DETROIT through my eyes (285+ pics)

[dc_denizen]

^ interesting perspective, thanks!

Are the banks the major source of capital for in city redevelopment? Or could REITs/pension funds or real estate funds within the major mutual funds be possible developers?

There is currently plenty of capital sloshing around the economy and desperately looking for something to lock in a good return...again this gets to my notion that capital in the US is extremely conservative in terms of what are considered good investment opportunities. 60,000 homes in Vegas =yes (because vegas is supposedly growing faster), in-city multifamily in a sound urban submarket =no.

[JonathanGRR]

Banks still haven't returned to supporting major developments in Detroit. If they did, you would probably begin to see a few more skyscrapers being renovated. Right now funding is mostly done through tax credits and small loans. This will hopefully change soon, however, as there is high demand for Midtown and Downtown residences.

[LMich]

Originally Posted by Hayward

Excellent work! I was back home for a visit in Detroit. Every time I come back, something has changed for the better. This visit was perhaps the most encouraging and I know there are some big things to come.

I get what your saying. And you're right that Detroit makes sense for people who want to maximize their creative potential. In fact, I'd personally love to start a business in Detroit. However, the bold part above is important to note.

Solid housing bones may not be all that true. It's a weird situation. Renovated property is extremely expensive. It's equivalent to downtown Chicago rents. There's so little renovated property because the banks aren't lending that you have a short supply at skyrocket rents. Then you have your average vintage apartment. But young professionals and students have already picked alot of that up. What you're left with is alot of property in disrepair....ALOT. Or...maybe a home is in reasonable condition and on the market for cheap but is very pricey to heat and maintain. My friend bought a larger brick home in Detroit that is $1000/month to heat!

So that's why you aren't seeing this huge gold rush crowd to Detroit. There's a severe housing shortage in Detroit. "Water, water, every where,: Nor any drop to drink" right? There just needs to be a bigger push toward affordable housing. Or maybe some collectives to rehab homes. But it all takes confidence from banks and some really organized and ambitious people (like Dan Gilbert). I hope that time will eventually come.

This is what I hate about the situation. Banks are only lending to developers creating really crappy, section 8 housing, or really upscale luxury housing, and the developers like it, too, because, you know, whatever it takes to get the quickest bucks. There is tons of demand for genuinely middle-income, solid housing, but no one wants to build it and no one wants to fund it, and this isn't even talking about renovations.

On renovation, you have the occasional community program with grants to fund renovations, and you have the city about two take over a few thousand homes into its land bank with probably only hundreds of those the land bank will end up renovating, but that's just a drop in the bucket. The task is daunting, particularly without the private sector helping to shoulder some of the risk. I get why banks and developers would be wary of building and investing in housing in, say, Brightmoor, but I'm disappointed that they continue to let health communities like Rosedale Park sit and fight alone when a few buildings here or there could further stabilize and perhaps get these ocmmunities growing. We're starting to see some initial comebacks going on in Old Redford, and what's going on in Palmer Park is one of the biggest undertold neighborhood stories in the entire city, but it's still piece-by-piece, go-it-alone type stuff.

BTW, no, most of the pension funds are in no position to help due to - surprise - mismanagement.

[whatsthepoint13]

Thanks to everyone for the great comments! Apparently some of the pictures have reverted to their original sizes, I'm not sure why. I also should have part 2 of my Detroit thread soon!

Originally Posted by montréaliste

Good stuff! Your pictures seem to give more insight on successful retail and manicured architecture. This is refreshing and as STLgasm says, it is in many ways a built environment that many cities can only dream of. There was news of Moosejaw, an outfitters store that had popped up and announced this week their intention to be permanent downtown. Excellent for Detroit!

Thanks! That was my intention- to focus on the positive and showcase the oft-uncovered good things happening in the city. Moosejaw is only the first, as the newly approved light rail has gotten some retail commitments according to Dan Gilbert.

Originally Posted by jonathan.jam

How do you envision Detroit as America's Berlin? I do not necessarily disagree with you, but I've just never heard (or thought) of Detroit and Berlin together.

I've heard that comparison before. It's because they're both gritty and creative, often attracting the same younger, entrepreneurial/artsy demographic, though with Berlin on a much larger scale. That's a major force in Detroit's revival.

Originally Posted by jodelli

GM Tech Center?

Very good!

Originally Posted by mousquet

Damn... How's the local Jewish community doing by the way? Seeing that religious building of theirs is worrying, they need to refurbish it if they didn't convert yet.

The Jewish community is stable in the suburbs and growing a bit in the greater downtown part of Detroit. I've worshipped here at the high holidays, though I'm not religious anymore. I'm sure this synagogue will be renovated as downtown revitalization progresses.

Originally Posted by north 42

Awesome shots! I love the D, and am proud to live right across the river from it! So many people have written Detroit off, and this tour shows its on the rise again. Go D!!!!

Thanks! We love Windsor too; matter of fact, I'm dating a Windsorite, and practically living there half the time anyway!

