OT - Moving to Detroit

Submitted by beenplumb on

This has kind of been a long time coming for me, but I just accepted an offer to come work for an advertising agency in Dearborn, and I will be moving to Detroit from Cleveland. I'm from Michigan originally, but have never lived in southeast Michigan. I was wondering if anyone who lives in the area could give advice on where to live, any nice apartments, etc.

I've been strongly considering moving downtown. I've looked at a couple apartments that look pretty cool, and it might be fun to have a downtown lifestyle. However, I don't want to get stabbed.

I've also considered Ann Arbor, but I'm not sure how much I would enjoy the commute from AA to Dearborn everyday on 94.

Anyways, thanks in advance for any tips or advice you can give. They are greatly appreciated.

M-Wolverine

June 8th, 2012 at 2:30 PM ^

To get out of downtown, and on the expressway at rush how, and through the constant construction, it's going to take him almost as long to get to Dearborn as it is from Ann Arbor. Probably as long if he's working on the west side. And instead of one grocery store in the whole city, he could be somewhere where there's a Whole Foods, Meijer, and Busch's 2 minutes apart from each other, and pass buy multiples of the same places, as well as Hiller's, Plum, Aldi, Kroger, etc, etc. 

There are some great restaurants, but day to day living in Detroit still has a long way to go. You'll find a lot of the people in Detroit shopping in Dearborn, and the surrounding areas. Because there really isn't a lot of choice. Most of the big clubs aren't in the city proper, but going out to Novi, Pontiac, or whereever. And that's the problem. You can get anything you can get in Detroit elsewhere in the area, and that's without the taxes, crime, and horrid city services.

UMaD

June 8th, 2012 at 3:01 PM ^

You absolutely can not.  There is no Comerica Park, Lafeyette Coney, or Magestic. There are places for entertainment and food in the suburbs too, of course, but you can't match the character and history of Detroit in the surrounding area.  Detroit's flaws and problems are well known.  If your goal is to be close to a dozen pleasant grocery stores and things like the quality of city services are really important to you, then of course the suburbs are a better option.  But that's not MY idea of fun 'day to day living'.  This is a subjective matter, of course.

My 2 cents are that your life is going to be more interesting in Detroit.  You're going to do more fun activities and meet more interesting people in that environment.  You might have to 'make due' shopping at one grocery store (god forbid), and you might have to put up with some minor annoyances on occassions. Anyway, driving out to the suburbs for suburban amenities isn't a big deal when you're driving to one for work anyway.  But if you live and work in a suburb you're far less likely to make the most of the unique things Detroit offers.  My point is: it's worth giving a shot.  It's easy to leave Detroit for a suburb, far less easy to leave a suburb for Detroit.

You may be right about the commute from Detroit to Dearborn though, I don't really know anymore - but it's not like AA or I-94 are immune from construction delays.

M-Wolverine

June 8th, 2012 at 3:46 PM ^

Yeah, I guess we're coming from different places. I like to know things like my garbage will get picked up, the streets I drive on aren't off roading, and police actually show up when called. The issue is you can't make due at the one grocery store, because they haven't even finished the one yet. (And if you're doing all your shopping at Whole Foods, you can jack up that cost of living something extra).  The difference in contruction is it's on and off on I-94. Downtown, and at the interchanges, it's practically 365/year.  And even when it's not, just the congestion...there's more back ups.  If you can work off hours, it's fine.  But rush hour?

I'm sure you could come up with more attractions, but this list isn't that compelling.  Most of the people who fill Comerica come from outside the city.  And those that aren't usually aren't walking or taking the bus. They're driving anyway.  But for every thing like that I could say "Michigan Stadium". No one's advocating he live in Auburn Hills, but the Palace has a lot more going on at it on a nightly basis. Not that different than the Majestic. Sure there are bands there...but you can see people at the Michigan Theater, or the Power Center. (Or Palace, DTE, Meadowbrook). Maybe not the quantity...but unless you're going out 20 times a month, it's not much difference.

And yes, the Lafayette Coney Island "wars" are cute, and they're good dogs, but not substantially so more than any of the dozens of Coney Islands bred from them that you can't swing a dead cat without hitting. 

But that's all kind of the point. Detroit doesn't have a real central downtown district. Or too many all in one neighborhoods. You'd be driving to get a coney at Lafayette after seeing the Tigers play (unless you're eating at the coney dog place AT Comerica).  Which you can just as easily do getting ready to head home to Dearborn on Michigan Avenue. There's a lot of great places to visit; but little need to live around them because they're not all there, and subject yourself to the taxes and crime and other negatives. If one WANTS to be part of some revival, that's great, and more power to you. But it's more a mission than really gaining any personal benefit out of it.

