Median home price in Detroit now 750,000 pennies.

[Unspeaked]

Yes - 750,000 pennies.

(Or $7,500 for the change-challenged).

LINK (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-detroit-housingjan29,0,5435392.story)

[Zyniker]

Yes - 750,000 pennies.

(Or $7,500 for the change-challenged).

LINK (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-detroit-housingjan29,0,5435392.story)

If you've been in downtown Detroit recently...it's fairly easy to see why. It's really not anyplace you want to be.

[Unspeaked]

If you've been in downtown Detroit recently...it's fairly easy to see why. It's really not anyplace you want to be.

I've never been to Detroit at all, recently or otherwise, but it seems like the residential areas are even harder hit than downtown.

Wild animals have literally taken over entire blocks of once-residential property.

It's really amazing that one of the great US cities has been hit so badly. Probably nothing quite like it since Pittsburgh in the 80s when they were losing the steel industry, and even then I don't think it was this bad.

[RayStar]

I've never been to Detroit at all, recently or otherwise, but it seems like the residential areas are even harder hit than downtown.

Wild animals have literally taken over entire blocks of once-residential property.

It's really amazing that one of the great US cities has been hit so badly. Probably nothing quite like it since Pittsburgh in the 80s when they were losing the steel industry, and even then I don't think it was this bad.What wild animals are you speaking of? Please give them names, as I would like to learn more about them.

[Unspeaked]

What wild animals are you speaking of? Please give them names, as I would like to learn more about them.

Vera, Chuck and Dave.

[Mousse]

If you've been in downtown Detroit recently...it's fairly easy to see why. It's really not anyplace you want to be.

I went to Detroit for on business three years back. While driving through the slums, I ask the driver when we get pass the shanty town and arrive downtown. He told that we've been driving through downtown for the pass 2 minutes.:eek: I can't even begin to wrap my head around the idea that it's even worst now than three years ago.:confused:

[obeygiant]

Downtown Detroit isn't exactly a luxurious place to live. Most people live about an hour north or west where the scenery is much nicer. :)

[huntnboy04]

Vera, Chuck and Dave.

...I don't get it.

[huntnboy04]

I went to Detroit for on business three years back. While driving through the slums, I ask the driver when we get pass the shanty town and arrive downtown. He told that we've been driving through downtown for the pass 2 minutes.:eek: I can't even begin to wrap my head around the idea that it's even worst now than three years ago.:confused:

..I don't think it's any worse, but like the article said Detroit is a huge city, area wise, and since all the tall buildings are centered in a couple square miles, we just don't consider the tall buildings "downtown". ....just my $.02

[dmr727]

...I don't get it.

I dunno - I thought it was pretty hilarious. You asked him to give names to the animals, and he did! :)

[iJohnHenry]

And from a Paul McCartney song too. Extra points. :)

And, more accurately, they are names of Grandchildren. :p

[blackfox]

Can RoboCop really be that far off now?

[thecrunge]

Can RoboCop really be that far off now?
I've been thinking the same thing.

[Unspeaked]

Can RoboCop really be that far off now?

I've been thinking the same thing.

Wow, for some reason I'd forgotten it was set in Detroit.

Talk about ahead-of-it's-time...

[Sonicjay]

Vera, Chuck and Dave.

One thing that made me laugh about this, is that one of our local radio stations (well, broadcast from Windsor Canada, technically), has morning DJ's name Dave and Chuck

[Yvan256]

Wow, for some reason I'd forgotten it was set in Detroit.

Talk about ahead-of-it's-time...

Don't worry, OCP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omni_Consumer_Products) will clean that place up in no time.

[IJ Reilly]

If you want to be depressed, try a virtual drive around Detroit in Google Streetview.

[xUKHCx]

Americans use the term pennies. Learn something new everyday.

[IJ Reilly]

Americans use the term pennies. Learn something new everyday.

Oh yes -- all the time, even though the penny has never been an official denomination of our currency.

[Abstract]

If you want to be depressed, try a virtual drive around Detroit in Google Streetview.

Does it look like Grand Theft Auto, but in real life?


Actually, just tried it, but in the centre of town. Looks rather empty, but not "bad".

[IJ Reilly]

Actually, just tried it, but in the centre of town. Looks rather empty, but not "bad".

