Why did you come to Detroit?

**Pcm** · January-17-10, 08:03 PM

[Revived thread from 2010]
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For all of us transplants out here, young and old.

Did you come from the 'burbs? Another state? Another country?

Why did you move to Detroit?

I'll start.

Born and raised in the poor, rural town of Concord, MI. I started coming to Detroit to see shows at St Andrews and the Shelter with friends when I was 15.

It was the biggest city outside of Jackson, MI that I had ever been to.

I still remember my first impression of the city. I saw the homeless, the graffiti, the empty buildings and thought, "this is a city. A real city. This must be how all of them are."

Moved to Southfield in '06 for school. Moved to Woodbridge after that, and the riverfront after that.

A lot of the reason why I'm here is because of that nostalgic feeling of pride I had of being in Detroit when I was young. It certainly shaped me.

I also knew none of the backstory before I came. Didn't know about the riots, the race tensions, the lack of industry, the government issues. If I had been raised in Metro Detroit, I would have known. And probably wouldn't choose to live in Detroit because of it.

And no one EVER leaves Concord. I thank Detroit for getting me out!

**gnome** · January-17-10, 09:23 PM

Well at least you're not from Rives Junction.

**eno** · January-17-10, 10:57 PM

Thanks for writing an excellent testimonial of one's faith in the City, detailing the forces that brought you here and compel you to stay.

**Pcm** · January-18-10, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by gnome

Well at least you're not from Rives Junction.

Pretty darn close! Are you from Rives Junction, Gnome?

**jt1** · January-18-10, 01:24 PM

Original poster: What in heaven's name brought you to Detroit?
jt1: My health. I came to Detroit for the safety.
Original poster: The safety? What safety? We're in Detroit.
jt1: I was misinformed.

**DetroitHabitater** · January-18-10, 01:36 PM

born and raised in Canton Township, the most vanilla McMansion filled place in the state.

After college took and Americorps position working with Habitat for humanity centered at 24th and Ash. Spent 2002-2003 in that neighborhood. It felt like home.

Moved away to Toronto for work. Loved city living.

Couldn't live in the burbs when i came home. Bought a fixer upper in Corktown in 2007. Love it, couldn't live anywhere else.

**DetroitZack** · January-18-10, 02:17 PM

Born and raised in Canton Township too, and still here

That is until I am done with school and can [[hopefully) get a job in Detroit or closer.

**Pcm** · January-19-10, 08:59 PM

That's it?

Good to know there are at least two people living in the city.

**gnome** · January-19-10, 09:12 PM

I brought a friends remains back for burial. Didn't want to leave.

**princealbert** · January-20-10, 01:46 AM

I moved to Detroit to be cool.

Then I realized I'm cool no matter where I live.

**karenka** · January-20-10, 10:07 AM

I'm a Chicago native. Came to Michigan in 1988 [[via a circuitous route) for grad school at U of M. I was studying immigration and ethnicity [[specifically, Polish), and wanted to live in an affordable, diverse, urban neighborhood. So I moved to the Detroit side of the Hamtramck/Detroit border, where I lived the whole time I was in school in Ann Arbor. When I finished my degree, I hopped the border into Hamtown.

**exmotowner** · January-20-10, 01:26 PM

I came to Detroit because of the large gay population in Palmer Park. I left when everyone else did when it became overrun with crime. Still live in Nashville, but theres not a day goes by I dont miss home.

**Rosa** · January-20-10, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by exmotowner

I came to Detroit because of the large gay population in Palmer Park. I left when everyone else did when it became overrun with crime. Still live in Nashville, but theres not a day goes by I dont miss home.

I had several friends who lived in Palmer Park in the 80s. Had a lot of fun there, but every single person I knew either got robbed or mugged while living there. Sigh. I am afraid to see what shape the neighborhood is in today.

I still miss the almond chicken at the Kow Kow. I've never had any that was nearly as good as it was back then.

Ron_saad · January-20-10, 05:12 PM

Born and raised in Detroit.

MIWP · January-20-10, 06:03 PM

I moved to Detroit from a very small Ohio town named Urbana when I was 17 years old. I moved here with my father who was attending Wayne State grad school and I was to attend Murray Wright high school. A very different school for a white boy who attended a small mostly white high school in Urbana. I soon met friends at school as well as around campus, Zoots coffee shop on Second Ave. became an every day hang out for me. Later after dropping out of school I began working at the Cosmic Cafe and later for several other neighborhood business after it went under. I have lived in several places and hoods in Detroit... Park Shelton on Woodward, Woodbridge district, East Jefferson and later moved to Grosse Pointe Park, Dearborn, Inkster, Dearborn Heights, than a quick move to Yellow Springs Ohio just a few doors down from Dave Chappelle... It was a quick stay as I found myself moving back to Detroit, this time the east side down the street from good old Harpos. God Bless Detroit!

**casscorridor** · January-21-10, 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by Rosa

I had several friends who lived in Palmer Park in the 80s. Had a lot of fun there, but every single person I knew either got robbed or mugged while living there. Sigh. I am afraid to see what shape the neighborhood is in today.

I still miss the almond chicken at the Kow Kow. I've never had any that was nearly as good as it was back then.

Palmer Park is still a good neighborhood, and relatively stable. One of the apartment buildings recently converted to condos. Palmer Woods, to the west, is still the richest neighborhood in Detroit. University Commons is still a great neighborhood. I wouldn't be afraid to come back to look, you should be happy to find that there isn't much abandonment in this area besides a few buildings on McNichols Ave that have apartments on top retail on bottom. I wish these could be restored!

