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[industrian]

Banks won't give you money to repair the homes, as they have no value. There are no jobs for people to need a home.

Just do a google image search for "abandoned Detroit" and look what you find.....

The abandoned schools are the most depressing.

This is oddly beautiful though

I want to start a Kickstarter campaign to raise the money to renovate this place. I sooooo want to live there!

There are organized ruin porn tours of Detroit! I am going on one this September.

That just looks like a fortress for a drug kingpin. Build a moat, get a couple of mounted guns on the roof and you're set.

 

[BlueTsunami]

We need a S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Detroit game.

Something like Fallout 3's 'Broken Steel' was almost like this but obviously with more foundries. I'd love to see that too.

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

The night is dark and full of terrors.

 

[Liberty4all]

I live in Toronto but have family in Detroit. Specifically in Rochester Hills just north of the city. I visited my family there last month in April.

It was actually very nice in Rochester Hills. We are talking about ridiculously huge mansions (over 4000 sq ft), with gigantic lots ... all to be had for 350k or less.


With that said we went into the downtown core for a Tigers game. The core is as bad as Rochester Hills was nice. It literally looks like a bomb has gone off in the core. I'm talking about the "main street" area ... broken down buildings everywhere with windows shattered out, bums literally everywhere, every store either a liquor, or pawn shop. I've been to alot of cities but Detroit downtown literally felt like it's a few steps away from a post apocalypse situation ... not exactly there yet but not very far off. The only thing keeping that city alive right now are the rich white people in the suburbs that still have good jobs at the plants.

The only nice area downtown was the Greektown Casino. Literally one street filled with the casino hotel, nice restaurants, HUGE amounts of police and private security, and patrons that don't live in the city but are live in places like Rochester Hills or further out. It was literally like one tiny small street of Vegas surrounded by ghetto. And when I say ghetto, I mean motherfucking GHETTOOOOO

Another thing about Detroit ... almost everyone with money was white and lived in the suburbs. Almost everyone that was poor was black and lived in the core. Of course this isn't exclusive, (there were poor people in the core that were white, and rich people in the burbs that were black) ... but never had I seen a city so divided along racial lines. It made me feel sick really ... being from Toronto, my city is a multicultural mosaic where colour really doesn't matter in determining social class.

The people I met in Detroit were some of the nicest kind hearted people you'll ever meet. Mind you they lived in the rich areas and all had jobs, but with that said, I left the city with a good impression of at least some of the people that live there. But the city itself? Never have I seen a more desolute place, if I had an image of what a post apocalypse city might look like (say after a plague or nuclear strike), as I said earlier Detroit is literally a few steps away from it. Even in the "rich" areas of Detroit like Rochester Hills, although the "mansions" were huge they just felt "old/decaying". Nothing new is being built in this city, even the "rich" people in Detroit are living off the glories of the cities past. And rich is relative. In Detroit "rich" means making 75k a year or more (combined income for a family).

It's no wonder people are moving away. There are very few opportunities for youth in the city, and even those jobs that do pay well are almost exclusively blue collar.

 

[mavs]

I live in Toronto but have family in Detroit. Specifically in Rochester Hills just north of the city. I visited my family there last month in April.

It was actually very nice in Rochester Hills. We are talking about ridiculously huge mansions (over 4000 sq ft), with gigantic lots ... all to be had for 350k or less.


With that said we went into the downtown core for a Tigers game. The core is as bad as Rochester Hills was nice. It literally looks like a bomb has gone off in the core. I'm talking about the "main street" area ... broken down buildings everywhere with windows shattered out, bums literally everywhere, every store either a liquor, or pawn shop. I've been to alot of cities but Detroit downtown literally felt like it's a few steps away from a post apocalypse situation ... not exactly there yet but not very far off. The only thing keeping that city alive right now are the rich white people in the suburbs that still have good jobs at the plants.

The only nice area downtown was the Greektown Casino. Literally one street filled with the casino hotel, nice restaurants, HUGE amounts of police and private security, and patrons that don't live in the city but are live in places like Rochester Hills or further out. It was literally like one tiny small street of Vegas surrounded by ghetto. And when I say ghetto, I mean motherfucking GHETTOOOOO

Another thing about Detroit ... almost everyone with money was white and lived in the suburbs. Almost everyone that was poor was black and lived in the core. Of course this isn't exclusive, (there were poor people in the core that were white, and rich people in the burbs that were black) ... but never had I seen a city so divided along racial lines. It made me feel sick really ... being from Toronto, my city is a multicultural mosaic where colour really doesn't matter in determining social class.

