Urban Prairie - Morgan Street (Detroit, Rockford: crime, houses, neighborhoods)

[BayAreaHillbilly]

I was looking at Google and noticed that Morgan Street (a cross street of Van Dyke, a bit west of Coleman Young Airport) is mostly urban prairie. How long has this been the case? When did most of the homes get destroyed?

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Anyone know the history of this area? How long have the houses been gone? Are there any small farms going in?

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Based on some observations, I conclude that the area around Morgan Street has most of its depopulation around the same time as St. Cyril. That was during the 1980s, correct? Anyone know for sure?

[Vicman]

Someone should turn this into a farm. Seriously - Make it into a potato farm or something

[Dexterguy]

Most of that area started to decline in the 1980's as you mentioned, with many of the houses getting demolished in the late 1980's - 1990's.

Honestly, I would not eat a single thing that is grown in Detroit. Those areas where houses once stood are very contaminated. No one really does know what was put into those grounds dating back all the way to the 1800's.

I agree with the spirit that these people are trying to bring to the city, but growing food that people actually eat, I'll pass.

[Vicman]

Originally Posted by Dexterguy

Most of that area started to decline in the 1980's as you mentioned, with many of the houses getting demolished in the late 1980's - 1990's.

Honestly, I would not eat a single thing that is grown in Detroit. Those areas where houses once stood are very contaminated. No one really does know what was put into those grounds dating back all the way to the 1800's.

I agree with the spirit that these people are trying to bring to the city, but growing food that people actually eat, I'll pass.

People already do grow local produce (strange isn't it?) - Are the areas near former factories contaminated?

[BayAreaHillbilly]

When was the Chrysler Axle Plant past the current West end of Morgan built?

Was a former block of Morgan knocked down to build it?

[Rockford101]

This area became urban prairie in the 1980's.

I think you have some mistaken assumptions, though. Based on this post (and others), I think you are assuming that empty Detroit neighborhoods are "bad" and intact Detroit neighborhoods are "good".

I would argue this is untrue. The highest crime neighborhoods in the city are all 100% intact neighborhoods. The bombed-out areas usually have no teenagers and young folks, and these are the people causing all the crime.

Bombed-out areas usually just have some grannies, a handful of urban pioneers and a loner or two.

[Tex?Il?]

In regards to any contamination:

as long as its not on factory grounds, and as long as one puts in a layer/liner of clay and then laid down fresh topsoil it would be ok. But only then, would it be really ok.

In the Chicago suburbs. Even though Chicago doesn't have nearly the urban prairies (although if you go off the beaten path on the south and west sides there are Detroitesque areas no douby), there was an 1.25 acre vacant lot in the former Cabrini Green area that was turned into an urban farm. Right in the middle of the "action" with even some fancy restaurants buying produce from there.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Rockford101

This area became urban prairie in the 1980's.

I think you have some mistaken assumptions, though. Based on this post (and others), I think you are assuming that empty Detroit neighborhoods are "bad" and intact Detroit neighborhoods are "good".

I would argue this is untrue. The highest crime neighborhoods in the city are all 100% intact neighborhoods. The bombed-out areas usually have no teenagers and young folks, and these are the people causing all the crime.

Bombed-out areas usually just have some grannies, a handful of urban pioneers and a loner or two.

You're probably reacting to my Teppert thread.

That area appears to be more than simply intact. Based on a seemingly recent street view things are well kept, cars are in running condition, little to no graffiti, and it looks very middle income. Of course, as someone on that thread pointed out, it is a mostly BLACK middle income area. I guess that's an issue for some folks. I know there is some crime there but from my research it seems to be better than many other areas.

Now, back to this thread ...

My interest here is completely different. Sort of historical, sort of a general case study.