The Great Divide

Mack Avenue divides Grosse Pointe Park from the City of Detroit. Walk on one side of the street and you're in Motown; walk on other side and you're not. It's just a few lanes of traffic but it's worlds apart, as they say. Here are two shots near the intersection of Mack and Lakepointe. Can you tell which side is which?

A Flintoid in Suburbia

I'm staying with friends in Grosse Pointe before heading up to the Vehicle City. They told me that they had the perfect job for a guy from Flint. Should I be insulted?

Detroit: Understatement of the Year

Welcome to Detroit.

Cars available.

I'm only on the ground in Detroit for five minutes and I'm already spotting signs with unintentionally deep meanings. There's been endless analysis of the auto industry and the national economic outlook, but this alternating LED at the airport pretty much sums it all up.

Flint Artifacts: 1964 Boys Center Baseball Patch

Megisi, who provided this artifact, writes: "We came in from the 'burbs to play at Dort Field behind Central High School. These are the patches they handed out to the center champs at the I.M.A. Auditorium with kids from all over the city there and Mickey Stanley doing the honors."

Michael Moore on G.M.

For more details on Mike's plans for the automaker, go here.

What does the city of Detroit have against Tiger Stadium?

The city of Detroit, in typically incomprehensible fashion, seems determined to obliterate any remnant of Tiger Stadium, despite the efforts of the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy. Detroit Economic Growth Corp. Vice President Waymon Guillebeaux says the stadium will be leveled as soon as a contract is negotiated with a contractor.

And what is Waymon's rationale?

“We cannot have a partially demolished building remaining indefinitely,” Guillebeaux told The Associated Press.

Of course! Detroit has a long-standing policy against buildings in disrepair. They do such a great job of enforcing this rule that I bet you can't find a single vacant, crumbling building in the entire city. It makes perfect sense to tear down what remains of a landmark to keep the city looking clean and tidy. And think of the development possibilities for the corner of Michigan & Trumbull. With Motown's booming economy, you can't waste valuable land on a memorial to one of the city's greatest structures and a ballpark for kids, which is what the Conservancy is proposing.

Unbelievable.

UPDATE: Statement of Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy:

The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy is shocked and dismayed that a decision was made by the Economic Development Corporation to demolish the Navin Field portion of Tiger Stadium without consulting the Conservancy. The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy has made considerable progress to move the redevelopment of this property forward by securing millions of dollars in earmarks, grants and tax credits, as well as state recommendation of historic designation.

Plans are well underway to redevelop this property into a viable and self-sustaining commercial property, a much-needed venue for supporting local youth and amateur sports, and a usable and attractive community green space as exemplified by similar preservation efforts by the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy project will be a major contributor to the economic development of the City of Detroit, connecting southeast Michigan to the state and the entire region.

With a new administration in place, we demand that the City not be shortsighted in its vision for the future. We ask that development officials stop demolishing our heritage and instead, develop mixed-use opportunities that promote economic vitality, cultural tourism and healthy green spaces that interlink and sustain neighborhoods. By demolishing, the City loses $22 million in credits and earmarks and adds another vacant lot in the City of Detroit. Apparently, the policy is to save the City by demolishing it. We encourage citizens to contact the Mayor’s office as well as Detroit City Council to voice their concerns.

G.M. Car Slideshow

The New York Times has a nice slideshow of owners with their G.M. cars here.

Downtown Flint Gets All Euro

I'm not really sure what to say about Smart Cars and sidewalk cafes on Saginaw Street, or food and drink, not men's clothing, at Blackstone's. For somebody who left in '87 it's just too weird. This is no doubt a sign of something good, right? I'd feel even better it there was any sign of human life on the other side of the street — perhaps a few people hanging out in front of the old Copa — so this didn't look so much like a Hollywood backlot (see below), but let's not get too picky.

Thanks to Steve Hester of Zoom Digital Media for the photos.

Buick Apollo

Who says GM can't make small(ish) cars? Perhaps today's bankruptcy filing is divine retribution for ever producing this car.

Click to enlarge. Seriously, you have to read this ad copy: "It's the Buick of small cars that's especially big on pleasure."

G.M. Announces Cuts and Closures

Here's a list of the plants and facilities affected by G.M.'s "accelerated manufacturing plan to improve capacity utilization and flexibility." (Perhaps they can find some PR flaks who write a bit better during the bankruptcy.)

June 1, 2009 U.S. GM Manufacturing Optimization Plan Actions

Plant	Status / Timing (date listed or sooner depending on market demand)
Assembly
Orion, Mich.	Standby Capacity - September 2009
Pontiac, Mich.	Close - October 2009
Spring Hill, Tenn.	Standby Capacity - November 2009
Wilmington, Del.	Close - July 2009
Stamping
Grand Rapids, Mich.	Close - June 2009 (previously announced)
Indianapol, Ind.	Close - December 2011
Mansfield, Ohio	Close - June 2010
Pontiac, Mich.	Standby Capacity - December 2010
Powertrain
Livonia Engine, Mich.	Close - June 2010
Flint North Components, Mich.	Close - December 2010
Willow Run Site, Mich.	Close - December 2010
Parma Components, Ohio	Close - December 2010
Fredericksburg Components, Virg.	Close - December 2010
Massena Castings, N.Y.	Closed - May 1, 2009 (previously announced)
Service & Parts Operations (SPO) Warehousing & Parts Distribution Centers
Boston, Mass.	Close – December 31, 2009
Jacksonville, Fla.	Close – December 31, 2009
Columbus, Ohio	Close – December 31, 2009