The people I met in Detroit were some of the nicest kind hearted people you'll ever meet. Mind you they lived in the rich areas and all had jobs, but with that said, I left the city with a good impression of at least some of the people that live there. But the city itself? Never have I seen a more desolute place, if I had an image of what a post apocalypse city might look like (say after a plague or nuclear strike), as I said earlier Detroit is literally a few steps away from it. Even in the "rich" areas of Detroit like Rochester Hills, although the "mansions" were huge they just felt "old/decaying". Nothing new is being built in this city, even the "rich" people in Detroit are living off the glories of the cities past. And rich is relative. In Detroit "rich" means making 75k a year or more (combined income for a family).

It's no wonder people are moving away. There are very few opportunities for youth in the city, and even those jobs that do pay well are almost exclusively blue collar.

Further illustration of your story:

Rochester Hills is that pink right triangle at the top of the 30 mile circle.

 

[Angelus Errare]

Honestly, Hollywood could save money by shooting their action scenes in Detroit, not only could they actually blow up building. But they'd be helping Detroit out!

 

[Big-E]

This has been eye opening. I knew it was bad but not that bad. Just imagining a large city that has almost 5 their street lights BROKEN is almost unfathomable. The article someone posted mentioned Detroit has 2 theaters, 2 fucking theaters. Does no large grocery store chain mean like Detroit doesn't have like a Safeway or a Whole Foods or anything similar to that? Also, mind blown at losing 60 percent of your population compared to 1950, in 1950 the US had about half the population it does today. INSANE.

 

[Liberty4all]

This has been eye opening. I knew it was bad but not that bad. Just imagining a large city that has almost 5 their street lights BROKEN is almost unfathomable. The article someone posted mentioned Detroit has 2 theaters, 2 fucking theaters. Does no large grocery store chain mean like Detroit doesn't have like a Safeway or a Whole Foods or anything similar to that?

From my visit to Detroit there were some large Outlet malls. For example on my trip I shopped here: http://www.greatlakescrossingoutlets.com/ located here. Note that it is not located anywhere near the core, but is VERY close to the "rich" suburbs. Lots of great shops, typical of what you would find in any American city outlet mall.

These malls are all in the suburbs though (as are the grocery stores, and basically anywhere you would actually want to take your family to shop). In Detroit downtown central aka the core, it's ghetto. Literally burned out abandoned buildings (possibly with squatters?) with broken windows, people begging for change (and for food) everywhere, liquor stores and pawn shops on every corner, and the distinct feeling that going into the wrong area without locals to guide you will get you killed.

The wrong area being most of the city core with the exception of maybe Greektown (casino district).

 

[NihonTiger90]

Oh thank you!
That is easier to understand. It sounds kind of like the ghost towns, just on a larger scale and not completely deserted.
But I still appreciate the reply outunderthestars - you just didn't assume that I'm dumb.

We haven't even mentioned the fact that whites got scared in the late 1960s and started leaving the cities in droves. And that Coleman Young was an asshole who did NOTHING to try and rehabilitate the city's image, but basically encouraged the white/black divide, and he kept getting re-elected.

And then there's the fact that the Big Three basically pushed the automobile as the future and Detroit as its shining example. Fifty years later and the urban sprawl is flat-out nasty. There's no public transit to speak of besides a decimated bus system that no one rides because "only poor people ride the bus".

There's a ton of reasons why Detroit is what it is today. There's no reason to think it can't be fixed, but it will take a lot of time, money and effort. As a former resident of the metro area, I would like to see it one day be a better city.

EDIT: Also, should mention they do have a Whole Foods now.

 

[Big-E]

From my visit to Detroit there were some large Outlet malls. For example on my trip I shopped here: http://www.greatlakescrossingoutlets.com/

These malls are all in the suburbs though (as are the grocery stores, and basically anywhere you would actually want to take your family to shop). In Detroit central aka the core, it's ghetto. Literally burned out abandoned buildings (possibly with squatters? with broken windows, people begging for change (and for food) everywhere, liquor stores and pawn shops on every corner, and the distinct feeling that going into the wrong area will get you killed.

The wrong area being most of the city core.

Ya, I figured the suburbs would have stuff but to just imagine a city core like that is just crazy. Almost half the lights are broke, I am willing to bet Baghdad had more of their lights working during the whole war than that.

 

[CTE]

You should see it in the winter.

http://www.themotorlesscity.com/2009/02/

 

[Liberty4all]

Ya, I figured the suburbs would have stuff but to just imagine a city core like that is just crazy. Almost half the lights are broke, I am willing to bet Baghdad had more of their lights working during the whole war than that.

One thing you learn really quickly if you visit Detroit (from Canada) alot ESPECIALLY if arriving at night. Go through the Sarnia bridge

The Windsor bridge exits right into downtown Detroit. No thanks.

