OK, interesting posts. The strange thing is that almost all of the negatives are from folks who don't live in the city.
I grew up in Oakland CA and lived the last 20 years in San Francisco and moved about four months ago to Detroit because, well it's a long story. The point is that Detroit has all the problems of a major city. They are not particularly worse than most other big cities but it looks a bit like Berlin after WWII. There are a LOT of abandoned buildings and that looks scary but it's not as bad as it looks.
There is also a lot of paranoia and not to raise the race card but Detroit is like 70% black and I think that freaks out a lot of people. I am white but have lived in a lot of black neighborhoods so it doesn't phase me. I don't think it's "racist" per-say but being in a place dominated by a culture your not familiar with and don't know the rules of is a bit scary. So for many I think there is a bit of a "I must be in a bad neighborhood" reaction. The reality is that people connect a lot more by "class" for lack of a better word, and while there is a lot of unemployment in detroit there is also a big "artist class" and a "middle class" and a lot of folks heading in because all though taxes are high (for around here) property is dirt cheap. You can buy a house (that needs work admittedly) in an active and moving in a good direction neighborhood for under $50. Depending on how much work you are willing to do I have seen houses go for under $10K. And that isn't in a "dangerous" neighborhood. But peoples definition of what "dangerous' is vary so... I lived in a "good" neighborhood in SF and a father and his sons were stopped and gunned down three blocks away because some cruising gang members though they were somebody else.
You have to like living in a BIG city to enjoy Detroit. But if that is you then it's a GREAT place to be. There is a ton of arts and music, good places to eat, a HUGE farmers market, you can get $20 tickets to the Symphony. There is a very active arts scene and a lot of young folks who seem to have taken on Detroit as a project.
As far a families go. That is tougher. The schools are in seriously bad shape. However there are a bunch of folks raising kids so it can be done. You may want to check out SWEETJUNIPER.com for some kid friendly info.
There is basically no public transportation so that is an issue but biking is pretty easy except in Winter.
Traditionally the weather is about the same as Manhattan. BUT they have had a couple of COLD winters in a row and last summer was hot and this one is setting records so... Either it's a blip and will change back or it's a direction and you should plan for it. Looking back they have had these kinds of blips in the 50's and in the 20's so here's hoping. Even so I spent a week (with out real heat) here in Dec. and have been here through this (Hottest July on record) and I came from a place where the humidity is 37% 99% of the time and anything over 70 is a heat wave and colder tan 40 is "freezing" and I'm not running for safety.
Welcome and if you want to stop by for a homebrew drop me a line.
scott@askinc.net
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