Ann Arbor strikes again!!!!! (Grand Rapids, Lansing: big house, law school, university)

[michigan83]

So how come Lansing isn't as prosperous as Ann Arbor? Not only do they have Michigan State, but you know the whole capital thing.

There are a few reasons. One, MSU is in East Lansing, not Lansing. East Lansing is doing well, but it's a small city. There aren't MSU jobs in the actual city of Lansing.

Lansing's economy is more dependent on the auto industry and was hit hard by the collapse. And, again, MSU is not located IN Lansing. Lansing doesn't receive that much economic benefit from MSU. Why? Because almost everyone with MSU employment lives in East Lansing, Okemos, Haslett, or another suburban or rural area. Same thing with the government jobs downtown. Almost everyone takes their salary and goes to the suburbs with it after work.

In short, the Lansing area is just a completely different animal. If there was a way to consolidate all of the wealth from Okemos, Haslett, DeWitt, Holt, East Lansing, etc and put it within the Lansing city limits, it would probably look a lot more like Ann Arbor. Why is Lansing the way it is? I think a sociologist could probably do a better job of answering that one.

[MittenDweller82]

Originally Posted by michigan83

There are a few reasons. One, MSU is in East Lansing, not Lansing. East Lansing is doing well, but it's a small city. There aren't MSU jobs in the actual city of Lansing.

Lansing's economy is more dependent on the auto industry and was hit hard by the collapse. And, again, MSU is not located IN Lansing. Lansing doesn't receive that much economic benefit from MSU. Why? Because almost everyone with MSU employment lives in East Lansing, Okemos, Haslett, or another suburban or rural area. Same thing with the government jobs downtown. Almost everyone takes their salary and goes to the suburbs with it after work.

In short, the Lansing area is just a completely different animal. If there was a way to consolidate all of the wealth from Okemos, Haslett, DeWitt, Holt, East Lansing, etc and put it within the Lansing city limits, it would probably look a lot more like Ann Arbor. Why is Lansing the way it is? I think a sociologist could probably do a better job of answering that one.

Lansing has certainly suffered from the fall of auto manufacturing, but more importantly, their economy is no where as near diversified as Ann Arbor's. Without manufacturing, government remains the only high paying sector, leaving a largely retail and serviced based economy as a shell.

The nature of East Lansing does not help either, EL is more of a seasonal city, with no real "economy" other than the bars and retail shops that thrive off of the students. While a handful of MSU grads are retained in Lansing, most are forced to leave only further hurting the area.

So while Lansing benefits little from the seasonal MSU influx, Ann Arbor has a solid and diversified economy with a huge amount of educated workers for companies to choose from. Over 65% of A2's residents hold a BA or higher, compared to 28% in EL, and 18% in Lansing. (bls.gov) Ann Arbor certainly is more like a large east or west coast college town than anything found in the Midwest. The large international influence in A2 also brings more wealth and tourism.

I wouldn't say that Ann Arbor "drifted to Michigan", but the reason many Michiganders don't feel comfortable there is simple, many of the folks in A2 are from large cities across the world, sometimes diversity is just a little to much for some people.

[danielj72]

Originally Posted by scolls

What is your point? People who drive F150's and go up north are better? Funny how the most liberal city and you put it "socialism" is Michigan's most prosperous city.

I did not say people who drive F-150s are better. What I said is that Ann Arbor is very different from the rest of Michigan. Michigan tends to be a very socially conservative state, even in many of the urban areas. Liberal social causes are generally not popular here. You dont see many people praise PETA, openly support gay marriage etc. People in Michigan tend to be blue collar, they tend to like big cars, tend to be outdoorsey. Ann Arbor is very very different, liberal social causes are popular there, and the arts and culture are more important there than anywhere else in the state. You are in error when you suggest that the fact that the city is liberal is the reason it is successful. That area is prosperous because of the huge state supported university that is there. Along with our tax dollars flowing into U of M, out of state students bring cash into the Ann Arbor economy as well. There are many companies that are there because of the proximity to the university. The liberalism has nothing to do with the success of that community. Ann Arbor is a nice clean town, but because of the liberal nature of it, I dont go there often. I find socialism repulsive and un-American, I find most liberal social causes repulsive and un-American as well. The place is not for me, but that is just my opinion.

[PreservationPioneer]

I'll take Jackson over Ann Arbor any day.

[Thomas_Thumb]

I like Ann Arbor and lived there for a long time while I was at UofM.
Coming from someone who lives in metro-Detroit, leans conservative and goes up North, I am happy of Ann Arbor being recognized.

Ann Arbor is truly a great college town, regardless of their appreciation of "art and culture." Wait a minute...
Aren't those good things?

[scolls]

Of course the F150 drivers like Danielj aren't better than the people of Ann Arbor, people in Ann Arbor are just repulsive and un-American. You're only an American unless you own an F150.

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by scolls

Of course the F150 drivers like Danielj aren't better than the people of Ann Arbor, people in Ann Arbor are just repulsive and un-American. You're only an American unless you own an F150.

Wait. .. I thought that they are superior to human beings. Now I am confused. Perhaps I belong back in Ann Arbor, many people there walk out in front of cars looking totally befuddled and confused. When I drive my F-150 in Ann Arbor does that make me even more superior? Or would I be repuslsive and unamerican while at the same time being only and American? I guess I woudl just be really really confused - then I would fit in better than ever.


Actually I love Ann Arbor even though I probably would not want to live there now. It is a great city. One of the best cities in the US from what I have seen (despite the liberalism, not becasue of it).


However one thing that is begin overlooked is that the Ann Arbor economy benefits greatly from its focus on medical businesses. While manufacturing is generally down, medicne is doing fairly well as an industry and Ann Arbor business is very heavily medical related. THe univrsity hospital is probably what attracted the businesses there to begin with, but now there is a very substantial industry built around medicine in the Ann Arbor area. Even withthe loss of Pfieser, there is still a very strong medical related business environment in Ann Arbor and that does a lot to bolster the economy there.

[canudigit]

I just read this today in the Toledo, Ohio newspaper. Apparently, some firm in London that ranks universities has ranked U of M 15th in the entire world and the best public college on the list. Pretty impressive stuff:

toledoblade.com -- The Blade ~ Toledo Ohio

This should only serve to increase the desirability of AA to outsiders and keep the economy humming along, inasmuch as any city's economy can hum during these tough times.

I like AA, but I personally prefer the small towns that surround it. I find the people to be more like minded and down to earth. I work in AA though, and the people watching there has got to be some of the best in the world. As my boss once said, "Ann Arbor is 17 square miles surrounded by reality." Amen!

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by canudigit

I just read this today in the Toledo, Ohio newspaper. Apparently, some firm in London that ranks universities has ranked U of M 15th in the entire world and the best public college on the list. Pretty impressive stuff:

toledoblade.com -- The Blade ~ Toledo Ohio

This should only serve to increase the desirability of AA to outsiders and keep the economy humming along, inasmuch as any city's economy can hum during these tough times.

I like AA, but I personally prefer the small towns that surround it. I find the people to be more like minded and down to earth. I work in AA though, and the people watching there has got to be some of the best in the world. As my boss once said, "Ann Arbor is 17 square miles surrounded by reality." Amen!

Calssic!

As much as I like Ann Arbor, I love the surrounding towns Chelsea, Dexter, Tecumseh and Plymouth are fabulous. Saline is pretty decent too. I also really like Dixborough too. What am I missing. ALmost all of the Ann Arbor "suburb" towns are great.

[WannaMove123]

Why in the h#ll East Lansing never gets any respect???