Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
If one doesn't insist on chain stores (who says they have better produce than local stores?) there are plenty of grocery options, although they will still involve a short trip in your car. In other words, no different than living in a suburb - those folks don't walk to the supermarket or convenience store either. To wit: Eastern Market, Harbor Town Market on E. Jefferson, Indian Village supermarket, Honeybee in Mexico town, upscale Zaccaro's near Brush Park. There is even an Aldi's in Highland Park in that strip mall area on Woodward, and there's a big Glory supermarket in Hamtramck. Besides which, if you work in the city then the short commute more than makes up for any inconvenience in grocery shopping. The CVS downtown closes at 7 because downtown businesses are generally there for the working crowd. While you could make the case that they should stay open to take the business of the residents of downtown for whatever reason they choose not to. The drugstores a bit outside of downtown are open as late as the ones in the suburbs. I find the whole "no shopping" argument a little spurious.
If one doesn't insist on chain stores (who says they have better produce than local stores?) there are plenty of grocery options, although they will still involve a short trip in your car. In other words, no different than living in a suburb - those folks don't walk to the supermarket or convenience store either. To wit: Eastern Market, Harbor Town Market on E. Jefferson, Indian Village supermarket, Honeybee in Mexico town, upscale Zaccaro's near Brush Park. There is even an Aldi's in Highland Park in that strip mall area on Woodward, and there's a big Glory supermarket in Hamtramck. Besides which, if you work in the city then the short commute more than makes up for any inconvenience in grocery shopping. The CVS downtown closes at 7 because downtown businesses are generally there for the working crowd. While you could make the case that they should stay open to take the business of the residents of downtown for whatever reason they choose not to. The drugstores a bit outside of downtown are open as late as the ones in the suburbs. I find the whole "no shopping" argument a little spurious.
I'm not saying it has to be a chain store. In fact Eastern Market would be my #1 choice but limited hours. The Food Pride didn't exactly have much pride either. So if you're living down by the RenCen plan on a 5-10 mile drive to a grocery store with extended hours.
I'm not saying it has to be a chain store. In fact Eastern Market would be my #1 choice but limited hours. The Food Pride didn't exactly have much pride either. So if you're living down by the RenCen plan on a 5-10 mile drive to a grocery store with extended hours.
I won't argue with this statement; my argument was directed at a much more general statement about no grocery shopping options. And it is a shame that the the Farmer Jack's out on E. Jefferson shut down.
As for the RenCen comment, that is true of any major CBD; it just so happens that in Detroit you can actually live down the street from the CBD. To put a different spin on it, if by some stroke of luck or genious somebody opened a good grocery store with long hours, a wide range of products, high quality and competitive prices, that would make downtown living almost too good to be true. And yet, you could argue that this actually is more possible in Detroit than in any other major city given that there are still a lot of vacant buildings downtown that can be had on the cheap.
I've often wished I was a big real estate developer here because I would do something like buy up the entire semi-abandoned group of buildings around Capitol Park, for example, and turn them into not just the usual lofts with a lame clothing store or Subway on the first floor, but an integrated commercial district with the kind of style only to be found in the city, kind of like you see on Fifth Avenue or the Magnificent Mile. Everything from cars to fashion to music to restaurants to gourmet grocery. I can always dream, right?
I won't argue with this statement; my argument was directed at a much more general statement about no grocery shopping options. And it is a shame that the the Farmer Jack's out on E. Jefferson shut down.
As for the RenCen comment, that is true of any major CBD; it just so happens that in Detroit you can actually live down the street from the CBD. To put a different spin on it, if by some stroke of luck or genious somebody opened a good grocery store with long hours, a wide range of products, high quality and competitive prices, that would make downtown living almost too good to be true. And yet, you could argue that this actually is more possible in Detroit than in any other major city given that there are still a lot of vacant buildings downtown that can be had on the cheap.
I've often wished I was a big real estate developer here because I would do something like buy up the entire semi-abandoned group of buildings around Capitol Park, for example, and turn them into not just the usual lofts with a lame clothing store or Subway on the first floor, but an integrated commercial district with the kind of style only to be found in the city, kind of like you see on Fifth Avenue or the Magnificent Mile. Everything from cars to fashion to music to restaurants to gourmet grocery. I can always dream, right?
I can only hope that happens. It's too bad speculators are just sitting on them hoping to make a boatload of money.
By the time downtown gets to where it should be I will be long gone. It's a damned shame too.
I guess wanting to walk to places down here is spurious.
In a sense, yes, it is a little spurious because very few people living anywhere in this country walk to get their groceries or run errands. New York and possibly Chicago are probably the last cities left where there is a grocer every few blocks that people in the neighborhood can walk to, and that is made possible by the sheer density of people living there. Actually, I take that back because Hamtramck is still a little like that.
I mean, think of all the places you can walk to such as the sports arenas, theaters, casinos, bars, restaurants, and if you work downtown, the office. I use my car about once a week, and sometimes less than that. I know I am being repetitive here but people seem to be ignoring the pros for the cons.
It appears, Slappy San, that though we don't know each other (or who knows maybe we do) we are neighbors in downtown Detroit. So I guess this is just about a glass half full versus half empty sort of outlook. I've got my complaints about living here as well - the resident taxes, all the out of towners that blithely jaywalk and drive the wrong way on one way streets before and after any major event, the loud clubs and cars that on occasion keep me up at night, etc. etc. But in my mind the pros far outweigh the cons.
