[Jsunu]

For a while now I have been fascinated with Detroit and its stories of urban decay and destitute within the city. Basically a lot of people describe it as real life fallout the game.

For example:

http://dgatmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Detroit.jpg

http://www.holydieexplorer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Detroit.jpg

http://urbantitan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Detroitghett2.jpg

http://laughingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/detroit-packard-plant-20080815-171843.jpg


Has anyone recently made a trip out there and experience this first hand?

[icemiko]

A Tour Of Detroit's Ghetto - YouTube
Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfhsS-KMFL4&list=UUhg2e135q8Uu8aiBXl_pxVg&index=25&feature=plcp
Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHhUDKfiggY
Part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px6N9xMqoCg&list=UUhg2e135q8Uu8aiBXl_pxVg&feature=plcp
Part 4

[pastarocket]

These parts of Detroit look like an eerie ghost town.

[Jsunu]

vids

Woah never saw this before. I am def gonna check these out

These parts of Detroit look like an eerie ghost town.

Because it mostly is. The jobs has dried up in Detroit and more than half of the pop has left since its heyday. It is all pretty facinating really.

[spyker]

Has anyone recently made a trip out there and experience this first hand?

I would be very afraid to venture into a area where even cops won't dare go into.

[icemiko]

Woah never saw this before. I am def gonna check these out


Yes, they are defiantly worth watching. I was fascinated with Detroit a few months ago too and did a lot of research.

Most of all the abandoned homes are actually for sale but has no value, you can buy a land/house for $1 there. Check this out, Detroit Real Estate - Detroit, MI Homes for Sale - Realtor.com® (http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Detroit_MI?source=web#/sortby-1)

[Jsunu]

I would be very afraid to venture into a area where even cops won't dare go into.

Some people actually do urban exploring in detroit:

Forgotten Detroit (http://www.forgottendetroit.com)

Yes, they are defiantly worth watching. I was fascinated with Detroit a few months ago too and did a lot of research.

Most of all the abandoned homes are actually for sale but has no value, you can buy a land/house for $1 there. Check this out, Detroit Real Estate - Detroit, MI Homes for Sale - Realtor.com® (http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Detroit_MI?source=web#/sortby-1)

Yeah it is pretty crazy property values there. A lot of forum boards always talk about buy property and just dicking around with it.

[carmaniac]

I was there in 2004-2005. Detroit was already crumbling then. It's not really anything new.

Downtown Detroit is quite odd, as there are burned out or half demolished buildings here and there. Fantastic old houses surrounded by crappy strip malls. Just general disarray...

My most interesting memory from there is going to an IHOP near downtown. Across the street were these 1800 era houses facing the Detroit river with beautifully manicured lawns and gardens. Whereas the IHOP had bars on the windows, a locked compound parking lot, revolving door that was remotely lockable and bulletproof glass everywhere...

[Vale46Rossi]

Wait till red wings lose this year! Gonna be worst :D

[sh0n]

I'd chim in heavily on my experience with Detroit. I was living near there from 2004 - 2007.

I would say it's definitely a very interesting city where it was America's best city in the 30's and 40's due to all the automobile industries and factories. This was encompassed with all the amazing lloyd wright and victorian architecture you'll find in the great cities of US (just like New York and Chicago).

However, it's sad to say that today the economy is pretty depressing. The big 3 auto industries are still there but many of their main assembly plants have moved away and alot of them has cut jobs in the area. As a result many people are without work, losing their homes and are on the streets.

For the most of Detroit, what you see in this pictures the abandoned houses it's exactly like that a modern day time fall out ghost town. For the Downtown portion, there has been alot of revitalization in the past few years. You still have some smaller american HQ's moving in the office space, some historical buildings are slowly getting restored. But the most interesting part is that DT Detroit is literally a ghost town after 5pm. You have the business crowd go there for work during business hours but they all leave and head north into the suburbs (25 minutes out of Detroit) to live in the better neighborhoods.

From my personal experience when I was living and driving around the city - it's pretty wacked. I remember this one time I was driving down Michigan or Woodwards Ave (it's a 6 lane main street - semi highway type that goes north and south from the Suburbs into Downtown Detroit). I was going speed limit (80km/hr I think) and this black guy (probably high on drugs) comes out of no where and runs across the street in front of my car (me barely hitting him).

