Is THIS the WORST City In America? Highland Park, Michigan

[@ChrisHarden]

Detroit Playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/haelZ4yIlKeWrq8 American Hoods Playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ep6bYqykjNuIqa8 Michigan Playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmbXapScl6p6f8U Detroit Suburbs Playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHmWhX2ihcd6fLM Intro: 0:00 - 1:03 Highland Park: 1:03 - 16:40 Highland Park Was Once a Special Place: 16:40 - 23:00 Mostly Urban Ruins: 23:00 - 28:40 Stevens Subdivision Historic District: 28:40 - 32:32 ==================================================================== EVERYTHING THAT I USE IN THE FIELD: Main Camera: amzn.to/3iS4vvF Side Cameras: amzn.to/2WuCYIs Media Mod for Camera: amzn.to/3j7CMGF Lav Mic: amzn.to/3lsMkz9 Drone: amzn.to/3ITcKBV SD Cards: amzn.to/3C2co9O Camera Mounts: amzn.to/2UXVR6p Cables Required for Longer Recordings: amzn.to/3BYnr3Q Computer: amzn.to/3787b2j External Hard Drive: amzn.to/3lb23Tf WHAT I USE AT HOME: Computer: amzn.to/3rKIdiN Sound Mixer: amzn.to/3C15Ubx Microphone: amzn.to/2VaCjvo Microphone Accessories: amzn.to/3v7A35Z INTERACTIVE MAP that shows you all of the places that I've made videos on: (Doesn't always work on mobile devices. Will always work on PC.) www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/edit?hl=en&mid=1Lhzf04ocimPu-ROkg4cfXEYEvKMNnlI5&ll=43.06219876674538%2C-83.82163216337808&z=10 SOCIAL MEDIA & CONTACT INFO: Email: [e-mail] On Twitter: twitter.com/Chris_Harden55 On Instagram: instagram.com/c_harden7/?... On Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisHardenYT/ DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. As an Amazon Associate I do earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. As always, thank you for supporting my channel!

[@derricklogan2058]

Chris? This is how life is. Some people: all people, from time to time, become upset when we're constantly hearing about the same thing from different media formats. But when it's true, it really shouldn't be an issue. Someone enjoys your videos or we wouldn't be watching. If those people who are upset with you would exercise their rights by not viewing your content, they wouldn't have an issue with you! It's the same with the cyber bullying! If you don't click on it, it won't bother you! When I was a child, I was bullied because of the color of my skin or because I didn't fit in to "The In Crowd" which was indicative of our slang during the 1960's and early 70's, so I know what it's like, just in a different era. Some people just don't take criticism very well, either about themselves or where they live/lived! But it's all about change. Nothing in life stays the same! NOTHING! I don't like what I see, but at one time in my life I did. Don't worry about it. No one will ever agree on everything!!! No one. Show a video about Woodruff Wilson from Oakman to Calvert; (North to South) and the John C. Lodge/U.S. 10; (East to West); to Livernois and then maybe those who are upset will have something to cry about?!!? ✌️

[@carlosrivas1629]

Maybe just maybe, diversity is not our strength but a terrible weakness.

[@302Mustang13]

Dude, this video is super popular right now. I wonder how long it will take to reach half a million views.

[@natejennings5884]

Some parts of Highland Park look like some parts of Atlanta. Atlanta's always had ghettos. But rising costs driving out the working class, jacked up crime rates under former mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms (a race baiting opportunist), and two waves of riots in 2020 sent things into free fall.

[@davidleach4811]

A lot of what you are saying is in the rearview mirror for most of Detroit and it's neighborhoods. Highland Park is lagging yes but it's seen its worse days. Real estate investment companies are buying vacant property as fast as it hits the market. A lot of it is speculative but it's based on perceived value going forward.

[@MrLaurak12]

I tried to rent an apartment at Glendale and Hamilton back in 1985. I left a deposit; the next day the landlady called me to “come get( your) money, you don’t want to live here” o was a teenage single mother, a 100lb white girl, very naive. God bless that woman.

[@williscurry6557]

Thank god. The landlords in that area are notorious for pocketing deposits for no reason!

[@fredgardner2870]

All democrat run cities are like this... Democrats have stolen billions from taxpayers money since the 60s

[@truthsocialmedia]

i would never let my daughter live in that craphole.. where was your dad?

