
"Whale" building across from Comenica Park. The building has been abandoned since the early 1984s.