Hi Richard, Either I'm not getting my point across, or you're not getting it. You're post makes it sound like I'm advocating tearing down perfectly good housing down to prevent low to middle income people from living in Detroit. Do you live in Detroit? The reason I ask that question is I do, and driving around the City, I see houses that, IMO, are beyond repair. Houses that are wooden sided, haven't been painted in years, the lapstrake is warped beyond belief, brickwork and porch steps are missing, the roof is merely cheap blue tarp, [[and in some cases THAT is shot), all the widows have either been removed, [[if aluminum), or broken out, plaster and lattice work has huge holes running the parameter of the room from wires being ripped out for the copper, as is ANY metal, [[read piping, [all the way to the cinderblock basement wall], meters, ductwork, furnace, hot water tank, etc.), ANYTHING of value that CAN be sold, [[doorknobs, hinges, doors, vanities, switches, stair rails), are all GONE. The house frame itself is twisted from years of being water logged from the elements. To top it off, @ least one fire has been started in the house. You seriously can't mean you're going to try and rehab that, do you? If so, Robert Fiasco is looking for a construction manager. I hear there's plenty of money to be made in his outfit. No, I'm sorry, I don't agree money should be wasted on trying to salvage these houses. They were cheaply built during Detroit's boom years, served their purpose, and have been neglected for the last 30-40 years. It's time Richard. Even the homeless no longer occupy these houses. Though stray dogs do. About the only saving grace for these structures is each one comes with an original "GASM", "POBART", or some indistinguishable hand painted artwork. Drive through the neighborhood in Mexicotown around La Colmina. Parts of that area were cleared, then Habitat For Humanity erected affordable housing there, and those neighborhoods are thriving, big time. No rocket scientists live there, it's everyday working people. Eastern Mark-Up needs no help. I used to go there regularly on Saturdays, but no longer do so because of the mass congestions from people coming in from the 'burbs to look @ tomato's. Every bartender or waitress I know, trumps my meager salary in spades. Tell you what, c'mon by, and we'll go for a tour of the areas I'm talking about, I'll drive. If @ the end of my tour, you can still look me in the eye from the passenger seat and say "Yes, Honky Tonk, these houses can and should be rehabbed", I'll buy you a $7 head of your favorite lettuce @ Ho' Foods.
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