Warren Rises? Good News for Warren

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Warren has taken a pounding as the quintessential suburb that gave 8 Mile Road its symbolism. Remember "Borin' Warren?" Exploding from a cross roads village on Mound Round its population would double for three straight decades. It peaked at 180,000, 99.5% Euro-American.

Much has changed since. The city has lost 35,000 and is more diverse, with the Euro-American population now under 80%, making it, in my eyes at least, more interesting and more sympathetic. Its population stabilized with the 2010 census and Warren is showing signs of rebounding. So I am happy and hopeful for Warren when I read the following list of developments and jobs coming to the now struggling town. Go Warren!

General Motors Co. Technical Center renovations
Cost: $1 billion
Project: Expansion and renovation of the 326-acre campus, coupled with the creation of 2,600 jobs
Expected completion: End of 2018
Location: Van Dyke Avenue between 12 Mile and 13 Mile roads

Former Campbell Ewald building redevelopment
Cost: $35 million
Project: Renovation of 10-story building across from the GM tech center for 800 new GM jobs
Expected completion: By 2017
Location: Van Dyke north of North Civic Center Drive across from the tech center

City Square Lofts
Cost: $30 million
Project: 210-unit loft project with rents from $1,200 to $2,000 per month by Bingham Farms-based Burton-Katzman LLC
Expected completion: 2017
Location: South and east of Warren City Hall

Five-star hotel
Cost: $50 million
Project: 200-room hotel with retail space including specialty grocery store, a 1,000-person banquet center, conference room and rooftop swimming pool by Lansing-based The Boji Group
Expected completion: Not known
Location: East side of Van Dyke across from the tech center

Prestige Cadillac dealership
Cost: $10 million
Project: New dealership by Gregory Jackson, chairman, president and CEO of Jackson Automotive Management, on 4.6 acres
Expected completion: April
Location: Van Dyke and 12 Mile Road

Majestic Plaza Shopping Center redevelopment
Cost: $2 million
Project: Redevelopment of shopping center for new 40,000-square-foot Y & C Beauty Supplies store
Expected completion: 2017
Location: Van Dyke at Martin Road

Tech Plaza redevelopment
Cost: More than $10 million
Project: Redevelopment of shopping plaza with at least a dozen new stores
Expected completion: By the spring
Location: Van Dyke at 12 Mile Road

Menards
Cost: $8 million
Project: Construction of new 170,000-square-foot store
Expected completion: Sept. 21
Location: Van Dyke at 14 Mile Road

Art Van Furniture warehouse renovation
Cost: $18 million
Project: Warehouse and office remodeling
Expected completion: October
Location: 14 Mile east of Mound Road
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Source: Crain's Detroit Business

Still pretty boring, though...

I'd have to agree. Having stayed in hotels in pretty much every burb during my numerous visits, Warren clearly has the least character. No malls, no downtown, no major sports/entertainment facilities, mostly chain restaurants and Walmarts. Lots of great Hotwire deals on the many all-suite hotels though. As GM goes, so goes Warren.

Warren is doing well, we have clean streets, controlled blight, great response times to emergencies, wonderful trash collection [[bulk pick up every single Friday) and a wonderful community center....but it stops there. Its a bedroom community where people only go to sleep. There is no downtown, the traffic on Mound road is too fast to have any viable businesses on the mound strip. Its not walkable. There are a few nice bars but no nightlife to speak of. No cute shops. No great parks. in short Warren is not a destination ...but its not a terrible place to sleep at night

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Originally Posted by Wintersmommy

Warren is doing well, we have clean streets, controlled blight, great response times to emergencies, wonderful trash collection [[bulk pick up every single Friday) and a wonderful community center....but it stops there. Its a bedroom community where people only go to sleep. There is no downtown, the traffic on Mound road is too fast to have any viable businesses on the mound strip. Its not walkable. There are a few nice bars but no nightlife to speak of. No cute shops. No great parks. in short Warren is not a destination ...but its not a terrible place to sleep at night

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Not a destination? Just last week Biden asked Obama, "What do you want to do next week?" Obama didn't hesitate, " I want to visit Warren, Michigan Joe!"

A lot of Warren's population loss can be attributed to baby boomer parents moving into Warren, having a TON of kids in small ranch houses, then the kids move out, and the parents remain, build wheelchair ramps on the front of their houses, and die in their recliners decades later.