[@derricklogan2058]

You would not have been the only Caucasian Person in that area though. In 1988, a few blocks south of Glendale was a Caucasian Guy that I went to Chauffeur's Training School with. I can't remember his name though. In 1985, I was 24 years old and worked Security at Highland Park Community College and because of the very light complexion of my skin, most people thought that I was "White" and I grew up right across the John C. Lodge Freeway, 3 blocks south off Woodrow Wilson on Highland Street. But back in the 80's it wasn't nearly as bad as it is now! People now have just lost their minds! There's no respect for each other and absolutely no rememberance of the History of where we all came from nor the real struggle of what our parents and grandparents and even those before them fought for! Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said it best in his speech: "I Have A Dream!" People should listen; really listen to what he was saying! I still have his speech on a 45rpm record!!! Many people now don't even know what that is!!!

[@boogitybear2283]

Liberalism will do that to u.

[@pzdf8v]

A few years ago an EF-4 tornado went through Highland Park. It did $5 million worth of improvements.

[@NMTW6]

that's so wrong yet so funny

[@FixIt1975]

Hahaha!!

[@craigkimble1467]

Lol

[@glennso47]

Similar to Pitcher Oklahoma? The government had tried for years to shut the town down because of a history of lead mining in the area. But “Mother Nature “ came through and shut the place down in just a few minutes. This is some time in the past 15 years. 🌪🌩

[@FixIt1975]

@@glennso47 They still haven't gotten everyone out of Centralia, PA. There's not many left but those that are, are allowed to remain until they pass away. They cannot sell their homes or will them to family

[@michaelbreeland8823]

I was born in Highland Park in March of 1967. My dad & mom were forced to flee with me to the suburbs shortly afterward when the riots broke out. It's sad to see what's happened since then.

[@ourson66]

Heartbreaking, especially at 26:33 when you focus in on the "Best Academy / Former Hospital" at Highland Street and 3rd Ave. That used to be an 800-bed convalescent hospital that was run for a number of years by my grandmother in the 1940's and 50's. If she were still with us, she'd be so sad to see the ruin it's turned into. My mom was born there. Really heartbreakiing.

[@NipapornP]

" the ruin it's turned into..." Like 99% of ALL buildings ever built around the world. The 1% are religious buildings and monuments, which stay for a little longer. Just check, which building from 200 years ago is still "alive" in you surrounding?

[@ourson66]

@@NipapornP what’s your point? Sure some buildings are torn down and new ones are rebuilt. That’s not what I was saying. Not all buildings are abandoned and left to rot, empty, slowly falling to pieces. Especially not In the midst of a big city like Detroit. It’s the urban blight, the fact that the building was once useful, and is now useless and abandoned. That’s what I’m talking about. If it had been replaced by a new building that was vibrant and being enjoyed by people, Chris wouldn’t have made the original video.

[@chriscrabtree5827]

steve I am right here in Detroit and trust me I attend alot of community events on finding new ways to connect the community that info is so rich and Actually my first apartment was on Highland and woodward when I attended Wayne State. I hope that you are active in not only the history but the present in effecting change.

[@ourson66]

@@chriscrabtree5827 Chris, though my mom was born in Detroit, I've only been there a few times, and grew up in Canada, and now live in Toronto.

[@313-v9k]

I was in the Best Academy. We were asked to inspect that building by a bank about 10 years ago. The property manager that let us in and blew a whistle to warn any crackheads that we were coming. It had about a 5 million dollar mortgage on it through the charter school that was there. Charter schools in Detroit are a joke, I know, I taught at one. The bank asked us to inspect it just to see if they should knock it down. I remember hearing water running in the basement....a LOT of water just gushing. The path was block so we never did find the source of the water flow. A month or two later I was watching the news....they found a dead body in it.

[@ClaudiaMitchell-jn7fw]

I was born in Highland Park in 1953. So sad to see the devastating shape it’s in. Breaks my heart.

[@richbrake9910]

It breaks my heart also. My mother grew up there in HP and retired from Chrysler. If she was still alive and knew this, she would be devastated. You may have known the Kimbro family at some point. Left HP in 1970.

