Possible move to Detroit, please help/berate me.

[mikeinmotown]

I've lived in Detroit for the last 30 years and downtown for 5 years. Most of the information above is BS. I love living in the city. Plenty of things to do. Don't worry about grocery shopping, stores are everywhere. Yes Detroit has crime. Yes Ferndale, Royal Oak, the Pointes and Macomb Twp has crime. When looking for an area to live make she they have a strong neighborhood association. I would recommend, living Downtown, Corktown, Woodbrigde, Midtown or Brush Park. I would also recommend that secure parking is available. As long as you have some street smarts you will be fine.

[scottn55]

I've lived in Detroit for the last 30 years and downtown for 5 years. Most of the information above is BS. I love living in the city. Plenty of things to do. Don't worry about grocery shopping, stores are everywhere. Yes Detroit has crime. Yes Ferndale, Royal Oak, the Pointes and Macomb Twp has crime. When looking for an area to live make she they have a strong neighborhood association. I would recommend, living Downtown, Corktown, Woodbrigde, Midtown or Brush Park. I would also recommend that secure parking is available. As long as you have some street smarts you will be fine.

*Street smarts and secure parking not necessary in Ferndale, Royal Oak, the Pointes, or Macomb Twp. Look... I'm not ragging on the City here but I'm tired of hearing this canard that "all cities have crime and Detroit's no different". The idea that the frequency and severity of crime is the same in the suburbs as it is in Detroit is preposterous. Making these statements is not only dishonest and counterproductive it's potentially dangerous for people who don't know any better.

[SWMAP]

This is true: it is very irresponsible to encourage a lone woman to make her home in pretty much any Detroit neighborhood. Women, particularly white women are targets for home invasion, theft, assault. Lone women without huge neighbor support are not able to leave their homes for any length of days, are not able to safely return at night.
I well remember a young woman in Hubbard Farms a few years ago. She was a married professionaland a mother. She was grabbed and raped one dark morning as she walked to her car. Although she bravely announced that her family was committed to Detroit and that the rape had not changed that, with a very few months they sold their home and left for the safer suburbs.
She was married. Think about a woman always alone.
Midtownmiz has it right. Listen to her.

[TexasT]

Hmm. I have plenty of female friends who live alone. If I'm walking to my car, how does me being married stop someone from assaulting me? Or y'all saying that women need to be escorted by a male at all times to be safe? Because I certainly don't live that way. And neither do my female friends. I see women jogging around Woodbridge and they certainly don't have male protectors in tow.

A lot of my single friends do live in high rises or condos though. And I have a garage, so I parked there and walk through my backyard to get to my house. And I have a dog so that helps too. Women definitely have to be more careful - I'll agree there.

Detroit certainly is not a safe city but I'd call it a stretch to say that telling a lone woman to live here is irresponsible. I'd stick to Downtown or Midtown if I were her though.

[mwilbert]

I don't think it is inherently irresponsible, and I know a number of women who have lived alone in Detroit for many years. It would be irresponsible to say there isn't anything to worry about, but I'm not sure I saw anyone here saying that. I also think it is important to recognize that the city isn't at all homogeneous in terms of crime, and to just say that a single woman can't reasonably live anywhere in Detroit seems unfounded.

[villagejack]

If you take a chance on Detroit, RENT first. There's no urgency to buy. I suggest downtown/midtown/corktown living in an environment where there are other people around. Somebody's suggestion of a Lafayette Park apartment sounds good. While it's not the house you're looking for, you can explore close in neighborhoods for that. Another possibility is renting a house/ share with other renters. Many houses are large enough to share very comfortably & have plenty of privacy. If you do that, pick your neighborhood well. The police may not come. Around Wayne state one benefit is they have their own competent police who show up. Best wishes. Btw, have you visited Pittsburgh? It's nice.

