House of the holey

This week’s abandoned home last saw life as a house of worship, but it’s been awhile since any preaching occurred here. Neighbors say the structure at 6351 Waterloo on Detroit’s east side was abandoned after catching fire about two years ago. The place has been condemned by the city, with a warning not to enter posted on the front door. But around back, News Hits saw much evidence of people making use of the building. Lord only knows exactly what they’re doing there.

As a side note, this feature has created one hell of a hullabaloo on the “Fabulous Ruins of Detroit” Web forum (www.bhere.com/detroit/). Echoing the sentiments of many in the group, someone with the e-name detroit gal wrote:

“I guess what bothers me is the flippant writing that accompanies each abandoned house. Something so tragic; a once-beautiful house, filled with memories for somebody, signifying the breakdown of some viable neighborhood and maybe even being the scene of crimes against children is used as cheap entertainment by the deeply ironic, self-referential, faux alternative (really corporate) journalism world.”

We recommend you check out the lively debate, which has grown particularly interesting in recent days as the discussion has moved from MT’s “frat boy” mentality (a slur that’s, like, totally offensive to all the sorority chicks here) to the actual issue of abandoned houses in the city. News Hits plans on participating soon, but first we have to find out what faux means.