Abandoned - Unfinished Bloomfield Park

The 2008 recession halted construction projects around North America, some of which would never get going again. The Bloomfield Park, master planned community was one such project. It began as a dream to bring New Urbanism to Michigan and build a spectacular, multi billion community. But following a legal and financial mess, the project was put on hold and would ultimately fall into disrepair. Join me today as we look into this fascinating, failed construction project and what happened to it!

Travel Channel - @BrightSunTravels

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Bright Sun Films 2024

Presented in 4K

[hgman]

The answer to "why is it abandoned?" is always 2008. Always.

[sttrogdor]

As someone who lives in metro Detroit, any time there's a new project or proposition, the locals always say it will disrupt the character of the city. Even if it means bulldozing decrepit health hazards or drug houses, locals will always find a way to complain about it.

[Senator]

Episode 90! I can't believe we're only 10 episodes away from the century mark of 100. You have done an outstanding job with Abandoned and all your other series throughout the years Jake! 📽

[oaklandeas]

As someone who lives in Metro Detroit, this is such a hilarious failure of the area given how many of these are around here now. (My grandparents still refer to any new development as "Bloomfield Park 2") But I have no doubt if this existed today it would be thriving

[susanmiller]

Great video. As a small business owner of 20 years, the 2007-2008 crisis was something we’ve never quite recovered from. I can only imagine the large scale losses these projects had. It was a devastating time economically.

[kolbyhood]

Please do an episode on the Michigan Central Station in Detroit! It was abandoned since the 80s but Ford renovated & now it’s open to the public again. Detroit has come a long way in the last couple years!

[CaptArgo]

It's crazy how time flies over the last 90 episodes,
I started watching this series when I was still in elementary school in 2014, and now im going into my final year of college in September.

[Delta_NWABfan]

I live about 10 minutes from here in West Bloomfield Township and I drive on Telegraph a lot.
That parking structure was the most recognizable and ominous part of the entire project, especially when everything started overgrowing. It was an eyesore for a long time, but finally it developed into something.
There is a project on Pontiac Trail & Martin Parkway in Commerce of an outside mall that replaced the original clubhouse of a golf course. We’ll see how well, that does.
Thank you so much for covering this!

[cartermacewen]

I worked right next to this place at a hockey store, and it’s now a small retail area with a doctors office and hotel. Not what it was supposed to be but I’m glad a lot of it has been redeveloped.

[SRTRailfan]

I live in Bloomfield Township, and remember the buildings just sitting. I was VERY young at the time and I would ask my parents back then what they were for, and they told me that the buildings were being torn down. My parents personally never thought the land would be used again. But it is. I regularly go to the Planet Fitness there, and my dad goes to the Menards there a good bit for whatever reasons he needs to go there. The parking lots always have a lot of cars and it’s always pretty busy. Great work Jake, can’t wait to see more!

[pinklemonadez]

I used to drive past this place every day as a kid and ask my parents what in the world it was. I never really got an answer, so this video is really cool to see. I actually worked at the Aldi now on the property a few times, and still had no idea. It sounds like a project that was way ahead of its time, but who knows if it would work out even today. It a shame that these massive parking projects "work better" than projects that project a happier lifestyle. Now I wonder what my community would have looked like if this project made it to completion

[jakezoet-jdwk]

Hard to believe there’s now 90 episodes of Abandoned, can’t wait to see what the 100th episode of Abandoned will be

[kriscynical]

I mean this in the best way, Jake: the even, calm tone and cadence to your voice makes these Abandoned episodes really great for falling asleep to after first viewing. They're very soothing!

[CreamOfBeats]

Anything negative is always blamed on Detroit, because the title should really be “Bloomfield Hill’s unfinished Bloomfield Park!”

[pathoyer]

The same thing happened in Alpharetta, GA in 2008. A project that was supposed to be an urban live, work, play complex stopped building. Eventually they had to rip everything down and start over as a live, play project. Lots of retail with apartments above the retail, homes on one side, and a hotel / convention center on the other side. It is now a thriving community.

[sofiadiaz]

Hey Jake! Long time subscriber here, and I’ve loved your videos for so long! I’m in the island of Hawaii right now, and noticed a completely abandoned structure that was once Punalu’u village resort and restaurant. There isn’t too much information about it, and thought that this would be a perfect idea for an abandoned episode since you do places like this justice. Hope you see this!

[Mannndoesports]

I grew up about a mile away from these buildings. I moved about a decade ago, but just yesterday I was randomly in the area talking to my friend about how these abandon buildings just stood there after the 2008 recession. I was driving past the site trying to seek them out, when I saw the Henry Ford sign and immediately knew that was one of the old structures. I remember being excited of what the buildings could become when it quickly became apparent that they weren’t going to become anything at all. I never knew the original concept, but S/O to Bright Sun for shedding light on Pontiac MI and well documenting its history.

Also, still shocked this was posted probably around the exact same time I was driving by and talking about these buildings. Good job Jake with documenting these hidden gems and these random places.

[MonkeyFace]

90! Been watching since the beginning, I feel like a proud mama! You’ve come so far and I still love your passion for these spaces. Kudos!

[DetroitEXP]

Incredibly informative and well put together video. I am so grateful to have visited it during the brief period it was accessible, it was a huge item checked off the bucket list for my crew and I during our time venturing around this place. Absolutely fascinating history, what a shame it never came to fruition. Appreciate highlighting some of our shots from inside that place, wish I could do it all over again with the equipment I have now. It's not every day you come across a rotting modern cityscape. Banger content as per usual, cheers from Detroit, man :)

[ameerdaniel]

I love when they leave little things abandoned on site like the board walks they left. So cool to me.