[SWMAP]

Recently that young woman who owns the Corktown Hostel was assaulted as she walked in Woodbridge. There was a lot of comment about her op-ed and her whiteness.
I know plenty of single women who live in Detroit. I don't know many who live alone. They may live with men or sisters or a housemate - but few live alone.
It is iresponsible to assure a woman that she can move to just about any neighborhood in Detroit without a firm support system and be happy and safe.
Women from the region can make an informed decision - women from almost any other first-world country cannot grasp from afar exactly what they would face here.
I speak as a woman who lives alone in SW Detroit. I am somewhat comfortable because I have good neighbors at this time. If they leave i will probably have to leave- my experience is that replacement neighbors are not too nice. Not a lot of secure happy families are moving into Detroit.
If the issue isn't safety then its emergencies. If the OP or I have a heart attack or fall down the basement stairs, how will we get to one of the great hospitals we are blessed with? Its not like we can call EMS.
Really, believe me- this is no city for lone women.

[mwilbert]

If the issue isn't safety then its emergencies. If the OP or I have a heart attack or fall down the basement stairs, how will we get to one of the great hospitals we are blessed with? Its not like we can call EMS.

How would this be different for men and women? [[And if you call 911 for a medical emergency, in my recent experience, someone will come, although it certainly can take a while.) The fact is, living by yourself without any neighbors you can call upon is a problem anyplace. Yes, it is a bigger problem in Detroit, because you are more likely to have an issue that requires help, and because it is more important to have someone keeping an eye on your house or car when you aren't there.

That is exactly why someone moving to Detroit has to consider those factors, and why almost everyone on this thread who didn't want the woman to move to Pittsburgh was doing some combination of making suggestions to mitigate the risk, suggesting appropriate neighborhoods, and proposing that she visit/rent before considering a house purchase. You, on the other hand, seem to be claiming just the risk is too great in any case.

Maybe you are right, but I really think that depends upon the situation and on the person. I absolutely believe that the city isn't for everyone, but I don't believe it isn't for anyone, even any single one.

[Zacha341]

Absolutely! Percentage means everything relative to rather or not you will have to deal very close and personal with crime! If you get outside of the city or state you see other lifestyles, environments and options and the contrast becomes more stark! Crime is higher in Detroit than it is say Northville. Police response to said crime is less. Period.

I'm not ragging on the City here but I'm tired of hearing this canard that "all cities have crime and Detroit's no different".... Making these statements is not only dishonest and counterproductive it's potentially dangerous for people who don't know any better.

[Zacha341]

And this is not exclusive to white women. I am a black woman and when I was alone I made SURE NOT LIVE alone. Then and now I opt live in a shared dwelling and took measures that someone was watchful, here and there. I was not going to put a key into a dark house, in Detroit without even the option of being heard if I screamed! NOPE. It's too easy to become an easy mark or target for various reasons; the elderly experience and know the feeling, so did I know it when alone so I MINIMIZED my risk as I needed to....

This is true: it is very irresponsible to encourage a lone woman to make her home in pretty much any Detroit neighborhood. Women, particularly white women are targets for home invasion, theft, assault. Lone women without huge neighbor support are not able to leave their homes for any length of days, are not able to safely return at night...

[Zacha341]

Yes, it is different from the assault risk point of view. Muggers and home invaders and rapists are more emboldened to take on a lone woman over a man [[though more have encountered women who on a first name basis with the three letters: CPL!).

The EMS and or police will not be timely in their arrival - for male or female!!

How would this be different for men and women? [[And if you call 911 for a medical emergency, in my recent experience, someone will come, although it certainly can take a while.) The fact is, living by yourself without any neighbors you can call upon is a problem anyplace. Yes, it is a bigger problem in Detroit, because you are more likely to have an issue that requires help, and because it is more important to have someone keeping an eye on your house or car when you aren't there.

[grumpyoldlady]

One important question....do you own and know how to use a gun???? With the poor response of the DPD, you're pretty much on your own if someone is trying to bash down your door or hold you up in your driveway. You do sound very together and intelligent, which makes me wonder why you want to put yourself in harm's way intentionally.

[TexasT]

If you live in one of the several neighborhoods that peoplee suggested, like Midtown or Woodbridge, you are covered by WSUPD. If I call the cops, they will be here in two minutes. Same with the neighborhoods that hire private security. Combine that with a dog a good alarm, you're ok.

