This is an interesting story about a young man who has purchased and restored 2 magnificant houses in this district, and also talks about the experiences of some of the current residents of the neighborhood, and some recent history of the neighborhood. This story first appeared 9 days ago, I am surprised no one has brough it up.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120603/NEWS01/206030550/Man-on-mission-to-revive-Virginia-Park-Street-in-Detroit

When Jeff Cowin walked into his first three-story mansion on Virginia Park Street in Detroit, he saw that Mother Nature and mankind had effectively destroyed it.

Rain had soaked through the ceilings. Thieves had stolen the plumbing and whatever else they could find. The once-stately mansion, complete with servants' stairs, had been gutted. And on the December 2010 day he moved into the neighborhood, it was cold, the streetlights were out, and not a soul was in sight.