PW in Action
Preservation isn’t just about protecting historic skyscrapers from the wrecking ball. And one needn’t be an architect or developer to call themselves a preservationist.
The built environment is what makes a city like Detroit livable. It’s a legacy passed on from previous generations, and we all have a responsibility to protect the urban fabric so it can be passed on to our children and grandchildren.
Everyone who takes that legacy seriously–from a major developer like John Ferchill to the Wayne State student renting a flat in one of Woodbridge’s historic homes–is a preservationist in their own way. Every office worker at the Penobscot Building, every customer at Leopold’s Books, every thirsty baseball fan at the Park Bar, and every homeowner restoring their craftsman bungalow’s wood trim is quietly making the case for the inherent value of preservation.
That’s because preservation isn’t some abstract idea for ivory tower academics and stary-eyes idealists. It’s about protecting Detroit’s sense of place–the very stuff that make this city worth fighting for.
We want to know how the built environment makes your Detroit experience a little richer. Tell us your story and periodically we’ll share the best of the best in our blog’s Preservation in Action section.
