What is Pontiac like these days?

malachai23 · 02-05-2009, 04:06 PM

Thanks everyone for your comments. So where is this "gentrified" area that you refer to? Does it have street boundaries where I could look it up on a map? If I were to visit Pontiac - like downtown or this "gentrified" area, would I be safe? Would I be safe to drive around some of the old neighborhoods and maybe look for my parents' old houses? Thanks all, I appreciate it!

malachai23 · 02-07-2009, 05:21 PM

Hi again - you who were so kind to answer my post - can you please tell me if you think I'd be safe driving around Pontiac looking for my parents' old houses? Can you tell me where this "gentrified" area is located - maybe if it's not safe to just drive around the neighborhoods, maybe I can at least go to a cafe or shop in this area, just to experience Pontiac? Thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate it.

zthatzmanz28 · 02-08-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malachai23

Hi again - you who were so kind to answer my post - can you please tell me if you think I'd be safe driving around Pontiac looking for my parents' old houses? Can you tell me where this "gentrified" area is located - maybe if it's not safe to just drive around the neighborhoods, maybe I can at least go to a cafe or shop in this area, just to experience Pontiac? Thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate it.

I do not know all of Pontiac. Mostly the area around downtown there at Woodward and Orchard Lake. That is pretty nice. I have driven through most of Pontiac art on time or another and have not had any problems..but it was during the DAY...

Cliffie · 02-08-2009, 07:10 PM

I never thought of where to draw the lines around the gentrified area. Honestly, my sense of direction and georgraphy are pretty sad so I at least am the wrong person to ask. I think you're worrying too much, frankly. It's NEVER been so bad that you can't drive down the street there!

malachai23 · 02-08-2009, 10:21 PM

OK. Hey, thanks all. Thanks Cliffie!

stanman13 · 02-09-2009, 01:07 PM

You can drive around safely. You will be able to tell when you are in a questionable area. There is still some beautiful architecture in the city.

The "gentrified" area is mainly directly downtown, mainly the Saginaw and Pike st. area. Indian Village and Seminole Hills, just off Huron St., are still nice neighborhoods, with beautiful old houses.

My old elem. school in Indian village, Webster Elem., I believe was just recently shut down.

daddythreepointoh · 02-09-2009, 04:25 PM

I drive through Pontiac just about every week. It's generally pretty sad and I have to agree it's basically like a mini-Detroit. I would say one small bright spot would be Saginaw street in the heart of downtown, and the old mansions just west of downtown along M-59 are beautiful, if past their prime. Also the cemetery just east of downtown is rather pretty in a macabre sort of way.

daddythreepointoh · 02-09-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malachai23

Hi again - you who were so kind to answer my post - can you please tell me if you think I'd be safe driving around Pontiac looking for my parents' old houses? Can you tell me where this "gentrified" area is located - maybe if it's not safe to just drive around the neighborhoods, maybe I can at least go to a cafe or shop in this area, just to experience Pontiac? Thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate it.

Well it's not exactly the east side of Detroit, but a daytime trip would be recommended. Just keep your wits about you as would in any poorer urban area. I've never had a problem, knock on wood, and I've spent plenty of time driving through and doing business in Pontiac.

johnmalcolm · 11-17-2009, 05:08 PM

There was a time that Pontiac was the coolest city you could imagine. I lived in Pontiac from 1959 to 1969 and those were the greatest ten years of my memory. I was a teen-ager and hung out with "the corner boys", a group of about 15 guys who hung out at cunninghams, kresges, the chapman hotel, the roosevelt , the 300 bowl, the huron bowl, frost-tops, dells inn.......I could go on forever. The point is, Pontiac was where it was at back in the day. Seems sad that it has gone the way of so many other towns in this new era! Nothing stays the same. Perhaps in 50 years ot will come full circle and again be, as it was once called, "little Chicago."