Is Downtown at Risk of Going Backwards?

**SammyS** · August-30-20, 06:45 PM

Detroit may not see growth but I doubt it will see a set back. A slight cooling off while the world makes sense of this frenzy. Home offices will obviously become more popular but why should that mean moving to the suburbs? Detroit is only moving up. I see more and more young folks enjoying the city every year. A bit of harmless bike action just adds to Detroits charm.

**stinkytofu** · August-30-20, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by SammyS

Detroit may not see growth but I doubt it will see a set back. A slight cooling off while the world makes sense of this frenzy. Home offices will obviously become more popular but why should that mean moving to the suburbs? Detroit is only moving up. I see more and more young folks enjoying the city every year. A bit of harmless bike action just adds to Detroits charm.

I don't think there is a ton of fear that residential will take a huge hit. While there is an argument that people won't want to pay top dollar to be near their office if they don't need to be in the office, downtown is still a lively place where people will want to live. Bars, sports, concerts, etc.

The much bigger concern is office workers and the impact on a host of ancillary businesses downtown if there aren't nearly as much white collar folks down there on a daily basis.

**Colombian Dan** · August-30-20, 07:23 PM

Give Tesla 5 years,.. that giant sucking sound is the remaining professional class of metro Detroit heading to Texas.... the internal combustion engine is dead....

**Zacha341** · August-30-20, 07:31 PM

^^^ Hold up! LOL! Mine is still eh' combusting - or a least moving forward pretty fast [[200+ Miles). Toyota sedan.

I do try to keep my oil changed!

**Danny** · October-18-20, 05:37 AM

G-Star Raw Clothier Store is closed!!! Covid-19 close their dreams.

**DetroitSoldier** · October-18-20, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by Danny

G-Star Raw Clothier Store is closed!!!

But where will I buy jeans for $300 and a plain white t-shirt for $100?

**Honky Tonk** · October-18-20, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitSoldier

But where will I buy jeans for $300 and a plain white t-shirt for $100?

I have several pairs of jeans, with holes in them, I can let you have for $150 a pair. A bargain. As far as t-shirts, well, they're sorta white...

**Zacha341** · October-22-20, 07:48 PM

Dense-weave, pre-shrunk and blocked cotton t-shirt mind you. There really is a difference : ) ehh... well.

Originally Posted by DetroitSoldier

But where will I buy jeans for $300 and a plain white t-shirt for $100?

**Danny** · November-16-20, 05:52 AM

COVID-19 almost made Gilberttown Detroit disappear. However Dan Gilbert has another up sleeve.

**Danny** · January-14-21, 09:01 AM

The planned Campus Martius Building has been turned into a snotty drive-in movie theater.

**bust** · August-30-20, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by evo

Boise [[Idaho) or Bozeman [[Montana) bound?

There are almost 100 million Trump supporters. So yeah, them. Join them if you want to.

Geography and weather are two important factors I consider where we live. Culture, politics, and society too.
Boise and Bozeman have geography, not weather.
[[Maybe if after a decade or two we're still burning a carbon inferno.)
Culture, politics, and society, um....
If they're your ideals I get what you mean, and reject them.
Again to make sure you understand.

**Gistok** · August-30-20, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by evo

Michigan's weather is objectively terrible, the topography is flat and it's so darn expensive to live here, hence over 30 years of brain drain.

You just basically described every city east of the Rockies and north of the Mason-Dixon line. It's expensive to live here? Huh?? Compared to Davenport Iowa maybe, but compared to other metro areas, metro Detroit is pretty reasonable to live here.

I used to be a computer analyst for the phone company, and 25 years ago we were already allowed to work from home 2 days a week. So for many companies, work at home is nothing new, and has already been factored into the office space configuration. Perhaps they will be allowed to work at home 4 days a week, but most companies likely won't allow working from home full time.

**Satiricalivory** · August-30-20, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by Colombian Dan

Give Tesla 5 years,.. that giant sucking sound is the remaining professional class of metro Detroit heading to Texas.... the internal combustion engine is dead....

LOL you clearly know nothing about Tesla.

