What's Wrong With Metro Detroit? (Ann Arbor, Livonia: for sale, foreclosures, homes)

[dmetro]

As a lifelong Metro Detroit resident, one thing that I really don't understand is why many people, especially people who have never even been to Detroit, seem to automatically have a bad opinion of the place. For those of you who seem to have nothing better to do than bash Metro Detroit, let me clarify a few things for you. The first thing I want to clarify is that while the actual CITY of Detroit may be declining, nearly all of the surrounding suburbs are extremely wealthy, and desirable places to live. The second thing I want to clarify is that Michigan is not a bad economic climate, we've simply been losing a lot of jobs related to the automotive industry. It's not that we haven't been experiencing any economic growth, it's just that we've lost too many jobs at once, and as a result, we have an unemployment rate that's quite high, although not the highest in the nation. Michigan may not be a utopia, but it's really quite a nice place to live. Despite the poverty of the city of Detroit, we're quite wealthy, being the 20th wealthiest state in the country. The media makes our state sound like a war zone, but you'd have to be a fool to believe everything they say. As a wise man once said, Don't believe everything you read. Especially if you've never seen whatever you're criticizing.

[RedWingsFan]

I don't think people are bashing Metro Detroit at all. Whenever I see negatives it's always just about Detroit. It's usually good things about he suburbs. Personally I think Detroit is a big mess but some of the suburbs are great. You can't lump the whole metro area into one because the city of Detroit is vastly different from the suburbs.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Originally Posted by RedWingsFan

I don't think people are bashing Metro Detroit at all. Whenever I see negatives it's always just about Detroit. It's usually good things about he suburbs. Personally I think Detroit is a big mess but some of the suburbs are great. You can't lump the whole metro area into one because the city of Detroit is vastly different from the suburbs.

That may be true, but in the eyes of most non Detroiters, Detroit is equal to Metro Detroit. No one makes the distinction because no one knows anything about Detroit's suburbs. You can't bash the central city and expect the suburbs to come out smelling like roses. Any problems with Detroit is a regional problem, not just a Detroit problem.

[Angel Bear]

Actually, I think Detroit has done more to improve the state of the State's economy as of late than the suburbs. They've done many things to improve downtown area and to bring more jobs to the city It actually feels more hopeful downtown to me than in the suburbs right now--wild, huh? All I see around me is homes for sale up here in the suburbs and I keep reading about all the foreclosures, etc.

I guess Detroit and Metro Detroit just need to diversity their economies somehow...I'm not an economist or politician, but it seems we just need to change somehow. Things will turn around.

BTW, I'm leaving and moving at some point, but I love it here. I just need a change of pace after 35 years of living here

[khfar]

This is an interesting post to me, since I just visited the Metro Detroit area for the first time. I'm born and raised in Dallas, but we are moving to the area in June. My husband works for a huge, non-auto company, and got a big promotion and transfer. His office is in Livonia.

Anyway, before I visited, I DID think metro Detroit was crap. These message boards haven't exactly helped, to be quite honest. SO many people, including locals, bash the area. But I have to say that I was very, very pleasantly surprised.

With my husband not being in the auto industry, he has very little chance for job downsizing. At least, not with his company. So we're good there. But aside from that, every single person I met last week in MI was amazing. They were ALL nice. And happy. It was not this horrible, awful, depressed area like so many have described.

I will never, EVER, like the Lions, or even the Tigers. But I can say for sure that this Texan will be perfectly happy in Michigan!

[iamweasel]

Originally Posted by khfar

This is an interesting post to me, since I just visited the Metro Detroit area for the first time. I'm born and raised in Dallas, but we are moving to the area in June. My husband works for a huge, non-auto company, and got a big promotion and transfer. His office is in Livonia.

Anyway, before I visited, I DID think metro Detroit was crap. These message boards haven't exactly helped, to be quite honest. SO many people, including locals, bash the area. But I have to say that I was very, very pleasantly surprised.

With my husband not being in the auto industry, he has very little chance for job downsizing. At least, not with his company. So we're good there. But aside from that, every single person I met last week in MI was amazing. They were ALL nice. And happy. It was not this horrible, awful, depressed area like so many have described.

I will never, EVER, like the Lions, or even the Tigers. But I can say for sure that this Texan will be perfectly happy in Michigan!

These message boards are a horrible representation of the city and metro area. I swear 80% of the posters here are pissed off at something and just want to come here to vent. I moved to Michigan from North Carolina in 1998 and I was VERY apprehensive about it because of similar reasons you were.

Almost 10 years later I'm still here and my girlfriend (now wife) moved up from North Carolina, too, and we're very happy. Sure the city of Detroit has some issues but there are a lot of things to do here in my opinion. (Including Downtown Detroit where we frequently go.) The metro area burbs I find to be wonderful and that was a shock to us. Where we come from suburbs are BORING but here there are very cool towns like Royal Oak, Birmingham, Plymouth, Northville, Ann Arbor, etc.

[Steve-o]

I dont live in MI, but Id love to comment here. Detroit is revitalizing itself, and that makes me very happy. Its sad to see a city that once played a major role in this country, reduced to burned out and abandoned buildings. Downtown is looking better and hopefully the Big Three will rebound soon.

Now, on to the rest of the state... its absolutely beautiful. I LOVE Michigan. Everywhere from Ann Arbor, to Holland, to Mackinac Island, to Sleeping Bear Dunes, to Traverse City, to the Porcupine Mountains State Park. When I retire, MI will definitely be a place that I consider, its absolutely beautiful. Be proud that your state holds such beauty, regardless of its current economic status. MI will rebound one day, mark my words. And when it does, be prepared for lots of people who want to relocate there, its a special place with an undeserved bad reputation. Once people discover what a gem it really is, theyll come in droves.

[M TYPE X]

Most places have boring suburbs. Chicago, Cleveland, and Indianapolis have hot downtowns and dull suburbs. Metro Detroit: Dead downtown, interesting suburbs ... and we might as well include Ann Arbor with that, although I do not think of AA as a suburb.

[Tex?Il?]

Wow! I am really happy to come across a positive Michigan/metro-Detroit post! I totally agree with Steve-O.

Michigan is absolutely gorgeous! I went to school in Marquette. Say yah to da U.P. eh? Its like New Hampshire/Maine with a different accent and freshwater seas.

I've been around metro Detroit a couple times before. Its seems to have so much to offer. I think its simply an image problem has to be overcome. Its sad to see how many locals though are saying such terrible things (which doesn't help) but if they are victims of recent lay-offs then I can understand how some might be pissed. Unless things have changed very recently, looking up "economy of metro Detroit" on wikipedia does acknowledge the problems but goes on to talk about the other companies headquartered there that have nothing to do with cars. I hope its all as good as it sounds.

Metro Detroit is Chicagolands smaller cousin that has had some tough times and an image problem, but will come through.

Go Michigan!

[and the]

Detroit's a great place to live. That's why so many people are moving there. There's a new wave of immigrants coming just like they did in the late 19th century. I went to Holy Redeemer yesterday for mass. I had to to 8:00am mass because the other three were all in Spanish.