[@ClaudiaMitchell-jn7fw]

@@richbrake9910 I was born in H.P., but raised in Ferndale and also lived between 6 and 7 mile in Detroit. I was in 7’th grade when the riots broke out in Detroit in 1967, so I wouldn’t have known your Mother, but I agree she would be heart~broken too. It’s so sad to see Detroit in such decline, remembering how together it once was. It’s turned into “Thug City” and I don’t see any changes anytime soon. ✌🏻

[@stratcat4450]

​@@ClaudiaMitchell-jn7fwI was born an raised there although in Oakland county. My dad an his brothers had a small tv shop very near but H P. My dad the in home guy would fix tv sets for free if some poor family couldn't afford it. They gave unclaimed sets away if someone needed it for thier kids. During the riots thugs destroyed the place anyway. An we grew up quite poor too! Never ever had a family vacation, I wore hand me downs etc...I left in the mid 90s an never looked back.

[@BarB2-90Nine]

Michigan is a forgotten place?? ; NO but I remember growing up there in Detroit; then a suburb . 👍🏽Lov ur videos there are amazing.

[@munsters2]

People make death threats just because you filmed their city? There are some insane people out there. Keep up the good work.

[@734wheeler5]

They know they’re exploiting it that’s why

[@kelblueskies3937]

Sounds like pissed off Democrat commies showing the mess they created.

[@steve41557]

Welcome to Highland Park!

[@jenniferlloyd9574]

@@734wheeler5 They're probably ashamed of their city. Why would you say he's exploiting it? I'd be proud if somebody filmed my city. Nothing to hide here... Some dwellers are just nasty I guess.

[@bobscott6223]

More like Thug threats.

[@annehallock5370]

Over 40 years ago, my husband and I shared our first apartment in Highland Park. We lived on Elmhurst, just a few houses west of Woodward. We loved living there. We had good neighbors and had a lovely apartment. We finally left because of crime. I got beat up, after getting off a bus on Woodward. A man tried to steal my purse. We have fond memories of Highland Park. I enjoyed your video but like others, I am so sad to see what it has become. Thanks very much. Safe travels.

[@kingpetra6886]

We moved from the East coast to Livonia for two years. . This time period was about twenty years before you initially lived in Highland Park. I liked Michigan. There was lots of outdoor recreation. We went into to Detroit to see the auto show, the Ice Capades, an occasional Tiger game, a class trip to the River Rouge plant, family trip to Greenfield Village, lots of little league sports for the kids, huge outdoor shopping centers and my dad and I even did some fishing on the Detroit River. The people were friendly, out going, without the attitude you get on the East coast. Livonia was one of the whitest towns in the country but our next door neighbors were Puerto Rican and we had an Arab family in school. These people (who really do have extended families) had relatives who had small businesses, mostly shops in the city. The baseball bat was the instrument of choice. Many of our other neighbors had lived in Detroit and told us they left because of the crime. And these people were quite vehement about this and made no secret about the people they felt who were responsible. Sixty tears later and many of our cities still have not recovered.

[@witkneemenyon5612]

Highland park was such a beautiful place back in the day

[@bobscott6223]

You sure that was 40 years ago and not 60 ? Elmhurst was full of crime even back them. On Third avenue and Cortland, there used to be a convenience store that was ran by 2 brothers. It was a great place to buy some candy on the way home from school. When one of the brothers was killed by an armed robber, the store had to close down. This was in the mid 60's. Elmhurst was just 3 blocks south of Cortland.

[@gshrdy5415]

@@bobscott6223 , Vincent Chin got killed by two Chrysler workers in 1982, bludgeoned him to death in Highland park, I felt sad for him, I was there near Wayne State.

[@bobscott6223]

@@gshrdy5415 Good for you.

[@joebutchko2223]

Hey chris- Gran Torino was filmed there also. Your little speech at the end was right on target. I enjoy all your videos.

[@richardtrudeau7363]

What are you Spooks up to?

[@cbesthelper404]

Henry Ford developed a significant portion of Highland Park. He made sure that homes were built that Ford executives could live in. You can see some of them at around the 14:04 mark. Ford was responsible for developing Oakman Boulevard, which runs from Hamilton Avenue all the way to Grand River. The homes on Oakman Boulevard were mansions.