I used to live in Warren and we liked it. The neighborhoods are diverse and safe. There is a large stock of parks. Folks around us were working-class, just like us. We lived south of 10 Mile in the Center Line school district.

We left Warren because we wanted better public schools and a bigger house.

Good to hear developments in Warren, especially the planned downtown project. Any renderings out there? The previous mayor, [[don't remember his name), worked to assemble land around the new City Hall to plan a formal city center. The renderings at the time included 3-5? story structures with parking decks along Van Dyke, but faced with businesses with apartments and condos above...

Hope the area is able to support all the new developments. Menard's has close competition with Lowe's at 13 & Van Dyke and Home Depot at 16 And Van Dyke.

Warren did a fine job of most black folks from Detroit south of E. 8 Mile Rd. It really kept the population stabilized. Remember Mayor Steenburg assaulted a black teen as he walk through a Warren neighborhood. Or that time that a black lady had brought a home at a Warren neighborhood north of 12 Mile between Ryan and Mound. Her home was vandalized by racist punks so she move out. Yeah a fine job slowing down low-income welfare and food stamp black Detroiters who want to move to Warren for safety concerns.

Today more black folks are moving to Warren and they contribute to the population growth. It's about 15 percent of the population. It's not going to grew that quick. I'm glad that white folks in Warren even near 8 Mile Rd. defend their homes with care. If a hoodie cases and looking for someone rob, shoot and kill. It's police force will waiting for him before he can cross south of 8 Mile Rd.


Way to go Warren for not keeping Van Dyke Rd from look like a "Detroit Rock City" ghetto Mayor Fouts kicked out the owner of Detroit Rock City novelity shop out of the Van Dyke Rd north of 9 Mile Rd. YAY Warren! for making a downtown to nowhere. They Warren City Council wants to create a new downtown on Van Dyke Rd. near Civic Center Dr. Instead they put up a city hall that looks like leaning Tower of Pisa. Thank you Warren for not letting non-Warren folks lease books and use their public internet.

Warren! what a great city to live in. I'm glad that Cambell corp. move out of Warren and into Gilberttown Detroit. That's where the action is.

FWIW, GM purchased the Campbell-Ewald building. Its renovation is lumped in with the Tech Center renovations.

B.F.D. So GM is going to throw some money at Van Dyke between 11 mile and 12 mile. They have been there forever and the area will never be more than a blue collar haven for low class whites and now upwardly mobile working class blacks. I am not holding my breath that will go smoothly before white flight happens. Developing a 'downtown Warren' is like saying developing a 'downtown Taylor". The Civic Center area will always be a crash pad for GM corporate slobs who are visiting the area. What young professionals do they think they will attract to the planned loft apartments? Does anyone on the city council even know what a loft apartment is other than what they read about in The Macomb a Daily? Warren is 36 square miles. When they start redevelopment of the 8 mile and Schoenherr shopping center and the flea market anchor store, that would really be called Warren Rising.

I can see it now:

Warren, MI. in the year 2099

population 856,789

Warren is circling the drain. No, a new car dealership isn't going to reverse long-term demographic issues. And LOL at a claimed "five star hotel" coming to Warren.

Say you're a young married couple with kids or going to have kids and you're looking for a secure, reasonable priced place to buy a house. Why wouldn't Warren fit that to a tee? Maybe those type of people don't care that there's no downtown or the city isn't walkable. The schools seem to be okay, they don't have to live there forever, they would be buying in an area where they should be able to re sell.

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Originally Posted by softailrider

Say you're a young married couple with kids or going to have kids and you're looking for a secure, reasonable priced place to buy a house. Why wouldn't Warren fit that to a tee?

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Yes, if they move to Warren from Arkansaw, Kentucky or Alabama.

Hamtramck is already tapped out of Polish people to move 'out to Warren".

???What's with all the Debbie Downers? Those of us living in Metro Detroit are on the same team, [[one would think). No, we're not Birmingham. No, we are not Canton, Rochester, Detroit, etc. Yes, like all cities, Warren has its frailties, shortcomings, imperfections. So they are trying to assemble a walkable downtown like Royal Oak, Clawson, Romeo, Birmingham. Aren't they just as deserving of a walkable semi-urban environment? How about some constructive ideas, a "good for you..."?