**wazootyman** · August-31-20, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by Colombian Dan

Give Tesla 5 years,.. that giant sucking sound is the remaining professional class of metro Detroit heading to Texas.... the internal combustion engine is dead....

You clearly have no idea how much investment in EV technology is, has been and will be occuring in this area.

I speak from personal experience in the industry. But I can also reference an article from last year:

https://www.freep.com/story/money/ca...it/3097674002/

...and no, ICE is not dead [[yet). There are still major hurdles to overcome in vehicle cost and charging infrastructure before that becomes a reality. It's a gradual transition, not an overnight switch.

**313WX** · August-31-20, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by wazootyman

You clearly have no idea how much investment in EV technology is, has been and will be occuring in this area.

I speak from personal experience in the industry. But I can also reference an article from last year:

https://www.freep.com/story/money/ca...it/3097674002/

...and no, ICE is not dead [[yet). There are still major hurdles to overcome in vehicle cost and charging infrastructure before that becomes a reality. It's a gradual transition, not an overnight switch.

Given that Rivian has since confirmed they're moving most of their operations out of Michigan to California, that article is kind of dated.

**wazootyman** · August-31-20, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by 313WX

Given that Rivian has since confirmed they're moving most of their operations out of Michigan to California, that article is kind of dated.

Rivian is one company, and a start-up at that. I'm well aware of the movement of [[some) jobs to CA. It will be interesting to see what footprint they maintain here long-term.

But to my point, in addition to the internal efforts of the local OEMs, there are a very large number of suppliers with local R&D bases that have a key role in EV powertrain development. Not to mention, EVs utilize a lot of body components shared by ICE-based vehicles.

My point is that there is no reason to make broad declarations that we are doomed. Could be the opposite.

**wazootyman** · August-31-20, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by evo

When's the last time you were in California or Texas?

Not sure how that's relevant. But I'm sure you're intending to use my response to make a point - which is?

**bust** · August-30-20, 07:35 PM

Toyotas are some of the best American-made cars we have.

**Colombian Dan** · August-30-20, 07:42 PM

The same was said of buggy makers... just sayin...

**bust** · August-30-20, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Colombian Dan

The same was said of buggy makers... just sayin...

Not smart.

**One Shot** · August-30-20, 08:07 PM

Yes. The kind of people that help Detroit rebound don’t want to brave the city and put up with a bunch of lawless loonies now. Stack that on top of the instant new world we live in. The virus scare. Nobody working downtown to support the new places. No sports or other venues. It’s a real bad time. I’m a fan of what downtown became. But I’m not going down there and put up with that. I’m going to relax and have fun. Not wonder if I’ll get my windows smashed. T boned by a high/drunk. Be caught in an impromptu march. Nope no thanks.

**Seven&wyo** · August-30-20, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by One Shot

Yes. The kind of people that help Detroit rebound don’t want to brave the city and put up with a bunch of lawless loonies now. Stack that on top of the instant new world we live in. The virus scare. Nobody working downtown to support the new places. No sports or other venues. It’s a real bad time. I’m a fan of what downtown became. But I’m not going down there and put up with that. I’m going to relax and have fun. Not wonder if I’ll get my windows smashed. T boned by a high/drunk. Be caught in an impromptu march. Nope no thanks.

There’s almost no chance of that. Christ man up, there’s nothing to be scared of.

**bust** · August-30-20, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by evo

Fleet of moving trucks mark exodus from Manhattan’s Upper West Side
https://nypost.com/2020/08/30/fleet-...per-west-side/

You're right, tier one rich cities are struggling -- or wait, every newspaper is pushing a doomer hoax that cities are experiencing issues? -- but there are zero of the same issues in Detroit. Japanese proverb "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"...

We're thrilled [[some of) the rich kiddies are leaving NY!!
[[I haven't been able to afford the Upper West Side since the 90's).

**313WX** · August-30-20, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by evo

Although I did recently hear the Bridge Magazine editor speak honestly about new realities of SE Michigan and Detroit. "Managed decline" was the term he used.

That was going to reality with or without COVID.