And yes, I have lived outside of the city and state, Zacha, in places much nicer than Northville - almost my entire life. Y'all are blowing this way out of proportion. No, the OP shouldnt live in most of Detroit alone but there are several neigborhoods that are fine [[SW Detroit is not one of them).

[TexasT]

One important question....do you own and know how to use a gun???? With the poor response of the DPD, you're pretty much on your own if someone is trying to bash down your door or hold you up in your driveway. You do sound very together and intelligent, which makes me wonder why you want to put yourself in harm's way intentionally.

Again, not the case in plenty of neighborhoods. Yes she sounds intelligent, which is why she can hopefully parse informed recommendations from generalized opinions. Some of the people answering don't have much experience living in the city, specifically the places that are being recommended.

[Honky Tonk]

If you live in one of the several neighborhoods that peoplee suggested, like Midtown or Woodbridge, you are covered by WSUPD. If I call the cops, they will be here in two minutes. Same with the neighborhoods that hire private security. Combine that with a dog a good alarm, you're ok.

And yes, I have lived outside of the city and state, Zacha, in places much nicer than Northville - almost my entire life. Y'all are blowing this way out of proportion. No, the OP shouldnt live in most of Detroit alone but there are several neigborhoods that are fine [[SW Detroit is not one of them).

How about the guy gunned down by some punk with an AK-47 in Woodbridge, who stopped to visit his friend, did they ever catch the guy that murdered him?

[TexasT]

How about the guy gunned down by some punk with an AK-47 in Woodbridge, who stopped to visit his friend, did they ever catch the guy that murdered him?

Not that I know of but I didnt know the guy. But murder is extremely rare there [[neighbors had to go back a long time to think of something similar) and I am sure you are very aware of that. Even a good police presence like Woodbridge has cannot prevent every crime, just as it will not anywhere else.

[Maof]

I think y'all scared Omni off.

[SWMAP]

Probably for the best in that particular instance.
To TexasT: you feel pretty safe in Woodbridge; you state that the WSU police are on site in minutes. Great for Woodbridge. However, that police work is essentially volunteer work. My experience is that you shouldn't make real estate investments [[ as so many were encouraging the OP to do) on a volunteer system. Next year something may break down between the city fathers aand WSU; some citizen may sue WSU for operating out of some legalistic jurisdiction & WSU may pull back from your neighborhood, or WSU budget cuts or directional changes will negatively impact your volunteer police force.
Forgive me, but I have spent some 50 years in Detroit and I have seen a lot.
This is not the best city for a woman, a stranger, arriving alone with a small investable life savings.
Years of reading this site have shown me that most such dreams are soon dashed.

[canuck]

I think y'all scared Omni off.

It's an all you can hear buffet. A hefty dose of reality infuses these threads. Prospective detroiters need some guidance anyways, I was sorry to hear about the young lady from the Corktown hostel getting hurt for one thing.

[TexasT]

Probably for the best in that particular instance.
To TexasT: you feel pretty safe in Woodbridge; you state that the WSU police are on site in minutes. Great for Woodbridge. However, that police work is essentially volunteer work. My experience is that you shouldn't make real estate investments [[ as so many were encouraging the OP to do) on a volunteer system. Next year something may break down between the city fathers aand WSU; some citizen may sue WSU for operating out of some legalistic jurisdiction & WSU may pull back from your neighborhood, or WSU budget cuts or directional changes will negatively impact your volunteer police force.
Forgive me, but I have spent some 50 years in Detroit and I have seen a lot.
This is not the best city for a woman, a stranger, arriving alone with a small investable life savings.
Years of reading this site have shown me that most such dreams are soon dashed.

If Woodbridge lost WSU, then we could just get private security like the other more middle-class+ neighborhoods. I rolled up in Indian Village to house hunt and had a black security SUV roll up on me asking me how it was going within a few minutes. WSUPD is a perk, but it's not the only reason to live here.

Detroit 50 years ago really isn't relevant to Detroit today, to tell you the truth. I could ask a Detroiter in 1920 and he'd say it's a great place to invest! I agree that every piece of advice should be taken with a grain of salt. I'd just prefer the advice be based off of personal knowledge and not what someone in Livonia read in the Detroit News once. You can live in the burbs and be very knowledgeable about the goings on of the city - you can live in the city and live in a bubble [[like I do). I acknowledge my experience is limited to the greater downtown area for the most part, which is why I'm telling her what it's like living here and not out in Warrendale or SW Detroit.

