Detroit Brightmoor community (Redford, Schoolcraft, Burt: 2009, house, employment)

[downthathighway]

Seeing is believing.
Brightmoor is a textbook example of an area that could/should be demolished and rebuilt.
No offense to those that grew up there. But when that area was platted in 1920's, it was regarded as a place to move if one could not afford a house in other parts of Detroit. It was not planned as a growing urban area should be. The houses were built as cheaply as possible, with 'room to expand'. Most of the 'additions' on these houses was for the indoor plumbing.
It was designed as a 'starter' home community, before the days of trailer parks. Residents were lower working class and as their income increased or their children were educated they moved on.
Up to the 70's this was a safe, walkable neighborhood. But most of the businesses were designed for the lower working class. More bars than I could count. Also Party (liquor) stores, 2nd hand clothes, etc. Once the population of the area declined, the remaining houses and stores did also. There is little demand for these 'starter' homes now, in fact I doubt anyone expected those houses to last even 50 years.
If it were a trailer park instead, at least the homes would have been replaced/ updated from time to time.
My sis married a Brightmoor native. "This is a great area, I grew up here" So they settled there in 80's. Eventually HAD to move because the kids could not even play in the yard, let alone walk down the street to a friends house. Empty shacks all over the neighborhood, some occupied by squatters/ crack dealers, prostitutes, etc.
Those older houses cannot qualify for mortgages without serious renovations.

[corruption]

OMG! I'm so tired of Detroit bashing! Okay, yes at the moment, Brightmoor is very bleak. But when I grew up there (in the 80's) it was a good middle class neighborhood. Every house was lived in. People took care of their yards. You could actually play hide and seek in the alleys. I remember when it started to go downhill. I remember the first house catching fire on my block, I stayed on Greydale between Keeler and Midland. That was an accident, it wasn't arson, it was my friend's uncle falling asleep with a stupid cigarette and burned himself up. And subsequently every house that burned on my block was an accident. It all went down from there, I guess property values went down (I know nothing about that) and that's what caused people with lower standards for living to move in, and it was just a big mess after that. I miss the 80's...I've even felt safe in the 90's. I was kinda a wild child, and I used to roam the streets at night by myself, I 14-16 at the time. No one bothered me. No one tried to abduct me, and I felt safe. Whenever I go out at night, no matter where I am, there is no one outside. I went to visit my old neighborhood last year, and while they built some new Section 8 houses, they did tear down all the abandoned houses except for one on my old block. It was still as quiet and as deserted as it was before. I don't see what's to be scared of if no one is there. I guess most people are scared of their own shadows...

[detshen]

Originally Posted by corruption

OMG! I'm so tired of Detroit bashing! Okay, yes at the moment, Brightmoor is very bleak. But when I grew up there (in the 80's) it was a good middle class neighborhood. Every house was lived in. People took care of their yards. You could actually play hide and seek in the alleys. I remember when it started to go downhill. I remember the first house catching fire on my block, I stayed on Greydale between Keeler and Midland. That was an accident, it wasn't arson, it was my friend's uncle falling asleep with a stupid cigarette and burned himself up. And subsequently every house that burned on my block was an accident. It all went down from there, I guess property values went down (I know nothing about that) and that's what caused people with lower standards for living to move in, and it was just a big mess after that. I miss the 80's...I've even felt safe in the 90's. I was kinda a wild child, and I used to roam the streets at night by myself, I 14-16 at the time. No one bothered me. No one tried to abduct me, and I felt safe. Whenever I go out at night, no matter where I am, there is no one outside. I went to visit my old neighborhood last year, and while they built some new Section 8 houses, they did tear down all the abandoned houses except for one on my old block. It was still as quiet and as deserted as it was before. I don't see what's to be scared of if no one is there. I guess most people are scared of their own shadows...

I'm with you Corruption, people just want to complain about Detroit instead of supporting the business so things can actually get better. Detroit has a long way to go and the bashing is hurting the efforts of people who are trying to change things. Empty streets aren't scary, just sad IMO.

[downthathighway]

Originally Posted by corruption

OMG! I'm so tired of Detroit bashing! Okay, yes at the moment, Brightmoor is very bleak. But when I grew up there (in the 80's) it was a good middle class neighborhood. Every house was lived in. People took care of their yards. You could actually play hide and seek in the alleys. I remember when it started to go downhill. I remember the first house catching fire on my block, I stayed on Greydale between Keeler and Midland. That was an accident, it wasn't arson, it was my friend's uncle falling asleep with a stupid cigarette and burned himself up. And subsequently every house that burned on my block was an accident. It all went down from there, I guess property values went down (I know nothing about that) and that's what caused people with lower standards for living to move in, and it was just a big mess after that. I miss the 80's...I've even felt safe in the 90's. I was kinda a wild child, and I used to roam the streets at night by myself, I 14-16 at the time. No one bothered me. No one tried to abduct me, and I felt safe. Whenever I go out at night, no matter where I am, there is no one outside. I went to visit my old neighborhood last year, and while they built some new Section 8 houses, they did tear down all the abandoned houses except for one on my old block. It was still as quiet and as deserted as it was before. I don't see what's to be scared of if no one is there. I guess most people are scared of their own shadows...

