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.

**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.

**expatriate** · December-29-14, 07:31 PM

After I retired I could no longer afford to live in San Francisco. I grew up here and never severed my roots, visited regularly, so was able to pick up where I left off 30 years ago. Have made new friends and kept the old.

**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.

**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.

**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.

**kryptonite** · February-05-10, 08:46 AM

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.

Dude, I lived in Palmer Park learly 80's and in Nashville for five years, then back to Detroit. I don't miss Nashville ever, I found it too religious and Southern 'surface friendly' for my taste.

Personally it has been great to be back in Detroit. I enjoy the city institutions, restaurants, bars, festivals, ethnic events, music scene, fundraiser events, etc. I always have a great time here whatever I do.

Ron_saad · January-20-10, 05:12 PM

Born and raised in Detroit.

**Zacha341** · December-19-14, 02:57 PM

Me too. Parents came during the mid and late fifties from more southern states.

Originally Posted by Ron_saad

Born and raised in Detroit.

**sumas** · December-21-14, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Me too. Parents came during the mid and late fifties from more southern states.

My maternal grandfather grew up on the Kentuckey Ohio border, put to work in the mines at 13 so he split at age 13. Was a real liife hobo roaming the country. He heard about jobs in Detroit and got a job at Hupp mobile. He stayed in a boarding house near MacDougal and Jefferson. My grandmother lived on a ranch/farm in Texas that got wipted out by a freak snow storm, she was sent to live with in aunt who owned a diner on McDougal and Jefferson. They met and married First World War came and he served. Came back Worked at chalmers the depression came. My Mom's childhood was a real struggle. Her folks had little education but Mom graduated East Commerce High was offered a scholarship for college but her family needed the money bad so she went to work for Chrysler in the secretary pool where she was rapidly promoted to private secretary. She met my Dad there.

**G-DDT** · December-22-14, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by sumas

My maternal grandfather grew up on the Kentuckey Ohio border, put to work in the mines at 13 so he split at age 13.

Around Covington or....?

**sumas** · December-23-14, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by G-DDT

Around Covington or....?

Sorry the last several years have been stressful. I have all the records but will wait for the new year and new energy. Please be kind and will provide answers soon. I love history and future developments happening.

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!

**G-DDT** · December-18-14, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by MIWP

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!

"Cosmic Cafe"? That's a name I barely recall. Please, refresh me where was that located?
As for me, I was born at Grace Harper Hospital. My mom was going into labor passing out candy on Halloween [[Trick-'r-treater 1: "That house is giving away Milkduds!" Trick-'r-treater 2: "Oh yeah? Well that one is giving away babies!').

**Gistok** · December-20-14, 03:24 AM

Originally Posted by G-DDT

"Cosmic Cafe"? That's a name I barely recall. Please, refresh me where was that located?
As for me, I was born at Grace Harper Hospital. My mom was going into labor passing out candy on Halloween [[Trick-'r-treater 1: "That house is giving away Milkduds!" Trick-'r-treater 2: "Oh yeah? Well that one is giving away babies!').

When you reopen a nearly 5 year old thread... don't expect any answers from back then... especially from that poster who came here, then posted 10 times and just as quickly disappeared within a month.

There was one poster who opened up a 5 year old thread, complained about something I said then... and asked me for an explanation... to which I replied... "that was 5 years ago... and I have no clue over the context of the discussion from back then!!"

Mercifully my oldest posts from 15 years ago are not easily retrievable...