Try "driving around" some of the residential areas. You'll see block after block of boarded up and burned out buildings, and many vacant lots where homes used to be.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=detroit+mi&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=54.621153,66.972656&ie=UTF8&ll=42.340878,-83.101702&spn=0,359.983649&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=42.340804,-83.101639&panoid=URgwMR5wM2caJgkAoG3fGA&cbp=12,16.184900664765472,,0,13.149606299212586

[dukebound85]

Try "driving around" some of the residential areas. You'll see block after block of boarded up and burned out buildings, and many vacant lots where homes used to be.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=detroit+mi&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=54.621153,66.972656&ie=UTF8&ll=42.340878,-83.101702&spn=0,359.983649&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=42.340804,-83.101639&panoid=URgwMR5wM2caJgkAoG3fGA&cbp=12,16.184900664765472,,0,13.149606299212586

how recent are those photos.....

i ask as every city has bad areas so i dont know if its that or as a direct result of whats happening

[IJ Reilly]

how recent are those photos.....

i ask as every city has bad areas so i dont know if its that or as a direct result of whats happening

This isn't the result of the last year, it's the result of 30 years of steady decline. Detroit has become a real basket-case, probably the most economically depressed city in the nation. The city has lost something like half of its population.

[dukebound85]

This isn't the result of the last year, it's the result of 30 years of steady decline. Detroit has become a real basket-case, probably the most economically depressed city in the nation. The city has lost something like half of its population.

and whats sad is that it will take a loooooooooong time for the city to ever recover

heck, Schenectady is still reeling afte GE left

[Unspeaked]

and whats sad is that it will take a loooooooooong time for the city to ever recover

You're making an assumption there, aren't you?

(Not about the length of time, but about it ever recovering...)

[Abstract]

Try "driving around" some of the residential areas. You'll see block after block of boarded up and burned out buildings, and many vacant lots where homes used to be.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=detroit+mi&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=54.621153,66.972656&ie=UTF8&ll=42.340878,-83.101702&spn=0,359.983649&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=42.340804,-83.101639&panoid=URgwMR5wM2caJgkAoG3fGA&cbp=12,16.184900664765472,,0,13.149606299212586

Was Boyz In The Hood filmed there or something? Dayam. :confused:

[runplaysleeprun]

Jesus Detroit looks terrible. I didn't know it had become so bad. I hadn't really heard about it too much, and I don't live too far away.

[dukebound85]

You're making an assumption there, aren't you?

(Not about the length of time, but about it ever recovering...)

yes but it will be a long time to have the city rebuild itself after the industry that had been supporting the city leaves leaving a ton of unemployed

just look at other cities that went through this...

we are talking decades, not years

[IJ Reilly]

It has already been decades, all downhill. Detroit isn't coming back, at least not to anything like its former self. If GM goes under, it will only get worse.

[ski2moro]

and whats sad is that it will take a loooooooooong time for the city to ever recover

heck, Schenectady is still reeling afte GE left


Where are you? GE Power Systems is still in Schenectady, right at the end of Erie Blvd and around the circle of death, turn right into the parking lot and show your badge. Not much manufacturing anymore, but the Power Systems offices are there.

Schenectady is the perfect example of bad government destroying a city. Schenectady is a pit. The police are corrupt, the schools are abysmal, and the thug who was Head of Facilities of the Schenectady schools was arrested for setting bombs and terrorism. The taxes are so high and the quality of city services is so low, no self respecting person would live there. Slum lords own the rental property and can't (or won't) repair anything. Businesses cannot survive due to theft and vandalism and empty storefronts are everywhere.

So the city fathers in their 'wisdom', raised taxes on everyone who owns property, raised taxes on business, and drove most of the remaining respectable people out of town. The poor moved in, putting more strain on the city's resources, further eroding the tax base and continuing the downward spiral.

Instead of giving tax incentives to attract new business, the city raised taxes some more. The unions were putting the squeeze on GE and GE's products weren't price competitive in the world market. It was no longer feasible for GE (the major employer in town) to have production in Schenectady when they could move manufacturing to places like Greenville, SC., where taxes were lower and wages were more reasonable.

And then Schenectady taxed the empty buildings on the GE campus at an even higher rate and wouldn't give GE a break. GE did the only thing they could, they tore down the empty buildings, further assuring that no further manufacturing would occur in Schenectady in the future.