 

[fizzelopeguss]

That is pretty awesome.

An industrial powerhouse reverting back to subsistence agriculture.

 

[NihonTiger90]

One thing you learn really quickly if you visit Detroit (from Canada) alot ESPECIALLY if arriving at night. Go through the Sarnia bridge

The Windsor bridge exits right into downtown Detroit. No thanks.

The tunnel actually exits into downtown. The Ambassador Bridge is south of downtown (but in a pretty rundown area), though it shuffles you quickly onto the interstates.

They might build another bridge downriver, too.

 

[Grimm Fandango]

Just sell the city to OCP already.

 

[MechDX]

Just sell the city to Apple already.

Fixed. iCop patroling.

 

[Liberty4all]

We haven't even mentioned the fact that whites got scared in the late 1960s and started leaving the cities in droves. And that Coleman Young was an asshole who did NOTHING to try and rehabilitate the city's image, but basically encouraged the white/black divide, and he kept getting re-elected.

And then there's the fact that the Big Three basically pushed the automobile as the future and Detroit as its shining example. Fifty years later and the urban sprawl is flat-out nasty. There's no public transit to speak of besides a decimated bus system that no one rides because "only poor people ride the bus".

There's a ton of reasons why Detroit is what it is today. There's no reason to think it can't be fixed, but it will take a lot of time, money and effort. As a former resident of the metro area, I would like to see it one day be a better city.

EDIT: Also, should mention they do have a Whole Foods now.

The interesting thing about Detroit, all the residents in the "rich" areas of the city, they loved their town and really and truly believed the city can be salvaged. Mind you they were living in 4000 sq ft mansions bought for less than 350 grand ... literally living the American dream in some ways as the cost of living in Detroit is literally so low that a 100k a year income buys you the "good life" in that city.

The "rich class" weren't what we would normally think of as the "rich class" in other cities. In Detroit the rich were all either engineers, management at the plants (and I'm talking blue collar management ... working on the floor with the other unionized workers but "in management"), or the ultra rich, aka car manufacturer executives. Nursing seemed to be a very lucrative career in Detroit too.

The rich that I normally see in Toronto (ie. white collar workers in industries such as IT, banking, finance, marketing, etc) ... well they didn't seem to exist in Detroit. And to be honest the majority of people (who had jobs) were plant workers ... unionized (and therefore middle class/rich) if lucky, or lower middle class if not unionized. And as for the vast majority? Umemployed or working in minimum wage jobs (which by the way is a totally livable wage in Detroit)

 

[Liberty4all]

The tunnel actually exits into downtown. The Ambassador Bridge is south of downtown (but in a pretty rundown area), though it shuffles you quickly onto the interstates.

They might build another bridge downriver, too.

I was thinking of the underground bridge. It was handy getting back into Canada after a night of drunkeness in Greektown. It's amazing when you get to the Canadian side. Windsor is by no means a "rich" city but the contrast from downtown Detroit is like night and day. Grabbing a Starbucks in downtown Windsor while looking for a place to eat ... I was back in civilization!!

Joking aside though I actually had a good time in Detroit. The music scene is still very much alive in Detroit, especially if you are into electronica ... it seems every second person I met had dreams of becoming an international DJ. And also had the skills to do so.

 

[Bombadil]

I know where Fallout 4's gonna take place.

 

[davepoobond]

Detroit becoming a Ghost City?

 

[Alphahawk]

I went through Detroit on a road trip. It was terrifying...

 

[Diablos]

Wow, thugs and rapists are going to be happy when they hear this news.

This is crazy stuff.

 

[Nevasleep]

They do it in some areas of the UK too, turning off the street lights in quiet streets.

 

[Dead Man]

While the story of Detroit fascinates me, I try to remember also that a lot of people are living in terrible fucking condition too.

 

[BertramCooper]

Every time I feel bad about Cleveland's downturn, seeing what's happening to Detroit makes me feel better.

Cleveland isn't out of the woods, but it's seeing some positive urban development that probably would never happen in Detroit. So hopefully it doesn't suffer the same fate.

 

[ascii42]

Up through the '50s, nearly 90% of all cars in the world came out of Detroit.

 

[marrec]

I'm going to Detroit next month for business GAF, how do I not die?

 

[jakncoke]

Detroit is such a fascinating shit hole. Is there any documentaries on it

 

[MedHead]

I live in Toronto but have family in Detroit. Specifically in Rochester Hills just north of the city. I visited my family there last month in April.

I grew up in Auburn Hills, a small city directly beside Rochester Hills. Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills are about an hour to an hour and a half away from Detroit, and they are their own individual cities. The closest connection they have to Detroit is the term “Metro Detroit”, which is applied to all nearby cities filled with the people who have wisely abandoned Detroit.

