Detroit is dead.... and will take the State with it....

serpico · December-23-12, 01:13 AM

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Serpico is a lifelong resident of Michigan. I have lived in Wayne and Oakland counties my entire life, moving back into Wayne county [[River Rouge) last month. Touring the city of Detroit today with my buddy from high school we saw no hope. As we walked and drove past block after block of destruction I wondered what remained of the infrastructure below. Specifically the water and sewage mains....When Detroit does collapse.. it will take the state of Michigan with it... This picture was one of many we took today.. it is no longer "east side or west side".. The entire city of Detroit has become "Robinwood street".....
Yes we did see a few nice homes in Woodbridge, Midtown, Corktown, Brush Park etc.. but even within these neighborhoods the blight, decay and neglect clearly won...

**KJ5** · December-23-12, 04:47 AM

What are you, the Anti-Strong? Go to City Club or something, dude.

**Zacha341** · December-23-12, 09:03 AM

The "Anti-Strong"... that's funny! --

--

Originally Posted by KJ5

What are you, the Anti-Strong? Go to City Club or something, dude.

**Sehv313** · December-23-12, 06:14 AM

I can't even disagree, I live in city limits, the inner city is getting rapidly worse as downtown slowly grows.

**313WX** · December-23-12, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Sehv313

I can't even disagree, I live in city limits, the inner city is getting rapidly worse as downtown slowly grows.

That about sums up Detroit there.

**erikd** · December-23-12, 07:24 AM

Originally Posted by serpico

Serpico is a lifelong resident of Michigan. I have lived in Wayne and Oakland counties my entire life, moving back into Wayne county [[River Rouge) last month. Touring the city of Detroit today with my buddy from high school we saw no hope. As we walked and drove past block after block of destruction I wondered what remained of the infrastructure below. Specifically the water and sewage mains....When Detroit does collapse.. it will take the state of Michigan with it... This picture was one of many we took today.. it is no longer "east side or west side".. The entire city of Detroit has become "Robinwood street".....
Yes we did see a few nice homes in Woodbridge, Midtown, Corktown, Brush Park etc.. but even within these neighborhoods the blight, decay and neglect clearly won...

If you think that Detroit looks hopeless now, then you have no idea of how bad the city looked in the mid-late 90s. Downtown, Midtown, Woodbridge, and Corktown are all ten times nicer than they were 15 years ago. If you could see how depressed all these areas were 15 years ago, it would blow your mind.

**softailrider** · December-23-12, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by erikd

If you think that Detroit looks hopeless now, then you have no idea of how bad the city looked in the mid-late 90s. Downtown, Midtown, Woodbridge, and Corktown are all ten times nicer than they were 15 years ago. If you could see how depressed all these areas were 15 years ago, it would blow your mind.

Those particular areas you refer to [[and there are some others, not mentioned by you) do look somewhat better the they did in the late 90's. However, most of the other areas of the city look much worse. I have lived and or worked in the city for 40 years, I've never seen Detroit's neighborhoods look worse then they do now.

**Honky Tonk** · December-23-12, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by softailrider

Those particular areas you refer to [[and there are some others, not mentioned by you) do look somewhat better the they did in the late 90's. However, most of the other areas of the city look much worse. I have lived and or worked in the city for 40 years, I've never seen Detroit's neighborhoods look worse then they do now.

I agree. For the first time I feel like the City has given up on the City.

**Richard** · December-23-12, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

I agree. For the first time I feel like the City has given up on the City.

Or are they systematically encouraging those to move to other areas,a few weeks back there was a piece about a lady that bought a house from foreclosure auction,it was livable by the time she signed the papers it was demolished by the state,so I guess the state is now in charge of demolitions.

Karla Henderson went from running a retirement home to deciding what should stay or go in the city of Detroit ,her view is if it is not boarded up it will be demolished to make way for future development even though many cities have now passed anti boarding rules as boarding in itself creates blight and have encouraged the owner accountability aspect,but it is easier to acquire fed funds and demolish,according to Ms Henderson 90% of all demolishing are occurring with fed funds,they are being received but where are they going?

**313WX** · December-23-12, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

I agree. For the first time I feel like the City has given up on the City.

Bing and Snyder are doubling down on that feeling too.