Needs

June 8th, 2012 at 4:23 PM ^

One could argue that choosing to live in a place in the belief that your presence can bring a revival, fulfilling what you consider a broader political/urbanist mission does bring certain  personal benefits. Now whether the OP has those beliefs and would receive those personal benefits is entirely unclear from his post. 

It's certainly worth at least exploring the possibilities of living in Midtown or Downtown, while being aware of the shortcomings.  And like Mat says, it's not like he's going to be committing to living the rest of his life in one place. Leases can be broken.

Blue boy johnson

June 8th, 2012 at 11:29 PM ^

My sister and her husband live in the relatively new condos on Hancock in Detroit, right across the street from Old Main on Wayne State's campus. They love it, but it ain't for everybody. Literally, if you travel 2 blocks you are in the Cass Corridor, which is about a depressing area as I can think of, although it does have a beautiful new Cass Tech High.

Feat of Clay

June 8th, 2012 at 4:16 PM ^

Yes, there are other points in your post worth pondering, but IMO the radio thing isn't one of them.

The Ann Arbor District Library has a pretty good collection of Books on CD, both fiction and non-fiction.   That's probably true of the library of anyplace you consider.  You can be entertained (or get smarter) for FREE.

reshp1

June 8th, 2012 at 2:53 PM ^

I vote Ferndale or Royal Oak. I picked Royal Oak when I moved back to MI and it's been pretty great. Of course I work in Troy so my commute is fantastic (it takes 15 minutes, by bike). I was taking classes in Dearborn for awhile and it was about 25 minutes from Royal Oak and probably less from Ferndale. Ferndale's more of an alt type feel where Royal Oak's scene is more mainstream. Both are good, plus you have Birmingham not too far away for more dining/drinking options.

French West Indian

June 8th, 2012 at 2:59 PM ^

"I'm not sure how much I would enjoy the commute from AA to Dearborn everyday on 94."

FYI, there is an Amtrak line connecting Ann Arbor and Dearborn so you don't have to use I-94 although the train might not be too practical either depending on the schedule.  You'd have to consult the timetables and decide for yourself.

Incidentally, the train line, which happens to be called the Wolverine, also runs through Detroit and up to Royal Oak, Birmingham and Pontiac.  You can also take it in the opposite direction to Chicago.

Smash Lampjaw

June 8th, 2012 at 8:20 PM ^

who lives east of where he works." I drove into the sunrises and sunsets from Ann Arbor for a while before moving to Lafayette Park. Then to the west coast after someone dumped paint on the foreign cars in our parking lot, and someone else (I assume) shot our security guard. It may have been more of a frontier town back then.

Bryan

June 8th, 2012 at 3:12 PM ^

I think I might be the only Detroiter on this thread. From New Center to Midtown to Downtown, there is a lot going on. The only other area I would be interested in moving to would be AA again, everything else just seems so bland now. 

True Blue Grit

June 8th, 2012 at 4:03 PM ^

Besides the crime, bad air quality, lack of good shopping, and bankrupt government, it just isn't very nice looking.  Dearborn would be much better and close to where you work.  I live in Ann Arbor now and really love it.  But, my wife commutes to Dearborn every day and doesn't really like the driving part.  If she has an appointment in AA, the traffic often causes her to be late.  It's not the worst commute you could have, but it IS a factor. 

The other choice (although kind of pricey) is Birmingham/Bloomfield Hills.  I grew up there and really liked it.  It might take the same amount of time to get there as Ann Arbor though. 

Foote Fetish

June 8th, 2012 at 5:55 PM ^

I like it quite a bit, and actually do notice it when I think about quality of life.

Hey, if you don't want to live in Detroit then that's fine.  I'm not trying to tell anyone how or where to live their lives.  I just hate the perception that Detroit is this horrible godforsaken place, and I don't think people should be so afraid to live in the city.  While you definitely lose in comfort and consistency, there's a lot to love about the city too.

BDW

June 8th, 2012 at 4:50 PM ^

I lived in downtown Detroit for a year and really loved it.  Lofts of Merchant Row on Woodward.  Having 24 hour Valet Parking also made you feel a little safer.  That being said I now live in Ann Arbor and wouldn’t trade it for anything.  I drive past Dearborn everyday to work and the drive from Ann Arbor to Dearborn is very easy.

 

DonAZ

June 8th, 2012 at 7:18 PM ^

There are many things about Detroit and Southeast Michigan I miss. 

