Does Detroit benefit from being next to Canada? (Highland Park: high crime, neighborhood)

[demonta4]

Just wondering does being next to Canada benefit Detroit in any way. How could it have an impact in the future?

[green_mariner]

Well, the Detroit-Windsor corridor is pretty much the busiest border crossing on the USA-Canada border. Alot of trade is done.

[ThePage]

Without Detroit Windsor would be dead long ago. You could see that in 1998 when there was no casino in the " D " All the cash flow at the small Windsor casino was coming from Detroit. And Windsor restaurant owners were dying to see Detroiters come to Windsor.
Not a surprise the new windsor casino is advertising more in Detroit than in Canada.

[zthatzmanz28]

Originally Posted by ThePage

Without Detroit Windsor would be dead long ago. You could see that in 1998 when there was no casino in the " D " All the cash flow at the small Windsor casino was coming from Detroit. And Windsor restaurant owners were dying to see Detroiters come to Windsor.
Not a surprise the new windsor casino is advertising more in Detroit than in Canada.

I believe this is backwards? At least in the last 5-10 years.

What stopped the Detroit flow to Windsor was the need for a passport or enhanced ID.

[North 42]

Originally Posted by ThePage

Without Detroit Windsor would be dead long ago. You could see that in 1998 when there was no casino in the " D " All the cash flow at the small Windsor casino was coming from Detroit. And Windsor restaurant owners were dying to see Detroiters come to Windsor.
Not a surprise the new windsor casino is advertising more in Detroit than in Canada.

Windsor has its own economy, and Detroit has its own as well. Sure there is a lot of connectivity between them, but the two cities really each do their own thing. Windsor is not a Canadian suburb of Detroit, but rather a sister city.
Of coarse Windsor business would advertise in Detroit, we are part of the Greater Detroit Region, and are closer to the city than most of its suburbs are! The interactions work both ways here, as both cities benefit from being across the border from each other!

[MS313]

Both cities benefit from eachother. I'm not sure if Windsor is there because of Detroit or not. But it is actually the largest city in the Detroit region after Detroit city. Combined it is a 5.7 million which is larger than what it says on the U.S census, the same goes for GDP output that's not counted. Idk what Windsor's GDP is but they have one of the largest automotive economies in Canada.

[North 42]

Both cities were settled in the 1700s, but Detroit grew faster than Windsor, so it has dominated the region to an extent, but neither city is there because of the other! Both cities also benefit from being across from each other in many ways, some of which are hard to define, but it makes for an interesting international region!

[DoggieMatic]

Plenty of us suburban Detroit area kids would go over to Windsor at least two weekends each month in the early 1980s when the drinking age over there was 19 -- I remember two very popular places called California's (a nightclub with dancing) & Canada Tavern (a bar).

Plenty of SE Michigan people would also go to Windsor for the "Windsor Ballet" -- nudie bars where the women were completely naked, and unlike in Michigan, alcohol could be served.

As someone who lived in downtown Detroit from 1997-2002, sometimes I went to Windsor simply to get a Slurpee from one of the numerous 7-11s there, since Detroit didn't have any 7-11s (because very few businesses wanted to operate 24/7 in Detroit, thanks to the high crime rate). Imagine the strange looks I got from Customs Canada & US Customs/Border Patrol when I'd honestly tell them I was crossing the international border because I wanted a Slurpee!

I also would cross over into Windsor for a lot of shopping -- Costco, clothes shopping at that major mall (Windsor Mall?), some grocery shopping, and usually would get lunch/dinner while there. Why would I go to Windsor? Few decent, clean stores in Detroit with decent, polite staff & clientele, and for many things, factoring-in the U$ <--> Canadian dollar exchange rate, the items could be cheaper in Windsor, even factoring in GST/PST (& I'd get the non-resident GST refund before I crossed back into Detroit).

When I lived in downtown Detroit, the closest Detroit grocery store was Harbortown Market -- pretty grimy, high prices, and numerous times I found expired dairy products still on the shelves. Driving on E Jefferson Ave to get there could be a safety risk, especially on a warm Friday or Saturday night when many young Detroiters were headed to or from Belle Isle. The Farmer Jack's along Woodward Ave in Highland Park was nice, but not as close as what most people would be accustomed to for their neighborhood grocery store & in terms of overall safety & security, Windsor was always preferential.


As for Canadians spending $$ in the SE Michigan area, certainly hockey games at Joe Louis Arena when the Red Wings were playing a Canadian team, maybe some minor shopping, but I certainly think the Windsor area benefited more than the Detroit area did.

When you crossed-over into Windsor, Customs Canada had automatic license plate readers that'd scan your license plate & then pull up the information on the vehicle's registered owner (as well as other info) on the computer screen in the officer's kiosk. If you had expired registration, Canada would refuse you entry. If you had a criminal record, they might refuse you entry or search your vehicle. If you had a warrant out for your arrest, they'd detain you for the US authorities or refuse you entry. Lots of Detroiters stayed away from Canada because of that.

[Monty870]

Both cities benefit by being on the largest trade route in North America. Something like 30% of the trade between Canada and the U.S. goes over the Detroit River. Neither city relies on the other (they both have their own distinct economies that are essentially separate). Windsorites certainly take advantage of the big city items like pro sports, big-name concerts, etc.

[Bhaalspawn]

Two cities, so close and yet...very different countries. I remember looking across the river at Windsor, longingly, and saying to myself, "They have health care over there."