Did my post come across as 'Detroit Bashing?' Not my intent.
If you grew up in Brightmoor 80's I would not want to tangle with you!
Realistically, that neighborhood was never 'anything fancy'. Most houses were built for economy. And interesting as 'The Avenue' was, it almost had a wild west look. Very few permanent structures, even alot of 'tar paper' wood buildings. I did say it used to be a safe walkable neighborhood, right?
And probably you also saw many classmates leave 'for the suburbs' as their parents' income increased. Times are harder now, but when looking to buy houses, most would look at what they could pay and get that mortgage. The 'American Dream'
B.E. Taylor's Brightmoor sub and most of those houses were ideal for the times, great depression, etc. But ONLY if owner-occupied. When the slumlords took over, it sure changed fast.
The Habitat houses look much better, but I doubt their owners will 'take root' and take care of their neighborhoods.
I may even know you... Up until I bought a business in the thumb in 91', I attended church in Brightmoor, was on the parish council, worked their soup kitchen, etc. And even the church- it was a converted factory from the 20's.
Some of my friends still live there. They have adapted to locking themselves in, etc. And do not want to move because they're rooted to their address.

[downthathighway]

Originally Posted by Acupunk

I'm with you Corruption, people just want to complain about Detroit instead of supporting the business so things can actually get better. Detroit has a long way to go and the bashing is hurting the efforts of people who are trying to change things. Empty streets aren't scary, just sad IMO.

I can't say much bad about Warrendale now, can I?
(and why would I?)
That neighborhood was built so much more solidly. Almost ethnic, Polish, etc. And those homeowners had every intention of staying and seeing future generations nearby.
That neighborhood sure has tried to hang in there.
In fact, its the area a real estate agent tried to convince my daughter to buy in. Even 10 years ago housing in Detroit diid not look like a good investment, she chose Wyandotte instead.

[detshen]

I didn't see your pointing out the need for upgrades as bashing, I was just responding to the general Detroit hate out there, this thread isn't bad, but some of the others are annoying. Warrendale is a nice mix of white, black, and middle eastern now. Mostly young families and older retirees. I don't know much about construction, but my house seems well made. I don't know Brightmoor well so I couldn't compare.

[corruption]

Originally Posted by downthathighway

Did my post come across as 'Detroit Bashing?' Not my intent.
If you grew up in Brightmoor 80's I would not want to tangle with you!
Realistically, that neighborhood was never 'anything fancy'. Most houses were built for economy. And interesting as 'The Avenue' was, it almost had a wild west look. Very few permanent structures, even alot of 'tar paper' wood buildings. I did say it used to be a safe walkable neighborhood, right?
And probably you also saw many classmates leave 'for the suburbs' as their parents' income increased. Times are harder now, but when looking to buy houses, most would look at what they could pay and get that mortgage. The 'American Dream'
B.E. Taylor's Brightmoor sub and most of those houses were ideal for the times, great depression, etc. But ONLY if owner-occupied. When the slumlords took over, it sure changed fast.
The Habitat houses look much better, but I doubt their owners will 'take root' and take care of their neighborhoods.
I may even know you... Up until I bought a business in the thumb in 91', I attended church in Brightmoor, was on the parish council, worked their soup kitchen, etc. And even the church- it was a converted factory from the 20's.
Some of my friends still live there. They have adapted to locking themselves in, etc. And do not want to move because they're rooted to their address.

I have no idea why my friends parents decided to up and move. I can't remember that far back...lol. And despite growing up in Brightmoor, I'm hardly dangerous, or ghetto, or "hood" or anything. I don't know...I guess cause I lived it, it just seemed "normal" to me. People living in substandard housing and were depressed individuals. No one was angry and out to get the world. We just did the best we could with what we had. Oh I'm sure the image of what the locals call "bright'mo" is all dangerous, and we're so hard now, and don't mess with us, cause we'll kill you...but I didn't grow up like that. And honestly when I was a kid, I my circle was Lahser to Burt Rd. Fenkell to Puritan. And those houses right of Burgess hill are awesome and always have been awesome. Nothing's much changed about that area directly by Redford.

[suellenstone]

'Lived on Heyden near Outer Dr & Schoolcraft 1954 - went to Harding for 8A - moved - grad Redford '58 - have been in touch with several from the area around my age via ClassMates

[littlekoz]

My family still live in the hood. The kohsman family. on braile st.

[littlekoz]

You lived across the street from the Webs.. Brian and Dinky Webber. My mom still lives on Braile st. We are the Kohsman family. You rember the sands family. We all attended harding, Then off to Redford Etc.