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Originally Posted by Warrenite84

???What's with all the Debbie Downers? Those of us living in Metro Detroit are on the same team, [[one would think). No, we're not Birmingham. No, we are not Canton, Rochester, Detroit, etc. Yes, like all cities, Warren has its frailties, shortcomings, imperfections. So they are trying to assemble a walkable downtown like Royal Oak, Clawson, Romeo, Birmingham. Aren't they just as deserving of a walkable semi-urban environment? How about some constructive ideas, a "good for you..."?

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Agreed. We are all one big international city from outer space. The health of one is good for the health of all of us. We are all members of the same team. I want all to succeed and I cheer for all.

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Originally Posted by DetroitBoy

Yes, if they move to Warren from Arkansaw, Kentucky or Alabama.

Hamtramck is already tapped out of Polish people to move 'out to Warren".

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Oh okay I forgot all about the hillbillies. Of course you're right.

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Originally Posted by Danny

I'm glad that Cambell corp. move out of Warren and into Gilberttown Detroit. That's where the action is.

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Just ask rex and Nicole Curtis.

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Originally Posted by DetroitBoy

Yes, if they move to Warren from Arkansaw, Kentucky or Alabama.

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By the way, I believe you meant Arkansas for the purpose of your putting other people down. Arkansaw is a small unincorporated area in western Wisconsin

And what do you have against people from Arkansas, Kentucky or Alabama? Are they inferior people? Are you better than them? Are you better than Warren residents?

Your snobbery and elitism is repugnant. Feh!

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Originally Posted by Bham1982

Warren is circling the drain. No, a new car dealership isn't going to reverse long-term demographic issues. And LOL at a claimed "five star hotel" coming to Warren.

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There's one coming to Telegraph and Ten mile in Southfield. Or so they say, looks like their working on it anyway. Wouldn't have believed that either 6 months ago.

Sounds like the proposed developments are all happening in northern Warren, which is more middle class. South Warren is a ghetto.

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Originally Posted by JenniferL

Sounds like the proposed developments are all happening in northern Warren, which is more middle class. South Warren is a ghetto.

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Of course that area looks like Eninem dumps his mess all over it. Look at Van Dyke Rd. from 8 Mile Rd to Center Line. A white man's ghetto!

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Originally Posted by Warrenite84

???What's with all the Debbie Downers? Those of us living in Metro Detroit are on the same team, [[one would think). No, we're not Birmingham. No, we are not Canton, Rochester, Detroit, etc. Yes, like all cities, Warren has its frailties, shortcomings, imperfections. So they are trying to assemble a walkable downtown like Royal Oak, Clawson, Romeo, Birmingham. Aren't they just as deserving of a walkable semi-urban environment? How about some constructive ideas, a "good for you..."?

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When Warren was developed after 1950s thanks to GM and Chrysler buying cheap land along Mound Rd, newer bigger and better cookie cutter ranch home with big attach two car garages will popping up like mushrooms. North Warren become the hot spot for middle income folks. Fewer stores were built and no proposed downtown to beautify that area. Folks in Warren will enjoy what they have, where they live. They need to look like Downtown Royal Oak or Birmingham or Richville.

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Originally Posted by Warrenite84

???What's with all the Debbie Downers? Those of us living in Metro Detroit are on the same team, [[one would think). No, we're not Birmingham. No, we are not Canton, Rochester, Detroit, etc. Yes, like all cities, Warren has its frailties, shortcomings, imperfections. So they are trying to assemble a walkable downtown like Royal Oak, Clawson, Romeo, Birmingham. Aren't they just as deserving of a walkable semi-urban environment? How about some constructive ideas, a "good for you..."?

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A lot of people are assholes and they simply aren't that bright either. Sure Warren could be better but I could think of plenty of places around here that would be very happy to have a slice of their residential and commercial tax base because let's cut the bullshit, that's what the bashing is really about. No one is moving to this region from elsewhere so rather than promote the general health of the area let's just poach from each other and continue the divisiveness.

^^ Good call....

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Originally Posted by TTime

Sure Warren could be better but I could think of plenty of places around here that would be very happy to have a slice of their residential and commercial tax base because let's cut the bullshit, that's what the bashing is really about.

