A look at lovely Detroit

[Gary Allan]

It would have to be a configured scam. That's the only way you can get something like that to work. Housing values have to carry the project ..and you have to construct some pretty Manhattan-esque type deal to make the selection process work.


You would need to establish a trust that the interest would fund the demolition and restoration to develop-able land. Meanwhile you'll magically encounter environmental contamination from ages old polluting practices that will require remediation well in excess of the trust's capability ...decades in litigation to determine who/if/what is to be done and funded by whom ..etc..etc..


You could hand someone a windfall gift of great value ..and find out that no good deed shall remain as intended. With ferocious zeal it will be "assaulted" and pillaged by the barbarians that wear suits.

 

[buster]

You should take a look at North & West Philly and Camden, NJ.

 

[Gary Allan]

North Philly was a live combat zone the last time I had the privilege of being there. "The Great Northeast" of the Roosevelt Extention was the last large scale development in the city and it's getting ghettofide (again, last time I was there). Old City and the like aren't bad. Camden has had some stuff like the Tweeter Center and whatnot and the sports/entertainment complexes tend to do well ..for a bit.

 

[uc50ic4more]

Originally Posted By: buster
You should take a look at North & West Philly and Camden, NJ.


Sorry: If you've really seen Detroit, you've seen everything urban decay has to offer.

 

[doitmyself]

I have tried my best to have a positive attitude towards Detroit, but it is hard. There are some neat things to see and do there, like any large city. Great coney dogs at the Lafayette. It's simply a shame to see some great building architecture and history rotting away.

My wife and I stayed in Detroit this weekend with some free motel rooms (4 Star). Within 1/2 mile of downtown, from my room, I saw people living in tents. IN A DOWNTOWN RITE-AID, MY WIFE STEPPED ON SOMETHING.....IT WAS A BULLET!!!

The Sunday Free Press had several features/editorials about the city's demise and some suggestions to try to save it.

Population peaked in the 50's at 1.5 million, its expected to be around 750,000 after this census. The jobs want ads are about the size of my local paper (town of 80,000).

Unemployment is near 30%. There are 78,000 vacant buildings/houses...expected to hit 100,000 next year.

The city has funding to raze about 3,000 houses this year.

The Free Press thinks the city needs a new management plan with downsizing it's main goal...duh. Target house demolition in the "better" hoods to save them and create green space with the vacant areas (just like some of you suggest).

I don't know how it can be saved. Maybe they should lower it below sea level, get hit by a hurricane, then wait for federal $$$. And, unlike others here, I am not quick to judge those that struggle to live there because I have not "walked a mile in their shoes".

 

[mrsilv04]

Look at who the residents elect to represent them. No need to go much further than that. Most of them should be jailed.

That's all I'm going to say.

 

[bigmike]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Quote:
if you are young in Detroit w/ no hope, well, get a few bucks together and get on a bus to NYC or go south. just get out and do SOMETHING.


Lets not forget the fact that they were born here in the USA, land of opportunity if you are willing to get off your butt and do someting with your life. Just cause some people don't have an education (high school or college) doesn't mean that they will live the rest of their life in some nasty ghetto.


I agree. Some of the smartest people I've ever known never finished high school. Many of them became experts in a trade.

 

[artificialist]

With all the old buildings, I'm wondering if environmental remediation costs are what slows down the demolition of Detroit.

 

[eljefino]

I doubt it, aside from asbestos there shouldn't be much there. Pollute the dirt and it gets way more expensive.

interesting factoid, most of the abandoned houses have been burgled of their wire, pipes, and boilers.

 

[doitmyself]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
interesting factoid, most of the abandoned houses have been burgled of their wire, pipes, and boilers.


Not shocking to me.

This is happening in many place due to the value of "scrap metal". In the horticulture/agriculture areas people are stealing brass/bronze/aluminum irrigation components out of fields. In residential areas people are stealing air conditioning components to recycle the metal.

 

[LS2JSTS]

Detroit needs to start educating the younger generations. There are a couple of generations within Detroit that are a complete lost cause, and these are the people raising and mentoring the younger children.

All one has to look at when considering what Detroit needs is the simple fact that over 50% of it's population is functionally illiterate...amazing fact for a "modern" city in the USA. Sad.

 

[Kestas]

One third of it is living on public assistance.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Doitmyself, much as I rag on New Orleans, I've never stepped on a bullet in a drugstore around here. I've seen plenty of characters who looked like they might whip out a Mac-10 and start spraying lead around; but I've never stepped on a stray bullet.

Detroit wins "Most Decayed U.S. City," hands down.

 

[Mr Nice]

That video of Detroit looks like a very poor part of Miami called Liberty City.

 

[Torino]

Functionally illiterate, yes. But they can vote. John--Las Vegas.

 

[doitmyself]

Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Doitmyself, much as I rag on New Orleans, I've never stepped on a bullet in a drugstore around here. I've seen plenty of characters who looked like they might whip out a Mac-10 and start spraying lead around; but I've never stepped on a stray bullet.

Detroit wins "Most Decayed U.S. City," hands down.


I can't argue with you. And...I wasn't "ragging" on New Orleans, a fine old city with lots of history. I was ragging on the idea that the government will invest on one lost cause, but not the other. They are both doomed to sink into oblivion.....especially that one situated below sea level

If there were easy solutions....oh, never mind.

 

[Steve S]

Isn't there a movie about Detriot and Roger smith?

 

[Mr Nice]

There is a movie and the same things that happen in the movie 20 years ago is happening today.

OK, so some unfortunate low income people are living in a dump of a city and they shouldn't be complaining about the conditions. Just pack your bags and move out.

 

[LS2JSTS]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
There is a movie and the same things that happen in the movie 20 years ago is happening today.

OK, so some unfortunate low income people are living in a dump of a city and they shouldn't be complaining about the conditions. Just pack your bags and move out.


....never mind

 

[LS2JSTS]

Originally Posted By: Torino
Functionally illiterate, yes. But they can vote. John--Las Vegas.


Are you kidding, even the dead can still vote in Detroit....LOL