I moved to Detroit two years ago because I don't have a car and Detroit is cheaper than other cities and no other place really has the same soul as Detroit. No other city really feels like home the way Detroit does. I guess you could say it is edgy. I guess you could say it is hip. You could also say it is depressing. It is really all of those things. It is dynamic and alive. Certianly not "dead" like outsiders might have you believe. Detroit has so much potential to be one of the great cities of the world, I definatly moved here to be part of the building.

**Rosa** · January-21-10, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by casscorridor

Palmer Park is still a good neighborhood, and relatively stable. One of the apartment buildings recently converted to condos. Palmer Woods, to the west, is still the richest neighborhood in Detroit. University Commons is still a great neighborhood. I wouldn't be afraid to come back to look, you should be happy to find that there isn't much abandonment in this area besides a few buildings on McNichols Ave that have apartments on top retail on bottom. I wish these could be restored!

I moved to Detroit two years ago because I don't have a car and Detroit is cheaper than other cities and no other place really has the same soul as Detroit. No other city really feels like home the way Detroit does. I guess you could say it is edgy. I guess you could say it is hip. You could also say it is depressing. It is really all of those things. It is dynamic and alive. Certianly not "dead" like outsiders might have you believe. Detroit has so much potential to be one of the great cities of the world, I definatly moved here to be part of the building.

I have seen pictures of some abandoned Palmer Park apartment buildings on Flickr. Hopefully that is isolated. I haven't been to the Northwest side in a long time and don't know what's going on there. I know the town is not dead - I lived in Hamtramck a couple of years ago and miss living in the city terribly right now.

I had a car when I lived there, but rarely used it as I could get most of what I needed within walking distance. I've always been happiest without a car. How do you find living there right now without a car? I used the buses in the 80s but haven't since.

I've moved in and out of the city several times and know what you mean about no other place feeling like home. It's like Marie Laveau's curse.

**6nois** · January-21-10, 01:21 PM

I came to Detroit to attend University which I am still doing. I live on campus at U of D, then lived in Midtown, and find myself these days across Woodward from Palmer Park. I was nervous about the city as a place to live but my time here has put me at ease, both the good and the bad, which there has been alot of both, but I find it hard to think of living anywhere else.

For those who lived in Palmer Park I would love to hear more about the area, from the big old gay days. As a modern queer living in that area I understand the draw and wish others could too. The abandonment is there and really the area looked to be at a turning point a few years ago, although the economy has sort of put it in a strange area of limbo, but I have met some amazing neighbors and love the area. If you are ever in town I would love to meet up and talk past present and future of the area.

**JStone** · January-21-10, 02:17 PM

I came to Detroit in 2001 from the far North Eastside after my employer transferred my job assignment to Taylor to be closer to work. I originally worked out of the Gibraltar Trade Center North selling Elephant Ears, but after some promotions, my boss needed me to increase sales in Taylor so I transferred. I have been there ever since.

Originally purchased a renovated apartment condo in Woodbridge because of the impeccable reputation of the builder's character and the quality of his craftsmanship, along with the limitless growth value of the property combined with the guaranteed tax abatements. [[no brainer) All that, and of course the ease and maintenance free living that condo life allows.

Bought a house in Corktown in 2005 because I was told I could make $10k renting it out for the Super Bowl. Purchased the vacant lot next door a few years later because I didn't want to get priced out after Tiger Stadium came down and the subsequent rush of lot owner's selling off all of their vacant land to developers who would start building brand new large, infill homes.

I stay mainly because crime is virtually nonexistent, cheap insurance, the Dequindre Cut, and the Cooley Family's Slows BBQ.

Bearinabox · January-21-10, 02:24 PM

JStone, every single one of your posts confuses the hell out of me. I'm so confused I can't even decide if this is a good or a bad thing. I just thought you should know.

**Hoagie** · January-21-10, 07:36 PM

Long time reader, first time poster. I grew up in the Swartz Creek area, just west of Flint. Lived around that area for over 40 years, until I met my present wife on a "personals" web site. She lived her, so I moved here. My work is still based in the Grand Blanc area, but because of her, I don't regret the move. I always enjoyed visiitng Detroit previous to living here, but never imagined living here.

**GPCharles** · January-22-10, 09:55 AM

It's my mother's fault - I was born at St. John's Hospital.

**jcole** · January-22-10, 10:09 AM

To have a coney and go to the Casino

**epiphany** · January-22-10, 10:14 AM

I moved here a few years ago from Knoxville, TN. Before that I lived in CA, Pittsburgh, Alabama, and grew up in a small town in Mississippi. I have stayed so far because I like it better than other cities that I have lived in and been to. Other big cities are too expensive for me, but Detroit offers a lot of the same benefits at a relatively cheaper price. I also like the people here, they are generally very friendly. I first lived downtown, then moved back to Knoxville for a while because something really bad happened. I really hated Knoxville and came right back to Detroit and haven't left since then. I moved to SW Detroit, Cass Corridor, Morningside, and now live in Warrendale. This is the longest that I have lived in on place in years, it must not be that bad.

Also, I'd like to add that the first time that I moved here was a completely random event like most of my moves have been. One day I applied for a job at a hotel downtown and within three months I was living here... never had been here before then.