Sweet smell of decay

A perfumelike fragrance wafting from the lilac bush in front of this vacant home on the corner of St. Aubin and Forest on Detroit’s East Side is the only appealing aspect of the lot containing this dilapidated structure. The front and back yards resemble junkyards. Used tires, refrigerators and a large pile of rubbish embellish the landscaping. In a bit of symbolic irony, the city sign that warns "This House Is Being Watched" has fallen from the front and is slowly deteriorating in the overgrown weeds. Lonely shoes, underwear and bizarre pieces of medical equipment are strewn about the inside of the structure. A burned-out and unidentifiable late-model compact car parked permanently on the street in front of the building may foreshadow this home’s destiny. Adam Stanfel is an editorial intern at Metro Times. E-mail [email protected]