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Yeah, that's exactly it. People who aren't particularly fond of Warren are obviously jealous, and desperately wish their deprived burgs had the incredible desirability of 9 Mile & Van Dyke.

If only Bloomfield or Northville or Ann Arbor had such desirability, we wouldn't have such jealous haters. Good luck matching the amenities of Warren.

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Originally Posted by Bham1982

Yeah, that's exactly it. People who aren't particularly fond of Warren are obviously jealous, and desperately wish their deprived burgs had the incredible desirability of 9 Mile & Van Dyke.

If only Bloomfield or Northville or Ann Arbor had such desirability, we wouldn't have such jealous haters. Good luck matching the amenities of Warren.

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Who said anything about Bloomfield, Northville or Ann Arbor? Warren clearly isn't as desirable as those places...go look for an argument elsewhere.

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Originally Posted by DetroitBoy

Yes, if they move to Warren from Arkansaw, Kentucky or Alabama.

Hamtramck is already tapped out of Polish people to move 'out to Warren".

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Dude if you're going to make fun hillbillies at least know how to spell A-R-K-A-N-S-A-S right ! You spelled it as if you sounded it out!

Warren is no Royal Oak and it doesn't have to be. Every city in the metropolitan area doesn't need a "downtown". Warren serves a valuable purpose. If you are a young family and you are looking for a safe city to lay down roots then Warren is the place for you! Warren Woods and Warren Consolidated Schools are excellent schools, not to mention De La Salle and Regina call Warren home! Is it exciting? No! What with downtown/midtown, Royal Oak, Partridge Creek, etc. all in close proximity it is not a bad place to raise a family!

The only thing Warren doesn't have is a trendy downtown. They have good neighborhoods, good schools, lots of places of employment and nice parks. It's not the perfect city but it a good place to raise a family.

IMHO, any city without a vibrant, diverse and unique downtown is a boring city.

For me, cities like Southfield, the Bloomfields and Warren are boring cities.

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Originally Posted by Baselinepunk

IMHO, any city without a vibrant, diverse and unique downtown is a boring city.

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Then I guess Michigan only consists of boring cities. Can't think of a Michigan city that really meets all these conditions.

Ann Arbor, maybe? Not very diverse or unique, but probably comes the closest.

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Originally Posted by TTime

Who said anything about Bloomfield, Northville or Ann Arbor? Warren clearly isn't as desirable as those places...go look for an argument elsewhere.

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Ah, so you meant to say "plenty of places, except for anywhere remotely desirable". That clears it up.

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Originally Posted by Bham1982

Then I guess Michigan only consists of boring cities. Can't think of a Michigan city that really meets all these conditions.

Ann Arbor, maybe? Not very diverse or unique, but probably comes the closest.

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Yeah, I guess you're right.


Ferndale, Rochester, Northville, Plymouth, Royal Oak, Marquette, Traverse City, Grand Rapids, etc, don't meet that criteria either, I guess. \sarcasm .

Ann Arbor -- not unique? I guess every town in Michigan has major University in it.

Hmmmmm

FYI - diversity is a term that can describe other "things" than race.

Just little tid bit fer ya just so you can tell everyone around the water cooler later on that you actually learned something new today.

What a gift!

Now, go forth and use thy new knowledge --- wisely ....

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Originally Posted by Baselinepunk

Now, go forth and use thy new knowledge --- wisely ....

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If it's not the city center of an Alpha Plus world city, to Bham it might as well be a dirt road in BF Nebraska.

Virbant- Go downtown right now and tell me what's going on there isn't vibrant. I haven't seen downtown like that in my lifetime. It's time Time Square, but it's come along way since its desertion of the 90s/00s.
Diverse- Sure the city is still overwhelmingly black, but the 7.2 square miles are full of diverse people, racially, socio-economically, culturally, artistically, etc.
Unique-Show me another Campus Martius, Guardian Building, Fisher Building, Riverfront, Belle Isle, Indian Village

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Originally Posted by jerrytimes

The only thing Warren doesn't have is a trendy downtown. They have good neighborhoods, good schools, lots of places of employment and nice parks. It's not the perfect city but it a good place to raise a family.

