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Detroit artist rescues century-old Flint Faience tiles from abandoned Highland Towers before demolition
By Jeffrey Lindblom at WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News
· July 9, 2026
· 3 min read
Rare, century-old tiles once destined for the landfill are getting a second life and some are headed to a museum in Flint. Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report: Artist using tiles to tell a tale at a Flint museumDetroit artist and preservationist Tim Burke rescued the historic Flint Faience til...
Key takeaway The Highland Towers Apartments were abandoned in 2009 and suspiciously set ablaze in 2010.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The rescue of the century-old Flint Faience tiles from the abandoned Highland Towers Apartments is a significant win for preservation efforts in the Detroit area. Tim Burke's dedication to saving these historic artifacts not only ensures their survival but also highlights the importance of community involvement in preserving local history. The fact that some of these tiles will be displayed at the Sloan Museum of Discovery in Flint demonstrates the value of collaboration between local artists, preservationists, and institutions in promoting the region's cultural heritage. As the Detroit area continues to evolve, it is crucial that residents and stakeholders prioritize the preservation of historic buildings and artifacts, like the Flint Faience tiles, to maintain a connection to the past and inform the region's future development. The success of this project sets a positive precedent for similar initiatives, and it will be interesting to see how Burke's work inspires further preservation efforts in the community.
About this story
Original reporting by WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 9, 2026 ·
Source: WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Rare, century-old tiles once destined for the landfill are getting a second life and some are headed to a museum in Flint. Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report: Artist using tiles to tell a tale at a Flint museumDetroit artist and preservationist Tim Burke rescued the historic Flint Faience til...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 9, 2026 by WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Jeffrey Lindblom at WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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