[malachai23]

Hi, I'm just wondering what Pontiac, MI is like these days? Does it look nice and kept up or are there abandoned buildings everywhere? Is it relatively safe or has crime gotten the best of it? My parents grew up there some 70 years ago, and I am just curious what it's like nowadays. I wish I could Google-map it but their Street View map doesn't include Pontiac (yet). Thanks all!!

[stanman13]

Abandoned buildings everywhere.
Crime has gotten the best of it.

Pontiac has really struggled since the '70s. Despite various efforts at a comeback, with varying degrees of success (or lack thereof), it still struggles. The decline of the auto industry has hurt a lot, as has rampant city gov't corruption.

Sad to say, because Pontiac at one time was a very cool city.

[Dexterguy]

I have to agree with stanman above, Pontiac use to be a nice city (as you know) but it shares the same problems as Detroit does with a heavy auto influence, political corruption, white flight, and hurting schools.

I always laugh when people around here think of Pontiac as "suburban". I guess it kind of was at one time, but it really is the anchor city of the county (or at least it was).

[zthatzmanz28]

To me, Pontiac is a lot like Detroit was 10 years ago. In another 203 years it will probably look like Detroit did 2-3 years ago. It is just slightly behind the current state of Detroit but RAPIDLY catching up and looking more and more like Detroit. Maybe it can turn around if it has learned anything from Detroit??

[Dexterguy]

Originally Posted by zthatzmanz28

Maybe it can turn around if it has learned anything from Detroit??

I don't see it turning around anytime soon, the last time I went to Pontiac was to buy a violin at a music store that was open there for many many years, it gone and the store has never filled. Pontiac's downtown is like a ghost town, some parts, in my opinion, are worse than Detroit's downtown, at least Detroit has tried to make its downtown appealing to visitors.

There is one bright spot although, with this movie studio that is suppose to open in the old GM bus and truck plant.

But one thing is not going to bring back a city that has been in decline for decades already. Most of the people who live in Pontiac anyway, and who will be working at the movie studio, will not live in Pontiac.

[stanman13]

I've heard there is another movie studio preparing a bid for the Silverdome (one of the failed attempts at a comeback). If Pontiac can snag some of the movie business, that is at least some money coming into town.

There are some beautiful residential neighborhoods in town, unfortunately they suffer the same as Detroit's; walk two blocks and suddenly you don't want to be there anymore.

[MonkeyButler7000]

I grew up in Pontiac. When people ask me what it is like, I tell them that it is just a smaller version of Detroit, which I think is fairly accurate. They both experienced white flight, decline of the auto industry, etc. They also have both gone down the wrong path in an attempt to revitalize. In the 90s, there was a big push in downtown Pontiac with restuarants, clubs, and entertainment as a way to get the city going again. It was good for awhile, but eventually ran out of steam. It is the same as Detroit with the casinos. It isn't going to turn around a city with lots of problems.

I have been in in the military for a while, so I can only make it back to Pontiac once or twice a year most of the time. Every time I go back, it seems a bit worse. My elementary and middle schools are both now closed. The scum of society is taking over more of what used to be decent neighborhoods.

[Cliffie]

Believe it or not, I've seen the empty storefronts in Pontiac being filled with new businesses MUCH faster than they have been in Livingston County, which is the fastest-growing county in the state. The Indian Village area is still very nice and the "gentrified" area in the city center is still more or less holding its own. I LOVE the idea that a movie studio is going to be started there. That is going to kick keester.

[stanman13]

The movie studio will at least be something in the Silverdome. There are a couple of other projects being developed for bids. Whoever gets it, it will be better than the current tenants. Bet they put a real roof on it.

Last time I was in the regentrified area of downtown, it seemed pretty empty. That would have been last summer, thereabouts. Have things been going in more recently? There are some cool buildings/spaces there.

[Cliffie]

The last few times I was down there I didn't go that way. I'll try to remember to detour next time I make the pilgrimage to Carol's Paperbacks...