I've given up on Michigan anyway. Until I'm able to make a clean escape, whatever happens happens.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · December-24-12, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by erikd

If you think that Detroit looks hopeless now, then you have no idea of how bad the city looked in the mid-late 90s. Downtown, Midtown, Woodbridge, and Corktown are all ten times nicer than they were 15 years ago. If you could see how depressed all these areas were 15 years ago, it would blow your mind.

Can't really see how it was better 15 yrs ago, than it is now. Looks like there's more abandonment presently than back then. I've driven down block after block with one or two occupied houses and sometimes 5 or 6 houses in a row that are either empty or burned out. It's crazy.

**DetroitPlanner** · December-24-12, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by Cincinnati_Kid

Can't really see how it was better 15 yrs ago, than it is now. Looks like there's more abandonment presently than back then. I've driven down block after block with one or two occupied houses and sometimes 5 or 6 houses in a row that are either empty of burned out. It's crazy.

I agree. Midtown, Woodbridge and Corktown are not signifigantly 'better' now than they were in the 1990's. Yes some of the names have changed and the there are definitely more trendy hipster types there, but there has been a lot of change that has kept them comparable. Now lets look at that against places like Warrendale, Grandmont, Franklin Park, and East English Village. All of these neighborhoods have seen significant decline in housing, population, and businesses. Compare this in square mileage and population to Corktown, Midtown and Woodbridge and you see that more of the City is worse off.

Lowell, many of us have different views based upon the Detroit we grew up in. We are not from areas that are seeing any of this better Detroit. I suspect that you growing up in Highland Park can at least understand that we are not all wearing the same pair or hue of rose color glasses.

P.S. The Jositis family is hardly the mega rich.

**Zacha341** · December-25-12, 08:19 AM

Yep, for certain there is more abandoned property post the sub-prime mortgage scam that took many a home owner out. Whole sections or homes along Linwood are gone, Clairmont too. They were intact 15 years ago. And there are lots after lots of huge, expansive brown fields absent of any homes or structures on the east side especially and increasingly so on the west.

I am happy to see the development of Midtown though. Property is being rehabbed, people moving back in. Safer areas. It can be said to be just DOWNTOWN. Though some people think this close to downtown IS downtown [[smile).

Originally Posted by Cincinnati_Kid

Can't really see how it was better 15 yrs ago, than it is now. Looks like there's more abandonment presently than back then. I've driven down block after block with one or two occupied houses and sometimes 5 or 6 houses in a row that are either empty of burned out. It's crazy.

**SWMAP** · December-23-12, 07:25 AM

Was driving around on Friday and had the same feeling. How did huge stretches of Grand River get destroyed? Everything gutted, ruined, blocked up, grated, peeling, bent, painted over?

I do think most of City just ruined.

**Meddle** · December-23-12, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by SWMAP

How did huge stretches of Grand River get destroyed? Everything gutted, ruined, blocked up, grated, peeling, bent, painted over?

July 1967. Much of it was never rebuilt.

But I also get the impression from posts on this board that areas beyond Hubbell are almost as bad now.

serpico · December-23-12, 08:11 AM

I would like to believe that the neighborhoods are getting better in Detroit.. but there're not. Where are the developers living? Jonna? Illitch? Gilbert? Ford? etc.... they have all fled.... When I do see new lofts going up it's a positive sign, yet I ask, "will you live here?" How many church ministers have fled Detroit? How many police/fire officers have fled? The leaders of Detroit have abandoned the city and it shows. I want to believe, I want to be positive, I want to have faith. Yet all signs point downward. Arson fires break out in the middle of the day as if it's a "normal" thing in Detroit. Residents in Woodbridge all have "the club" on their steering wheels parked in front of their homes.. this too is "normal".. The level of decay and crime is just "normal".. Living in fear, has become "normal" in Detroit.... Detroit has the resources to change.. but it uses those resources to protect the bridge...Instead of stopping arson, Detroit police protect Moroun's bridge, protect Moroun's private Jefferson Ave, protect Moroun's private Riverside park.... yes I saw some nice homes... but this is what I saw most of...shear neglect and no one gives a damn...... Name: det13.jpg
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**Detroit_uke** · December-23-12, 09:21 AM

This neighborhood is not getting better....makes one want to ask which "war" was "Warrendale" named after?????