In a sense, yes, it is a little spurious because very few people living anywhere in this country walk to get their groceries or run errands. New York and possibly Chicago are probably the last cities left where there is a grocer every few blocks that people in the neighborhood can walk to, and that is made possible by the sheer density of people living there. Actually, I take that back because Hamtramck is still a little like that.
I mean, think of all the places you can walk to such as the sports arenas, theaters, casinos, bars, restaurants, and if you work downtown, the office. I use my car about once a week, and sometimes less than that. I know I am being repetitive here but people seem to be ignoring the pros for the cons.
It appears, Slappy San, that though we don't know each other (or who knows maybe we do) we are neighbors in downtown Detroit. So I guess this is just about a glass half full versus half empty sort of outlook. I've got my complaints about living here as well - the resident taxes, all the out of towners that blithely jaywalk and drive the wrong way on one way streets before and after any major event, the loud clubs and cars that on occasion keep me up at night, etc. etc. But in my mind the pros far outweigh the cons.
Yeah it never fails. Unfortunately I'm surrounded by parking lots so I here and see those things. The worst is the Motown Winter Blast. Thankfully my apartment wasn't on the backside of the building like it was when the first one happened.
I moved downtown so that I could walk to work. So that was #1. I just wish the simple things like fast food joints, groceries and things of that nature were in walking distance at all hours of the night like it was when I lived on the west side or even when I was on Jefferson.
Oh and another plus was my son was able to watch the fireworks from my window the other night.
Yeah it never fails. Unfortunately I'm surrounded by parking lots so I here and see those things. The worst is the Motown Winter Blast. Thankfully my apartment wasn't on the backside of the building like it was when the first one happened.
I moved downtown so that I could walk to work. So that was #1. I just wish the simple things like fast food joints, groceries and things of that nature were in walking distance at all hours of the night like it was when I lived on the west side or even when I was on Jefferson.
Oh and another plus was my son was able to watch the fireworks from my window the other night.
Damn, man, then what are you complaining about? I actually had to walk a couple blocks to see the fireworks! But you're right the west side has a pretty good neighborhood feel and conveniences that you don't get downtown. There's always a tradeoff somewhere...
Can't figure out how to send a personal email. Can you send me an email and let me know where you live? Thanks
Can't figure out how to send a personal email. Can you send me an email and let me know where you live? Thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhEdo
I personally live in a downtown loft within walking distance of the Ren Cen (but quicker/easier to get there on the people mover) and can tell you that safety is basically a non-issue. I walk to work everyday and sometimes my commute home is very late at night - I've never been scared, but do pay attention. Downtown on weekends can get pretty rowdy around the clubs late at night but if you are not milling around the entrance looking for trouble after they close at 2 you'll be fine. I can honestly say that I enjoy living downtown very much and do not regret for a second my decision to live there. My loft is pretty cool too. Send me a personal message if you would like details about my place.
You are right worrying about car insurance - the combination of a Detroit zip code and Michigan no-fault really jacks up the rates, but for some reason I got a really good deal with AAA compared to other insurers. Maybe it's a fluke, maybe their service is not so good (knock on wood I have not had to avail myself of their services yet) but that's my experience. Renter's insurance is a non-issue; a few hundred bucks a year. Parking costs vary with each loft (they all offer parking as far as I know) from free to $100/month depending on the location and security of the facilities; figure 30-40 bucks a month for a fairly secure spot with good sheltered access to your apartment.
You are forced to get Comcast cable in most of these places because the buildings are hard-wired for it - they annoyed me so much that I make do with rabbit ears now, but that is a problem with Comcast not downtown living per se. They seem to have some pretty good offers out there now though.
Utilities can run pretty high in these places with big windows and high ceilings, and they tend to be all electric - in mid-winter I pay close to $200/month for all my utilities, but I think the owners of the place are ripping me off in some way.
All told, assuming $1100 for a nice one bedroom (which sounds about right for the nicer places but you can get better rates at the older places), with utilities, cable, parking and insurance would probably run about $1500-$1600a month.
Rental lofts within walking/people mover distance to the Ren Cen include Woodward Center and Merchant's Row on Woodward, the Kale's building on Grand Circus park, and several smaller lofts along both Michigan and Gratiot whose names, if they have names, I don't know. There are some older and likely cheaper lofts along the Woodward corridor such as the Fyfe and Park apartments on Grand Circus as well as a few more around Harmonie Park right off broadway near the Opera House and Music Hall as well as in Greektown. Those locations are all walkable/people movable to the Ren Cen. A bit further off the beaten path to the east and maybe a bike ride away from the Ren Cen are the River Place condos/apartments, which are also quite nice. If you are buying then the options expand to Brush Park and all kinds of fancy new developments along the midtown corridor, which would also be more of a bike/car/bus ride than a walk. If you are considering more traditional apartments (i.e., not lofts) as well, the Millender Center apartments are connected to the Ren Cen via a covered bridge and the Riverfront Apartment/condos have direct access to the people mover and it's 3 stops to the Ren Cen. Both of these places, though not lofts, are pretty nice with full amenities. The Lafayette apartments mentioned by motownbabe, though starting to show their age, are on the national register of historic places for their Mies van Der Rohe design. The Trolleytown apartments on Washington Blvd. are another cheaper option but I have heard mixed reviews.
For what it's worth...
Oh, and motownbabe, I don't know of lofts in Lafayette Park, but if you are talking about the high rises there I hear the staff and views are great but the units are starting to show their age.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Unfortunately I'm surrounded by parking lots so I here and see those things. The worst is the Motown Winter Blast. Thankfully my apartment wasn't on the backside of the building like it was when the first one happened.
Universal Lofts
