[Bhaalspawn]

Originally Posted by fuzion79

backtomichi,The auto companies dominate so much that any thought of implementing a subway/train system to link the metro areas and the city has been dismissed...over and over again. A rail system is VITAL if the city wants to make a comeback. People realize this, the government realizes it....yet they still cater to the needs of the auto companies and thus dismiss any action toward implementing it.

I get real tired of hearing this claim that the Detroit area needs a subway system. Look around you--the activity in the metro area is spread out across the entire metro area; it isn't congregated within a couple square miles. In order to make subways or railways feasible, people need to be able to get off the train and then walk less than half-a-mile to wherever it is that they want to go. However, the places people want to go are so greatly dispersed that it won't work here; we'd have to have subways or rail lines for every mile road. It might be nice to have trains that go to Comerica Park, Ford Field, and the casinos, and perhaps a train line or two could be established as a novelty to service them. People to go to work downtown, but unlike other cities that have mass transit, the economic activity that occurs downtown during the week days is only a small fraction of the activity that occurs across the metro area.

In short--for the Detroit area--elevated trains and subways are a touchy-feeley idea that sounds good but that doesn't make economic sense in practice. By the way, the Twin Cities, Minneapolis-St. Paul, are even more spread out and that city does not have elevated trains or subways (good bus system, though), and it doesn't seem to have hurt that city.

Instead, the transit money would be best spent on trying to improve the state's business climate. Have any CEOs come out and said that the reason they haven't considered Michigan as a location for their business's offices or manufacturing facilities is a lack of mass transit?

[Bhaalspawn]

Regarding people who are considering relocating to Michigan as part of a job transfer, if it's really voluntary, then serious consideration needs to be given to the condition of the state's economy. Will your spouse be able to find a job? If your job vaporizes (these things can happen) then you'll be dumped into the Michigan job market. Also, if you bought a home and want to relocate, it might be very hard to sell it without losing money on it.

I love my home state. Except for the condition of the economy, it's a great place to live and I find my home state's decline to be very very sad. Even in good times the cost of living is relatively low and the quality of life is pretty high--fresh air, open space, lakes, greenery. However, at the same time, I am a huge believer that supply and demand can play a large role in people's lives, which is why I advise people who are looking for work to leave the state if they can.

It doesn't bother me that fellow Michiganders are talking smack about the state in this forum. Many of us have suffered or know friends and loved ones who have suffered through these hard times and we need a place to vent and to commisserate.

[gordonandpeggy]

Hi Everyone:

I feel you are doing your state and mostly yourself an injustice. Take us for example, wWe are being relocated from Florida to Michigan. This is for a well paid position, so they do exist there, to the Detroit area. We will be in the market for a house around the 300K to 350K mark. So if you are trying to sell your house, don't you think it would make sense to welcome us, if nothing else, as prospective buyers to your area. All I have read is scaring me into perhaps not accepting to position. So who benefits from that?? Perhaps what Michigan needs is some fresh new residents who are excited to be there. Think about it, who else is going to buy your homes you say you can't sell??

[tym2retyr]

I have lived here for 58 years, and still love the state. Do we have economic problems,yes. Is there a decline in government and management,yes. But the thing you have to realize is, we voted these people into office, we can,if need be, vote them out. politicans need to be held accountable. If they make promises during their campain, hold them accountable. I live in norther Michigan, and have had the pleasure of obtaining a good job here. Been at the same job for 24 years making a good wage. There are jobs to be had here, all you have to do is go look for them. I spent the first 19 years of my life in the Mt.Clemens area, and loved it. After I got out of the military, we relocated to the north, and love it even more. This is really an awesome state if you take the time to see what it has to offer. If all you like to do is party, and have to have vast amounts of nightlife, well I don't know what to tell you there as we have learned to live in the peace and tranquility of the north. We are planning a move out of stste, but not for any of the reasons I have read here. We just want new adventures, and be close to family during my retirement years. Would I move to Michigan, yes, definately. Its a beautiful place to live and bring up a family. I can't/won't badmouth the SE section as I haven't been there in twenty years. There is just too much for me to do right where I'm at. All states have their problems, its just a way of life these days. But with a little effort, a person can do wonders no matter where they choose to hang there hat. We are Americans, and the one thing I learned a long time ago about being an American is we can adapt. Its not hard, you just have to be able to bend a little. So for those of you out there that have thought about coming to Michigan, I welcome you. May you find the peace that we have enjoyed for so many years. But, bring bug dope if you come in spring.

[michiganmoon]

The things that should scare the Michigan newcomers the most is the lack of innovation that this state has had lately. Namely in the auto industry and my beloved University of Michigan football!

This state is a great place though. I don't think there is much better in this world than a huge park filled with sanddunes, forest and bordered by a freshwater lake that you can't see across.

