Living in Downtown Detroit Lofts (Brooklyn: appointed, apartments, renting)

[karenroth]

I'm considering moving back to Detroit, having left in 1988 to move to New York, and have lived in Brooklyn since 1993. However, my neighborhood in Williamsburg, as well as most other Brooklyn areas, has become just too expensive because of the rise of new apartment buildings and condos that appeal to young people who are willing to pay enormous rents in order to share their space with several others. I am an artist and have been reading about the new loft spaces in downtown Detroit. Could someone please give me a realistic picture of what living in one of these buildings would be like. I'm interested in finding out about grocery and clothes shopping, entertainment, transportation, walking around (since that's what I enjoy about New York) and more? It would be greatly appreciated.

[MS313]

Well downtown and midtown are the most (as CD people say) "walkable" places in the region. But don't get the thought in your head that the PT or walkablility is comparable to NYC. You will be disappointed. But your from Detroit so im sure you know better. Since downtown Detroit is still kind of in it's earlier stages of revitalizing, the region is still spread out so your going to have to get used to taking freeways to get to quite a few places again. If you plan on not having a car, goodluck. The shopping is starting to show some life downtown, (they have a few stores but nothing major yet and Somerset Collection did a few popup shops on Woodward last summer) but you still got at least a few years (hopefully) before you get your 5th Ave shopping spree type experience so until then your going to have to take the freeways. But as far as restaurants, museums, events, concerts, casinos, pro sports, entertainment in general you will not have to leave downtown (unless you love the Pistons). Grocery stores I will say that by the time you move here the Whole Foods in Midtown will probably be up and running by then. If not then Eastern Market is there.

You should watch this whole video, it pretty much has what you ask for and more if you plan on getting incentives and stuff for moving down there (I think there still doing it).

This is Home - Live in Downtown Detroit - YouTube

I think around last year there was so many people moving downtown and midtown that it had a 100% occupancy rate and people were being put on waiting list. There are building new apartments, condos, lofts now I believe. But if you do decide to move in the area, you better do it quick because if people keep renting/ buying property faster then they can build new residential places, and if the housing market keeps recovering, more big time developers are going to drive the prices up crazy in the downtown/midtown area. But your living in NYC so I wouldn't worry about it being too expensive for you for some years. You always could get more for your money in Detroit then NYC and you probably always will so you will be fine. But you should however get it while it's cheap, at this rate, it's not going to last long. Many people are waiting to take advantage and make big bucks out of Detroit.