[@chrisharris6206]

Actually Oakman Blvd, is actually the extended part of Manchester Blvd. That Started at Oakland Ave, The original Ford plant. We used to in the ,70s. Used to live on Ferris, right across from the High School. My Sister and brother Graduated from, Highland Park High. In ,79 ,80. I went to St Benedict Elementary School 🎒 in Highland Park,78 -81. We had moved so I only did , kindergarten, - 2 grade till we moved. But Oakman Blvd, starting at Hamilton Ave, Sanders Headquarters was to the right side off Hamilton Ave, a few blocks. Also on Hamilton Ave, was farm maiden dairy, I think. With the Girl on the milk. Down some more blocks, was where the Telephone Books were made. John C Lodge in that area. And at Fenkell and Rosa Parks was Hostess and Wonder Bread Is bakery. Oakman Blvd, didn't stop 🛑 at , Grand River, it continues to Dearborn and at Michigan Ave. It turns into Miller Rd . Which is where, The Ford Rouge Plant is, my Dad used to work at Specialty Foundry, Rogue Steel. Those were the good old days. Sorry for the sloppy writing, but nostalgia gets me. 😢. And we could walk across Oakland Ave, right into a pathway, that ran along the Polar Bears, Football 🏈 Field. Then proceeded to the High School 🏫🎒. Those were the best days growing up. Ford went to where my dad worked, And built the Rouge Plant, and then Chrysler Corp. Moving to Auburn Hills was the last Straw. I'm in East pointe MI, which original was East Detroit. But as a kid I remember Highland Park well.

[@cbesthelper404]

@@chrisharris6206 Thanks for sharing. You've conjured up some memories. I remember the Hostess Bakery on Oakman Blvd. You could smell the pastries blocks away. They had a little store with marked-down items for sell in the back and up some metallic steps. Yes, there was a Michigan Bell office nearby as well. I remember the Sanders there too. At one point, you could go in and receive counter service. I loved Parkman Branch Library off of Linwood. You lived across the street from the newer high school? I know that a new school was built on Woodward around the late 70s or so. The high school that I remember is the old one on Glendale, right next to Highland Park Community College. Do you remember the art-deco style Sears store on Woodward and Robert Hall a little further north on Woodward? That Highland Park shopping center was really nice at one point. I cannot name all of the stores, but I do remember a Kresge's, a Cunningham's, Mailings Shoes, Petrie's, Winkelman's Bakers Shoes, the A&P just west of the Kresge's parking lot, and a few more shops. The 6 Mile Theater on Woodward was where we would check for all the new movies coming out. I remember seeing some memorable ones there, like "To Sir, With Love" and "Night of the Living Dead". Yeah, those were the days.

[@chrisharris6206]

@@cbesthelper404 oh yes, before we moved to Highland Park, in the Fall of, 1977. We lived in the University District. U If D. On Woodingham, between Puritan and John C Lodge, Fenkell. My birth home where I spent my first four ys. Before , we moved down south for a while, then w like I said moved back to Michigan Highland Park. Lived on Ferris,St. Right off Oakland Ave. The Highland Park new, High school was across the street from me opposite direction southwest of Oakland Ave. How ironically it was open in,1977. Yes I remember the old one , on Glendale Ave. Had my Tonsils removed at Detroit O Hospital. Sister loved McGregor Public Library, they both graduate Highland Park High,79,80. I went to St Benedict Catholic school, on John R, and Church . Yes that was a humongous beautiful Sears. On Sears St. Little bit of trivia. A&P eas to the Northside of Sears, on Sears St. Remember the Magnavox store in Woodward, sighnige still there. My brother used to work out at the original , Power House Gym. On Woodward. Oh yes Uptown Bookstore, and the Naughty Adult Section . Lol. Bill Donuts Damn Good, at Woodward and 6Mile. Howard Johnson huge on Woodward. Highland Appliances the original one?, on Woodward. Detroit Edison, Ma Michigan Bell, Michigan Consolidated Gas, all in what used to be downtown Highland Park The Hotel right off Woodward in the middle thinking it was Grand, that was where you stayed at when visiting, used to be nicer downtown. Red Barn, across the street. Burger King, in the, Parking Structure. On Davison and Woodward. King Auto Sales. Grocery Stores on Woodward, between Glendale and , Tennison. Post Office,von Vena Busta and Woodward. Hamilton Ave, had Paint N Stuff on Hamilton Ave and Puritan Ave. Also Hamilton Ave West Highland Park was the manufacturing and industrial part of the city. And Davison and Oakland Ave. Chrysler Head Quarters. The executive kid's of some of the top brass , went to St Benedict Catholic school also. Again excuse my writing I'm, posting on my phone. But Old Highland Park, fantastic memories in the middle to, later,70 s. Now ugh,🥺🥺😬

