The Death of Detroit
By Kevan • Apr 29th, 2007 • Category: Life
Ladies and gentleman, Detroit is on sale. We’re not talking some kind of 10%-off promotion, or a scratch-‘n-save discount. No, this is a fire-sale, bargain-bin, 90% off, everything-must-go, bankruptcy, grand-closing, limited-quantities sale. Detroit is going out of business, and everything is for sale, right down to the shelving.
As a modern Canadian, it is hard for me understand this kind of extreme depression. I first heard about it in March, and couldn’t believe what I was reading: houses are cheaper than cars? Families leaving in mass exodus? Entire portions of the city abandoned? At first I thought it was an urban myth, a huge exaggeration, a gross miscalculation. But it’s true: crime, population loss and decay are reshaping Detroit into a ghost town.
“The housing boom that swept much of the country in recent years has missed out on the city. Detroit, which has lost more than half its population in the past 30 years and struggled with rising crime, failing schools and other social problems. Prices have gained less than 2 percent per year in the five years since 2001, when the auto industry entered a renewed slump.” – (Jron Magcale)
Still not understanding the depth of this decay? (It took me a while)
Read Detroit Blog, a site maintained by an avid Detroit resident who is documenting the abandonment and celebrating the legacy of a once-vibrant city. The site includes great photos.
Browse these realty listings for homes in Detroit.
Check out this posting from Craigslist Detroit, where the homeowner is self-listing their home, built in 1971, for $4000, using photos from the family album to show the interior.
Read the market estimation from Zillow, which puts houses in this neighbourhood at an average of $11,000 per home:
View a Flickr photo set of urban decay & exploration in Detroit.
View these heartbreaking photos of abandoned churches, apartments and homes all across Detroit.
Join in on this Metafilter discussion about Detroit’s slow death. It’s the post that taught me what was happening in old Motown.
Personally, I find the case of Detroit to be completely heartbreaking, exhilarating, depressing and inspiring. This city is wide open. It’s dirt cheap. The buildings are empty. Should artists be flocking to the city to document and exploit its decay? Should those of us with cash be snapping up properties as fast as we can? Should corporations be trying to rescue and restore the town like Edward Bloom in the movie Big Fish? Or do we just let it go, step back, walk away, and let it die?
One last article that helps point the way forward: What Detroit Can Learn from Bangalore. Maybe there is hope. As Sufjan Stevens said, “Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)”
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Kevan is a life-size replica of a 5'8" tall human being, and comes with several interchangeable outfits and a realistic haircut. With a BA in Communications from Trinity Western University, Kevan’s professional writing, graphic design, web and creative consulting services are available for hire. Kevan resides with his beautiful wife Kendra in Vancouver, BC, and is generally a nice person.
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![](<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tedguy49/141487101/">http://kev.elbowroomdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/detroit.jpg</a>‘ title=’detroit abandoned housing - by Flickr user tEdGuY49®’><img src=){kind=link}
Actually the real estate downtown is gaining momentum on the market, the city is finding a new niche this time in the form of sports entertainment. Multiple venues and bars have opened in the last few years, not to mention the Detroit Electronic Movement Festival (held in Hart Plaza) brings in millions and is argueably one of the biggest of its kind, right in the motor city. WWE hosted Wrestlemania in Detroit just 2 weeks ago, and 2 years ago it saw the Super Bowl, World Series, and NBA Finals. There is still lots to see in the city, the problem in my opinion is the neglectful black population which invaded the city in the 80’s.
So let me see if I’ve got this right:
1) The business folks downtown are doing fine.
2) Yearly sports expositions that only visit the city for a few days at a time will somehow save the city’s economy.
3) If there’s any poverty, it’s the black folks’ fault.
Lovely.
Struggling Economy sure, a lot of cities face the same types of issues. There is still much to see in the city; a lot has changed just in the past 5 years. Maybe its a detroiter thing -this type of post hits home. Those of us who live near the city have a great understanding of where it stands and the city is indefinatley on the turnaround. Interesting read, and I really like your website.
Steve…thanks a lot for the response. It’s clear you have a lot of attachment to your home city. I can see why…Detroit has an amazing legacy, and it must be tough to watch an old friend struggle through hard times.
That’s really great to hear that things are on the upswing, though. News is a little slow up here in Calgary, so it’s really interesting to hear the perspective of a native Detroiter.
And I’m glad you like my site! Thanks for saying so.
Hey Steve: I’m curious what you mean about “the neglectful black population.” What, specifically, are they doing?
This is an incredibly sad situation. Thank you for bringing it to light.
I wouldn’t be surprised if a few wealthy people or corporations do move into the town and buy up a lot of the cheap property, in order to sell it when things pick up. I don’t think a city of this size or importance could just disappear. I think the people who live there - and are proud of it - will work to see it renewed.
My question is - where to start? How do you reinvigorate a city whose economy is experiencing such a downward spiral?