Detroit in one cool city

"JR1" (type35bugatti)
11/17/2014 at 09:10 • Filed to: Motor city

I had no idea this building even existed. It sucks to see something so beautiful go to waste. This city sure has a lot of potential it just needs the economy to match.

DISCUSSION (27)

Sweet Trav > JR1
11/17/2014 at 09:17

It needs jobs and taxpayers, a real working middle class. As a person in the metro area, i am so tired of people from the 'burbs leeching off of the "urban-cool" off Detroit. You shouldn't be able to say you're from Detroit, wear a "Detroit vs. Everybody" hoodie or make use of the City's cool unless you reside and pay taxes within the city limits.

My dad grew up on the west side in 50's and 60's and said at time it was a great city, but by the 70's mismanagement, corruption, racial tensions and white flight ruined the city.

It's going to take a new industry, a new middle class, and lots of money to fix Detroit.

Milky > Sweet Trav
11/17/2014 at 09:19

^ This.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Sweet Trav
11/17/2014 at 09:21

I'm with you on this man.

The city services are hell right now, I had the crazy thought to at least consider looking at houses in Detroit. The size house and amazing architecture for the old houses in Detroit is AMAZING. But then you have to pay higher taxes, for WORSE city services and shit schools. I love Detroit and everything it stands for and go downtown as often as I can. I really hope things keep getting better

JR1 > Sweet Trav
11/17/2014 at 09:27

The actual city doesn't have a huge amount of apartments to live in like NY or Chicago does it? Those tall condos are the way to make money in a large city, sell at a ridiculously high price and bring in the wealthy or 20 somethings wanting to live in a thriving down town and take risks.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > JR1
11/17/2014 at 09:30

They used to. But then you had "white flight" in the 60s and 70s and suddenly the small homes and apartments throughout the city itself went unused by the predominantly white middle class and the working families faced increased costs of living to be in Detroit while also being denied the opportunity to move out to the burbs. I believe century 21 famously lost a case where they were found guilty of actively steering minorities to certain distracts to keep them away from "white" neighborhoods in the 80s.

Sweet Trav > JR1
11/17/2014 at 09:34

Are you from Michigan? There ARE high dollar waterfront apartments and condos.

Regardless, Wealth needs a reason to move to the city, and not just well to do 20 somethings, the ULTRA-rich are going to have build an industry here again, pay people more than market so they can afford a house, maintain the house, a car or two, insurance, and braces for their kids. The death of Detroit is the death of the middle class and the american dream.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > JR1
11/17/2014 at 09:35

The city has quite a few condos and apartments. The coolest are the riverfront towers, they even come with boat slip access.

If you want to live in Detroit it's incredibly accessible. Downtown, MidTown and Corktown are pretty hoppin areas too

JR1 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
11/17/2014 at 09:37

I have heard of something like this before it is called red-taping. Totally illegal it is how the banks keep track of what areas are worthy of getting a loan. Usually minority neighborhoods do not. It is a fucking terrible practice.

JR1 > Sweet Trav
11/17/2014 at 09:43

No I am from Ohio. I just have always found the idea of Detroit to be appealing. I had no idea there were condos and the like along the waterfront. I hope the ultra-rich invest in the infrastructure and industry it would help make the city thrive again. I am just not sure if there is a reason yet for them to move into the city. I am not sure I follow you with the death of middle class/American dream. I figured like every other city they simply moved to the burbs.

JR1 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/17/2014 at 09:44

One time I was there for the auto show it seems to be a thriving down town mixed with some derelict buildings. Nevertheless a cool and exciting place to live.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Sweet Trav
11/17/2014 at 09:47

I hated 2009. "HURR DURR THOSE PEOPLE KNEW WHAT MESS THEY WERE GETTING INTO!" fuck off you inbred party-line spewing mouthbreathing ignorant FUCKS (not you, the aformentioned inbreds). We came so close to completely losing most of the metro area......It will take a LONG time to come back. But it can happen. And it can certainly become a true jewel of the great lakes area.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > JR1
11/17/2014 at 10:26

it's a really cool place. I really like going into downtown Detroit. I don't know if you noticed while you were in town they started building the M-1 Light Rail train. I think they should have made it go further out of the city so the suburban-ites could ride it in, but maybe they'll extend in the future.

Definitely some cool stuff down there man. Let us Metro-Detroit OPPOs know next time you're up!

JR1 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/17/2014 at 10:29

Probably the auto show again is what I am guessing. Does Oppo go together as a group?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > JR1
11/17/2014 at 10:29

Not that I'm aware of, but that could be a really, really cool idea!

Milky > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/17/2014 at 10:49

I'd miss MidTown if I wasn't back at least twice a week.

JR1 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/17/2014 at 10:58

I mean I think it would be fun and worth looking into. I am sure enough go to make it worthwhile!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Milky
11/17/2014 at 11:04

I need to hang out there sometime, I'm normally in downtown or corktown if i'm down that way. I gotta branch out!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > JR1
11/17/2014 at 11:06

yea we definitely need to re-visit this. I havent been in a few years (which is terrible)

JR1 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/17/2014 at 12:08

Haha you live in the Detroit area man I might have to shun you that is a cardinal sin.

But yes I agree we will revisit this topic in a months time or so.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > JR1
11/17/2014 at 12:12

Hahaha, yeah well 2 years ago the autoshow it opened to the public 2 days after my son was born.

and last year my mom flew into town for his 1 year birthday.

So basically, early in his life it's a massive complication to me going, in the future it'll be a badass father son birthday trip because he's already obsessed with cars.

JR1 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/17/2014 at 12:13

Alright I suppose the reasons are valid. Might need to wait a year or tow to take him though.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > JR1
11/17/2014 at 12:14

well he turns 2 in January, maybe he'll come with me. We'll see. The level of patience I will require to get thru the auto show with a 2 year old..... I might be sainted at the end of it if I pull it off.

Mattbob > Sweet Trav
11/17/2014 at 14:15

I live about 30 minutes away. I can't stand being in Detroit. I can't stand being anywhere where I have to think twice about going outside at night. If you don't think you do in Detroit, you are fooling yourself.

Sweet Trav > Mattbob
11/17/2014 at 14:16

Downtown? You're fine. No need to be worried. Once you venture outside of downtown, carry a gun.

ranwhenparked > JR1
11/17/2014 at 18:40

Truth be told, Michigan Central Depot was kind of a white elephant from the beginning, even during the city's boom times. The top floors of the tower were never finished and were always empty inside and it was built far from the downtown in expectation that development would eventually expand out to it, which never happened. Also, no parking lots.

Really is sad though. The interiors were designed after a Roman bath house and were in perfect shape right up until Amtrak discontinued service in the late 1980s, then completely turned to crap within only a few years thanks mainly to looters and vandals.

SALfan > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/17/2014 at 22:59

Believe the pictured building is the Michigan Central RR terminal and HQ. There have been many schemes to convert it to something useful, none successful. Cool building.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > SALfan
11/18/2014 at 09:08

I think you meant to respond to Jarod Rose. I've been to and passed that building 100+ times.

Most call it the Central Train Depot