[@valnpaulvanorden]

There's a story about highland Park and some destroyed rape kits that were never investigated and they rebuilt a new police department I don't know if they touch on this during this video

[@derricklogan2058]

Chris? If someone is upset with you about THE TRUTH, there's NO TRUTH in them! Keep doing what you are doing! ✌️

[@johnfox8320]

Highland Park Memories. My roots in the Detroit area go back to the late 1800's. My Great Grandmother was a teenager living with her sister, mother and father in Chicago when the Great Chicago Fire happened in 1871. They all made it out safely, but when the fire was over their house was gone. So they packed up and moved to New York where a few years later she met and married my Great Grandfather. The two of them didn't like New York very much, so they traveled West looking for somewhere to start their new lives. When they got to Detroit they were both taken in by what they called a "most lovely city", which at the time it was, so they stayed. They bought a house on Bagley Avenue and raised their family, including my Grandfather. When he was a boy, Grandpa and his little friends used to play ball in the street. But sometimes the games were interrupted by a man they nicknamed "Crazy Henry" because Henry would come driving along in one of his latest inventions which was basically a four-wheel bicycle with a noisy gas motor attached. "Crazy Henry" would later go on to create the Ford Motor Company. Later after Grandpa married Grandma they lived for years in a flat on Second Avenue in beautiful Highland Park where my father was born and grew up. After Dad married Mom they chose to stay in Highland Park, so they eventually bought a nice two story house at 39 Monterey between Woodward and Second. This is the house where I was born and lived in until I was seven. The street had many trees and well kept middle-class houses, and was a nice safe place for a kid like me to make friends and play. One day when I was still a toddler in diapers, I slipped away unnoticed by my mother and headed off on an adventure. When I got to Second Avenue at the end of our block (which back then was a busy one way street), I watched as the cars starting slowing down and stopping. I remember thinking that was nice of them to stop for me, so I continued across Second and kept on going. Before I got too much farther, a neighbor recognized me and "rescued" me (although I didn't know I needed rescuing) and called my mom to come and get her wayward son. No wonder her hair started turning grey not long after! In kindergarten and first grade I attended Ferris Elementary school, just two short blocks away up Woodward Avenue to Cortland Street. It was a large and very nice school that even had an indoor swimming pool. Mom and dad had no problem with me walking alone to and from school. After all, this was Highland Park, a beautiful and safe place to live. I fondly remember the McGregor Public Library close by on Woodward, which was a beautiful building and an interesting place for people of all ages to spend some quality time. In 1958 my parents sold the house and we moved to the northern Detroit suburb of Pleasant Ridge where we lived until I was in college. It wasn't until many years later that I had the opportunity to drive down Monterey, and what I saw just broke my heart. This beautiful, clean, safe neighborhood where I started my life now quite literally looked like a war zone. I would love to think that someday Highland Park could return to its glory days, but until or unless some economic miracle happens, then I just don't see how. It's sad to say, but I'm afraid that eventually after people like me are gone who remember what a special place it once was, Highland Park may simply cease to exist. John Fox

[@johndavid5627]

everthing will cease to exist

[@johnzeszut3170]

A story well worth reading. With the ebb and flow of today's world it remains possible that Highland Park might make a comeback.

[@pjflynn5978]

Wonderful story!

[@jacknasty6940]

Blah blah blah

[@johnzeszut3170]

@@jacknasty6940 Why Jack! What ever to you mean????

[@Brocuzgodlocdunfamdogson]

Back when I was about 17, me and a few friends found the salt mine entrances in HP, and not knowing what they were, took interest. They look like subway entrances, and Detroit doesn’t have subways. I didn’t know about the gigantic network of salt mines beneath the city either. As we were about to enter, an old lady around 70 or so comes flying out of her house screaming at us about how we were going to die if we went in. We decided to take her advice and stayed out.