Living in Tucson, Arizona is like living on the moon.  A hot, dusty moon. :-(

WolvinMaine

June 8th, 2012 at 9:38 PM ^

I lived in the New Center area for a few years when I was in school and doing rotations at Henry Ford.  Oddly enough, I had lived in Cleveland the prior 2 years before moving back to Detroit.  I very much enjoyed living in the city, and that was back before the rebirth of Harmony Park and the move to Comerica Park...yeah, dating myself.  Detroit is like any other city, you need to know where you are and what is around you, but I never had a problem and enjoyed my time living in the city quite a bit.  

I went back to visit family last year and took my parents to The Whitney for dinner (just a fun building to get a cocktail and walk around) and I was really happy to see how much Woodward has changed.  For old times, I drove down from Grand Blvd to the river, and while there is still quite a bit that is in bad need of repair, but also there was so much more going on then when I lived there.  The area around Wayne State and the DIA was so much better, I was kind of jealous that was not there when I lived in the city.

If I was young and single, I would live in the city again.  It is hard to appreciate how wealthy Detroit once was until you start poking around those old buildings downtown, and it is cool to see some of that coming back. 

HAIL-YEA

June 8th, 2012 at 9:39 PM ^

dont live in detroit.. its literally a 10-15 minute drive from dearborn to get downtown...second..I don't know what your budget is.. but you can definatly rent cheaper then 11-1800 in dearborn or dearborn heights..you can rent a nice fully firnished apartment not far from ford headquarters for between 750-1200 a month.. hell you can rent a decent house for 1100 if you wanted more space...also real estate is crazy cheap right now if you plan on being here long term. I just stopped renting and bought a bank owned house in dearborn..my payment with taxes and insurance...525

HAIL-YEA

June 8th, 2012 at 10:22 PM ^

i bought a 1400 sq ft ranch on a double lot for 78k ...but i financed 60k of it..payment without taxes and ins was like 285..the hard part is getting approved for a loan these days..but if you buy a fannie mae home you can still get in for 3% down if you have good credit.and yes there are plenty of homes in the 60-80k prince range right now.. but they need work because theyre bank owned and people trash them when they get foreclosed

BlueLotCrew

June 8th, 2012 at 11:05 PM ^

Moving to Detroit? Here's an idea. Take all if your money and flush it down the toilet. Then shoot yourself in the face. If that's not your cup of tea, then stay away from the Detroit area all together. Live in A2 or Grand Rapids. Any other city in Michigan is a sacrifice.

kalamazoo

June 8th, 2012 at 11:16 PM ^

I love downtown Detroit, actually.  I live out of state now for work but rent my condo at Woodward and I-75 and go back all the time.  There are incentives for all of the hospital staffs to live nearby so the area is definitely changing.

Plus, Whole Foods is moving into Midtown at Mack and John R which is about 1/2 mile from downtown.  With the Whole Foods 7 year commitment, the infamous Eastern Market, and others, there isn't much difficulty in getting groceries like there used to be.

mabeaton

June 9th, 2012 at 1:06 AM ^

Look, I've worked in Downtown Detroit for 5 years before I left for TD in Dearborn.  I live in Grosse Pointe Woods and traveled the east side and downtown for almost a decade.  There is one very good reason to AVOID Detroit . . . that is crime.  It's only getting worse and is pervasive in EVERY neighborhood.  Here's the crime map, see for yourself.  This is just reported crimes in the past week.  http://www.crimemapping.com/map.aspx?aid=0c6c72dd-7122-4509-b897-17f60e…

Do yourself a favor, save money and avoid the risk.  You don't need it. You can always get into the city for events.  Otherwise, there is NO reason to live there.  And, if you do find yourself in the city often, get a concealed pistol license and learn how to shoot.  Just be prepared.  

umich1

June 9th, 2012 at 7:48 AM ^

I'm 23, and so far have lived in Ann Arbor, Novi, Northville, Dearborn, Detroit, and Royal Oak.



Detroit- plan on paying 1.5% income tax as a resident with a job outside the city, about DOUBLE for car insurance, etc. I lived in the Millender Center, which is right downtown, for a year. In that year, there were 3 shootings within a 3 block radius. One was literally 24 stories below my window, and I woke up at 2:30 AM to the sound of 16 gunshots and the image of a guy laying in the street in a pool of his own blood. Search "gunshots in Detroit" on Mgoblog- I posted here about it. What activities do you want to go to in Detroit? Last year, I took people to the fireworks and watched them from my office in the Renaissance Center. Watched horrified people below run away on the streets as somebody shot themselves on accident. Detroit was nice for me for proximity to work, but the security IS an issue. Somebody was shot and killed outside the renaissance center last week, funny how these things don't make the news.



Dearborn at Outer Drive/Cherry Hill is a nice choice, as is Royal Oak. If you want the urban feel without the headaches and financial strain of Detroit, consider living in a condo or apartment in a loft over downtown royal oak. It's 25 minutes to Dearborn without traffic, not bad.