I remember being downtown in the 90s and it being empty, dark, and depressing. Hudson's a dark shell of its former self. All of those things were there, but did barely anything for the community. RenCen, Wayne State, DMC, New Center were all isolated islands. I don't remember Woodward between Warren and Mack having as much foot traffic even 7 years ago.
I suppose M-1 Rail, Carhartt, Whole Foods, Shinola, the Auburn, the Albert, David Whitney, David Broderick [[both closed in the 90s), MOCAD, Book Cadillac, Moosejaw, John Varvatos, Downtown Synagogue, reborn London Chop House and Joe Muer's are all examples of more of the same.
I guess when you see it, it's probably going to be the next time you go down there which sounds like it's been 15 years. When was the last time Detroit had as much construction and investment happening at once? The RenCen? That was one project that decimated downtown.
If you stand Grand River and Greenfield or 7 Mile and Kelly. Then yes, it's the same or worse. But you're completely wrong about downtown or midtown. We haven't seen this much positive change in awhile, if ever.
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