Corktown. #43 of the 50 most stylish neighborhoods in the world.

**Pcm** · October-11-12, 07:49 PM

No list is complete without a little Detroit in the mix.

From the site:

"Corktown is Detroit's oldest neighborhood, and today it's become a diamond in the rough—proof that the D isn't all gloom and doom."

http://www.complex.com/style/2012/10...world/corktown

**Gistok** · October-11-12, 08:40 PM

I love these lists... as a kid I still remember going up to Higgins Lake for summer vacation and the signs around the lake said "6th Most Beautiful Lake in the World".... and now as an adult I damn well know that there are dozens of lakes in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, Italy and all over the world that are nicer.... but I digress...

I do agree with #1 on the list... the 1st Arrondissement of Paris...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lo...s_from_top.jpg
It includes the Louvre, and the Tuileries Gardens... from the Place de la Concorde to the Pont Neuf... [[snooty nose in the air emoticon).

**DetroitPlanner** · October-11-12, 09:08 PM

Forget Paris, why Corktown has a nifty lightshow every night compliments of the Motor City Casino! Paris don't have that!

**Ltdave** · October-14-12, 03:37 PM

why in the picture does that cafe have a 48-star flag and not a 50?

just askin...

**Gistok** · October-14-12, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Forget Paris, why Corktown has a nifty lightshow every night compliments of the Motor City Casino! Paris don't have that!

You do know that Paris's nickname is "the city of lights"...

Notre Dame Light Show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb1TAzEM-4U&feature=fvsr

Eiffel Tower Light Show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH2_mnh1XFE

Paris Light Show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBY5xpkk4kg

**Flintoid** · October-14-12, 04:19 PM

I think Corktown is for sure the coolest of the "redeveloping" city neighborhoods [[the others being Downtown, Midtown, New Center, Woodbridge, and Eastern Market. I know there are more, but these are the most obvious.) These other neighborhoods seem to have their redevelopment guided by a major group, whether its Eastern Market Corp or Dan Gilbert or Midtown Inc., and that's not a bad thing at all. But the sort of ground-up redevelopment that is going on in Corktown is very inspiring. It's essentially just entrepreneurs who see opportunity and are making a really attractive neighborhood out of what was a very challenging area a few years back. My favorite neighborhood for sure. [[Not to mention the constant hipster fashion show that is Astro Coffee

)

**stasu1213** · October-14-12, 05:52 PM

I know some neighborhoods on the eastside that could be renovated and would have the same flair as Corktown. Drive east on Gratiot to Fischer St and make a right onto Fischer. The first block south of Gratiot is lined with row of 1910 victorian style homes. The second block as well. Burns, Seneca, Iroquois, and Seminole south of Gratiot to Mack have very nicely structured homes and have the potential to be as inspiring as Corktown. Just give the homeOWNERs a grant to renovate their homes and buyers to buy the homes that are owned by th banks. Those streets runs into Indian Village.

**Zacha341** · October-14-12, 06:02 PM

Oh yeah - that's a point! The 'glow stick' monstrosity that is MGM hotel. Hah! I wonder if that stupid thing ever fills to even half-capacity?

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Forget Paris, why Corktown has a nifty lightshow every night compliments of the Motor City Casino! Paris don't have that!

**casscorridor** · October-14-12, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by Flintoid

I think Corktown is for sure the coolest of the "redeveloping" city neighborhoods [[the others being Downtown, Midtown, New Center, Woodbridge, and Eastern Market. I know there are more, but these are the most obvious.) These other neighborhoods seem to have their redevelopment guided by a major group, whether its Eastern Market Corp or Dan Gilbert or Midtown Inc., and that's not a bad thing at all. But the sort of ground-up redevelopment that is going on in Corktown is very inspiring. It's essentially just entrepreneurs who see opportunity and are making a really attractive neighborhood out of what was a very challenging area a few years back. My favorite neighborhood for sure. [[Not to mention the constant hipster fashion show that is Astro Coffee

)

Corktown has at least one major long-term development obstacle, namely the sheer amount of vacant land and a rather empty-feeling. Not exactly a "walkable area," insofar that no one walks. This issue can be solved by substantial infill development and perhaps narrowing Michigan Ave or adding more bike and bus lanes. There is already an extreme shortage of housing and not many abandoned structures left to renovate, so infill might be coming soon.

**p69rrh51** · October-14-12, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by casscorridor

Corktown has at least one major long-term development obstacle, namely the sheer amount of vacant land and a rather empty-feeling. Not exactly a "walkable area," insofar that no one walks. This issue can be solved by substantial infill development and perhaps narrowing Michigan Ave or adding more bike and bus lanes. There is already an extreme shortage of housing and not many abandoned structures left to renovate, so infill might be coming soon.

Yes! Except for a couple blocks of Leverette much of Corktown is hit and miss with housing. I agree with stasu1213 on the eastside the area around Pingree Park has a tremendous amount of potential, the housing there is surprisingly intact and quite diverse! The homes around Pingree have similar qualities as their larger cousins in nearby Indian Village without the maintainance headaches.
Also I think Hubbard Farms has greater potential than Corktown, quite a bit of the infrastructure is already in place and the historic district is far more cohesive.

**Gistok** · October-14-12, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Oh yeah - that's a point! The 'glow stick' monstrosity that is MGM hotel. Hah! I wonder if that stupid thing ever fills to even half-capacity?

Zacha341... that would be MotorCity Casino... and they' do better business than Greektown...

Check out last year's figures... MGM did 41% of sales, MotorCity did 34% of sales and Greektown did 25% of sales of the Detroit Casinos....

http://www.michigan.gov/mgcb/0,4620,...6014--,00.html

But I haven't found a comparison on how the hotels compare...

**Flintoid** · October-14-12, 10:29 PM

http://thesouthend.wayne.edu/article.../art-of-bagels

This article mentions the Detroit Institute of Bagels planning on not only renovating their property, but also building new between them and PJ's Lager House. Nice to see a bit of infill development being planned at least. I can't wait for the day when Michigan Avenue has a contiguous street wall.

**Zacha341** · October-15-12, 01:58 AM

My bad... for getting the name messed up. Thanks for the stats too.

Originally Posted by Gistok

Zacha341... that would be MotorCity Casino... and they' do better business than Greektown...

Check out last year's figures... MGM did 41% of sales, MotorCity did 34% of sales and Greektown did 25% of sales of the Detroit Casinos....

http://www.michigan.gov/mgcb/0,4620,...6014--,00.html

But I haven't found a comparison on how the hotels compare...