Am I crazy for moving back to Detroit?

**Marlon_JB2** · March-19-13, 05:15 PM

Read my above post. Why do these kids go to school with $600 phones, $1k jackets, and $300 shoes?

You're ASKING to get robbed, no matter WHERE you live!

Wanna know what I had on me when I went to school? Clearance rack clothing nobody cared about, lunch money + maybe $5, if that, and once I finally got a cell phone, it was one of those free thingamajigs. Not a 64GB iPhone. This whole situation didn't just start yesterday and is the reason why my mom took me to school herself.

I got bussed for a while and you better believe she was out there until the bus took off. This used to embarrass me, but now I see why she did that...

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · March-19-13, 05:32 PM

Marlon JB2: I'm just a bit curious about your location. I know where Harper Woods is, so I know what "south of HW" is, but can you be a bit more specific? I really am not familiar with that area.

Shollin · March-19-13, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by DetroiterOnTheWestCoast

Marlon JB2: I'm just a bit curious about your location. I know where Harper Woods is, so I know what "south of HW" is, but can you be a bit more specific? I really am not familiar with that area.

The closer to Mack the better but that is technically south of Grosse Pointe. The St John area used to be nice. It's still better than 7 and Kelly. I'm assuming by his previous post it isn't in the 48205 zip code so that would put it closer to Mack.

**Django** · March-19-13, 06:07 PM

Fuck all the pussies here Marlon, welcome to Detroit motherfucker. Stay on your toes, you'll be okay.

Shollin · March-19-13, 06:29 PM

Who is a pussy? Repair bills for my busted car windows were getting pricey.

**Marlon_JB2** · March-19-13, 09:39 PM

Django, thanks for the laugh.

I tried looking right on the D/GP border but couldn't find anything that I liked at all. And even when I did find something, I found garbage...

**syrett4** · March-19-13, 10:25 PM

I'm 44 and single and just moved into Lafayette Park last weekend from Ypsilanti. So far so good. I can throw a rock and hit the Greektown Casino.

For me, the benefits of living here outweigh the crime statistics for the immediate area.

It takes more guys like us to move into the city to start making it better. Not just living here, but paying taxes, getting hair cuts, doctors, dentists, gas stations etc. I plan on buying in the city first if what I need is available.

Next is to find a job down here so I'll eliminate my commute completely. Even now I went from 40 minutes down to 13.

**313WX** · March-19-13, 10:28 PM

Best of luck to you OP if you decide to move back to the city.

**MommaDrizzly** · March-19-13, 11:13 PM

I don't think you are crazy for moving to Detroit, but I do think you may want to reconsider the neighborhood. There are areas that are holding on, areas that are being revitalized, but there are huge swaths that are getting worse, and I think the area you are talking about falls into the third category. The city is full of cheap houses.

I'm a parent with two kids and I'm looking to buy in Detroit. So you are not alone.

**Django** · March-19-13, 11:30 PM

In all seriousness, you HAVE to be a little crazy to move to Detroit, we are a rare breed, and not purebred.

MommaD has a good point, there are hundreds of small nice blocks where everyone cares about what goes on its just a matter of finding the right one for you. Some are big like Woodbridge or Boston Edison, some are smaller like the Farnsworth community just West of Mt Elliot.

**Gannon** · March-20-13, 01:25 AM

Originally Posted by syrett4

So far so good. I can throw a rock and hit the Greektown Casino.

We can bring you as many rocks as you'll need. Boulders, once Gilbert sinks his claws into this money-drain!

**Gannon** · March-20-13, 01:26 AM

"not purebred"

I have to now change my undershorts, thanks for the laugh Django!

**Gannon** · March-20-13, 02:45 AM

I was just thinking about those islands of intact neighborhoods earlier today, while roaming throughout the city on the way back from breakfast at Honest John's.

That is where the real stories of Detroit are written, then read to the next generation. Those are the ones surviving the city. Reviving it only means to join them and help, not conquer like a Conquistador.

That other is merely sick and degenerate thinking. DEgenerate.

**rex** · March-20-13, 09:56 AM

i think maybe a little. I see it like this. Shouldnt have to live with bars on all your windows. Shouldnt need a attack dog. Shouldnt have to pay that sort of insurance. Shouldnt have to worry about leaving your house at night or who may be trying to figure out your habits. Shouldnt have to deal with poor city services.
i lived near where you're talking about. I had problems that nobody should have

**RickBeall** · March-22-13, 01:04 PM

Welcome home Marlon_JB2 . You will do fine. I love living close to work. You don't have to worry about the weather. Rain, snow, sunshine, it always takes the same amount of time to go hom. Detroit is a funny place in that there are no real traffic jams in the city. You have to go to the suburbs for that. There is a lot of neat stuff in Detroit that is ... underground. I live in Hamtramck, and always suggest people move there ... so I have more great neighbors.

