Should I come to Detroit (Lansing, Southfield: closing, taxes, costs)

[mike s]

A lot of you people have lived in the suburbs so long that you start to fear any type of city life! You guys amaze me with all of you negative comments. I didn't grow up in Detroit but I spend an awful lot of time their, and I can tell you that I have never had a negative exeriance their! If you go looking in any big city you will find any and all types of crime!! If you have not noticed Detroit has made positve strides in the past few years. People are slowly moving back downtown! Check out how fast the New riverfront condos are going!! Book Caddillac is filling too!
If you want to talk things to do check out casinoes, plenty of nightlife(greektown), and good restaurants!! Although it is not on Chicago's level yet, Detroit is on the rise. I am still and will forever be proud to be from around this region!! Things can be bad like they are now, but remember we can only stay down for so long!!!!

[MotownLowdown]

It is really amazing to see how far downtown has come in the past 5-6 years.

BTW-- if you want to move to Detroit-- do it! Don't let the negativity and people's perception scare you off. It is an area undergoing a painful transition with the loss of the auto manufacturing jobs. What it needs are people who want to be there-- and take an active part in transforming this area into one that can succeed in a 21st century economy.

I'm not from Michigan-- but I really like Metro Detroit. My work took me to Saginaw and Flint-- and finally to the D. If you want to talk about cities with no hope-- Saginaw would be it. Just an utterly depressing place. Flint isn't much better-- but at least there is some pride there.
I worked in the Detroit area from 2002-2004-- and just loved it. We lived in Clarkston, and I commuted to Southfield every day; my wife had to go downtown. The drive was a pain at times-- but we really got to know the area.
I left in 2004 for a promotion in WI. I gotta tell you, we miss it so much. There are so many things to do in the Detroit area you just won't find anywhere else.
We are exploring the possiblity of returning-- I have an interview lined up. If the opportunity is right-- we wouldn't hesitate to return.

[jeffncandace]

I am a 31 married white male. Just moved to Metro Detroit in July of 2006 from southern California. We live in Royal Oak , 4 miles north of Detroit city limits.
We love it here. Detroit itself has alot of negatives, as does the whole state right now. But as long as you stay out of certain areas of Detroit, your fine. You can go downtown and you'll feel safe. Just always be aware that you are in the 2nd highest crime-ridden city in the U.S.A., and WATCH YOUR BACK. Don't be stupid!
I do have to disagree with some of the posts that say the 'burbs have no personality. That may be true for some, but here along the Woodward corridor in Oakland county there is PLENTY of personality, and we love it! If you don't decide on Detroit, check out Ferndale or Royal Oak, or Pleasant Ridge.

[livnlarj]

Originally Posted by snowlandcook

So we meet again! Good to see you are investigating other midwest cities too.

I was born and raised in Detroit and nothing would make me go back. My entire family still lives there--and in the burb. I visit often, but that's enough for me. Minneapolis (the other city danieltrue is researching) is by far superior. My spouse is from here and I love it.

Detroit is extrememly racist (especially African American vs. Euro [white] American). When a minority family moves into a neighborhood, the white families quickly put their houses up for sale and leave. Blacks hold the low wage jobs (cleaning hotel rooms, for example) while whites hold higher paying jobs (managing hotels). Detroit also has a lot of litter lining the streets, high poverty, high crime, an abundance of drugs (even in the suburbs).

In Mpls, blacks (and other minorities) and whites work and live side by side. We have a Hmong woman in state congress. I'm not going to say there aren't racist people in Mpls, but I can say there is far less racism than in Detroit (or anyplace in Michigan that I've lived). I am proud of that!

You can walk in downtown Mpls and not worry about being mugged, stabbed, or raped. People in Mpls often leave the keys in their cars (with the motor running) if they are just running into a store for a second. (They don't want their cars to get cold!) In Detroit, we locked the car doors the minute we got into the car so we wouldn't get jumped at a stop light.

Well, I also lived and worked in downtown Detroit. I will tell you it IS racist--but it isn't just the whites! Let's be fair about this! It is the blacks who say and do horrible things because they "stereotype" just as bad or worse--even (or should I say ) especially the cops. I am half hispanic--but people think I'm Italian--they consider that white. I had a cop stop me in Detroit ripping me about being a "white suburbanite who doesn't think she has to follow the law". What it really was is that I couldn't see the lines on the road because DETROIT NEVER plows it's streets! Also, the young adults assumed b/c I was "white" that I lived in the suburbs and was rich--they didn't have a clue!

That place is a hell hole--and Kwame is the biggest thug ever to be it's mayor. I thought Coleman Young was bad--and he was--but Kwame makes him look like a puppy.

It isn't "romantic" like all these people are making it out to be--it's dirty, drug-infested and nobody will lift a finger to take care of their own city.