This isn't the story of our recession of 2009 that is causing this, it happened more than 15 years ago. GE stock may be tanking right now, but I think it is more due to GE Capital bad loans than anything happening with turbines.

As far as Detroit, google the riots of 67 to see what happened to begin the downward spiral. Don't blame this recession or General Motors for downtown Detroit. It's far deeper than that.

Schenectady won't recover. Neither will downtown Detroit.

[IJ Reilly]

As far as Detroit, google the riots of 67 to see what happened to begin the downward spiral. Don't blame this recession or General Motors for downtown Detroit. It's far deeper than that.

Riots occurred in many cities in the US during that timeframe, Miami, Newark, Los Angeles, to name but a few. None of them are in dismal shape, in any way remotely like Detroit. The population decline in Detroit actually began during the 1950s, but it was the big hit taken by the US auto industry after the OPEC oil embargo of 1973-74 that really started nailing the coffin for cities heavily reliant on the domestic auto industry.

[steve2112]

If you want a fascinating look into the decline of Detroit, check out this site:

http://www.detroitblog.org/

Once I started reading, I got hooked. I went back and read all the archives. The urban exploration of abandoned buildings and documentation of entire neighborhoods disappearing is amazing.

This one is pretty good, as well:

http://www.forgottendetroit.com/

I majored in history in college. One of the things that drew me toward the field was I always wondered how once great civilizations and thriving cities could decline into nothing but ruins. Now we are seeing it in action.

[jodelli]

This quote from the story could have come out of my own mouth:

"On a positive note, Detroit's homicide rate dropped 14 percent last year. That prompted mayoral candidate Stanley Christmas to tell the Detroit News recently, "I don't mean to be sarcastic, but there just isn't anyone left to kill.""

This is literally true for entire neighborhoods scattered throughout the center city. I've personally walked some of these streets. There are areas of intact building stock interspersed among them.

The effect is sort of like a hole in a doughnut, with a small bit of activity at the very center.

Pheasants, possums and raccoons are some of the wildlife making a comeback.

Here are some photos of some other parts of the city.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=154008
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=154241
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=155538

[Cudadown]

I myself have recently escaped from Detroit. The place is a third world city. The most advanced social'ist' programs in the US has lead to its destruction. I have been to many places in my life, but the sense of entitlement in Detroit is way far and beyond anywhere else.

But, the mayor gets paid extremely well and is even provided a city owned mansion with 15+ bodyguards. But its ok, the Detroit city taxes can more than cover the tab.

Its never going to change as long as no one can be bothered to even pickup the trash in their own ***** front yards let alone paint their house. Weird, since most people only work 5 minutes a week (walk to mailbox), I would think they have plenty of time to drag that old tire out to the curb.

[gkarris]

This one is pretty good, as well:

http://www.forgottendetroit.com/

I majored in history in college. One of the things that drew me toward the field was I always wondered how once great civilizations and thriving cities could decline into nothing but ruins. Now we are seeing it in action.

Too bad...

At least here in Chicago many were saved and restored. I guess it also depends on whether or not the city has a sustainable economy...

Unfortunately for the Detroit, it is the mis-managed US Auto Industry. :(

[IJ Reilly]

Chicago lost many great buildings but for different reasons. It was during the during the vandalism years (1950s-1970s), when Chicago lost masterpieces such as the Stock Exchange, and New York City lost Penn Station.

[leekohler]

So sad. I love Detroit. I've had some great times there. The music scene is amazing, and the clubs are awesome.

I myself have recently escaped from Detroit. The place is a third world city. The most advanced social'ist' programs in the US has lead to its destruction. I have been to many places in my life, but the sense of entitlement in Detroit is way far and beyond anywhere else.

Oh please. Get over your libertarian self.

[Saladinos]

Yea, it's a dump. 7,5K isn't bad though. You could buy a couple of them, demolish them and use the site to build something awesome.

At that price (I know it's a median), you could buy 100 houses for 750K in a 10x10 square, demolish them and use it to build a castle with moat.

[Saladinos]

I myself have recently escaped from Detroit. The place is a third world city. The most advanced social'ist' programs in the US has lead to its destruction. I have been to many places in my life, but the sense of entitlement in Detroit is way far and beyond anywhere else.

Actually, that's not socialism. Socialism would help Detriot in the same way the UK are hosting the olympics in the run-down east end of London.