 

[Ripclawe]

Detroit is such a fascinating shit hole. Is there any documentaries on it

 

[Sappy113]

detroit might be the safest place to go for a zombie apocalypse at the end of the day.

Incidentally, Detroit also looks like it was already hit by the apocalypse. The urban decay of parts of Detroit is absolutely fascinating, tinged with sadness.

 

[industrian]

Not only this, but the entire political/management environment has been fucked up like forever.

If you want to have a fun read and learn about the last 10 years of detroit politics at the same time, see here

I've read about this guy before (ironically enough in other Detroit threads) and it just confuses me greatly on how someone as abusive in his power as he was to stay in power.

 

[shinobi602]

I didn't know stuff like this was happening in a country like the USA.

LOL

 

[Kabouter]

LOL

How in depth is your knowledge of the goings-on in other countries around the world?

 

[close to the edge]

LOL

If you're not from the USA and you aren't super interested in the culture, it's easy to forget that some places over there aren't like Manhattan. Especially considering Detroit is a pretty big outlier.. I don't think any other big city had that sort of development over the last 50 years.

 

[The Elite]

Didn't realize it was this bad.

 

[PrimaNocta]

If the apocalypse were to ever happen, I believe its origin would be traced back to Detroit.

 

[MedHead]

I've read about this guy before (ironically enough in other Detroit threads) and it just confuses me greatly on how someone as abusive in his power as he was to stay in power.

He was reelected, too, even while under some pretty plausible suspicion of corruption. His potentially criminal behavior was defended by some because they said it was an example of a normal citizen (of Detroit) making it big and sticking it to “the man”. It didn't occur to the people voting him in that he was helping to ruin their lives, since he was spending the city's money on himself.

 

[shinobi602]

How in depth is your knowledge of the goings-on in other countries around the world?

I'd say average.

But it would be extremely naive of me to think there aren't some areas like this in at least every country in the world.

 

[ElectricThunder]

Such a terrible waste on the state and federal level even----counter to damned civilization itself!

I've long had a lingering dream to one day visit the place and sample all of their various nifty pizza places---at this rate that and all else of cultural value stands to be lost.

 

[Kabouter]

I'd say average.

But it would be extremely naive of me to think there aren't some areas like this in at least every country in the world.

This level of decay? And on this scale? That's incredibly rare in industrialized nations.

 

[slit]

They should look at cities like Minneapolis and Pittsburgh as models. Cites that lost their manfacturing base in the 70's and 80's but were able to bounce back strong.

I mean Detriot is facing the prospect of being the first major American City that may implode on itself in modern times.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Really Detroit is no different than most of middle America. What is happening there is happening all throughout the old industrialized midwest. Cities that all grew exponentionally between the 20's and 50's. It's just the enormity of it that makes it unique.

 

[Saroyan]

Urban blight to the extreme, makes for some pretty cool pictures though.

 

[iamaustrian]

our county replaces, as one of the first, all "old" streetlights with highend LED ones. they save tons of money by doing that. maybe detroid should do the same?

turning off all streetlights because most citizens move isn't a good idea IMO. even if i.e. a neighbourhood loses 90% of it's residents, the remaining 10% should have the right for well-lighted streets

 

[Culex]

The most saddening statistic is that Detroit has lost over 250,000 citizens in the past 10 years. The 2000 census had the population at just over 950k. If things continue, by the time the 2020 census is done, Detroit will probably be hovering over half a million in population.

 

[shinobi602]

This level of decay? And on this scale? That's incredibly rare in industrialized nations.

To be fair I said "like it". Maybe not exactly the same, but I'm sure there are very, very rough areas in every nation. I wouldn't think otherwise.

 

[Kabouter]

To be fair I said "like it". Maybe not exactly the same, but I'm sure there are very, very rough areas in every nation. I wouldn't think otherwise.

Rough areas? Sure. But most industrialized nations have nothing like this. This is the total collapse of a major urban centre. I wouldn't know where, outside of the former Soviet Union and other former communist states, to find something like that in the industrialized world.

 

[BertramCooper]

What's so disturbing about many of those photos isn't just the decay of beautiful architecture, but the fact that many of the places are overflowing with abandoned books, paperwork, and other materials.

I mean, you'd expect a closed library or police station to at least clear out their stuff before leaving. It almost looks like they fled the buildings and didn't have time to do it.

 

[Rockandrollclown]

I always wonder, be curious to hear how GAF thinks, Do you guys think Detroit will ever turn it around? I mean it is interesting in a very morbid way to watch an entire city disintegrate, but surely something can be done?