**Richard** · December-23-12, 10:30 AM

In January 2010 Detroit was awarded 40.8 million to combat blight,at $8000 per home to demolish that would be equal to 50,000 homes cleared,demolishing the Ford and the like took priority ,I would think questioning the motives of some that are helping or blaming a bridge on all of the woes would be a bit misplaced.

**Zacha341** · December-23-12, 10:36 AM

^^^ Yep, the bridge guy is but one of many systemic problems that brought us to this place...

**Honky Tonk** · December-23-12, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Richard

In January 2010 Detroit was awarded 40.8 million to combat blight,at $8000 per home to demolish that would be equal to 50,000 homes cleared,demolishing the Ford and the like took priority ,I would think questioning the motives of some that are helping or blaming a bridge on all of the woes would be a bit misplaced.

I would LOVE to look @ the books to see where that money went, or how it's being used.

**Richard** · December-23-12, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

I would LOVE to look @ the books to see where that money went, or how it's being used.

That and each state and city was awarded millions by the feds from a fund set up by the banks to combat foreclosure related blight,it was supposed to be used for boarding up and maintenance on the empty houses to prevent future blight and to stabilize the neighborhood,it was also supposed to be used to help homeowners fight the foreclosure process and stay in their homes.So now you are up to 80 million plus in the last two years to combat neighborhood blight,where did it go?

**Hamtragedy** · December-23-12, 10:48 AM

If the general disarray at city and county tax / assessment offices is any indication, it will take years to figure out who OWNS what, yet alone who OWES how much.

Case in point, I/we have made several trips to the offices on Randolph to provide proof of ownership/guardianship/transfer/discharge, complete with mailing addresses, on several properties, mostly in an effort to receive the tax bill in a timely manner to the proper mailing address. It's as if the previous trip never happened.

Here's an excerpt of the conversation:

"You're here for what?" "You need to do this." "Already did that." "Well you should have done this." "You told me to do that, so I did it. Twice in fact." "Well we don't have any record of it." That's a shame cuz I've done this twice already, once on x date, again on x date". "Well, we show so and so as having title." "Yes, we're aware of that. We've been here twice previously to change that" "Who are you? Do you have the paperwork?" "Yes, for all three-four-five properties in question" "You said you've done this before?" Yes, twice for these properties, once for this." " We're showing no record of this"

Detroit is going SPLAT. It is a colossally huge mess.

**Honky Tonk** · December-23-12, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by Hamtragedy

If the general disarray at city and county tax / assessment offices is any indication, it will take years to figure out who OWNS what, yet alone who OWES how much.

Case in point, I/we have made several trips to the offices on Randolph to provide proof of ownership/guardianship/transfer/relinquishment, complete with mailing addresses, on several properties, mostly in an effort to receive the tax bill in a timely manner to the proper mailing address. It's as if the previous trip never happened.

Here's an excerpt of the conversation:

"You're here for what?" "You need to do this." "Already did that." "Well you should have done this." "You told me to do that, so I did it. Twice in fact." "Well we don't have any record of it." That's a shame cuz I've done this twice already, once on x date, again on x date". "Well, we show so and so as having title." "Yes, we're aware of that. We've been here twice previously to change that" "Who are you? Do you have the paperwork?" "Yes, for all three-four-five properties in question" "You said you've done this before?" Yes, twice for these properties, once for this." " We're showing no record of this"

Detroit is going SPLAT. It is a colossally huge mess.

I'm glad you posted this. I always thought it was just me.

**Zacha341** · December-23-12, 10:54 AM

I hear the state is going to take over city delinquent taxes. Now that's gonna be some stuff for the citizens with bank accounts... garnishments and levy's will be the rule of order - FAST! Money in mattress time I suppose.

**Richard** · December-23-12, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

I hear the state is going to take over city delinquent taxes. Now that's gonna be some stuff for the citizens with bank accounts... garnishments and levy's will be the rule of order - FAST! Money in mattress time I suppose.

The city contracts to the county for that now,but how many areas are considered blight because of the speculation aspect ,over by the airport,three large sections for a proposed stadium.

IMHO I think they should say if you live out of state or country and own property in the city and do not maintain it,say good bye to it and lose your investment.

Could you imagine the CC if the state said they were in charge of collecting revenue for the city,rightly so but it is all lame duck now until next year and anything can happen as you are already seeing.