Detroit, Michigan
SperlingViews

good luck living here - 6/8/2009

Michigan used to be a great state, but those were the days. The greed of the politicians and labor unions in the auto industry has completely destroyed this once great state. What’s funny is that people always complain at how bad the leadership and politicians are, but always re-elect them! The state is now losing the most jobs and population of any state. The roads are also deplorable. People in this state need so much help, but the politicians (from both parties) only care about themselves and leave everyone else behind. The leadership in Michigan is lacking, and they wont let the state reinvent itself so it can be competitive for the future. The young people are moving out of state by the droves to find work elsewhere, making MI a leading state for the brain drain. The state also has high taxes, which is partially responsible for the job losses. Most of Michigan cities are also suffering from job loss, population decline, grime and grit. Good luck finding a job here. The quality of life here is so bad![more...]

The economy here is horable - 6/3/2009

no one in my family had a job until about a month ago. now my dad has a part time job, we have the highest unemployment rate in the county. and the crime, well its not as bad as every one thinks. there is drugs and gangs but as long as you dont get involved with that stuff you won't get shot or nothing like that. but dont expect low proporty crime, we just had the windows on our garage smashed and grafeti is all over the back of our house. [more...]

Moving to Little Rock, AR in July - 5/30/2009

My family and I are moving to Little Rock this July and I was wondering does anyone know the conditions of Madison Heights Apartments In Little Rock?[more...]

What does it take? - 5/9/2009

Winters in the North make you thankful for the spring and warmer days. Nights are longer and days are shorter. It still seems to draw people from all around to try and find what they can of that, American Dream in Motown. No harm in that, at least its not up on the Yukon trail where there were real dangers way back when. With housing and jobs in what some have called in shambles these past months, I look myself at history and see on city that most overlook as a very historic town that just doesn`t want to go-away or die away. [more...]

work in progress - 5/6/2009

Detroit has come a long way since the riots and continues to prosper[more...]

where is a good place to live and buy low - 4/3/2009

what zip code is a good place to buy low and a good place to live single family homes and duplexes and apt.[more...]

Cultural Center & Downtown Detroit - 3/29/2009

Detroit has never looked better. The building boom resulted in many great rehab brick buildings and downtown is working on a loooong river side walkway. The downtown area is right on the river and is actually pretty small for a "big city". It is walkable or you can take the People Mover overhead tram system. There are many cultural venues and plenty of restaurants and clubs. If you have a boat, cruising the river is a beautiful way to spend the day. There are some restaurants that have docks where you can hop out for a drink or dinner. The main street in Detroit is called Woodward Avenue (it runs north south) and ends downtown at the river. If you drive 2 miles north from downtown you reach the Cultural Center also called Mid Town and what was once known as the Cass Corridor. This is the home of Wayne State University and the World Class DIA, the Detroit Institute of Art. The wealth of the car industry over the decades bestowed many wonderful works of art to the DIA. This area is my favorite part of Detroit with many places to enjoy a beverage at an outdoor cafe or bar. Detroit has a small town feel, where everyone knows everyone. People are friendly and nice and like to hip the visitor to fun things to do. P.S. it can be all about cool Rock & Roll shows - many venues for bands.[more...]

LOOKING TO MOVE!!! - 3/24/2009

I have been in the "D" for all my life the city has went down year after year. All rec centers have closed up and the ones that are still open are overcrowded or have no staff who care or isin't scared of the children. Even public transportation has gotten dangerous either the riders are ready for what ever of the bus driver will pull over for a good brawl. All the schools to me private and public are over crowded and dirty and if there are some good schools their hard to find and once you step out of them the children are sourrounded by all types of temptations wright in their faces. Housing is a little affordable now since half the city went into forclosure but for the most of those they have been trashed or because of the high utility bills the gas has been turned off so pipes have busted causing water damage and mold. Home theft is so high that thiefs strip off boarded up home boards to still copper,pipes, windows and other parts up the home so that rather it is nice or not it has no value even when buying in a low market. Taxes are rediculous and the cities deficit has the city trying to rap drivers, pockets with all kind of rediculous fees, home owners pockets with all kind of rediculous taxes, and grocery prices are rising also. Detroits outskirt cities such as Troy, Ferndale, Sterling heights,Clinton Township and others is where i take my children to just to get away and have a good time, the city does have a couple of skating rinks which the children go to to relieve some of the city pressure. Detroit is really going down all the wise and old people are dying out and all the mature younger couples and singles are moving away leaving the city with the weak, strung out, alchol addicted and hopeless it will take a miracle to return the city to normal. I am looking to move me and my family within the year. I have two girls age 13 and 8 and two boys age 3 and 1. I am hoping to find a city that has no more cold winters just nice breezy summers plenty of recreation for my children some what of a decent night life for myself, not overcrowed with great or at least decent school with not too much crime that u can just look out your windown and see. I am a black female so i'm looking for a deversified area, I am current a collection rep 2 studing to be a CNA so the employment rate is important also. I was thinking of going to one of the Carolina's if anyone can help me discover a great area than let me know. Thanks.[more...]

low cost of living - 2/22/2009

low cost of living[more...]

Detroit has a lot to offer - 10/4/2008

It is true you probably have to live in the suburbs of Michigan however Downtown Detroit, Royal Oak, Ferndale, and Rochester all have lots to offer in the area of night life. The great thing about Detroit is sports....pretty much any game Tigers, Pistons, Lions, or Red Wings are gonna be sold out or close to it at any given game. I have lived in a few other states, and here people actually go to the games...regularly whether the teams are winning or losing. Also whether you live in Detroit or a suburb....you are probably gonna be about 5 miles from some kind of lake. Everyone here is all about boating, jet skiing, fishing, swimming and the like. Its always fun to go out on the boat. The job situation right now is pretty awful, but if that can be fixed Michigan really is a great place to live.[more...]

