5569 Sheridan Street
Johnny’s Gas Station
Unfortunately, I haven’t found much information about this former service station at the corner of Sheridan and Palmer. When I first passed it a few years ago, I noticed it was nearly identical to another station at the intersection of Chene and Superior. The one in Poletown East has an attached garage and recently collapsed, which is not too different from this one. I’d guess they’re both from the 1920s.
In 1957, someone was selling a car at the station. The automobile was a 1954 Chrysler Imperial, which would have rolled off the line at the Jefferson Avenue Assembly. At the time, the service station was called Johnny’s Gas Station. Apart from that, the internet hasn’t been much help.
However, while photographing it, I spoke at length with the man who lives next door. He told me that the lot was supposed to be included with his property when he and his wife purchased it ‘as-is,’ but the city made a mistake and told him they couldn’t give him the plot of land after the fact because it was zoned differently and needed to be cleaned up. He wants the lot to expand his yard for his dog, and so he can build a small workshop to complete projects.
He understood that the remediation process would be expensive, but what frustrated him most was that the city never cared for the old station. Since moving in next door, he’s been maintaining the property. When we started talking, he was mowing the lawn of an abandoned house across the street and the vacant yard next to it, both owned by the Land Bank. As he completed his work, the corner became much more approachable.
I understood his frustration. If he didn’t work hard to maintain the property next to his and those across the street, his neighborhood would overgrow and look shabby. He is providing a service to the same city that got the data wrong on the parcel sale next to him, overtaxes its residents, and won’t take care of their properties, and they won’t work with him so he can continue to make his neighborhood a better place.
I’ve heard similar stories in all corners of Detroit, and every time, I can’t help but be frustrated alongside the people I meet. Detroit has made great strides in recent years; however, there’s still much work to be done here.
Hopefully, my new friend can get his side lot so that his dog (who barked at me constantly) can have more space to run, and he can build his workshop. In Detroit, who knows what might happen.
