The buildings from which the original
photos were taken turned into
parking lots in the 50's and 60's,
changing the perspective of this
modern panorama.

Downtown saw much new construction
after World War II, including the
white marble NBD building and the
black marble First Federal Building
that bracket the empty center space
left by the demolished city hall.
But, the post-war parking lot boom
that ate away the hundreds of
smaller buildings was a symptom of
stagnation and declining real
estate values.