A lot of the time, photos of Detroit streets reveal images of run-down houses and buildings, but the city has made quite the turnaround over the past couple of years. In order to document some of the positive changes that are being made to the city, Detroit Urbex took to Google Maps in order to create a virtual map of the city that shows how broken-down structures have been restored today.
Some of the examples in the map include buildings like the Kendrick Manufacturing Co. building, which looked pretty shabby in 2009. The Grand Army of the Republic is another one that's part of the virtual map—it was vacant since about 1982, but it is now being transformed into a series of office and retail spaces to bring new vitality to the city.
Then-and-Now City Maps
Detroit Urbex's Google Map Shows a Comparison of Old & New Detroit Streets
Trend Themes
1. Urban Revitalization - The transformation of run-down buildings into vibrant spaces presents disruptive innovation opportunities for urban planning and real estate development.
2. Virtual Mapping - The use of Google Maps to create virtual maps showcasing urban transformations provides opportunities for innovative data visualization and interactive experiences.
3. Positive Image Shift - Documenting and sharing the positive changes in cities like Detroit can spur further investments and inspire similar revitalization efforts in other urban areas.
Industry Implications
1. Urban Planning - In the field of urban planning, new approaches can be explored to replicate successful urban revitalization projects and transform other struggling cities.
2. Real Estate Development - Real estate developers can leverage the trend of urban revitalization to identify profitable opportunities for renovating old buildings and creating attractive living and commercial spaces.
3. Data Visualization - Companies specializing in data visualization can partner with urban exploration organizations to create visually stunning and informative virtual maps documenting urban transformations.