[Honky Tonk]

It's an all you can hear buffet. A hefty dose of reality infuses these threads. Prospective detroiters need some guidance anyways, I was sorry to hear about the young lady from the Corktown hostel getting hurt for one thing.

Detroit has multiple realities, and all of them are valid. It all depends where in Detroit you live, as to what reality you perceive. Mid-Town is growing. Gilbert, Ilitch, and assorted yupsters are turning it into a first-class playland. Yippee, hip-hip, hoorah, and good for them. Some of us "other" tax-paying Detroiters are living in a different kind of reality, and it might not be so nice. The frustration occurs when posts are made stating things like "I've NEVER heard any gunshots", "Detroit's crime is exagerated, just move in anywhere, there's plenty of hugs to go around", "THAT neighborhood sucks, they should just bulldoze it over". For some of us, our neighborhood struggle has been going on for years, and with every forward step, there seems to be two taken back. One group doesn't seem to understand what's going on with the other. So there's my opinion on Detroit EXPOSED!.

[canuck]

Detroit has multiple realities, and all of them are valid. It all depends where in Detroit you live, as to what reality you perceive. Mid-Town is growing. Gilbert, Ilitch, and assorted yupsters are turning it into a first-class playland. Yippee, hip-hip, hoorah, and good for them. Some of us "other" tax-paying Detroiters are living in a different kind of reality, and it might not be so nice. The frustration occurs when posts are made stating things like "I've NEVER heard any gunshots", "Detroit's crime is exagerated, just move in anywhere, there's plenty of hugs to go around", "THAT neighborhood sucks, they should just bulldoze it over". For some of us, our neighborhood struggle has been going on for years, and with every forward step, there seems to be two taken back. One group doesn't seem to understand what's going on with the other. So there's my opinion on Detroit EXPOSED!.

Yes, better act on the side of caution in any case. I remember the australian landlord who put alot of effort into renovating his place, connecting with his tenants in a warm and positive way; and then poof! Shot like a dog in a dog eat dog world.

That kind of thing happens too often to dismiss, Detroit is not for the faint of heart. I can only imagine how it is to look over your shoulder even in neighborhoods with idyllic settings. There are pretty slummy parts of Montreal that wouldnt look out of place plopped in an urbain prairie setting of Detroit.
But the fear of getting killed or badly hurt is not there.

[Honky Tonk]

Yes, better act on the side of caution in any case. I remember the australian landlord who put alot of effort into renovating his place, connecting with his tenants in a warm and positive way; and then poof! Shot like a dog in a dog eat dog world.

That kind of thing happens too often to dismiss, Detroit is not for the faint of heart. I can only imagine how it is to look over your shoulder even in neighborhoods with idyllic settings. There are pretty slummy parts of Montreal that wouldnt look out of place plopped in an urbain prairie setting of Detroit.
But the fear of getting killed or badly hurt is not there.

Thank-You.

[313WX]

Detroit has multiple realities, and all of them are valid. It all depends where in Detroit you live, as to what reality you perceive. Mid-Town is growing. Gilbert, Ilitch, and assorted yupsters are turning it into a first-class playland. Yippee, hip-hip, hoorah, and good for them. Some of us "other" tax-paying Detroiters are living in a different kind of reality, and it might not be so nice. The frustration occurs when posts are made stating things like "I've NEVER heard any gunshots", "Detroit's crime is exagerated, just move in anywhere, there's plenty of hugs to go around", "THAT neighborhood sucks, they should just bulldoze it over". For some of us, our neighborhood struggle has been going on for years, and with every forward step, there seems to be two taken back. One group doesn't seem to understand what's going on with the other. So there's my opinion on Detroit EXPOSED!.

Perfectly stated.

[mwilbert]

Yes, it is different from the assault risk point of view.

If you read what I quoted, I was only referring to the emergencies part. I agree about the assault risk.