[jaynarie]

Originally Posted by Meer1234

For those who feel and say Flint, Michigan is depressing or dead, I'm here to tell you different.

Talk to a teacher or one of the thousands of licensed teachers with out a job, and you may change your mind about that. No offense. I know you were reffering to the downtown rehibilitation, and that is wonderful. However, I fear it is all for naught since people are dropping like flies in the area.



I grew up in Davison and all my life I wanted to be a teacher in Davison schools. Namely, Central Elementary where I went to elementary and my grandma attended high school. I never wanted to leave. But, I tried for two years to get a job, subbed for the district and never even came close to a job. Nor did I come close to a job in any other district in about a 100 mile radius.

So, here I am in North Carolina. I definitely like the winter better However, I terribly miss my family and schools in the south can not compare to Michigan schools. Academically or cosmetically. Especially a district like Davison.

So, hopefully, Flint and Michigan can turn it around. A sooner better than later. I want to come home.

[cowpunkrva]

>Going to North Carolina....just like everyone else it seems

Why is everybody movin down South? I really don't like it. It's supposed to be the other way around! We're supposed to be the ones who have to move to make a living. I can't imagine why people think it will be any easier down here. Most of the South is significantly poorer than the north. Well anyway just remember, you're in our parts now, so you better get used to our culture and our way of life. And you better stop making fun of us on TV!

[treefrog]

I'm tired beyond words of those who so fervently criticize Flint. It's quite true that there's great need for improvement yet, I must say, that I'm quite content here (and that's coming from one who resides in the city limits). Both my parents are professionals (I'm 17) and we live in Flint's upscale Woodcroft community whose residents include various physicians, lawyers, engineers, executives, the Mayor, notable persons of Academia, and other such professionals. This community was (is) home to Flint's "Old Money" and as such, the architecture is amazing. Geographically, Woodcroft is close to Flint's best shopping, is easily accessible by freeway, and is only a quick 40-50 minute ride to the gorgeous Somerset Collection (which we frequent) and other parts of Metro Detroit.

Oh, and there's plenty of culture in Flint: Simply google the renowned FIM, Arts, etc.

And even better: the housing prices are so much less; estate homes in Woodcroft range from about $500K to about $800-$900K. In places like Bloomfield Hills, the Pointes, and in Chicago's upscale locales many would easily go for $2-$3MIL easily. This has allowed us to purchase a summer home in Key West and travel internationally 2-3 times a year as opposed to 1-2 when we lived in Metro Detroit and Chicago .

[nycjefftrain]

This may be appropriate for another thread but I noticed the "hard to get a teaching job" comments showed up so I'd like to make a comparison. I grew up in Metro Detroit(Farmington Hills) and a number of my teachers had southern accents. We asked them where they were from and their reply was always "Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina" I always wondered why they would move so far up north just to teach?? Then I met one of my mom's teacher friends. She too was originally from the south and I asked her why she moved and she said back in the 70s, the Michigan districts used to come down to the schools and recruit them because they were growing so fast and there weren't any jobs in the south. I find it quite ironic that the opposite is now happening. Everything seems to shift.

Also, anywhere that is considered an older community, its much tougher to find a teaching job bc the infrastucture is already there and they arent building anymore schools. Also, the teachers don't leave till they retire, unlike the private sector. It's not just Michigan, it's tough to find a teaching job in the NORTH USA, period. I live in NJ and people I know are subbing like crazy...but nothing permanent yet. I'd say the next 5 to 10 years it will get better bc the baby boomers will be retiring.

[jaynarie]

Teaching is cyclical. You have to go where the people are. Back in the 60s and 70s, there weren't good jobs in the South, so they were fleeing to the North. Now, it is the other way around. So, teachers are in demand in the South and a dime a dozen in the north. Hopefully, the retirement of the baby boomers will help things out. But, if the population decreases, nothing will change. Most districts aren't replacing retirees as is.

Unfortunately, many people can't wait 5-10 years for a job, either. I tried for two years, and was working 75+ hours a week to make ends meet. I graduated and those student loan bills started coming but I wasn't making any more money...

[deleckidesign]

Originally Posted by Nickc121

As for Flint.....my whole family back had worked in the GM plants and have all taken buyouts for early retirement. Those were the only high paying jobs left. Now there is no reason at all to move to Flint. There are a lot of smart people going to school at U of M Flint but can any of them hang around? Probably not

It's funny...I moved to Flint, Michigan (suburbs) when I was 12 because both of my parents jobs at GM/Delphi got transferred up here (the old office building on Grand Traverse and Hemphill(?)). My mom has since retired and my step-dad still works at Delphi in Troy (for how long, who knows?).