**Islandman** · March-22-13, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by RickBeall

Welcome home Marlon_JB2 . You will do fine. I love living close to work. You don't have to worry about the weather. Rain, snow, sunshine, it always takes the same amount of time to go hom. Detroit is a funny place in that there are no real traffic jams in the city. You have to go to the suburbs for that. There is a lot of neat stuff in Detroit that is ... underground. I live in Hamtramck, and always suggest people move there ... so I have more great neighbors.

Concur with Hamtown, but no traffic jams? More times than not I end up taking the service drive or Russell to Hamtown because of the shenanigans on I-75. i-94 doesn't look too pretty sometimes too.

Can't beat the commute to Hamtown though from downtown.

**bailey** · March-22-13, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by Marlon_JB2

Read my above post. Why do these kids go to school with $600 phones, $1k jackets, and $300 shoes?

You're ASKING to get robbed, no matter WHERE you live!

No. that is not true. Not even remotely. a kid should be able to wear whatever, and have on them whatever they choose...or what their parent's choose to buy them....without one single thought about being shot for it.

I don't know of one highschool kid in my neighborhood that DOESN"T have an Iphone, Ipad and/or Ipod [[or all three) ...and don't get me started on the labels they wear. The only thing they fear is wearing the wrong label and being uncool or using the uncool version of whatever the newest gadget is.. which is all they should be worried about. no one is wondering if they'll get shot for it.

the problem is accepting getting shot for some sunglasses is somehow normal and its the fault of the guy wearing the sunglasses.

update:

Metro Detroit Crime @CrimeInTheD 2m
15-year-old just had his gym shoes taken during an armed robbery in the 7 Mile & Hayes area [[Lappin St.)

**Chinman** · March-22-13, 05:23 PM

all i can say is welcome. i moved downtown in 1999 and never regretted it.
some bad some good, but it is fun!

**grumpyoldlady** · March-23-13, 03:06 AM

You don't make 40K, but you still make more than 99.9% of the people in your neighborhood. Make sure you have a good life insurance policy, good car insurance, good homeowner's insurance with "replacement cost" for stolen items, and window shades and drapes you can't see through so nobody can look in and see what kind of TV you have, etc. I lived just south of Harper Woods, and the family that bought our house and lived there for 20+ years, moved out because they couldn't stand living in fear...not knowing if their home contents would be there when they returned...not knowing if their dog had been killed...not knowing if the next gunshot would enter their home. They told me it sounds like a war zone around there, especially on summer nights. No relaxing on the porch in the evening...the gangs and other scum get very active when the sun goes down, and a trip to the local convenience store for some smokes or beer or whatever could be the end of you. I hope you are lucky and I don't want to read on here that you have found out the hard way. Best of luck.

**Hermod** · March-23-13, 04:35 AM

Originally Posted by rex

i think maybe a little. I see it like this. Shouldnt have to live with bars on all your windows. Shouldnt need a attack dog. Shouldnt have to pay that sort of insurance. Shouldnt have to worry about leaving your house at night or who may be trying to figure out your habits. Shouldnt have to deal with poor city services.
i lived near where you're talking about. I had problems that nobody should have

The term "Neighborhood Watch" means something different in Detroit than it does elsewhere in the US.

**Honky Tonk** · March-23-13, 05:15 AM

Originally Posted by syrett4

I can throw a rock and hit the Greektown Casino.

Could you please?

**Marlon_JB2** · July-25-13, 10:53 PM

UPDATE:

I'm actually happy over here. Most neighbors are nice, there's a block club now. I'm not nervous walking to the store. Got a new roof and door on the garage, replumbed the house, rewired it, it's actually quiet over here. I mean I have my share of bad neighbors and my yard seems to be constantly loaded with trash, but that's to be expected... It's not RIGHT but expected.

In short, I'm not going anywhere.

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · July-25-13, 11:20 PM

Sounds like you will be a great addition to the neighborhood and I wish you well! And you can laugh all the way to the bank if you knew what I paid for my place in SF a year ago. I keep telling my friends here that we need to get 1,000 or so folks in an extended network to all move to Detroit at once....

**sumas** · July-26-13, 05:47 AM

Good for you Marlon. Detroit is a block by block issue. A few weeks back I was bitching about squatters playing obscene music and the neighborhood rallied. It is no more. My neighbors, the best, my street the best.

But go a few blocks west...get robbed... 5 blocks east get shot.

We just have to reclaim our city block by block.

**getmoore** · July-26-13, 06:00 AM

Originally Posted by sumas

Good for you Marlon. Detroit is a block by block issue. A few weeks back I was bitching about squatters playing obscene music and the neighborhood rallied. It is no more. My neighbors, the best, my street the best.

But go a few blocks west...get robbed... 5 blocks east get shot.

We just have to reclaim our city block by block.

So true. And I honestly think we are slowly winning the battle.