[@jb-iw5yd]

That's one reason they want all the blk folks out

[@detroitbanks9140]

Yeah Highland park used to have an underground system not only for salt but transport they closed most of the entrances with cement some are still open but very unsafe I'm glad you didn't enter some kids got lost down there when I was younger

[@bobscott6223]

Please post the location of the salt mine entrance. Maybe I saw it when I was a kid too.

[@detroitbanks9140]

@@bobscott6223 it's above ground now you can see it off the freeway big brown half football looking things lol but they didn't used to be salt mine entrances they filled them up with different materials rocks sand cement salt etc it used to be an underground network not just a salt mine I believe they closed them entrances now cement over them

[@bobscott6223]

@@detroitbanks9140Sounds good. So you are talking about I-75, the Davison, or the Lodge as where these fooltball looking things can be seen ? Thanks

[@michaelwills1926]

It’s always so bittersweet to see places that have fallen from their heyday. Seeing the rows of empty houses, forlorn yet still beautiful structures which once hosted the coursing energy of families and children, industry and hope for the future. Great vid bro.

[@Lagunainkspot]

I was born there. My mother was raped there as a teen in the late 1950’s. I was stolen as a baby out of a diner. It is so sad to see that kind of misery. If you are miserable get out. I put on a USMC uniform to escape my misery.

[@stefanroche3052]

Fully understandable, I live here now and have been born and raised here. This “city” neighbourhood what have you is a huge source of fear and trauma for me. It is what it is though. I relate to all the born and raised Highland Parkers who said they’d never come back. That’s exactly how I feel.

[@CB-se3tt]

sorry that was your reality, i hope you have found some semblance of piece.

[@Lagunainkspot]

@@CB-se3tt Life is great now because somehow I made more good decisions than bad. I live in California with a great husband. I have 2 kids of my own, 3 stepchildren and 8 grandchildren. All the kids are educated and wonderful adults. You can make changes. It's never to late to change what's not working.

[@daviddecelles8714]

Yes, but unless you're a Corps lifer, where do you go back to as a civilian of moderate means when so much of the country is moving in the direction of Highland Park? No more 'solid middle class.' as he put it.

[@Lagunainkspot]

@@daviddecelles8714 I stayed in California. Worked on a great career. and family. I didn't have family anywhere really so it wasn't hard to create a new home.

[@davidmaynard9462]

I was a lifelong resident of Michigan, moving there in 11-50 and staying until 10-06. Also in the 80's we did a partnership with Grace Church as street ministers. There is nothing you said about the city that was in error. It wasn't as bad when we were there but that was 40 years ago. Thank you for your efforts and thank you for the update on the way the city has gone down. It saddens me.

[@bf6908]

Thanks for making this video. My grandmother lived in Highland Park, MI in the 50's and early 60's, when I was a child. I loved visiting her in the old duplex she rented (wish I could remember the street). My sister and I would spend some weekends with her, and we would all walk to Palmer Park and feed the ducks. Great memories of better times when people took pride in their neighborhood and watched out for their neighbors.

[@vangogo6819]

I didn't grow up here, I live in New England, but when I go back to the area I grew up in, almost two hours east from where I am now, it makes me sad to see what a combat zone my grandmother's old neighborhood is now. When we were growing up in the 60's into the 70's her apartment was nice, clean, the house was taken care of and we walked everywhere. Now there's nothing but hookers, junkies and gun violence every day and night. It stinks to see all that was good turn so bad.

[@hoganfan924]

I worked for Chrysler in HP from 88-91, and then would visit weekly from around ‘95-98 as we still had engine dynamometer labs still running there. It was a 💩 hole back then. A couple of Chrysler employees got murdered back then, one lady had a cinder block thrown through her windshield from an overpass, another had his convertible fire bombed as he pulled off the Davison onto Oakland Ave. A co-worker friend of mine was mugged and badly beaten as he made the mistake of stopping for gas there on his way home. Glad Chrysler moved out.

[@ChrisHarden]

Dang I would’ve quit. No job is worth that kind of trouble.

[@seanb6478]

@@ChrisHarden & those are the reasons no sane company will build there when they can be near a nice suburb w/ honest hard workers.

[@abark]

Dang, hard to believe how long white supremacy has been the greatest threat to our country. When will it be stopped?

