Is Detroit really as bad as this article makes it

[eightangryreindeer]

I recently read an article about Detroit Dog Rescue and yes, it also sounded like it really is that bad in Detroit.

[runforrest]

Yes and No.

Parts of the residential areas of the city are full of abandoned homes/lots and people have left in droves.

However, downtown is a gem, and is really starting to revitalize the city. There is so much to do downtown - three casinos, baseball, hockey, football, opera, symphony, a great art museum, hotels, restaurants, bars, and finally some shopping. They have also turned the riverfront into a boardwalk of sorts which is great. There is an amazing farmers market on Friday-Saturday called Eastern market that is absolutely wonderful.

I love that city with every fiber of my being, and will fight for it until I die. But yes, there are huge issues. We've had corrupt politicians ever since Mayor Archer left office, and the new mayor (Bing) has inherited a shitstorm of problems.

Another issue is that the city is just too.damn.big and spread out - they don't have the money to tear down abandoned homes and clean up lots. There are grass-roots organizations that have started turning empty lots into gardens/parks, but there is just too much work to do.

I grew up there, got married there, and give my money to the city whenever I can, so I admit I am biased.

But it really is a great town with a ton of heart.

[dcannie]

how awful.

[jaylea]

theredphoenixapl.org/2011/03/25/the-deindustrialization-of-detroit/

There are some really incredible photos here.

ETA: I was googling images of "Detroit" and there are tons of urban decay photos. The site above has several, as do some other blogs.

[eightangryreindeer]

Aug 3, 2012 10:56:45 GMT -5 runforrest said:

Yes and No.

Parts of the residential areas of the city are full of abandoned homes/lots and people have left in droves.

However, downtown is a gem, and is really starting to revitalize the city. There is so much to do downtown - three casinos, baseball, hockey, football, opera, symphony, a great art museum, hotels, restaurants, bars, and finally some shopping. They have also turned the riverfront into a boardwalk of sorts which is great. There is an amazing farmers market on Friday-Saturday called Eastern market that is absolutely wonderful.

I love that city with every fiber of my being, and will fight for it until I die. But yes, there are huge issues. We've had corrupt politicians ever since Mayor Archer left office, and the new mayor (Bing) has inherited a shitstorm of problems.

Another issue is that the city is just too.damn.big and spread out - they don't have the money to tear down abandoned homes and clean up lots. There are grass-roots organizations that have started turning empty lots into gardens/parks, but there is just too much work to do.

I grew up there, got married there, and give my money to the city whenever I can, so I admit I am biased.

But it really is a great town with a ton of heart.

This is nice to hear, Detroit is such an important place in American History.

[pantsparty]

Same as RunForrest. There's a lot of decay, but it's not that dissimilar to a city like L.A. There are really bad neighborhoods, and then there are areas that are fine (like by Comerica Park, for instance).

There are a lot of great people that volunteer to fix up the city. My dad has been going to the hydroplane races for years, and the city doesn't have the money to fix up the areas where the spectators watch the races. So he and other people cleaned up the area, cut the grass, mowed the lawn, and made it all look really nice for the races. The Roostertail, a beautiful restaurant off the river, sponsored a lunch for them as a thank you.

I also love the city and think they've done an admirable job at renovating certain areas. But that doesn't get the coverage that OMGDETROITDECAY does.

[scotty]

There are a lot of unsolved murders. There are areas of Detroit that are just sad. Sad, sad, sad. After the economic downturn things got even worse. You can buy a mansion, a beautiful, English tudor-style mansion for $250k or less, which can be a positive if you find your dreams come true there.

There are some really nice spots. Eastern Market is kick ass, the museum is beautiful, there are some good colleges, restaurants, and a beautiful ice-skating rink outside.

It just wasn't what it once was and it looks a ghost town-y and people don't take care of the buildings. Kwame Kilpatrick was a crook, it just hasn't been rehabilitated properly. But, it is not a city to give up on. It's a little annoying to read people bashing it who've never been or hear second-hand how awful it is. Yes, it is not the nicest city overall, however you really need to check it out for yourself and see some of the good spots.