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That's right Warren has two communities: South Warren that looks like Detroit and North Warren that looks like Sterling Heights. It's like going through the ghetto to middle class luxurious neighborhoods just by crossing the street.

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Originally Posted by spower03

Warren is no Royal Oak and it doesn't have to be. Every city in the metropolitan area doesn't need a "downtown". Warren serves a valuable purpose. If you are a young family and you are looking for a safe city to lay down roots then Warren is the place for you! Warren Woods and Warren Consolidated Schools are excellent schools, not to mention De La Salle and Regina call Warren home! Is it exciting? No! What with downtown/midtown, Royal Oak, Partridge Creek, etc. all in close proximity it is not a bad place to raise a family!

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Thank you, I totally agree. I don't see anything wrong with Warren. If you're a young couple or an older couple and you don't want to rent what the hell is wrong with buying a house there? if you call the police they come, if you call EMS they come. It's not like you're buying a house on Lemay and Mack Avenue that you couldn't ever re sell. Most people probably don't give a shit about a downtown area.

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Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

If it's not the city center of an Alpha Plus world city, to Bham it might as well be a dirt road in BF Nebraska.

Virbant- Go downtown right now and tell me what's going on there isn't vibrant. I haven't seen downtown like that in my lifetime. It's time Time Square, but it's come along way since its desertion of the 90s/00s.
Diverse- Sure the city is still overwhelmingly black, but the 7.2 square miles are full of diverse people, racially, socio-economically, culturally, artistically, etc.
Unique-Show me another Campus Martius, Guardian Building, Fisher Building, Riverfront, Belle Isle, Indian Village

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Vibrant is defined as full of energy and enthusiasm, pulsating, bright and striking. I have been to cities that I would call vibrant but downtown Detroit right now does not fit that description to me.

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Originally Posted by TTime

Vibrant is defined as full of energy and enthusiasm, pulsating, bright and striking. I have been to cities that I would call vibrant but downtown Detroit right now does not fit that description to me.

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So the construction of a tram line, retail investment, skyscraper rehab, a wonderful riverfront, beautiful architecture, and in general, a CBD full of economic boom, is not vibrant? Compared to downtown Detroit 1998, downtown Detroit 2015 is vibrant.

I'm not saying Warren isn't anything. Warren does play an important role in the economic health of this region. It is a fine place to raise a family, though not for me.

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Originally Posted by TTime

Vibrant is defined as full of energy and enthusiasm, pulsating, bright and striking. I have been to cities that I would call vibrant but downtown Detroit right now does not fit that description to me.

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It certainly isn't always vibrant, but it is much more of the time than it was ten or or twenty or thirty years ago.

It was crazy on Saturday. I don't even know what was happening except the Dally in the Alley, but I've never seen so many people spread across such a wide area of greater Downtown. You often see a big ballgame crowd, or the fireworks crowd but this was different, there was stuff happening from below Grand Circus Park all the way up past the DIA. And the Tigers weren't home.

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Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

So the construction of a tram line, retail investment, skyscraper rehab, a wonderful riverfront, beautiful architecture, and in general, a CBD full of economic boom, is not vibrant? Compared to downtown Detroit 1998, downtown Detroit 2015 is vibrant.

I'm not saying Warren isn't anything. Warren does play an important role in the economic health of this region. It is a fine place to raise a family, though not for me.

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First off let me say that I'm not some huge supporter of Warren, I don't live there or do any business there. I simply find it funny when people from Detroit bash Warren because in the whole scheme of things Warren is arguably a better place to live and do business in many ways. To your other points, one man investing in a small chunk of a huge city does not qualify as some amazing comeback to me for a once world class city and as far as the "wonderful" riverfront, new tram and "skyscraper" rehab I guess I'm just not as impressed as you are especially considering that over the last 5 or 6 years seemingly everywhere I've travelled in the U.S. Is experiencing some sort of boom...unfortunately for Detroit those booms put other cities even further ahead while it attempts to play catch up.

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Originally Posted by TTime

"wonderful" riverfront, new tram and "skyscraper" rehab I guess I'm just not as impressed as you are especially considering that over the last 5 or 6 years seemingly everywhere I've travelled in the U.S. Is experiencing some sort of boom...unfortunately for Detroit those booms put other cities even further ahead while it attempts to play catch up.

