One of my favorite National Parks to work in (I have many), is the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Calumet, Michigan. The park was established to preserve and interpret the history of copper mining on the Keweenaw Peninsula through partnerships with both public and private organizations.

The 12th Floor of the Michigan Central Station, previously covered with debris, has recently undergone abatement and selective demolition of loose clay tile, plaster and wood windows, just in time for this winter’s snow.  In many areas around the Station there are traces of life…demolition noises, voices, cars coming in and out of the gates...

Art may imitate life as the saying goes, but the fountain and sculpture at the public plaza in front of the Ann Arbor Municipal Center jumps in with both feet and engages the community. This water sculpture, by renowned artist and engineer, Herbert Dreiseitl, was a big hit with adults and kids too. Hundreds turned out to see the light and water show, but when the younger crowd got involved, it was clear this isn’t about aesthetics or politics, but about a great new and fun place in our town.

From June 2-4, Baird Smith, Katie Irwin, Tina Roach, and I attended the three-day US/ICOMOS International Symposium on 'Respecting the Value of Context.' It was an impressive lineup of experts with a few themes that surfaced while speaking of context. The preservation community is still trying to answer some fundamental questions about heritage conservation at a global scale – 'preservation' isn't the same for every culture. The US community is also working to establish its role in this conversation, both for national and international interests.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the urban block and how in successful cities it represents an eclectic mix of old and new. There is nothing homogeneous about a successful urban block, styles and functions vary and highlight each other. There’s the classic live work, multi-use set-up with its pedestrian engaging storefronts and offices or residences on the upper levels. This arrangement has been the recipe for success in urban areas since the Greeks…and yet somehow over the years in America we’ve forgotten how to grow and let buildings change.

It has been quite a couple of weeks.

First, yet more photos of the ruins of Detroit on the internet. The images are familiar - I can't begin to remember all the vacant buildings that I have toured - but the impression of hopelessness is deceptive and frustrating. Where others see decay, I see possibilities. In fact among the most recent photos of the ruins I see buildings that have been and are currently being restored. Despite the impression given by these images, Detroit is on the rebound.