Oh yeah and have you guys ever seen fast food places (Mcdonalds, Burger King, KFC, Popeyes, etc) with the bullet proof glass case shielding the cashier register from the customer? I haven't in Vancouver but you see this all the time in Detroit!!!

The highways are literally filled with potholes cause the municipal governments don't have money to fix it. And when I was last there the Detroit may was convicted of charges of corruption and money laundering.

Aside from these little things, I can see the local people are trying to do things to make Detroit a better city. They definitely are a great city filled with history, have decent sports teams and you can tell that people are trying to clean up the city by restoring old buildings, building new ones or tearing down the ghost zones.

If I had the guts, patience and money I would think about going out there and trying to be part of the revitalization - I think there would be money to be mad but at the expense of your own life.

[StylinRed]

same thing in New Orleans, Baltimore, Chicago, Washington DC (amazingly no?), etc, etc, etc, etc

[spyker]

I think there would be money to be mad but at the expense of your own life.

No amount of money is worth making at the expense of your own life.What good is money when you're dead,can't take it with you and spend it.

[SkinnyPupp]

I'm pretty sure most American cities not on the west coast and not named New York are like Detroit.

[spyker]

I'm pretty sure most American cities not on the west coast and not named New York are like Detroit.

Camden New Jersey comes to my mind.

[drunkrussian]

"the rust belt" of which i believe detroit is the focal point, is definitely known as a microcosm of the decay of the middle class.

haha i'm just being all fancy, what i meant to say is it's a huge hole in the ground and i would not wanna go there ever

It's So Cold in the D - YouTube

[achiam]

Detroit has been decaying for many years now. In the past year however, a small tech hub has opened up. Several tech startups have relocated right into the heart of Detroit due to near-free housing costs and insanely low tax, with the city and state handing crazy corporate tax incentives to lure companies (and money/employees) into the city. Because of this mini boom, there is also a growing movement to serve these professionals (e.g. urban organic farms built on previously decayed/abandoned properties). This was in the Economist about 4 or 5 months ago. I'm sure a quick google would turn something up.

The poster several posts up is also correct about the downtown core being a ghost town after the work day ends. A friend of mine was a summer intern at GM's HQ (the dark blue round skyscraper), and told me that the elevated freeway passing through Detroit has an offramp that goes directly into GM's parkade, so you never set foot.

[Lomac]

I wonder if it'd be worth it to snag a couple cheaper homes near the city and simply hold onto them for a few years. I have no doubt Detroit will bounce back; it's more a matter of how many years it will take 'em.

[LiquidTurbo]

What are the rich parts of Detroit like?

[LiquidTurbo]

From the dude's blog:

Blog (http://detroitghetto.com/category/blog)

http://youtu.be/LTQFtNLvcl8


Facts and statements about Detroit,taken from the author’s youtube video description:

1. Detroit is the 3rd most dangerous city to live in in the united states and flint a near by city is the 4th most dangerous criminal city in the usa.
2. 7 out of 10 murders go unsolved in the motor city.
3. There are 95,000 abandon homes in Detroit and 85,000 abandon businesses in Detroit.
4. Census has calculated that since 2000 to 2010 that 250,000 people have left Detroit.
5. Since 1950 half of Detroit’s population has left the motor city.
6. Unemployment is up to estimated 50% in the city of Detroit.
7. Graduation rates in the D are 25%! Kids are more likely to end up in prison than finishing high school.
8. More people live in poverty than cars on the street.
9. Abandon homes in Detroit have turned into drug houses and meth labs.
10. On devils night kids go out and burn abandon buildings about 200 last year were burned down.
11. At the MacDonald’s they had bullet proof windows like at a bank and you had to pass your money through a machine.
12. Michigan is the 3rd most unemployed state in the usa.
13. Obama bailed out GM and helped create 75,000 jobs but the jobs were out sourced and the people of Detroit never got to see any of those jobs.
14. Detroit looks like hurricane Katrina hit it
15. Detroit is the only place in America that you can walk around and see 30 story sky scrapers everywhere that are abandoned. This is not common in other cities.
16. Its like something you would see out of I am legend it looks like a abandoned historical city left in ruins
17. Detroit used to be one of the most high class wealthy cities in America.
18. Real state is at record lows because of the high amounts of abandon homes that lower housing cost. The Detroit news said that hundreds of houses are up for sale in Detroit for only a dollar $1
19. Wild animals are moving back into the city… pheasants, coyotes, even beavers
20. Criminals are moving to nearby cities like the capitol city of Michigan which is Lansing Mi and places like flint which has caused city crimes to rise in these near by cities.
21. Mayor Dave Bing has pledged to knock down 10,000 structures in his first term as part of a plan to size down Detroit, so the city can reflect its shrinking population