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What's with the quotation marks? It is a wonderful riverfront we have created. What used to be factories and warehouses then nothing, then that! David Broderick, David Whitney, Book Cadillac, 1001 Woodward are all skyscrapers, they're actually getting used! Most for the first time in a generation. You're right, many cities have seen a boom, but stand downtown in 1998 and stand downtown in today and tell me you don't see our boom. We're not like other cities. We completely hallowed out our inner core so I think its right to be impressed by what is going on. Because no one as late as 2005 would have imagined this.

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Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

What's with the quotation marks? It is a wonderful riverfront we have created. What used to be factories and warehouses then nothing, then that! David Broderick, David Whitney, Book Cadillac, 1001 Woodward are all skyscrapers, they're actually getting used! Most for the first time in a generation. You're right, many cities have seen a boom, but stand downtown in 1998 and stand downtown in today and tell me you don't see our boom. We're not like other cities. We completely hallowed out our inner core so I think its right to be impressed by what is going on. Because no one as late as 2005 would have imagined this.

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I would not call the riverfront wonderful and people who do have seriously low expectations. I would call it functional now, no more and and no less. As for the skyscraper part I realize when many of Detoit's were built they were rightfully called skyscrapers but other than a couple examples the buildings that have been rehabbed downtown would be referred to as mid rise or even low rise buildings in most major cities, other than places like DC for obvious reasons.

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Originally Posted by TTime

I would not call the riverfront wonderful and people who do have seriously low expectations. I would call it functional now, no more and and no less. As for the skyscraper part I realize when many of Detoit's were built they were rightfully called skyscrapers but other than a couple examples the buildings that have been rehabbed downtown would be referred to as mid rise or even low rise buildings in most major cities, other than places like DC for obvious reasons.

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No, I think you just have really high expectations. Unless you're expecting the riverfront to be turned into Coney Island, I'm not sure what more you want out of it. Merry-go-round, fountains, nearly 3 miles of uninterrupted path, a STATE PARK, scenic views, access to the new Outdoor Adventure and Discovery Zone, access to the Dequindre Cut. The Riverfront is a wonderful and much needed addition to our downtown.

And per your definition of skyscraper, most of those buildings then are already used. But its nonetheless great to see our low to mid-high rise skyscrapers become fully functional buildings again, many with original work used again.

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Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

No, I think you just have really high expectations. Unless you're expecting the riverfront to be turned into Coney Island, I'm not sure what more you want out of it. Merry-go-round, fountains, nearly 3 miles of uninterrupted path, a STATE PARK, scenic views, access to the new Outdoor Adventure and Discovery Zone, access to the Dequindre Cut. The Riverfront is a wonderful and much needed addition to our downtown.

And per your definition of skyscraper, most of those buildings then are already used. But its nonetheless great to see our low to mid-high rise skyscrapers become fully functional buildings again, many with original work used again.

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I apologize for not finding common ground with you on this topic, which we have taken way off course, but I don't feel wonderful about 3 whole miles of uninterrupted riverfront walk, a below grade bike path, a merry go round, some fountains and a view of a very average aging skyline. Don't get me wrong, on the right day I have experienced a few really nice, relaxing moments along the river and the little nature preserve areas they have created are welcome changes but in general I find it underutilized and gray. Unfortunately in my opinion these things you brag about don't add up to a wonderful riverfront experience. By the way you forgot to emphatically mention that there are a couple of volleyball courts...ha

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Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

No, I think you just have really high expectations. Unless you're expecting the riverfront to be turned into Coney Island, I'm not sure what more you want out of it. Merry-go-round, fountains, nearly 3 miles of uninterrupted path, a STATE PARK, scenic views, access to the new Outdoor Adventure and Discovery Zone, access to the Dequindre Cut. The Riverfront is a wonderful and much needed addition to our downtown.

And per your definition of skyscraper, most of those buildings then are already used. But its nonetheless great to see our low to mid-high rise skyscrapers become fully functional buildings again, many with original work used again.

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Correction, 2 State Parks.

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Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

So the construction of a tram line, retail investment, skyscraper rehab, a wonderful riverfront, beautiful architecture, and in general, a CBD full of economic boom, is not vibrant? Compared to downtown Detroit 1998, downtown Detroit 2015 is vibrant.

