I never lived in Detroit but my mother's family [[lived on the East side, near Grand Blvd. & Gratiot) left when she was a child in the early 50's because of crime + someone was stabbed on their lawn. My husband's family managed to hold out longer [[they lived further East: Outer Drive & Chalmers) and he ended up living there until he was about 4 [[early 80's). They also left because of too much violence/hearing gun shots at night.

Makes me sad that in my lifetime [[born 1980) I don't have a memory of the city being safe, functioning & alive. I get jealous of the stories of my parents and in-laws but I also can't imagine how much it hurts have been in this great city in its heyday and then to see it fall.