Detroit Home Town - 8/31/2008

Detroit's suffering quite a bit now but still has some great things to offer. The city is much more vibrant over the past 5-7years than in the 80s and 90s. Especiallly the downtown area has a number of nice restaurants, shops and activities for famlies. Canada is also nearby and is a great place to visit. Detroit also boasts wonderful museums and cultural activities including Hitsville USA to learn about Motown, the African American Museum, the list goes on and on. Additionally Detroit has a number of great children programs for example craft and other classes for children and adults involved in the arts. There is also a lot of uniqueness to Detroit that's tough to find in other cities, for example Lafayette coney island, Sanders -IceCream, Cream Puffs, & hot fudge-, Belle Isle Park, Better Made Potatoe chips, buddy's pizza, great shopping at malls and specialty boutiques. The home prices have plumeted and is still declining but if you're thinking of purchasing a home it's a great time to buy while prices are down, remember buy low sell high. The city has a lot of resiliance dispite the very negative viewpoint a number of people give it who've never even lived in the city. The burbs have some of the same great things to offer if you prefer them to the city. The area is mostly in great need of more ethnically & fiscally sound and strong leadership.[more...]

Horrible place to live - 8/23/2008

I moved back to Detroit in 2001 when my brother died and I am currently raising his two sons. It is my goal to get us out of here before my oldest son reaches high school in a couple of years and I finish school. The job market is horrible, more people lose jobs than gain jobs. The crime rate is right down scary and when you call the police they don't come and we have tried to stop the police and they won't stop. Citizens have resorted to calling city council people at home when they need police help. The education system is horrible, only 25% of the students in the city schools graduate, the housing market is failure, we have one of the highest forclosure rates in the country and I am not even going to start on the city governmental mess thats going on. The only option seems to be is to run, which is what I am planning to do.[more...]

The city America left behind - 7/22/2008

I at one point lived in a suburb of Detroit (Novi), which hides the reality of what is really going on in the area. Mansions, schools that look like malls, and happy people. Stark white to pitch black, blazing red to bright green, however you term it, the difference is seen by driving down Michigan Ave, until it looks like a bomb went off, homeless people abound, and gun shots in the air, picture Gotham city, but even dirtier. A mayor who squanders the money, as the poor are squashed deeper into the depths of Detroit's drug and prostitution rings. I have a hard time believe that this city will ever recover, its residents are too battered to care.[more...]

music scene. - 4/13/2008

Pretty much the only reason I go to Detroit is for the Tigers or Concerts. If you are a metal lover, do yourself a favor and see a show here. Detroit shows do not disappoint.[more...]

Absolutely terrible city. - 4/1/2008

I have lived in Detroit and the surrounding suburbs for the past 10 years. The city is actually fun when you are in that 20 something party stage. There are a lot of cool bars and nightclubs. However, Detroit being such a crime-ridden dump, don't expect to see many women. It seemed the city was making a change for the better in the past ten years. A new baseball stadium, football stadium, and some new loft condos. Paying $8 bucks a beer watching the Tigers is one thing, but the Lions is quite the other. If you are planning to move to the area you pretty much have to live in the suburbs. Detroit has terrible crime, a crumbling infrastructure, the worst schools with the highest drop-out rate in the country, and a lot of rude lazy workers in almost every service business. The Mayor of this fine town is currently indicted on 8 felony's and the city doesn't see the need to fire him. This is a man who allegedly cheated on his wife, fired innocent officers, bought his wife a Lincoln with city money, payed out 8.4 million in tax dollars to a cop to quiet an investigation he had a party with strippers and hookers at his city paid for home (2 of the strippers were shot to death after the incident), hooked his buddy up with 45 million in city contracts, etc, etc etc. Somehow this guy still has the support of 60 Detroit ministers and 40% of the population. But I guess they still love the self proclaimed "hip-hop" mayor. Even if you live in the suburbs, be aware there is no public transportation system which means hours of commuting on roads which often resemble back roads in Costa Rica. If a low cost of living is what you desire, Detroit may actually be the town for you. You can buy a nice bungalow for around $5,000 right now. SERIOUSLY!! You will probably get the added bonus of walking right next door for all your crack and meth purchases. And car stereo? Don't bother, that will be gone after day one. Sorry to be such a downer, but this city is depressing. I suggest you move to a nicer place...like Chernobyl.[more...]

Moving Away - 3/26/2008

I currently reside in Detroit Michigan. The economy here is the worse in the Nation at the moment, need I say more. I am looking to relocate to a hotter climate, where there are jobs, safety, and recreation.[more...]

Quality of life - 3/24/2008

Detroit always seems to get the worst rap possible.This much I can tell you ..i was born in Detroit in 1946. I have lived in the tri-county area my entire life. This city is much better then many think. It bottomed out in the years after the 1967 riots & thru the 1980's. It is reclaiming its Downtown block by block.Look at the number of bldg. permits over the last 6 years compared to the previous 30yrs.Once the city settles up with getting a new mayor it should be able to make further strides.[more...]

Detroit - 12/1/2007

Not enough greeen space[more...]

In Detroit - 11/29/2007

Do they still do that technique where the car-jackers keep tapping your bumper, and then you're suppose to get out of your car and argue and then WHAM lights out, There goes your car.[more...]

In Detroit - 11/29/2007

Do car thiefs still do that technique where they tap, tap, tap your bumper to make you get out so they can car-jack you?[more...]