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Other than having the kind of stores you find in a suburban mall now days, Detroit wasn't all that vibrant in 1950.

As I cannot hear this conversation about Detroit, back to Warren.

I have young kids and I am looking for a place on the East Side to put down roots. While Warren has houses, it lacks a lot of the attributes I am looking for. Its houses are very small, and many are out of date. Its neighborhoods lack any semblance of charm; many are merely post-WWII tract housing.

The city has parks, but they don't seem vibrant or interesting to me. It has commerce, but all of those strip malls make me want to gag. It is true that I'm looking for a single family home, but I would appreciate if some part of town near my house had zero-setback, multi-story, mixed-used developments, to give me somewhere more interesting to visit without having to leave the city.

The "downtown" that Warren has built is really just an ugly 1960's civic center, without any of the urban charm of more historic urban places. While my family has a car, I know that my kids and I enjoy walking places and taking alternative forms of transit, if only for the fun of it. Also, we like to go interesting places on weekends - museums, kid-friendly attractions, etc. Maybe Warren has some of these, but I can't think of any in particular.

So, yeah, Warren is probably an ok town, but I can't move my family there [[even though it suits my geographic needs perfectly), because I can't see raising a thriving family there. I want Warren to succeed, so I want them to consider some of these types of developments in the years ahead. A strong inner ring will help Detroit, but a bedroom community of 100,000+ seniors living in small post-WWII bungalows is not the way to get there.

1953

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Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

No, I think you just have really high expectations. Unless you're expecting the riverfront to be turned into Coney Island, I'm not sure what more you want out of it. Merry-go-round, fountains, nearly 3 miles of uninterrupted path, a STATE PARK, scenic views, access to the new Outdoor Adventure and Discovery Zone, access to the Dequindre Cut. The Riverfront is a wonderful and much needed addition to our downtown.

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The riverfront is perfectly fine, but it's the exact same thing that every other city on earth already has. It isn't some badge of honor to have a green strip of land along a riverfront; it's more like an expectation, given that rivers haven't been defined by commerce for 80 years. What else are you going to do with riverfronts?

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Originally Posted by 1953

As I cannot hear this conversation about Detroit, back to Warren.

I have young kids and I am looking for a place on the East Side to put down roots. While Warren has houses, it lacks a lot of the attributes I am looking for. Its houses are very small, and many are out of date. Its neighborhoods lack any semblance of charm; many are merely post-WWII tract housing.

The city has parks, but they don't seem vibrant or interesting to me. It has commerce, but all of those strip malls make me want to gag. It is true that I'm looking for a single family home, but I would appreciate if some part of town near my house had zero-setback, multi-story, mixed-used developments, to give me somewhere more interesting to visit without having to leave the city.

The "downtown" that Warren has built is really just an ugly 1960's civic center, without any of the urban charm of more historic urban places. While my family has a car, I know that my kids and I enjoy walking places and taking alternative forms of transit, if only for the fun of it. Also, we like to go interesting places on weekends - museums, kid-friendly attractions, etc. Maybe Warren has some of these, but I can't think of any in particular.

So, yeah, Warren is probably an ok town, but I can't move my family there [[even though it suits my geographic needs perfectly), because I can't see raising a thriving family there. I want Warren to succeed, so I want them to consider some of these types of developments in the years ahead. A strong inner ring will help Detroit, but a bedroom community of 100,000+ seniors living in small post-WWII bungalows is not the way to get there.

1953

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I live in Warren and co-sign all you said above. Though I do like the mid century modern homes and prefer the original interiors. I see a lot of my neighbors ripping them out and "updating" but all that updating will be out dated soon. The city is looking old and tired and I dislike that. I work hard on my landscaping and yard but I would say 1/2 or better of my neighbors do not. I keep up on home maintenance but again a lot of the homes on my block are in need of painting, landscaping, new roofs, new siding and or new windows.

my biggest complaint is that the city is boring ...we travel north, west or south to do all our fun stuff

I guess it's to each his/her own as far as Warren.

If you're a retiree/senior or a "salt of the earth" blue collar guy/gal that isn't pressed about all of the art and cultural activites found in the city or suburbs like Royal Oak / Birmingham, it wouldn't be a bad place to live