[hal0g0dv2]

That is so sad

[El Bastardo]

same thing in New Orleans, Baltimore, Chicago, Washington DC (amazingly no?), etc, etc, etc, etc


New Orleans has been using tax incentives to revitalize the city post-Katrina and, while there was a lot of urban decay prior to the levees breaking, the amount of attention and aid has turned the city around into a state that was better prior to 2005 (in parts)

I've been to Detroit and I've lived in New Orleans and I'd easily say that Detroit is far worse. Between the harsh climate (humid summers, horrid winters) contributing to the urban decay and the lack of real industry/employment in that place its pretty toxic.

Granted, places like Grosse Point (rich folks area) are upkept and safe, but over-all its sliding downhill. Its a sad state of affairs for what was once called the "Paris of America"

For further urban decay, check out Gary, Indiana. Its far worse.

[The7even]

same thing in New Orleans, Baltimore, Chicago, Washington DC (amazingly no?), etc, etc, etc, etc

Wrong. At least with Chicago.

Source : I live here.

Note: I hate Chicago and the US in general.

[Ludepower]

Hamilton, Ontario is our Detroit.

[MindBomber]

I wonder if it'd be worth it to snag a couple cheaper homes near the city and simply hold onto them for a few years. I have no doubt Detroit will bounce back; it's more a matter of how many years it will take 'em.

That thought crossed my mind as well, as I sip a $1.75 cup of coffee from Tim Hortons that is of equal value to two Detroit homes...

I would be concerned about any legal liabilities that result from owning a run down shack..

[StylinRed]

Wrong. At least with Chicago.

Source : I live here.

Note: I hate Chicago and the US in general.

i dunno austin/englewood :heckno:



New Orleans has been using tax incentives to revitalize the city post-Katrina and, while there was a lot of urban decay prior to the levees breaking, the amount of attention and aid has turned the city around into a state that was better prior to 2005 (in parts)

I've been to Detroit and I've lived in New Orleans and I'd easily say that Detroit is far worse. Between the harsh climate (humid summers, horrid winters) contributing to the urban decay and the lack of real industry/employment in that place its pretty toxic.

Granted, places like Grosse Point (rich folks area) are upkept and safe, but over-all its sliding downhill. Its a sad state of affairs for what was once called the "Paris of America"

For further urban decay, check out Gary, Indiana. Its far worse.

really? that's interesting to know its been a quite few years since i was there

good to know

[Mike Oxbig]

Hamilton, Ontario is our Detroit.

What if, :troll:

the red wings move to hamilton...

[jpark]

you guys should see the empty seats at recent pistons games
pretty bad

[Teriyaki]

Was recently there for a few days for vacation (if you could call it that).

Some things to note from the trip:

- The city really did seem pretty dead. Downtown hardly has anyone in it.
- Attended a Vancouver Canucks vs Detroit game, and it felt like one of the most hostile environments i've personally been in.
- Driving at night in the city is the worst. People will be milling about at intersections, like zombies, literally like zombies. This is at -5C with snow falling on the ground mind you.
- Drive into some of the older suburbs and industrial areas and the urban decay is amazing if you're into that kind of stuff. Really didn't do too much exploring since the city doesn't even have enough tax money to keep a decent police force.
- City itself is super boring unless its for hockey and/or have friends/relatives there. Drove over the bridge to windsor, instantly better environment. Canada > US. Seriously. Amazing how much difference a river makes. Its like north and south korea.

[Lomac]

That thought crossed my mind as well, as I sip a $1.75 cup of coffee from Tim Hortons that is of equal value to two Detroit homes...

I would be concerned about any legal liabilities that result from owning a run down shack..

I was bored at work, so I actually looked into it. A lot of those places have back taxes owed, plus are required to have the house basically razed simply because they're no longer structurally sound. Many require a city inspection as well.

