Sep 14, 2013

This month the city of Detroit is making its case in court, proving itself eligible for bankruptcy protection after declaring bankruptcy back in July. Photographer Andrew Burton of Getty Images takes a look at daily life in the Motor City, which continues to struggle with a shrinking population, unemployment and abandoned homes.

: The General Motors logo sits atop the company’s headquarters on September 3, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit, once known as powerhouse for creativity, engineering and manufacturing thanks to the many automotive companies based here, had to declare bankruptcy last month, after decades of a shrinking population and lack of jobs. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: John Fullmore takes a break to pet his cat while picking beans in his garden, which he created in an empty lot next to his house, on September 3, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. Fullmore, who is originally from Georgia, moved to Detroit in 1958, where he worked as a metal finisher. While urban farming has recently seen a resurgence in Detroit due to the vast number of vacant lots, Fullmore says he has been gardening in Detroit for over 30 years. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: John Fullmore (R), sits on his porch with his wife Magnolia Fullmore (L) and their neighbor Pinkie Dawkin (C) on September 3, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. Fullmore, who is originally from Georgia, moved to Detroit in 1958, where he met his wife. He worked as a metal finisher, she worked on the production line at Chrysler motors. They bought their home in 1965. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: An art instillation created amongst the ruins of a partially burned-down home sits amongst the “Heidelberg project,” which is an “open air art environment” centered around one block in Detroit, on September 3, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. The Heidelberg project is the brain child of Tyree Guyton. He and other artists use the urban environment (including homes and sidewalks) as a canvas for art, which they make using paint and recycled materials. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A sculpture created from recycled material sits amongst the “Heidelberg project,” which is an “open air art environment” centered around one block in Detroit, on September 3, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A couple looks at a painting at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) on September 3, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit, once known as powerhouse for creativity, engineering and manufacturing thanks to the many automotive companies based here, had to declare bankruptcy last month after decades of a shrinking population and lack of jobs. As the city government struggles for a way to pay off its debts, the idea of selling off some of the DIA’s collection has been suggested. The DIA was founded in 1885, covered over 600,000 square feet and is home to thousands of pieces of art spanning continents and millennia. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Lawrence Payne practices backflips on his front lawn on September 4, 2013 in the Six Mile Gratiot neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Lawrence Payne catches candies in his mouth on September 4, 2013 in the Six Mile Gratiot neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Lawrence Payne walks past two abandoned houses on September 4, 2013 in the Six Mile Gratiot neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Remnants of Detroit’s historic Eastown Theatre are seen on September 4, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. The theatre operated as a movie theater, music venue and church off-and-on from 1931 until 2004; the building could seat 2,500 people. Since 2004 it has been abandoned and fallen into disrepair. Detroit has an astonishing 78,000 abandoned buildings across its 142 square miles. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Remnants of Detroit’s historic Eastown Theatre are seen on September 4, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Remnants of Detroit’s historic Eastown Theatre are seen on September 4, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A wild dog wanders through Detroit’s historic Eastown Theatre are seen on September 4, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A homeless man takes a nap on the front porch of an abandoned home as members of the Detroit Fire Department fight a two-alarm fire that broke out in an abandoned building down the street on September 4, 2013 in the Six Mile Gratiot neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A man sleeps in a wheelchair outside an abandoned home on September 4, 2013 in the Six Mile Gratiot neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Members of the band “Freedom” spray paint their name on a wall at the abandoned Packard Automotive Plant on September 4, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. The Packard Plant was a 3.5 million square foot car manufacturing plant built completed in 1911. Major operations ceased in 1958, though the plant was used in a limited capacity until the 1990s, with outer buildings used through the mid 2000s. Since then the buildings have fallen into disrepair – they are now used mostly for graffiti artists and scavengers. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Ruins at the abandoned Packard Automotive Plant are seen on September 4, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Ruins at the abandoned Packard Automotive Plant are seen on September 4, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A car drives past the abandoned Packard Automotive Plant on September 4, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A fire slowly burns through the fifth floor of the abandoned Packard Automotive Plant on September 4, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Ruins at the abandoned Packard Automotive Plant are seen on September 4, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Ruins at the abandoned Packard Automotive Plant are seen on September 4, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A car drives through downtown on September 4, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. The city was designed for a population of 2 million, though just over 700,000 people now live here. Last month the city declared bankruptcy, the largest municipality to ever do so in the United States. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Members of the Detroit Fire Department fight a two-alarm fire that broke out in an abandoned building on September 4, 2013 in the Six Mile Gratiot neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. Detroit has an estimated 78,000 abandoned buildings across its 142 square miles. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A man rides his bike past as members of the Detroit Fire Department fight a two-alarm fire that broke out in an abandoned building on September 4, 2013 in the Six Mile Gratiot neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Men watch as members of the Detroit Fire Department fight a two-alarm fire that broke out in an abandoned building on September 4, 2013 in the Six Mile Gratiot neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Tony Brown, a homeless man, smokes a cigarette as members of the Detroit Fire Department fight a two-alarm fire that broke out in an abandoned building down the street on September 4, 2013 in the Six Mile Gratiot neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Achille Bianchi makes sunglasses out of recycled wood at OmniCorpDetroit, a multi-purpose creative space, on September 5, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. OmniCorpDetroit is a creative work space with paying members and offers tools for a wide variety of trades including metal work, carpentry, photography, industrial design, electrical work and more. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Kiana Doggan pulls nails from recycled wood at OmniCorpDetroit, a multi-purpose creative space, on September 5, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. OmniCorpDetroit is a creative work space with paying members and offers tools for a wide variety of trades including metal work, carpentry, photography, industrial design, electrical work and more. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A 1957 Ford Thunderbird sits on Belle Isle, a city-owned, island-park in the middle of the Detroit River, on September 5, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. Belle Isle includes a golf course, yacht club, fishing piers and a beach, though the city is considering selling it due to bankruptcy. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Boys play basketball on the street on September 5, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Boys play basketball on the street on September 5, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A man rides his bike past empty housing lots on September 5, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: The interior of an abandoned home is seen on September 5, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: The interior of an abandoned church is seen on September 5, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: The interior of an abandoned church is seen on September 5, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A destroyed tree sits next to the remains of the Fredrick Douglass Housing Projects, which were abandoned in 2008 and are now being demolished, on September 5, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A model rocket a remote-controlled car sit on a desk at OmniCorpDetroit, a multi-purpose creative space, on September 5, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. OmniCorpDetroit is a creative work space with paying members and offers tools for a wide variety of trades including metal work, carpentry, photography, industrial design, electrical work and more. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Mikael Addae (C), a barista at Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company, pours cups of coffee on September 6, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. Great Lakes Coffee Roasting opened 14 months ago, and has since become a popular spot for a growing community of creative-types to meet, work on laptops and sip on a coffee or beer. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A man walks towards the sun set on September 6, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Fan Smith, a skateboarder, grinds on a ledge on September 6, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Harry Lindback, of Dearborn Heights, MI, shops for cars at Bill Brown Ford Dealership on September 6, 2013 in Livonia, Michigan. Lindback worked for Ford for 36 years, before retiring 11 years ago. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: Harry Lindback, of Dearborn Heights, MI, shops for cars at Bill Brown Ford Dealership on September 6, 2013 in Livonia, Michigan. Lindback worked for Ford for 36 years, before retiring 11 years ago. U.S. auto giants had a good summer: In August Ford had its best month of retail sales since 2006; General Motors had its best month since 2008. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: People wait for a public transit bus on September 6, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: People board a public transit bus on September 6, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: The Ford Wyoming Drive In Movie – which still has three operating screens – is seen on September 6, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: The Ford Wyoming Drive In Movie – which still has three operating screens – is seen on September 6, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit is struggling with over 78,000 abandoned homes across 140 square miles and 16% unemployment; in July, the city declared bankruptcy. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

A glimpse into Detroit life

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