1st "third world" city? (Detroit: home, neighborhoods, to buy)

[Innotech]

New Orleans feels the most third world to me in some places. I havent been to Detroit.

[zthatzmanz28]

Originally Posted by The Original Vagabon

I predict eventually that Detroit will be the first city to be tagged as a "third world" city. It is not beyond the realm of reality.

Anyone agree?

I predict America will elect an African American president...

[daddythreepointoh]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

Most European cities don't even HAVE slums in the sense America does. They have clean, well-maintained low-income housing with respectable, house-proud people living there. I just got through reading that in Vienna, the rate of crimes against prostitutes is exactly the same as the rate of crime for everyone else. Why? Prostitution is legal, government-regulated, and there are NO dangerous neighborhoods in Vienna. I'd be pretty surprised to see that happen in the USA, the way we do things.

The story arc of any American city is totally different: 1) Bustling metropolis attracts humble folk from the countryside to feed their giant industrial machines and make a grillion dollars for the business owners, while giving the workers middle-class respectability. 2) Racism and other disenfranchisement of certain elements causes skyrocketing crime rate, so the respectable folk flee to the suburbs. 3) City center, having lost its tax base, craters in on itself and becomes a horrific crime pit unlike anything seen in modern Europe. 4) Carpetbaggers arrive and gentrify city center, making it impossible for po' folk to live there and encouraging the taxpayers to move back in.

Detroit is still just flirting with 4), despite the construction of the Ren Cen. It's been impossible to really get going on it, because the Big Three are circling the drain and there is no other industry yet to give Detroit a reason to be.

This pretty much sums it all up. I was going to defend America (and Canada) and say that many downtowns are being rehabbed...but yeah it's mostly gentrification and it goes from being a slum to upper class. No room for the middle.

[Vicman]

In many cities this is true. In some other cities there are middle class pockets evenly mixed in with the rich and poor pockets.

I see many American cities go closer to the European model, BUT Detroit is not like that...

Originally Posted by daddythreepointoh

This pretty much sums it all up. I was going to defend America (and Canada) and say that many downtowns are being rehabbed...but yeah it's mostly gentrification and it goes from being a slum to upper class. No room for the middle.

[100percent]

Originally Posted by Vision-Quest

New Orleans
Memphis
East. St. Louis
Camden
Niagra Falls
The Bronx
Baton Rouge

thats only a few

Baton Rouge is not even close to being a "third ward"....make sure you have actually been to a city before you judge it.

[Central Illinois 1]

East St. Louis definitely belongs on any list of this type.

[fabman_52]

Originally Posted by michsnowlvr

Oakland county is one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, Detroit has dozens of beautiful suburbs, outside of densely populated areas the state is nonstop scenery....how in the heck is that the toilet?

Oakland County is not Wayne County, no matter how much you say it, if you are from the Suburbs you are NOT from Detroit.

I live within the confines of the City of Detroit, and have for all of my almost 60 years. Come and take a ride with me, let me show you just how ugly it really is!

I already know your gonna say if I don't like it here then get out, well I love Detroit, but I hate what it has become, and that my friend is a toilet!

No leadership, and the ones we do have rob the city blind, people moving form one neighborhood to the next, destroying homes faster than termites. I have witnessed this over and over again, 24/7
Crime and drugs, I can't go to the corner gas station without some ass wanting to know if I'm looking for something, (DRUGS), or hookers flagging me down. By the way I live in what is supposed to be one of the better neighborhoods in the city.

So please if your from any of the suburbs of Detroit, and you have never lived here STOP saying your from Detroit and Stop telling people how great it is! Because it is not!

The only way we are going to clean this toilet is to flush it from the top!

[SchnauzerMom]

When I lived inside the city limits of Detroit (granted, that hasn't been since 1991) I had great relationships with my neighbors. We didn't just watch each others property, we were truly friends and spent quite a bit of time together in a number of ways. The Detroit burbs were horrible. No one could be bothered to even grunt at you most of the time. So...we picked up and moved to the country...a 40 acre farm in a little, hilly area where strangers smile, wave and say hello. Neighbors are like they used to be when I was growing up. I didn't worry about what would happen to the farm when hubby had a massive heart attack. Every day some of my neighbors would show up and help me take care of things. If only Detroit could get back that kind of community feeling no one would dare call it 3rd world...it would be the envy of everyone in the state.

[City of Motor]

Originally Posted by The Original Vagabon

Wow. Not even close.

I have grown up in Detroit, lived in South Florida, and visited LA on multiple occasions.

Of course there are spots in both of these cities where it is extremely grimey, but you have to factor in that both of these places also have much much more going for them then Detroit does.

Both of these cities are coastal, have a much better climate year-round, and within the city limits have a greater atmosphere and culture.


I think that many people's impression of the city of Detroit is based on what they see on Woodward Ave. during a Lions or Tigers game. Try taking a walk from Comerica, when there's no games going on, maybe like a Tuesday night around 10pm, down to say WSU and tell me if you felt safe. Or maybe try walking down Fort Street towards Joe Louis and past.

Ha! Cass Corridor! Yup.
Normally, a forum board such as this should be talking about what is a good neighborhood to settle in, or where to go. It's an entirely different story on the Detroit forum. "Wawawawa It's so ghetto" or "Waaaa Thirld world" or you get an occasional, cranky old man saying things like " I love Detroit, but I hate it. More Like DetRIOT!!!!"
Oh, well. I might aswell .

[fabman_52]

Originally Posted by City of Motor

Ha! Cass Corridor! Yup.
Normally, a forum board such as this should be talking about what is a good neighborhood to settle in, or where to go. It's an entirely different story on the Detroit forum. "Wawawawa It's so ghetto" or "Waaaa Thirld world" or you get an occasional, cranky old man saying things like " I love Detroit, but I hate it. More Like DetRIOT!!!!"
Oh, well. I might aswell .

Dude, you have no clue, I'm far from a Grumpy Old Man! Getting older yes, but grumpy, no way. I'm just pissed at the state of the city that I have lived in my whole life. I refuse to glorify a city that has turned into such a **** hole. I call em lick I see em!