Originally Posted by LMich

One of the most comprehensive photo tours of the city on here in a very long time, particularly of the greater Midtown area. Lots of shots in the neighborhoods that have never been posted on the site. Maybe, one day I'll try to get some out-city shots along Livernois and out in Warrendale, Brightmoor in the like, but I haven't haven't been bit by the photobug in years. We lost of this when Tony moved.

Thanks, it was my intention to show sides of the city that many wouldn't know about or have expected to exist based on the stereotypes this city has, which are and are not true depending on where you are. I was actually planning on going out to Warrendale, Livernois (Avenue of Fashion area), parts of Woodward and Outer Drive, Palmer Park, and the like in the continuation of this thread. Some of the revitalization in Palmer Park and along Livernois is forgotten.

Originally Posted by dc_denizen

Basically, as a city reinvigorated by younger people moving in from more expensive areas to take advantage of a very cheap cost of living and solid housing bones. A hipster haven, if you will.

The US is odd in that the arts and musical communities are centered in expensive locales like LA and NY. No reason why this should be the case. Williamsburg would be better off in Detroit: cheaper rents.

Obviously Detroit should aspire to be more than a hipster magnet but certain areas of the city seem ripe for this kind of transformation.

This is beginning to happen in places like Midtown, Downtown, Corktown, Woodbridge, and even slowly into West Village, Hamtramck, and Palmer Park, but it's slowly happening in certain parts of the city. The young creative class and hipsters are becoming much more common and making their mark in the city, that's for sure. Many actually do come here for the cheaper rents and the sense of creative lawlessness.

[JonathanGRR]

Originally Posted by whatsthepoint13

Thanks to everyone for the great comments! Apparently some of the pictures have reverted to their original sizes, I'm not sure why. I also should have part 2 of my Detroit thread soon!
...
Thanks! We love Windsor too; matter of fact, I'm dating a Windsorite, and practically living there half the time anyway!

I can't wait to see more of your photos; they truly are fantastic! A Windsor thread would be cool too, if you have the photos.

Thanks for sharing your photos of the Renaissance City!

Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus

[tallboy66]

Warren ave. is getting it's 3rd grocery store or has that Farmer Jacks closed?

University foods was always good too.

[Thundertubs]

Great set, especially all the residential areas.

[boden]

Good post!

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Detroit in its heyday? Man, I would love to have seen it. Must have been something special.

[Michi]

^Indeed!

Thanks for all the photos! I miss Detroit and might get a chance to visit next week.

[animatedmartian]

Detroit without the ruin porn definitely looks beautiful. It's pretty refreshing to see the city in a positive light. Great thread.

[tallboy66]

Originally Posted by Hayward

Excellent work! I was back home for a visit in Detroit. Every time I come back, something has changed for the better. This visit was perhaps the most encouraging and I know there are some big things to come.





I get what your saying. And you're right that Detroit makes sense for people who want to maximize their creative potential. In fact, I'd personally love to start a business in Detroit. However, the bold part above is important to note.

Solid housing bones may not be all that true. It's a weird situation. Renovated property is extremely expensive. It's equivalent to downtown Chicago rents. There's so little renovated property because the banks aren't lending that you have a short supply at skyrocket rents. Then you have your average vintage apartment. But young professionals and students have already picked alot of that up. What you're left with is alot of property in disrepair....ALOT. Or...maybe a home is in reasonable condition and on the market for cheap but is very pricey to heat and maintain. My friend bought a larger brick home in Detroit that is $1000/month to heat!

So that's why you aren't seeing this huge gold rush crowd to Detroit. There's a severe housing shortage in Detroit. "Water, water, every where,: Nor any drop to drink" right? There just needs to be a bigger push toward affordable housing. Or maybe some collectives to rehab homes. But it all takes confidence from banks and some really organized and ambitious people (like Dan Gilbert). I hope that time will eventually come.

There's not a housing shortage, it's a people shortage. Jobs shortage and too much crime. The east side/near east and even downtown STILL have empty buildings and vacant blocks availiable for building but no one wants to move into a high crime area or be the only one occupying a block, not to mention the looting of buildings AS they're being built.
When I lived there you could buy a house for $1 and assume property taxes but that was Brightmoor.

No comprehensive mass transit, too much crime, the bipolar nature of the auto industry...



I lived in that apt. bdg. for a few years and the building behind it is still abandoned, the building next to it was renovated but on my trip 2 years ago it was still unoccupied and had a broken front window.

Now they did build low rise condos at the end of Palmer and down John R. and a little crappy in fill "lofts" on Woodward but they are built suburban family style and not built for density or affordable creative hipster types that would move without a car looking to do a start up business.

Detroit is stuck, they need people to move there so people will move there.

[vertigo90]

Well Done!!!

[Centropolis]

i just burned through 20% battery life on my phone looking at these photos, and totally worth it. i was in detroit on veterans day 5+ years ago, and downtown/midtown looks better in these photos.

as to the high heating costs that someone referenced, couldnt people install woodstoves? the city of st. louis gives out free firewood to city residents, maybe detroit could do the same.