[cardwellave]

Dodging bullets? Moderator cut: insults Detroit, more than anything, is just very depressive. The crime exists, but I've never actually been scared anywhere in Detroit. Live in the western or Downriver burbs, no arrogant people like Oakland county and plenty of charming neighborhoods. The one place I would say is not really holding its own against decline in Wayne County is Redford. Nice houses and everything, but south Redford (south of Plymouth) is getting not so nice. The area around Beech Daly and Five Mile can offer a lot of house for the money, and is a pretty nice area. Lots of rustic dirt roads (though they are working to change that) and parks. Not to say it's a terrible area, but for the price of the homes, you can do the same in Dearborn Heights, Westland, or Garden City and be in a nicer area. Other than that Inkster is a place I'd stay 100% away from. As for schools around here not sure what to say. I went to private schools, which around here are very good. THhe public schools certainly have bad parts. I don't like Dearborn Heights schools, Redford's are pretty bad (though the pay is very high in south Redford, not sure about Redford Union, note for any teachers). Dearborn's seem to be decent.

[cardwellave]

Originally Posted by Bhaalspawn

It should be pretty decent. Most of Farmington Hills is pretty good except for the one square mile block on the very southeast corner (between Inkster, Middlebelt, 9 Mile, and 8 Mile); it just seems pretty seedy to me.

Of course, I'm not sure what those apartments would be like. It's possible that they could be full of drugs and crime since apartments, in general, cater to people with low incomes. As with any apartment, you should come visit a couple times and different times of the day and check for noise and observe the types of people walking in and out.

Also, you might want to go look at Pontiac Trail and Beck at those Wixom/Walled Lake Apartmetns (Golden Gate, The Springs, etc.). Those places have the same management company and seem to have lower rents, though I can't say they're pet friendly.

The houses are just old and it's middle class. Not seedy by any means.

[nickbii]

Originally Posted by livnlarj

Well, I also lived and worked in downtown Detroit. I will tell you it IS racist--but it isn't just the whites! Let's be fair about this! It is the blacks who say and do horrible things because they "stereotype" just as bad or worse--even (or should I say ) especially the cops.

I'm very suspicious of this guy's statements.

The Detroit Police are very busy. Outside of downtown most safe neighborhoods use somebody else. Woodbridge, and Midtown have easy access to the Wayne State University Police. Indian Village hires it's own security.

They frequently get dinged for stopping on everybody they see in a target neighborhood, but this is the first I've heard that whites have to worry about them.

Originally Posted by livnlarj

I am half hispanic--but people think I'm Italian--they consider that white. I had a cop stop me in Detroit ripping me about being a "white suburbanite who doesn't think she has to follow the law".

I've never been stopped by a Detroit cop. You have to be doing something really dangerous to get stopped. U-turns in intersections, ignoring stop signs, etc. are fine if there's no traffic, and you're going a sensible speed.

I'm guessing this guy was doing something particularly stupid. On my block, some idiots started peeing on one of the trees. Just stopped, got out of their cars, and used the facilities. And this is not a bad block -- the Boy Scouts regional headquarters is right across the street. We did not take kindly to this, but my sister was able to scare the crap out of them. Apparently they were not used to pretty girls in their Sunday best getting out of a moving vehicle and briskly walk towards them yelling obscenities. I would have enjoyed the scene a lot more if I hadn't been in the middle or parallel parking the car.

Oh, BTW, from a Detroit point of view it does not take much to be rich. If you can afford a car, and own your own home, you're pretty much there already.

Originally Posted by livnlarj

What it really was is that I couldn't see the lines on the road because DETROIT NEVER plows it's streets! Also, the young adults assumed b/c I was "white" that I lived in the suburbs and was rich--they didn't have a clue!

Young adults are supposed to be clueless.

And like I said, from their point of view you probably are rich. Rich is a relative term.

Originally Posted by livnlarj

That place is a hell hole--and Kwame is the biggest thug ever to be it's mayor. I thought Coleman Young was bad--and he was--but Kwame makes him look like a puppy.

You might be half-latino, but you are clearly whiter than Eminem.

Thugs hit you themselves. Kwame and Coleman were both accused of lots of things during their tenures, but neither was accused of personally administering a beat-down.

And most of the charges against them were pretty flimsy.

Originally Posted by livnlarj

It isn't "romantic" like all these people are making it out to be--it's dirty, drug-infested and nobody will lift a finger to take care of their own city.

But they'll lift a finger to stop you, and you were just minding your business?

Yeah, right.

Nick

[cardwellave]

Thanks for your thoughts Nick. Glad I'm not the only one supporting Detroit here.

[Frankawitz]

With jobs to few and folks out of work Detroit is havin a hard go right now, But with Our Governor who has pulled a Very Large Boner from her azz and wants to raise taxes on all of us, I just don't understand why the people of Michigan re elected this dumb azz. she says she has a plan yet 6 months into her second term she shows us she wants to Tax and Spend just like a Democrat. Detroit and every other city in Michigan will get the crappy end of the Governors stick. We have te highest unemployment in the Country also the highest Forclosure Rates and the Gov. wants us to go back to get educated in what may I ask? There are no jobs!! Hello the lights are on but no one is home Jenny!

[cardwellave]

She's in way over her head. After her proven awful track record the state elected her again. Way to go.