Personally, I'd simply buy it and spend a few thousand to clear the lot and leave it barren. That said, there are actually some decent heritage houses under $50k that would be worth keeping.

[WakeMeUp]

all these posts and the real reason why parts of Detroit look like that isn't mentioned? It's really very simple.


same thing in New Orleans, Baltimore, Chicago, Washington DC (amazingly no?), etc, etc, etc, etc


and this is true for the same reason.

[OTG-ZR2]

The way everything is abandoned, looted, lifeless with decaying structures, instantly reminded me of Chernobyl.

Lost City of Chernobyl | English Russia (http://englishrussia.com/2006/09/13/lost-city-of-chernobyl/)

[Verdasco]

fuck that video is creepy as fuck... gave me the chills

[Ronin]

Fucking cool!

But if you went, how likely are you to get stabbed by a hobo or something?

[maxxxboost]

wow!!
This is interesting. Wonder what will happen in the next 40 years or so. Any predictions?

[The7even]

i dunno austin/englewood :heckno:





really? that's interesting to know its been a quite few years since i was there

good to know

No where near as bad as Detroit.

[Liquid_o2]

I'm pretty sure most American cities not on the west coast and not named New York are like Detroit.

Pretty ignorant statement. I can list lots of cities off the top of my head that are on the east side of the U.S. or in the Midwest that are not crumbling and are vibrant and economically viable cities. Chicago, Boston, Denver, Memphis, Raleigh/Durham (Tech Triangle), Pittsburgh, Austin... shall I keep going.

[SkinnyPupp]

Pretty ignorant statement. I can list lots of cities off the top of my head that are on the east side of the U.S. or in the Midwest that are not crumbling and are vibrant and economically viable cities. Chicago, Boston, Denver, Memphis, Raleigh/Durham (Tech Triangle), Pittsburgh, Austin... shall I keep going.
Please do. Because you took the statement literally, it would be fun to see you list off a bunch of American cities that don't suck.. let's see how far you can go :)

[Liquid_o2]

Seemed like a pretty literal statement.

[SkinnyPupp]

Well start listing the good cities, let's see if it qualifies as "most".. if so, I'll admit I was wrong then :)

[Liquid_o2]

Well I already listed 7 good ones... so you need to start listing cities that are like Detroit to catch up to me first. Once you hit 7 I will keep going.

[SkinnyPupp]

You're the one who disagrees with my statement of fact. It's on you to prove it :troll:

[Liquid_o2]

And I already proved my point that your statement is not true, naming major cities across the eastern seaboard and midwest; further, you have been unable to come up with a few cities that "are like Detroit" as you first said. And rather than getting in pointless arguments that I know you love on these boards, this is my time to step aside.

[SkinnyPupp]

:troll:

[drunkrussian]

^hi guys, instead of arguing you should just wikipedia. Wikipedia is god and knows more than us petty humans

lol anyway looked it up and according to this a place in MICHIGAN no less is #2 if we're talking income at least:

List of highest-income places in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-income_places_in_the_United_States)

ironic..

certainly new york and the west coast do dominate in terms of prosperity though according to this same list

edit: actually if you add it up i believe california is 23%, new york is 11% and other east coast states are 40 something percent, indicating that the west coast (minus california) actually has less prosperous cities by income than the east coast (minus new york)

Number of places by state in the top 100: California 23, New York 11, Illinois 9, Florida 9, Connecticut 6, New Jersey 6, Texas 6, Colorado 4, Michigan 4, Ohio 3, Maryland 2, Minnesota 2, Missouri 2, Pennsylvania 2, Tennessee 2, Washington 2, Arizona 1, Delaware 1, Kansas 1, Kentucky 1, Massachusetts 1, Oklahoma 1, Virginia 1.

[twitchyzero]

when i think of detroit...only the red wings..robocop and eminem comes to mind...and bulletproof windows :troll:

I was there in 2004-2005. Detroit was already crumbling then. It's not really anything new.


i would say it's been crumbling for many decades
my dad lived there in the early 80's and it was already a shithole back then. When I visited 10 years ago I was afraid to even leave the car...once thing to see it on tv and it's another to feel your personal safety threatened.

[drunkrussian]

^dayum early eighties right during the crack era?!?!

[LiquidTurbo]

If it's this bad in 10 years.. what will it be like in 50 years time? 100 years time?