The many empty houses are due to the loss of auto jobs throughout the years. They became crack houses, rundown, etc. People moved out to the 'burbs.

[Deleted]

FWIW, I grew up in a suburb of Detroit and we never went downtown unless we were going there for a Wings or Lions game or whatever. There are worse suburbs (Pontiac) that I wasn't even allowed to drive through when I was in high school and even in college (I didn't allow myself. It is that scary)

The actual 'downtown' area where the sports and entertainment arenas are really nice though. I feel comfortable being down there because there has been an attempt at a revitalization. Like Run said, the new river front is gorgeous and they're bringing back retailers and restaurants. But anything outside of that mile/mile and a half radius, hell no. It's bad.

[scotty]

I used to go clubbing in Pontiac a lot. There are some cool areas there, too, but yes, some danger.

[janegold]

utahlove, you must be YOUNG if the Lions played downtown when you were growing up!

It's pretty bad. There are some nice areas (I loved hanging out in Greektown as a high schooler) and the revitalization efforts make me smile but there is a long way to go. A really, really long way.

Also, I would not say Pontiac is worse than Detroit by a long shot. I loved clubbing there as a kid too, scotty!

[mkesweetie]

I posted this on TN a while back (on P&CE) in regards to a question about Detroit. It's not totally applicable to this article, but I think it articulates what Detroit is and was:

Detroit has been the way it is now for the better part of my life, so it's not like I have any of these memories of the way it "once was," or anything. I think for those of us that are from there, though, Detroit is just such a classic example of systematic poverty, and poverty leading to a whole slew of other problems. It's like seeing the things other people only read about being played out right in front of you.

First the auto industry shuts down, and all those people lose their jobs (and keep in mind - it's not just those who work for the plants; all the people who work in different plants that supply to the Big 3 also lose their jobs). With no plant workers to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, restaurants start closing. Nobody has the money to shop, stores start closing. It was like dominoes until one day you look around and what's left? Nothing.

We see Detroit for what it is, but we also see it for what it can be. We hope for the rebuilding of the Auto Industry because that's how so many of us grew up. We cheer on Chrysler, GM, and Ford because in one way or another they are the companies that supported our grandparents, parents, and in turn - us.

Those of us "From Detroit" want to remind people about the great things that the City has to offer (professional sports teams, culture, art, shows, casinos, great dining) because we know that what it is going to take for Detroit to rebuild, to come back Auto City or not, is for more than the people of Detroit to want it but for *all* the people to want it.

Many, many people have fled the state of MI over the last decade - we have lost more residents than any other state. Families are separated, kids have moved away from parents, grandparents are far from grandchildren. All of this really comes back to the economical situation in MI and again, for us that starts in Detroit.

I don't think many of us have this "idea" that Detroit will come back and be the Auto Industry Powerhouse it once was. But I think we look to it to come back in some way, to be a big city that people want to visit, and to be a glimmer of hope to the people of the state as a whole that comebacks are possible, and we will be ok too.

[scotty]

Aug 3, 2012 11:35:18 GMT -5 janegold said:

utahlove, you must be YOUNG if the Lions played downtown when you were growing up!

It's pretty bad. There are some nice areas (I loved hanging out in Greektown as a high schooler) and the revitalization efforts make me smile but there is a long way to go. A really, really long way.

Also, I would not say Pontiac is worse than Detroit by a long shot. I loved clubbing there as a kid too, scotty!

Clutch Cargo's, Tiki Bob's, and J.D.'s Key Club, baby! (I tripped and fell down the stairs because of the damned blacklight at the latter club.)

[janegold]

I still have yet to have more fun at a club than I had when we went out in Pontiac. Probably b/c after I moved to the East Coast, going to the club meant dealing with a very high-level of douchiness.

JDs was the piano bar, right? I never went but my brother and his group hung out there a lot. Let's hope we didn't cross paths at Tiki Bob's...I've had a few moments there that I would hope no one would remember me for, lol.

[scotty]

Oh god, I spent the lion's share of my time dancing on platforms at Tiki Bob's. If you were making an ass of yourself, I was right there with you. Yes, JD's was not the coolest, but it was a little more low-key.

And, I completely agree re: Pontiac. Was fun! Royal Oak was also a good time for a while there.

[janegold]

Aug 3, 2012 11:49:23 GMT -5 scotty said:

Oh god, I spent the lion's share of my time dancing on platforms at Tiki Bob's. If you were making an ass of yourself, I was right there with you. Yes, JD's was not the coolest, but it was a little more low-key.

Yes. Oh yes.

[Deleted]

Aug 3, 2012 11:35:18 GMT -5 janegold said:

utahlove, you must be YOUNG if the Lions played downtown when you were growing up!

It's pretty bad. There are some nice areas (I loved hanging out in Greektown as a high schooler) and the revitalization efforts make me smile but there is a long way to go. A really, really long way.

Also, I would not say Pontiac is worse than Detroit by a long shot. I loved clubbing there as a kid too, scotty!

haha I'm 23. The Lions came downtown in 2002? 2001? So maybe not while growing up, but we did go to Wings games downtown growing up! I lived in Michigan until last year, then I moved.

I'd say Pontiac has gotten really bad in the past 5 years but you're probably right, Detroit is still bad.

[winnied]

Yeah, it sucks.

[fivechickens]

There are plenty of things about Detroit that are great. Mexican Village, DIA, Greek Town, Easter Market, Corktown, just to name a few. There are some really bad neighborhoods in Detroit but there are beautiful neighborhoods too.

Its certainly not Chicago or New York City but its not all dead decaying bodies. prostitues, or gang shootings every where you turn terrible either. I think people who say its that bad have either never been or have not really taken advantage of what Detroit has to offer.

[Bonita]

I agree with RunForrest and pantsparty - yes and no.

I wish there were more articles written about the positives in Detroit because while there is a lot of bad stuff, there is good stuff too as people have already listed.

I really like reading Mitch Albom's stuff because he does seem to focus on some of the good things happening.

I still really like his article The Courage of Detroit that he wrote a few years back. A little long, but I thought it was pretty good: sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/the_bonus/01/07/detroit/index.html

[Deleted]

Aug 3, 2012 11:22:46 GMT -5 @utahlove13 said:

FWIW, I grew up in a suburb of Detroit and we never went downtown unless we were going there for a Wings or Lions game or whatever. There are worse suburbs (Pontiac) that I wasn't even allowed to drive through when I was in high school and even in college (I didn't allow myself. It is that scary)

The actual 'downtown' area where the sports and entertainment arenas are really nice though. I feel comfortable being down there because there has been an attempt at a revitalization. Like Run said, the new river front is gorgeous and they're bringing back retailers and restaurants. But anything outside of that mile/mile and a half radius, hell no. It's bad.

Ditto this. Although its been about 13 years since I lived in metro D, I think more areas downtown have been developed with the casinos, restaurants, etc., but we never just go into Detroit unless we have a specific sporting or concert event to attend.

HOnestly though, I saw this headline on MSN and was a little offended that they make it sound like dead bodies are just hanging out all over the damn city. There are decent parts of Detroit.

[runforrest]

Aug 3, 2012 12:30:30 GMT -5 Bonita said:

I agree with RunForrest and pantsparty - yes and no.

I wish there were more articles written about the positives in Detroit because while there is a lot of bad stuff, there is good stuff too as people have already listed.

I really like reading Mitch Albom's stuff because he does seem to focus on some of the good things happening.

I still really like his article The Courage of Detroit that he wrote a few years back. A little long, but I thought it was pretty good: sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/the_bonus/01/07/detroit/index.html

That article makes me cry every single time I read it.

Also, my fake ID was taken away at Clutch Cargos in 2000 or so.

I also want to add that they have added a lot of housing downtown and along the riverfront (lofts, condos) and there are some gorgeous homes in Brush Park (right near Comerica Park, where the Tigers play) that are being refurbished into single family homes or B&Bs. Wayne State University is a great school, and they have built up a lot of their campus and the surrounding area and rejuvenated that area as well. Oh, and there are some very nice residential neighborhoods, like Indian Village. Oooh, and they're getting a Whole Foods!

Greektown, Corktown, Harmonie Park, New Center and Campus Martius are all great. Michael Symon has a wonderful restaurant in the Westin Book Cadillac right downtown, and there is a great music scene downtown.

Also, the best Irish bar ever hands down is The Old Shillelagh in Greektown. So.much.fun.

I agree with PPs who say it is annoying when people who have never set foot in the city or visited once or twice claim that it's a shithole. There are a lot of bright spots in the city and it is always crowded on the weekends when I've been back into town.

[dangerzone]

I worked in downtown Detroit (right near the Joe Louis Arena) for several years and lived in Royal Oak.

Honestly speaking, it is pretty bad. I hated being this way, but I was afraid while walking to my parking structure after work and had some frightening run ins with people even just walking to get lunch. When I first started working there, there were areas of the city I would not drive through at night. After a while, I decided not even to drive through them during the day.

The difference between the suburbs and the city itself is astounding. Nobody wants to live within 8 miles or so of downtown because it is just shitty. As others have said, there are really great things Detroit has to offer. However, unless they are able to move some people into the city, it is not going to get better. It is just a very poor, very sad city.

[karmasabiotch]

Downtown is fun but I don't really go very often because I'm scared of getting there and getting home.

Scotty: Clutch Cargo?

Pontiac is not worse than Detroit. Gangs are bad but unless you are looking for drugs you are relatively safe.

[runforrest]

Aug 3, 2012 13:23:46 GMT -5 karmasabiotch said:

Downtown is fun but I don't really go very often because I'm scared of getting there and getting home.

Scotty: Clutch Cargo?

Pontiac is not worse than Detroit. Gangs are bad but unless you are looking for drugs you are relatively safe.

that surprises me. I have never felt unsafe in the city when I've been out at night downtown.

[stephlove]

Like every major city, it's going to have its good areas and bad areas. Like Run said, when you get into the heart of downtown, it's almost magnificent. But then there are the neighborhoods that are just too rundown and scary. The fact that there are nearly 35+ houses for sale in Detroit that are 5+ bedrooms, 2000+ sq feet for less than $50,000 definitely shows how many people are just trying to give away their houses to get out.

The two teenagers mentioned in the article were family friends of mine. This article definitely paints a picture of how and where they were found that the news didn't really cover. It really is a prime example of just how bad the outskirts of downtown are. It's not even safe to drive down the road in a nicer car, because you might get carjacked, shot and killed, then left for dead in a field of garbage.

[dangerzone]

Aug 3, 2012 13:44:59 GMT -5 runforrest said:

Aug 3, 2012 13:23:46 GMT -5 karmasabiotch said:

Downtown is fun but I don't really go very often because I'm scared of getting there and getting home.

Scotty: Clutch Cargo?

Pontiac is not worse than Detroit. Gangs are bad but unless you are looking for drugs you are relatively safe.

that surprises me. I have never felt unsafe in the city when I've been out at night downtown.

For me, it depended upon where I was at the time. Leaving a Red Wings game, sure, I felt pretty safe. Leaving my office right near the arena at 6:30 in the winter months (after dark) when there really weren't many other people around, I felt very unsafe.

Woodward (and a few other streets) freaked me out a bit at well. I had two people try to throw themselves in front of my car. I also had a few people try to come up to the driver's side door and open it. Maybe I just got unlucky in my experiences.

[janegold]

That's true stephlove, but Detroit is like no other major city that I have ever encountered. The bad areas far outweigh the good.

I'm sorry to hear about your family friends

[karmasabiotch]

Planet Rock anyone? I was at JD's a few months ago. It was still fun and standing room only.

[scotty]

Aug 3, 2012 13:23:46 GMT -5 karmasabiotch said:

Downtown is fun but I don't really go very often because I'm scared of getting there and getting home.

Scotty: Clutch Cargo?

Pontiac is not worse than Detroit. Gangs are bad but unless you are looking for drugs you are relatively safe.

Never been? It was fun. Was a church turned into a club.

[charitylynne79]

I loved Clutch Cargos!