What is your view of the city of Detroit?

Question

I grew up outside of the city of Detroit. What is the national perception of the Detroit area? Rough, cool, eminem, kid rock, blue collar? I lived dow.n south briefly, and there was negativity regarding the city

Answer 1

This is a question that asks about peoples perception. Which can sometimes be a bit misleading. I have been around the world a few times over and I find Detroit to have more character than most cities I have visited. At one time Detroit was known as Paris of the West because of the beautiful architecture that adorned many buildings throughout the area.

This area is not rotting because of crime, it is rotting because power within the auto industry has shifted. For 100 years Detroit has been one of the wealthiest metro areas in the United States. Not just people that worked for "the big three" but people that worked for logistics comapanies, suppliers, and distributors.

Home purchase in the city of Detroit has risen 38% in the last two years, while the surrounding suburbs have fallen by 15%. This is due to all of the new stores, restaraunts, bars, and chic deco condos. New business is coming into the city slowly but surely. Something great is happening in Detroit and it is only a matter of time before the rest of the world/country recognize it.

Answer 2

My view of the city is clouded-i too was born and raised but its just like any other large urban city except the cost of living in Detroit is quite a bit less than the other larger cities but we have the same amenities including Casinos and excellent education institiutions.

We have access to five great lakes, the largest urban park (and its surrounded by water!) yes Belle Isle is bigger than NY"s Central Park, plenty of metroparks and a wonderful waterpark at Chandler Park. Rouge Park has a wonderful pool where many city children learn to swim. I was disheartened to see the Belle Isle Aquarium close but happy to see the casinos throw their influx of cash towards the struggling non profits in the area.

I have been to NY and I love it but I couldnt live their without becoming homesick-I would miss all of the parks-especially Hart Plaza! The character of old buidlings like the Buhl, Penobscot and Guardian! The underground railroad path, the Fort on the southwest side, Mexian Town/Village, Greek Town (Which was fabulous w/o casinos). I love the fact that there are multiple golf courses open to the public & that for every bad thing that exists there are two more positive things. I could go on for hours but there is a reason that the city has an AOL city guide page and its got nothing to do with the auto industry. That is what people know of the city but its not the ONLY thing about the city that sets it apart from others-there was that lil MOTOWN thing and then the tiny FIREWORKS display oh yeah i forget the jaunt of a THANKSGIVING DAY parade and the AUTO SHOW.

I dont know how us po Metro Detroiters survive like this.


Perception is almost never the true reality!

If i enlighten one person today my work here is done

Answer 3

Detroit has seen some hard time, granted. But with the help of caring citizens (not necessarily the ones who answered aove.) It can come back, There is a lot of good here and a lot of bad. It's just a matter of shifting out the two and getting rid of a crooked mayor.

What bothers me the most is I work downtown, pay Detroit city tax, and have no voice in the election. If they let us business folks vote, it would be a very different place.

Answer 4

I have 4 stores in Detroit every day after
school i drive from West Bloomfiled to 7 mile
2 go 2 work when i get there i know the city is made by
its hard working people and they love people
that r from the area like in 7 mile they love Blade Icewood
because he worked hard and he represented Detroit.

Answer 5

Well, I was born in Detroit in 1948 (wayyyyyyy back in the day), and went to Joseph Campau Elementary school, then to Carstens Elementary School, then to Hutchinson Elementary school. Then on to Foch Jr High, and on to Southeastern High School (til 1965), then to the burbs and graduated from Clintondale High School.
Back in the day, you could walk in your neighborhood (the hood), and knew all of your neighbors, when I lived on French Rd, I use to be able to walk to the Warren Connor Shopping Center. Used to have a picnic every Sunday after church at Belle Isle. Those were the days!!
Yes times have changed, and people have changed. It is sad how the areas have become so run down and people have moved to the burbs.
I missed living in Detroit and all of the friends that I had.

Answer 6

The city of Detroit has a ton of culture and things to do but, it is very run down. Everytime I go to Detroit I wonder what it looked like when everything wasn't so run down. I bet it was a beautiful city to go to. There are so many historic buildings and houses that would look awesome if restored.

Answer 7

I've lived in Michigan my whole life and Detroit is not very impressive.....the state let the city go to hell and that's what it seems like. I view it as a ghetto (except for Rodchester Hills, etc) but the actual city is becoming a ghost town with no jobs!

Answer 8

Detroit is a city of oppurtunity. I live in Brooklyn, NY. Bed-Stuy, crappy neighborood. Drug dealers everywhere. They just built an apartment building on my block. 2 bedroom apartments $700,000-$900,000.

Decent respectable job pays $35,000 a year. Wife/husband working another $35,000. $70,000 a year you can't afford $700,000. Wait. That isn't for a house with a pool and a basketball hoop. That is a 2 bedroom apartment where you can buy crack on the nearest corner.

Move to Detroit. Same jobs (teacher, accountant, UPS driver, etc...) pay the same thing. Nobody buys 2 bedroom apartments in Detroit because you can rent them for $350. Nice house, quiet street, pool and a deck $140,000.

Detroit is optimal for a mature professional couple looking to raise a family. The 6th biggest city in the US and your house costs a 6th of the price.

$800,000 for a 2 bedroom apartment in a Brooklyn Ghetto or a nice 4 bedroom house with a pool for $140,000.

I ain't some politician. I am just sick of paying $1500 a month to rent a shitty ghetto apartment when I can buy a house for $25000.

Answer 9

I think people see Detroit as a run down city. A lot of crime, a lot of gangs, a lot of poverty. It also has HORRIBLE roads as well...some of the pot holes could swallow your car. It's sad to see it so run down....but now that the big 3 are going under, it's only going to get worse. There are so many things in Detroit dependant upon the motor industry that when that's gone...the city is going to get even more 'slummier'

Answer 10

The City of Detroit is a dying city, it's really sad because at one time this was a booming city. The problems with the City of Detroit started with the 1967 riots, many people fled to the suburbs and many of folks left their homes in deplorable conditions...The major problem with the Detroit is many city leaders, vacant lots, abandoned homes, expensive auto and home insurance, crime, unemployment and the morale is very low......

That's my view of the City of Detroit a weeping city