[StylinRed]

Pretty ignorant statement. I can list lots of cities off the top of my head that are on the east side of the U.S. or in the Midwest that are not crumbling and are vibrant and economically viable cities. Chicago, Boston, Denver, Memphis, Raleigh/Durham (Tech Triangle), Pittsburgh, Austin... shall I keep going.

those aren't great examples if they are :heckno:

:toot:




No where near as bad as Detroit.

bad is bad but granted not as severe

[iwantaskyline]

Detroit is a shit hole, but how about Michigan?

[Ronith]

Think Detroit is bad? I have been in Highland Park, a city surrounded by Detroit. The gas station had armed gaurds.

It's a shame what happened to Detroit. There are so many beautiful buildings there.

[bing]

Wow @ all the dilapidated structures, amazing what a shitty economy can do to a once vibrant place. Anyone have pictures for comparison sake of what the city looked like during its peak?

[SkinnyPupp]

Wow @ all the dilapidated structures, amazing what a shitty economy can do to a once vibrant place. Anyone have pictures for comparison sake of what the city looked like during its peak?
Detroit hasn't seen its peak since probably the 70's or 60's

[bing]

^yup, the style of the majority of houses built gives you a clue.

[Ronith]

When the whites left metro Detroit in the 60s, that is when the city started to go downhill.

Interesting video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga6xmbEmyOM&feature=related

[Sentinel]

From what I've seen from this thread and how it Detroit seems like a ghost town. How do they still manage to have 4 pro sports teams?

I understand the Red Wings have a big fan base from all over. But like one member said, the Pistons don't have much fans attending.

Anybody know about the other 2 teams in Detroit?

[7seven]

Detroit proper itself is pretty run down and depressing , however Detroit is surrounding by some pretty affluent areas such as Grosse Pointe Shores, Grosse Pointe, Bloomfield Hills, Beverly Hills, pretty much the Oakland County area of Michigan, not surprisingly these areas are predominantly white.

Red Wings, Lions, Tigers and Pistons draw most of whats left of their season ticket base from these areas. I recall hearing Detroit's population has dropped 25% over the last 10 years, so attendance issues are starting to become a problem. The Lions have started to rebuild and have a young exciting team with guys like Megatron, Stafford, Suh, Best and Fairley with a new stadium, so hope is there. The Red Wings are still a pretty decent draw, with their success of 20 years straight in the playoffs and do draw a large fan base from southern Ontario. Tigers and Piston however are in trouble.

[El Bastardo]

Anybody know about the other 2 teams in Detroit?


I don't know much about the Tigers but the Lions are one of the more popular teams in the mid-west. Its not just Detroit cheering for them, but people all over. They're also a staple of Thanksgiving football and despite the fact that they suck, they're pretty well liked.

The only thing I know about the Tigers is that Magnum P.I. wore a Tiger's hat on the show, so I guess that'd make him a fan.

[LiquidTurbo]

Detroit hasn't seen its peak since probably the 70's or 60's

Race Riots in '67.

[LiquidTurbo]

Detroit is a shit hole, but how about Michigan?

I've travelled to a fair bit of Michigan for work. Grand Rapids is a decent city, quaint. Places by water are pretty nice, etc. Grand Haven comes to mind.

Never had a chance to go to Detroit though. I find these ghost neighbourhoods absolutely fascinating.

[godwin]

Greenwich, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine etc. Pretty much the whole North Eastern part of the US surpass their Canadian counterparts in terms of wealth. Remember what hurt US was the manufacturing jobs, it is the mid west (Penn, Ill, Mich) that took the biggest hit There are still plenty of old money around. Heck I would say Chicago is a lot more progressive and advanced right now than our lake front city, TO... Emmanuel vs Ford.

Your statement is just akin to because NWT is full of snow and ice, everywhere else in Canada people must be living in igloos. or new Chinese immigrant, "Just because Richmond is like this, the rest of Canada must be exactly like Richmond).

I am not sure if you are being sarcastic or you really have such myopic view of the world.

Please do. Because you took the statement literally, it would be fun to see you list off a bunch of American cities that don't suck.. let's see how far you can go :)

[SkinnyPupp]

people still taking the statement literally, even after I trolled the fuck out of it??? :rukidding:

And then you take the troll response literally??? :fulloffuck: