[Jacksonista]

Originally Posted by Sociologist

Jackson is dead, and was dead the moment manufacturing began to outsource...you can glorify the small parks and the one bike trail that exist in the area, but what goes on behind the scenes makes Jackson a scary place. How can anybody say that it is a even "decent" place when the local government has done NOTHING to improve the quality of life for its residents? Even in times such as now, they pretend that business will come flocking to the area for what? House prices that have fallen faster than a rock, crime, drugs that run rampant (and yes, I know first hand of the substance abuse problem in Jackson..I worked at Washington way). Its not the people who see the truth that are "nay sayers" but are correct in saying so. Some of the highest teen pregnancy rates, teen STD rates, one of the highest Infant Death Mortality rate in the COUNTRY. This is a soft spot for me when someone defends something that is simply wrong. Ask any medical professional at Allegiance Health care about any situation pertaining to young adults and the facts are alarming. Jackson is hugely divided by those who work at 1 of 3 employers...the others must squander to find sub 10/hr jobs that feed 3. If you can't see the reality of that city by looking at the condition of 80% of its homes then your just denying reality.

you must know everything. good luck to you. there is nothing good here. there is nothing positive here. there is nothing to look forward to. you should pack it in. leave now before you turn to dust...

[MittenDweller82]

Originally Posted by Jacksonista

you must know everything. good luck to you. there is nothing good here. there is nothing positive here. there is nothing to look forward to. you should pack it in. leave now before you turn to dust...

No, I don't know everything but I can name many people who live there that think and feel the same way. I did leave, before I turned to dust, and hopefully everyone that wants a future will do the same.

[Giesela]

I hate when the OP doesn't come back and talk about their decision.

[missikie]

My husband is being considered for a job in Jackson. He is originally from Illinois, so would probably have no trouble adjusting. I, however, was born in California. I did, however, gow up an a small farm before our "wine country" became overun with Silicon Valley and Los Angeles big wigs who ran up our housing prices and plowed over our farms to build shopping centers and subdivisions.

I have a 9 year-old son who is surrounded by video games and friends who don't have a moment to relax because their parents have them signed up for every after-school activity imaginable. We long for a simpler life, like I had as a child. an acre or two for pets and gardening, good schools and friendly neighbors.

I have been looking into Grass Lake and Chelsea (as I have read not to live "in" Jackson). Any other nice areas to consider? Any areas near a college so I finish my degree?

[needing more]

Originally Posted by Giesela

I hate when the OP doesn't come back and talk about their decision.

The OP came back and said he decided to move to Jackson and thanks for all input. Which usually means he was done on here... Some just dont know how to drop things..

[WheredoIlive?]

Originally Posted by MittenDweller82

No, I don't know everything but I can name many people who live there that think and feel the same way. I did leave, before I turned to dust, and hopefully everyone that wants a future will do the same.

I dont know why people are you giving you a hard time.

When I lived in Hillsdale, I went to Jackson many many times, there were a few decent places, I used to go Catherines and that one magazine store up on the little hill, the Ground Round also was a very nice restaurant as well as Bob Evans.

But Jackson has a horrible ghetto, that used to scare me even getting on edges of it and the downtown is barely making it, at least in 2006.. I am sure like everywhere there are a few nice neighborhoods, and I saw some of those too in Jackson, but Jackson would not be my choice of a town to move to. I would live in Brooklyn and commute or something.

[alleghenyangel]

Jackson is actually a charming small city. It has a lot of beautiful victorian architecture downtown, and has the gritty urban feel of a much larger city. I grew up in Howell and loved visiting Jackson, exploring downtown, and going to the antique stores. There is also a neat, restored movie theater downtown which plays old movies. I was in Jackson last year and I was surprised by how well it was holding up in a recession -- there seemed to be a lot of activity downtown and plenty of functioning store fronts and restaurants for a supposedly "dying" city. Yes, it will be hard to find a job in the area, but Jackson is a fascinating place full of history.

Don't let people scare you. One of the main reasons I moved out of Michigan last year, apart from lack of jobs, was the lack of real cities. Jackson resembles, more than most Michigan cities, the diversity and urban density you find in older eastern cities. It has more potential than most Michigan cities -- unfortunately most Michiganders do not like cities. They prefer their suburban-like strip malls and shopping centers to the authentic urban brick and mortar style of downtown Jackson!

[deslok]

I love cities, Chicago, Miami, Hartland Wisconsin(village), nice places. Jackson is not one of those. True, it is a real city, but it hardly is anything people that did not grow up in MIchigan are clamoring to go visit or live in. Can this thread be dropped anyways?

[alleghenyangel]

Someone with imagination could find much to love in Jackson: the history, the small city charm, the beautiful architecture (Jackson has a collection of the oldest churches in the state). Jackson also has a real downtown movie theater, something Lansing and Grand Rapids do not have. Jackson also has the density of a larger city, because it has not been plagued by horrible urban renewal projects and a sea of parking lots (aka Lansing). Jackson also has naturally beautiful scenery, rolling hills, affordable homes, etc.

It's a shame that people cannot find beauty in places like Jackson, Wheeling, Butte, and all those other cool micropolitan cities across America.