Worst areas in Detroit (Sherwood: live in, most dangerous, shops)

[Jwo85]

Originally Posted by TallDude7

how can anybody move from beautiful Arizona to the craphole Detroit? You must be a wanted fugitive. It is a know fact a lot of fugitives move to Detroit because their police cars aren't linked to the nationwide criminal computers. Detroit is beyond hope. The worst city I ever lived in

Remember New York City?. Times square was nothing but filled with porno theatres that had man love juice all over the back of the seats from the most perverted and crimals of all kinds. Things can change.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by Jwo85

Remember New York City?. Times square was nothing but filled with porno theatres that had man love juice all over the back of the seats from the most perverted and crimals of all kinds. Things can change.

Things can absolutely change! I believe in that and we've all seen it with cities gentrifying over the past 20 years or so. But, I think New York City is a special circumstance, and can't really be compared to Detroit. People flock to NYC in droves to live, and the energy and excitement and history of NYC make it a US and world destination. Real Estate is the highest in the country, and property values remain the highest even in this economy.

Not to knock Detroit while it's down, but Detroit has none of the things NYC has, and is in much, much, worse shape than a run-down pre-1980s Times Square district. There are layers upon layers of problems facing Detroit, and it's not as simple as just gentrifying a few blocks.

[binarystar25]

Some of the worst areas I've seen Have to be Chene ave. off Mack ave.
Gratiot around rochelle st., troester, madaline, & 7mile and chalmers is pretty bad. I-94 and chalmers is like crack and heroin central these days it really sucks trap houses everywhere there. I'm an east detroiter so I dont know to much about the westside. but highland park seems really horrible and thats just what ive seen driving down woodward. There are to many bad drug streets and and vacant streets to name.

[slamont61]

Oh cities can change alright. Pittsburgh is one prime example. Once the Industry Smoot capital of the United States, the entire region has undergone a complete transformation. Gone are the staple of the economy, the Steel Mills and the thousands of jobs they brought to the economy.

It wasn't an over night deal either. First we had the economic collapse of the Steel Industry. Half the workforce was made to re-think and re-train it's population. A generation of workers had to retire, even if early. There were years of benefits and as many of those receipiants fell off the rolls, the were gone forever. Some re-emerged in other jobs, some held on for temporary work in their former field. Eventually most of the mills were razed and the area around them re-born. As the workforce was swapped out from Labor to Technology, more and more companies arrived on the scene.

Over the couple decades that this all occurred the environment was also transformed and the city cleaned up. The waters in the once almost dead rivers were re-born with marine life and also recreation.

The whole process took time and it took cooperation. It also took many people a short while to disappear off the planet. They went from receiving unemployment to early retierment. Many of them refused to go through the Welfare process and went directly to Done. They were far too proud. It helped make the area look as if it had recovered more quickly.

Pittsburgh is a completely different place than it once was. Pre 1970 Pittsburgh does not exactly exist in the same way, except for the wonderful architecture that exists throughout the city's neighborhoods. The once depressed area is now a proud and beautiful area.

Detroit has a ways to go, it hasn't even recognized that the end is clearly near. The same exact thing is occuring in Motown as did happen in Pittsburgh, except that it is on a grander scale. It will take a monumental effort from all parties involved in order to accomplish the task. It can happen, there is proof. The job ahead is very intimidating and seemingly impossible. There needs to be some bright and initiative leadership folk to appear and they need to be accepted. Everyone needs to pitch in, everyone on every side of the fence. There will be wounds and scars will be left. However ultimately Detroits survival depends on people becoming involved. Now not later.

[Tom Nokia]

How is the area by the windsor/detroit border area? I just got in to UDM law school on jefferson ave. ANd was wondering what that area is like?

[teejuris]

The "worst" areas in Detroit are probably the "deep west" and "deep east" sides of Detroit. Safest suburbs: Difficult to answer because anywhere in MI non-Detroit is typically deemed as "safe"! The only suburbs of Detroit that would probaby be considered unsafe are some of the "Downriver" cities (Wyandotte, Southgate, Allen Park & Lincoln Park), Hamtramck, Highland Park, Oak Park, Hazel Park and Mt. Clemens.

