Though this was technically week 5… last Friday I finally got to go to my site in person for the first time! The day started off with a tour of the Say Detroit Play Center at Lipke Park with the director of the youth program there, along with my supervisor Pat. Next, Pat and I drove down to the Nortown CDC office. The office is currently empty since everyone’s working remotely, but it was great to get a tour of the place! After that, Pat showed me around District 3- where I finally got to physically see everything I’ve been working on. We drove by a few different neighborhoods, some of which I’ve been doing property research on. We then drove by the Norris House, a historical site that Nortown CDC has been restoring for a while. Next, we drove by two locations I’m writing short stories on for an upcoming NED’s (Northeast Detroit) Notes newspaper. The first location was the abandoned home of civil rights activist Sarah Elizabeth Ray. The house just recently received a designation as one of the “11 Most Endangered Historic Sites”, which is why I’m writing a story on it. The second location was the Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport, particularly the new statues of the Tuskegee Airmen outside the airport. We also drove by the Nortown Homes, an affordable housing project that Nortown CDC began 15 years ago.
As Pat and I drove around the area, I also learned a lot more about why District 3 is considered to be economically distressed. In many of the neighborhoods, there are countless vacant properties and burned down houses. Along with that, I also noticed many industrial sites (many of which were once retail centers) right by neighborhoods, which means heavy truck traffic in residential areas. We also drove to the Bel Aire Shopping Center, which used to be a major retail plaza, but could potentially turn into another industrial site. Nortown CDC would like to see this become a mixed-use site (with a well being facility, restaurants, stores, gardens, & walking paths) which could truly benefit the community. Since Pat has been both a community member and leader in Northeast Detroit for most of her life, it was really interesting to hear her perspective on how District 3 has changed over the years.
I kept forgetting to take pictures- but here are photos I took of the playground at the Say Play Center, the Sarah Elizabeth Ray House, and statues of the Tuskegee Airmen outside the city airport!
Hey, wow! These pictures are amazing. I wonder, what makes these sites historically endangered? I google the definition, and that provided me with, “a historic property which is or is about to be subjected to a major impact that will destroy or seriously damage the resources which make it eligible for National Historic Landmark designation.” and I find that vague, perhaps because every situation is different? After reading about Detroit’s housing crisis, I truly have an immense veneration for the work you’re doing Malak, your supervisor, and organization.
Yup, I think you’re right that every situation is different. For this one in particular, it received the designation because the Detroit Land Bank was going to demolish it, but now many people are working on its preservation!
I’m glad you finally got to see your site and get a tour of the area you’re writing about! The pictures look really cool too! It’s sad to see that a site with so much history is at risk of being demolished, I’m happy that many people stepped up to preserve it.
Hey Malak!
Your experience sounds so fulfilling and interesting. I’m glad you got to have some in person element to your fellowship. I would love to read the short-story you’re writing, so send it my way when it’s done! The work you’re doing sounds really important 🙂
Hi Malak! I like how you incorporated the pictures of your site! It’s exciting that you got the chance to write for NED Notes newspaper. I hadn’t heard of Sarah Elizabeth Ray before, but I just found out that she was a civil rights activist who initiated a court case that was processed by the Supreme Court.