[pjmiami]

Great points, gordonandpeggy; I don't know how long you've lived in Florida, or what area, but based on my own experiences living in both states, I think you will find some wonderful positives living in Michigan that simply don't exist here in Florida, at least not in S. Florida. For one, the people of Michigan are generally friendlier, and more helpful than those I encounter in FL. Michigan also has much more open space and natural beauty in my opinion--I find the coast of Lake Michigan every bit as beautiful, if not more so, than the Atlantic coast, and its far less crowded. Also, while the economic climate between the two states is vastly different, I do think Florida is on its way to hitting a boiling point and that we will see a significant downturn here too. Michigan has a ways to go, but I firmly believe it will again see good economic times--who knows when, but it will certainly happen.

While SE Michigan, and namely the Detroit area have all kinds of problems, so does Miami. And, there are several areas around Detroit that are quite lovely, such as parts of Bloomfield Hills. Perhaps you will be one of the lucky ones who can afford to have the full Michigan living experience with a house in close to where you work and a lake cottage on one of Michigan's beautiful lakes for weekend retreat--now that's living!

Originally Posted by gordonandpeggy

Hi Everyone:

I feel you are doing your state and mostly yourself an injustice. Take us for example, wWe are being relocated from Florida to Michigan. This is for a well paid position, so they do exist there, to the Detroit area. We will be in the market for a house around the 300K to 350K mark. So if you are trying to sell your house, don't you think it would make sense to welcome us, if nothing else, as prospective buyers to your area. All I have read is scaring me into perhaps not accepting to position. So who benefits from that?? Perhaps what Michigan needs is some fresh new residents who are excited to be there. Think about it, who else is going to buy your homes you say you can't sell??

[gordonandpeggy]

Thanks for taking the time to share some of the positives of the area. We have lived in St Petersburg FL for the past 7 years, however I am originally from Ft Lauderdale. So I understand the many draw backs of Florida more than most. I am looking forward to the open green areas. As you know, here there are very few. Well if all goes well we will have an opportunity to visit the area within the next few weeks. My biggest concern is how hard the adjustment to the cold will be.

[khfar]

Originally Posted by gordonandpeggy

Hi Everyone:

I feel you are doing your state and mostly yourself an injustice. Take us for example, wWe are being relocated from Florida to Michigan. This is for a well paid position, so they do exist there, to the Detroit area. We will be in the market for a house around the 300K to 350K mark. So if you are trying to sell your house, don't you think it would make sense to welcome us, if nothing else, as prospective buyers to your area. All I have read is scaring me into perhaps not accepting to position. So who benefits from that?? Perhaps what Michigan needs is some fresh new residents who are excited to be there. Think about it, who else is going to buy your homes you say you can't sell??

Thank you SO much for your post! We too, are being relocated to Michigan. We are born and raised Texans, so this move is difficult enough as it is. I have basically stopped reading the message boards, because all of the information I've read about MI is so DEPRESSING. My husband works for a very good, stable company (not in the auto industry), so fortunately we don't have the worry of a lay-off.

What area are you guys looking into (assuming you are moving to the Detroit area, that is)? Good luck with the transfer!

K

[gordonandpeggy]

Thanks for the encouragement. At least I l know we are not the only ones in this situation. This relocation is huge enough as it is, not to mention the additional fear factor everyone is laying on us. If we accept the offer, my husband will be working in the Farmington Hills area. We have not been there yet, but are planning to go up within the next couple of weeks. But doing all the research now has been quite eye opening. Glad to know I am not alone. Let me know what area you are looking into as well. Good Luck to you and your husband.

[khfar]

Originally Posted by gordonandpeggy

Thanks for the encouragement. At least I l know we are not the only ones in this situation. This relocation is huge enough as it is, not to mention the additional fear factor everyone is laying on us. If we accept the offer, my husband will be working in the Farmington Hills area. We have not been there yet, but are planning to go up within the next couple of weeks. But doing all the research now has been quite eye opening. Glad to know I am not alone. Let me know what area you are looking into as well. Good Luck to you and your husband.

Well, if it makes you feel any better, my husband is already living there, and he likes it fine so far. I mean, it isn't "home" (TX will always be our home), and things are very different up there, but he thinks the people are nice so far. And everyone in his office really likes where they live, and the areas that surround them (and quite a few of those folks are transplants, too). Obviously, the cold is what sucks, but I suppose you just get through it somehow. And for us, we know the move isn't permanent - 4 years tops - so I do have something to look forward to if I'm totally miserable in MI!

My husband's office is in Livonia, and we are looking into a lot of different areas. I haven't been up to visit yet, but have found homes on Realtor.com in Novi, W. Bloomfield, Royal Oak, and a few other places. People keep telling us that the commute might be bad in some areas, but what I don't think they know is that Dallas is SUPER spread out, and 30-60 minute commutes are pretty standard for a lot of people here. SO...the commute isn't too big of a deal for us.