Urban Prairie Views

**KJ5** · August-10-13, 04:33 AM

I love 'em. So peaceful. Probably not good for the city's tax base, but as a non car owner it's kind of hard for me to make it to the country. So I'll take an urban prairie in a pinch. Great thread.

**313WX** · August-10-13, 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by KJ5

I love 'em. So peaceful. Probably not good for the city's tax base, but as a non car owner it's kind of hard for me to make it to the country. So I'll take an urban prairie in a pinch. Great thread.

I take the complete opposite stance.

I want to live in a big city. If I wanted to be surrounded by the countryside, I would move to the countryside.

That's another reason why I must leave Detroit. As JenniferL said, it is depressing, I'm sure especially for those who remember all sorts of commercial, industrial and residential properties occupying these prairies.

**Honky Tonk** · August-10-13, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by KJ5

I love 'em. So peaceful. Probably not good for the city's tax base, but as a non car owner it's kind of hard for me to make it to the country. So I'll take an urban prairie in a pinch. Great thread.

I have to go with KJ5. I love the quiet and the wildlife, [[read: nature) that has moved back into the City with the additional space.

**poobert** · August-10-13, 07:30 AM

If what passes for nature for you are trash-strewn vacant lots [[above basements and foundations filled with the contents of what used to be the house on top of them) with weeds that grow 6 feet high in the summer time, then I really feel sorry for you.

It's not like the areas are safe, either. There's no one around to hear you scream, so to speak.

Go to Huron National Forest if you like nature. Just because a rat-eating pheasant runs accross a pile of mattresses in a vacant lot doesn't mean you're at Yosemite in the 'hood.

What I wouldn't mind is if these tracts truly were turned into honest-to-God nature reserves [[or redeveloped) instead of left languishing. Of course, that would require creativity, planning, and work, none of which are natural to the leadership around here.

**marshamusic** · August-10-13, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by poobert

If what passes for nature for you are trash-strewn vacant lots [[above basements and foundations filled with the contents of what used to be the house on top of them) with weeds that grow 6 feet high in the summer time, then I really feel sorry for you.

It's not like the areas are safe, either. There's no one around to hear you scream, so to speak.

Go to Huron National Forest if you like nature. Just because a rat-eating pheasant runs accross a pile of mattresses in a vacant lot doesn't mean you're at Yosemite in the 'hood.

What I wouldn't mind is if these tracts truly were turned into honest-to-God nature reserves [[or redeveloped) instead of left languishing. Of course, that would require creativity, planning, and work, none of which are natural to the leadership around here.

But obviously, we're not referring to the trash filled, ill kept lots. Even the photos posted don't reflect that.

**313WX** · August-10-13, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by marshamusic

But obviously, we're not referring to the trash filled, ill kept lots. Even the photos posted don't reflect that.

But what poobert describes makes up the majority of these empty lots in Detroit, especially away from Downtown/Midtown.

Try driving through the lower east side, 48205, the neighborhood NW of Tiger Stadium, North End, Delray, etc. and his description is quite accurate.

This alone drags down the morale of many Detroiters and is really the straw that breaks the camel's back when convincing them to leave. No normal/well-off person wants to live around/drive through this crap everyday.

**Honky Tonk** · August-10-13, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by 313WX

But what poobert describes makes up the majority of these empty lots in Detroit, especially away from Downtown/Midtown.

Try driving through the lower east side, 48205, the neighborhood NW of Tiger Stadium, North End, Delray, etc. and his description is quite accurate.

This alone drags down the morale of many Detroiters and is really the straw that breaks the camel's back when convincing them to leave. No normal/well-off person wants to live around/drive through this crap everyday.

Hey, HEY, HEY!?!?!

**Zacha341** · August-10-13, 09:31 AM

I tend not to like to drive down the full-out 'prairie' areas of the east and west side as I think 'what's over in that field?' and hope my car does not break down in such a setting... And sadly there have been homicidal discoveries within these some of these gone wild areas.

These sections of un-use and dissipation are not the same as planned or original rural areas, or Yosemite Park as mentioned. I mostly find it depressing and rats often breed in this as well as the bunny rabbits.

**Al Publican** · August-10-13, 04:21 PM

I call these areas of the east side "the savanna" or neosavanna."

**KJ5** · August-10-13, 07:11 PM

[QUOTE=poobert;398424]If what passes for nature for you are trash-strewn vacant lots [[above basements and foundations filled with the contents of what used to be the house on top of them) with weeds that grow 6 feet high in the summer time, then I really feel sorry for you.

It's not like the areas are safe, either. There's no one around to hear you scream, so to speak.

Go to Huron National Forest if you like nature.
Like I said, I don't have a car. Let me know the next time you go and maybe I can ride along with you.

**sumas** · August-10-13, 09:33 PM

[QUOTE=KJ5;398524]

Originally Posted by poobert

If what passes for nature for you are trash-strewn vacant lots [[above basements and foundations filled with the contents of what used to be the house on top of them) with weeds that grow 6 feet high in the summer time, then I really feel sorry for you.

It's not like the areas are safe, either. There's no one around to hear you scream, so to speak.

Go to Huron National Forest if you like nature.
Like I said, I don't have a car. Let me know the next time you go and maybe I can ride along with you.

It's comments like that that always make me strangely defensive.

Where I live there's always someone around to hear if I needed to scream. I am careful, but I have great faith in my community. When I walk alone, often neighborhood gentlemen offer to escort me. It is so charming.

I still assert prairie beats the hell out of abandoned homes, yes of course there is major blight. I just find that our prairies are an affirmation that Mother Nature will heal what man destroys.

I have a car, a scooter and a bike, I like to walk. I live near the river, I can walk to Belle Isle, and even unkempt it is still stunning. Don't need suburban parks