[@WendyStringer48088]

@@ChrisHarden You stay for the $$$ and hope it doesn't happen to you. You learn tactics to minimize risk - in arriving go straight off the I-75 / Davidson freeway directly to the entry gate to the complex. In leaving from work go straight from the exit gate to the freeway. Like flying a fighter jet off an aircraft carrier - the takeoffs and landings are the most dangerous parts of the missions. Also you stay waiting for them to move to someplace better, which they did. Chrysler did move to Auburn Hills soon afterwards.

[@elizabeth881]

Thank-you for this video! Absolutely loved that you went through this city to show all the abandoned buildings. You made the work easier for people who would want to revive this city and bring back life to abandoned properties for the good of humanity. I see so much potential for this city this is a great opportunity for future humanitarian projects.

[@KenVic02]

The closed BEST Academy you show at 26:35 used to be Detroit Osteopathic Hospital. Both myself and my sister were born there in the early 60's when that area was still thriving and nice pre-riots. Wow what incredible blight. I left Michigan in the late-90's, but always informative to watch videos like this. Thanks for posting.

[@jackkelledes4082]

I was born in that hospital in the late 60's. I was hoping to see the academy on here so that at least some remnant of my birthplace remained.

[@msswannee636]

@@TugIronChief no. Detroit Osteopathic Hospital.

[@lawrencemarocco8197]

To make things worse, the city hasn't paid its water bill to the Great Lakes Water Authority in several years even though they've been collecting from the residents. Now GLWA wants to bill the rest of us for HP's irresponsible management.

[@Belleville197]

who owns the GLWA ?

[@CODCritic101]

@@Belleville197 probably nestle ! LOL

[@Dallas_K]

Their own water facility was so ill-run and neglected that the reservoir finally collapsed about ten years ago. Then they got on with the Detroit water system and quickly failed to pay bills. DTE (electric company) actually shut off and REMOVED streetlights for failure to pay bills. Video of streetlight removal is here on KZbin. I left Highland Park permanently in 2007. The place is a hopeless mess best left to consume itself. Clint Eastwood came to my street a short time later to film "Grand Torino".

[@bobscott6223]

I always thought that HP got its water form the waterworks that Ford built. It is still standing too. Is located on Dequindre near the Davison

[@lawrencemarocco8197]

@@bobscott6223 Some of the walls of the reservoir are still standing but it was decommissioned decades ago.

[@MikeinVirginia1]

I was born in Detroit in 1952, my father was a tool & die man for Dodge. He preferred Chrysler cars his whole life. We left Michigan when I was 6, but I did kindergarten there and have always been interested in the auto industry and Detroit. So this video is special for me. To top it off, my grandfather was a friend of Will Rodgers, and Will Rodgers was a friend of Henry Ford. So when Will was in town he'd go see Henry and take my grandfather. So my grandfather knew Henry Ford! 😊

[@Lions1102]

congrats

[@1motorcitychop]

Didn't Henry Ford steal the car invention or something of that nature from a black man I'm really asking because I thought that was a true story

[@Lions1102]

@@1motorcitychop idk

[@1motorcitychop]

@@Lions1102 just did some research I'm not so sure he did anymore have a beautiful life My friend

[@Deeishere3]

So glad to see that you did a video on HIghland Park. I was born in Highland Park and went to the community college. It's so sad to see the condition that it is in. I hope there is a comeback for this city. Thanks for all the history too!

[@mowest5852]

It will have a comeback ❤

[@ednorton47]

@@mowest5852 Just not in your lifetime.

[@TheBandit7613]

@@ednorton47 it's 93% black. 3% white.

[@Dallas_K]

@@mowest5852 Been hearing that for too many decades!

[@EdSteelieEd]

@@ednorton47 Sad but true! Not in my lifetime is certain!

[@RogerWyatt365]

I lived in Detroit in the late 50's through the 00's - first living near 6-Mile (McNichols) and finally near 7-Mile (near Palmer Park). I took the bus every day - going to Cass Tech - going down Hamilton and I saw the devolution of that street over time. I remember going to the Sanders shop and getting hot-fudge sundaes there. I remember when going to the Howard Johnson's on Woodward on a Sunday after church was a VERY big deal. I remember going to the Red Barn Hamburger place for $0.25 burgers (who needed White Castle?!). I remember going to the Sears and then over to Cunningham's across the street from the Ford plant. I remember sneaking into the "Adult" section of the bookstore on the corner of Woodward and McNichols (before the whole thing became an adult store). And I remember driving down the Davidson Freeway to cut over to I-75. Those days were fading in the 70's, gone in the 80's and erased from the face of the earth in the 90's. At least I have my memories.