I have since stayed in the Flint area as I went to college at both Mott and UM-Flint...and so did my husband. We both worked menial jobs while going through college...and have always stayed in this area because of not wanting to move away from family. After my husband graduated from UM-Flint, we stayed in Burton. I was still going to school and he was working in Fenton...and we had no idea where I was going to be working after graduating. Turns out, I graduated and found a great job in Downtown Flint a month later! It's lucky that I found it...and somewhat ironic that I managed to find a job IN Flint. So...no plans to move out of the area. But, like you said, I doubt many people will be able to do that!

[Tricia819]

I would LOVE to see Flint rebound. A lot of people are suggesting that Flint will eventually become a second Ann Arbor. Afterall, Flint has one of the best engineering schools in the country, U of M-Flint is expanding, and there is a TON of affordable housing. However, Flint needs to replace all the old and decrepid (sp?) schools, we need to hire a lot more police officers, and we really need to find new industries to replace GM.

I've lived in Flint for 30 years and I've never had a problem. I lived downtown a couple blocks from U of M-Flint for two years and I LOVED LOVED LOVED it!!! I walked everywhere and we were able to watch the 4th of July fireworks from our living room. There used to be a carnival downtown every summer in the U of M University pavilion lot. We also used to walk through the waterways down by the river. We also used to ice skate at Water St. Pavillion when I was a kid. I really wish U of M would re-open the rink. Our apartment was bigger than our house is now.

[Ann_Arbor]

Flint will not be the next Ann Arbor

Downtowns all across America are renovating/ re-inventing themselves- it’s a trend that has already taken place for most places- cleaning up from urban blight from the late 60s to early 90s. Michigan cities, unfortunately, are much later than most states. Also, a lot of cities are just superficially cleaning up their downtowns, which, is great since it sets a platform for future inhabitation, but it leaves a false impression on the true nature of the place (e.g. Saginaw St. is a very part of the entire city). The true mark of a city’s turn-around is more economical- is their a demand to live in the inner-city? Is there a considerable influx of new downtown businesses that are economically self-sustaining?

I’ve lived in both Port Huron and Kalamazoo; I currently go to grad school in Ann Arbor. There is a huge difference between a city that grew up around auto manufacturing (Det., Flint, Sag.) and a diverse group of economies Kalamazoo. Ann Arbor is an anomaly in this state.

[dori36]

Originally Posted by Meer1234

For those who feel and say Flint, Michigan is depressing or dead, I'm here to tell you different. I have lived in the Flint area almost 60 years. I know all the neighborhoods and work full time downtown (yeah..and I'm not scared yet!) I have watched the downtown area go from booming to boarded up and now I drive down Saginaw Street almost every day to check the positive changes. It is so inspiring! I have never had my cars broken into and I have never been robbed or accosted. I don't run for the suburbs at dark either. While the downtown area continues to improve, I go to the YWCA for exercise and to see friends, go to church at St. Matt's (have you ever seen a more beautiful church in your life???) and stop to eat one of those famous Supreme Deluxes with Olives or one of those Torchburgers. When everything gets fixed and looks beautiful and all the people come to see, I will stand on the corner of Kearsley and Saginaw Streets and think, "Yes, you have come around...just like we knew you would. You look good, but I always loved you, even back then."

Nice observation in a rather dour thread on Flint. I also grew up in Flint around the same time you apparently did. I attended St. Matts school for 12 yrs and rode a city bus home after school. Headed downtown on foot first (after school) for a cherry Coke and comaraderie at Smith Bridgemans (Smith B's). Yes, I'm showing my age and I'm saddened to see the decline in Flint and other urban areas. The high gas prices may benefit the cities as people discover it's really nice to walk to work instead of commuting and burning so much gas. Let's hope that soon those downtown areas rebound to offer housing and jobs to walk to!

[Nickc121]

Originally Posted by cowpunkrva

>Going to North Carolina....just like everyone else it seems

Why is everybody movin down South? I really don't like it. It's supposed to be the other way around! We're supposed to be the ones who have to move to make a living. I can't imagine why people think it will be any easier down here. Most of the South is significantly poorer than the north. Well anyway just remember, you're in our parts now, so you better get used to our culture and our way of life. And you better stop making fun of us on TV!

I would hardly call Raleigh the "south." The culture here is basically the same as in Michigan considering that the area is made up primarily of relo's. And yes life has been easier down here. Its all about what field you work in. My wife couldnt find a teaching job in Michigan. Now we're both doing what we love and doing well. And raleigh certainly isn't poor. I've seen more mansions in a few months here than I had my whole life in michigan.