The one you're looking for is capitalism. That's the one where everyone scraps for their cash and leaves you guys in the gutter.

[nomar383]

Yea, it's a dump. 7,5K isn't bad though. You could buy a couple of them, demolish them and use the site to build something awesome.

At that price (I know it's a median), you could buy 100 houses for 750K in a 10x10 square, demolish them and use it to build a castle with moat.

Of course! Brilliant!

[nbs2]

Actually, that's not socialism. Socialism would help Detriot in the same way the UK are hosting the olympics in the run-down east end of London.

The one you're looking for is capitalism. That's the one where everyone scraps for their cash and leaves you guys in the gutter.

Actually, that's not capitalism. Capitalism would lead to entrepreneurs coming into the city for cheap and using the low costs to build up their own industry.

The one you're looking for is corruption. That's the one where those in a position of power exploit that power to the detriment of all involved. It's everywhere, in capitalist and socialist economies and societies.

[leekohler]

Actually, that's not capitalism. Capitalism would lead to entrepreneurs coming into the city for cheap and using the low costs to build up their own industry.

The one you're looking for is corruption. That's the one where those in a position of power exploit that power to the detriment of all involved. It's everywhere, in capitalist and socialist economies and societies.

And that is the absolute truth right there.

[skunk]

Actually, that's not socialism. Socialism would help Detriot in the same way the UK are hosting the olympics in the run-down east end of LondonHosting the Olympics in the East End is nothing to do with "Socialism". It's called "urban regeneration".

[Galley]

Yet Detroit has the nicest airport I've ever been in.

[Peterkro]

Hosting the Olympics in the East End is nothing to do with "Socialism". It's called "urban regeneration".

I believe the Americans use the word "graft".

[jodelli]

If you want a fascinating look into the decline of Detroit, check out this site:

http://www.detroitblog.org/

Once I started reading, I got hooked. I went back and read all the archives. The urban exploration of abandoned buildings and documentation of entire neighborhoods disappearing is amazing.

This one is pretty good, as well:

http://www.forgottendetroit.com/

I majored in history in college. One of the things that drew me toward the field was I always wondered how once great civilizations and thriving cities could decline into nothing but ruins. Now we are seeing it in action.

Just to mention that the second link is a little out of date. The Book Cadillac and Fort Shelby have both been beautifully renovated and have reopened.

http://www.bookcadillacwestin.com/
http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/hotel/DTTLFDT-Doubletree-Guest-Suites-Fort-Shelby-Detroit-Downtown-Michigan/index.do

[jodelli]

Yet Detroit has the nicest airport I've ever been in.

The airport is in Romulus, with two spanking new terminals and runways.

A feature of the Detroit region is the doughnut model of development. There have been major developments built in the area but the tech centers and retail and residential wealth are nearly all outside of the city limits.

[hulugu]

It has already been decades, all downhill. Detroit isn't coming back, at least not to anything like its former self. If GM goes under, it will only get worse.

It's as if Detroit's on its way to becoming a lost city entirely, a modern equivalent of one of those stone cities used as the background for a Tomb Raider movie.

[mactastic]

That's just insane... $7,500 for a house.

And the sad thing is, it sounds like that's still overvalued...

[Unspeaked]

That's just insane... $7,500 for a house.

And the sad thing is, it sounds like that's still overvalued...

Yeah, I don't see people tripping over themselves to grab one of these "deals."

[patrick0brien]

With all of this talk about Socialism vs. Calitalism vs. Corruption as a root to Detroit's decline, I would like to posit this of my opinion:

From my cheap seat, it appears that Detroit is a poster child of a city that wasn't diversified enough. In fact, they wrapped their fortunes around only one horse (oo, irony). I think that Detroit may very well be the least diversified city in the U.S. I'm trying to think of one that tops it.

So, IMHO, its this lack of diversity that is the true root of the decline, thusly making it's structure fragile and vulnerable to the effects of corruption, mismanaged capitalism, et al.

[Unspeaked]

I think that Detroit may very well be the least diversified city in the U.S. I'm trying to think of one that tops it.

Pittsburgh and the steel industry in the 70s/80s is the only one I can think of that comes close...

[Galley]

About four years ago my aunt bought a 3BR home in rural ND for $1500. :eek:

[Unspeaked]

About four years ago my aunt bought a 3BR home in rural ND for $1500. :eek:

What's that worth today?