[Slimpickins]

Originally Posted by Angel Bear

If you're talkin' Detroit proper, I'd have to vote for the Cass Corridor as the worst area in Detroit.

The Cass Corridor isn't so bad anymore. Especially north of MLK Jr. Blvd. However if you want to see a sight, drive down MLK Jr towards third street. There is a large homeless population that stays around a shelter near there. IMO this area is not too threatening. I heard it used to be a hell of a lot worse in the 90s and it got a reputation because of it.

As far as some of the worst neighborhoods? The State Fair neighborhood is no picnic in the park (the area sandwiched between the State Fairgrounds and 7 mile. There's a lot of Dope traffic all over the city but it is often concentrated in areas in which neighborhoods were cut off by freeways, which makes it easy for dope-buying suburbanites who take the freeway down to get a fix. It also cuts off the neighborhood from watchful eyes and/or cops. So if you're looking for a bad neighborhood try Fenkell ave, Dexter-Linwood (most neighborhoods between the Lodge and Jeffries freeway) 7 mile east of woodward, all of mcnichols, conner avenue (city airport and freeways are a factor,) Mack ave, Harper. Southwest side has some really nice neighborhoods but also some really terrible adjacent ones. I frequent mexicantown a lot without fear. Del-ray is terrible and smells like sulphur. If you really want an interesting sight try driving down W Robinwood right east of Woodward. It is a one-way that goes into woodward so you'll have to drive down Goldengate to get to it. Most of the houses on Robinwood in that block are burned out shells. Be sure to stop in the vegetarian cafe on the corner of Goldengate and Woodward for some of the finest food in the city. Get the stir-fry. The streets south of Robinwood contrast it directly as they are actually very nice in the block right off of Woodward. Nice homes, kept yards, families, etc.

Unfortunately it is much easier to list the nice neighborhoods as there aren't too many of them. Surprisingly the East Outer Drive community isn't so bad. Most houses off of Outer Drive in that area are occupied by families. Boston-Edison is nice. Indian Village. Palmer woods. Wayne State area. Woodbridge.

I love Detroit for the good and the bad and I find both extremes inspiring enough to continue living here. There are a lot of surprises to be had in this city...

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by Tom Nokia

How is the area by the windsor/detroit border area? I just got in to UDM law school on jefferson ave. ANd was wondering what that area is like?

Offices mostly. It is empty and quiet on most nights. LIvely on Friday and Saturday along the riverfront in nice weather and during Hockey games or events. Loads of events. Downtown is safer than many other areas of Detroit. If I were single and young, I would consider living down here. There are a lot of neat places and a lot going on. I might invest in some pepper spray or mace if I was going to live here. Just to be safe.

Much of the time, you can wlak around downtown at night and encounter no one or only a couple of homeless people. The people who live downtown mostly live in condos and seem to stay along the waterfront.

Nearby Greektown is lively. I like Corktown as well. It is not as lively as greektown.

the eastern market area is pretty neat. The area around Wayne State is also decent.

I

[Ummagumma]

The problem with Detroit is that it's a self-segregated and self-isolated, nearly racially pure, hostile to outsiders community. Sort of like old Pretoria in reverse. And much unlike Pittsburgh, NYC, Cleveland, Chicago or any other city that pulled a turnaround in the last 10-15 years. Even in their worst times all of these other cities were culturally, racially and economically diverse. Add to this a corrupt city government that's unable to govern, and a huge crime rate. While some isolated areas of Detroit may get cleaned up and heavily patrolled to the point of being artificially safe, I can't see any turnaround of Detroit in my lifetime, short of a major miracle. Most people living in "Metro Detroit" spend more time in downtown Chicago than in downtown Detroit.

[ocean2026]

This has a really good discussion of wthe worst

http://www.city-data.com/forum/detro...hborhoods.html