Movin’ on up

The Abandoned Shelter Squad (ASS) is broadening its horizons to include the very first Abandoned Building of the Week. This decrepit joint sits at 9440 Woodward, near Arden Park, Northern High School and several churches. Neighboring structures range from solid to far from that. The featured edifice is guarded by several hard-working prostitutes. A woman staggers through the property, trips over a fallen automatic-teller machine, then stands on crumpled “Wanted for Murder” signs. A staircase reeks of urine. The ghostly interior houses a rusty automobile that has been burned and bashed beyond identification. The building, which is assessed at $40,500, is owned by E. Simpson of Northville. He says he has owned the building for 25 years, and that it has been vacant for most of that time. He wouldn’t say what he planned to do with it.