Mapping The Last Year In Detroit Building Demolitions

By Sarah Cox Sep 2, 2014, 12:07pm EDT

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By Sarah Cox Sep 2, 2014, 12:07pm EDT

In the last twelve months, Detroit has lost at least eight significant structures (and more single family homes than anyone can count). Here we take a look back at the most important losses from the last 12 months. Spot one that we missed? Don't whine, tell the tipline. We'll be updating this map as more bricks fall.

· Demo Watch 2013: A Final Farewell to Buildings Obliterated [Curbed Detroit]

American Axle Plant

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This one fell around late February with a pile of rubble still visible in March. The 108-acre complex was sold with plans for the new buyers to redevelop the land for "industrial purposes."

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1840 Holbrook Avenue, Hamtramck, MI 48212

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Temple Hotel

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In May this Cass Corridor safe haven for prostitution and drugs bit the dust. It was an obstacle to a new substation DTE needed to build to power the new Red Wings arena.

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72 Temple Street, Detroit, MI 48201

First Unitarian Church

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This was was not so much torn down as burned down. In May the building owned by Salim Kemenko seemed to spontaneously combust. The case seems very suspicious.

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Woodward Avenue & Edmund Place, Detroit, MI 48201

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Matthew Moroun Takes Down a Warehouse

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In July, the greedy land barons of the Detroit International Bridge Co, the Moroun family, knocked down an empty warehouse. Mayor Duggan applauded the rich family for paying for their own demo, pissing many preservationists off.

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2600 West Fort Street, Detroit, MI 48216

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The CARE Building

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This one was cleared this August to make way for development on the Statler Hotel Site. Right now it just means there is a big triangle of emptiness across from the Kales Building.

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139 Bagley Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226

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Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects

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This has been one of the longer demolition processes, which makes sense since there were four tower buildings. Demo started in January but there is still a little something left. (Previously this site lost two towers in 2003).