I guess he figured out this ain't the Chamber of Commerce.
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I hate to be a skeptic, but I have to admit to questioning the sincerity of this original poster from the get.
It smacked a bit too much of the "I'm a very attractive, slight, 20 year old naive woman from rural Georgia who came into a LOT of cash and am looking to buy a house in a very rough neighborhood in Detroit. Can anyone throw me some pointers?" threads that pop up occassionally.
That said, it was a wonderful catalyst for an honest, albeit depressing, discussion.
But, we are always drunk on something, sometimes even drunk on love. We just roll in a drunken way.
By the time we got to that post, I don't think this thread had much direct relationship to Zeyrek's relocation, so why stop just because he had been adequately discouraged?
I am still amazed that my [[perhaps naive) post here generated such an intense debate about the city, but it has been really interesting to learn about Detroit and it's issues. I technically have until December 31 to decide on this job opportunity, but I very much doubt I will pursue it. Going into it my impression was that Detroit would be a somewhat gritty but fully functioning working class city, much like many industrial cities in Europe. I had no idea it had lost more than half its population and was becoming progressively abandoned like Chernobyl. I also thought that as a relatively old city it would be walkable with neighborhood cafes, squares, and shopping streets, but it didn't look like that from what I've seen on the Internet. From old photos it did look like it used to be that way. Anyway, I am still considering a visit to Detroit and the suburbs this month since a visit cant hurt, so who knows.
Before I forget, one person via private message recommended highland park as a good up and coming neighborhood for families. Obviously there are some nice areas of Detroit, but surely this person was not being serious, right?
They were either deluded or not being serious. The bungalow section of Highland Park has some nice blocks, but in general Highland Park is in worse shape than most parts of Detroit, and it is farther from downtown than areas I would think more suitable.Quote:
Before I forget, one person via private message recommended highland park as a good up and coming neighborhood for families. Obviously there are some nice areas of Detroit, but surely this person was not being serious, right?
I can understand your hesitation about coming to Detroit, and although I think you would be able to find someplace acceptable to live if you came, it may well be that it isn't what you were expecting. I would recommend to you, or to anyone thinking of living in or near Detroit to come visit first and see what it is like, and even more so for someone coming from a different country. You really can't get a feel for it from afar [[although you can certainly learn that there are a lot of contentious people!)
There are about 5-6 streets in Highland Park that are OK right now. Most of the "state" streets are fine, as well as the rest going north to Davidson. Still wouldn't endorse it. Moving out of there shortly to Hamtramck.
Wow, I learn something new every day.
I would not have figured on somewhat idiomatic terms such as "gritty" & "who knows" being common parlance in a place so far off as Stockholm.
With the mood I'm in about the mounting bullshit I see in both this city and this forum, it may keep going for quite a while.
Oh, and "gritty." Uh-huh.
But my part of this never had any investment in "Zeyrek's" question anyway.
Zeyrek, if you scroll past my Chicago and Mopar Nationals pics there are hundreds of Detroit area photos in this three page thread...just to give you an idea of the area...
http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/...age=10&fpart=1
Hans in Finland
Ravine, before you accuse someone of lying here you should make some inquiry into whether your accusations are actually true. If you've ever been to Sweden you would know that many imported television shows are shown in English and that most people speak English very well. You might also like to know that I worked in London for two years, so I know a thing or two about the language and grittiness.
Regardless, I must say it is disconcerting that someone would try to recommend that I move to highland park. It is also disconcerting that a simple question about moving to Detroit results in such a big argument. People who think I should move there are dismissed as pollyannas, which may have some truth to it but there is no reason to be nasty. People who say not to move there are insinuated to be racist. At the same time the people whodismiss detroit seem to ignore the fact that the apparently massive population exodus in recent decades is one reason why Detroit is in it's current state. Perhaps if they or their families had not left the city it would be a place more people would want to move to.
Most people on this forum have given positive and helpful advice but the nastiness I've seen is surprising.
Zeyrek, I did not accuse you of lying. I was implying that DY may have been seeing a type of trolling that DY sees all of the time.
However, it doesn't matter to me, either way, because nothing I wrote previously was meant to be in answer to your original post.
Hi Zeyrek,
The following post by DetBill concerning Lafayette Park
http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...602#post285602
is probably your best, realistic, single post of information. Layayette Park is a great area and is within walking distance of lots of great stuff, particularly the Dequinder cut and all the bike and walking trails along the Detroit River.
Z, a public forum is going to have a myriad of comments. Bottom line: Detroit is going thru a great deal that is systemic on many levels: racially, economically and socially. I'd say glean thru what has been written per this topic and other themes and news posts here on DY [[and from other sites and new sources referenced here), separating the heat from the light [[as you should with any site).
Evaluate and not what is 'consistent' and of most importance and concern to you per what you want for your family and decide.
In any event please stay in touch.
We did not move out by choice..we were driven out by fear of what our neighborhoods were becoming. I was not going to stay in our home on Wayburn and live in fear that my child will be hit by a bullet as he rode his bike on the sidewalk. When our neighborhood started "changing" the bullets started flying. Not a racist comment....just the facts, Jack!
We did not move out by choice..we were driven out by fear of what our neighborhoods were becoming. I was not going to stay in our home on Wayburn and live in fear that my child would be hit by a bullet as he rode his bike on the sidewalk. When our neighborhood started "changing" the bullets started flying. Not a racist comment....just the facts, Jack! And after relocating to Michigan's Thumb area for 5 years, we finally got the heck out of Michigan completely. Detroit's crime was coming right up I-94 to our area....literally...they would drive up to our area, break into some houses, and then drive back down to Detroit. Local law enforcement told us that is exactly what was happening based on home addresses of those they happened to be lucky enough to apprehend.
I'm with Rick, the best choice, if your still curious, is Lafayette Park.
Stromberg2