[@michellel44]

@roger Wyatt Is the Howard Johnson’s on West Grand Blvd near Woodward? 14 floor high rise? If so Henry Ford Hospital turned it to housing for medical and nursing students. I lived in the old “Ho Jo” in the early 90’s. Great memories!

[@martymcfly9480]

Ironically that bookstore is the only thing still there out of that entire list. In good condition too

[@RogerWyatt365]

@@martymcfly9480 Ha ha ha! That figures, doesn't it?!

[@RogerWyatt365]

@@michellel44 No, this was the HoJo on Woodward in Highland Park, not too far away from the (now defunct) Northern High School.

[@tscottshea]

This is one of the most interesting videos I've watched on KZbin. Very thought-provoking. Thank you!

[@jeffreyfwagner]

Nicely done video! I am a little surprised that you did not show whatever is left of the old Chrysler campus on Oakland Ave. I worked there in the 1970's and was impressed by the contrasts of really nice houses and all the other stuff. Thanks for the good video.

[@bill1772]

HELLO Chris. I did enjoy this vlog; I worked within the automotive companies throughout Michigan in the 80s'and 90s. This video took a great deal of time, searching historical records. The Footer is nicely done, the updated ticker on each street you were traveling. Excellent Job, Mr. Harden. Bill from Columbus.

[@ericnortan9012]

I grew up in the Flint area. Worked all over SE Michigan as an electrician. It always was amazing to me looking at these old buildings and houses, I could see how great this town used to be. Huge homes, really cool architecture, the birthplaces of modern America, now just rotting away. I feel the same about Michigan, definitely loyal to a fault. Four deployments with the Marines to four continents and 27 different countries, yet I couldn't wait to get back to Flint. Makes me wonder what I was thinking. Moved up north years ago, now live in Alpena. Love it up here. I just hope these towns can turn it around.

[@ericnortan9012]

@@tvv178 Ya, great town. Lots of outdoor type recreation. It's a real nice stretch of shoreline between here and the bridge.

[@johnnyonthespot4375]

(21:25) Does anyone remember an appliance store called "Highland Appliance" ? The original store that the company started with ( *Highland* Park ) still sits vacant, boarded up and still has the Highland appliance name on the building on Woodward ave. THIS is how the city is doing.

[@TPOrchestra]

I remember Highland Appliance very well, they were huge in the seventies and eighties. I was always puzzled at why the company eventually failed.

[@jsboening]

My brother worked at Highland appliance here in Grand Rapids in the early 90’s as a salesman. I bought a sweet Yamaha tape deck at a killer price. I still have a bunch of old tapes. If I remember Hughland went out and a lot of employees went to work at Fretter appliance across the street before Best Buy came in and finished small retail off.

[@msswannee636]

@@TPOrchestra they would price match too. ijs

[@davidmichaelklemmer1136]

Originally, Highland Appliance was called Highland Radio. I am not sure when it became Highland Appliance; but, the name might have changed sometime as early as the 1950's. Highland Appliance was still in service as late as 1989 when I bought a Techniques turntable there. There used to be a large, beautiful, old Sears-Roebuck department store at Woodward and Manchester just up the street from the Highland Appliance store.

[@strawberrieletter22]

Yes

[@ubebukothepugbros.446]

These surrounded cities need to be absorbed into Detroit ASAP. No need for the duplication of public services. Then, mass demolition needs to happen, just like in other parts of the Detroit Area (same for parts of Cleveland, northern St. Louis, E. St. Louis, and more. . Turn it all into park or farm land. Only when the blight is removed, can the potential be seen.

[@antonfarquar8799]

may be they could start an architectural salvage program - all the bricks from the demoed buildings could be salvaged & sold.

[@petergriffin383]

Bulldoze it all and start over, you're absolutely correct, it's the only way.

[@onefeather2]

Well said.

[@TheGameReview217]

Bringing Highland Park and other regions into Detroit may help, as there's far less of a duplication of services, but I'm not 100% certain even Detroit would be able to handle the monumental debt that Highland Park has accrued over the years. I don't think it's a one stop solution, but can definitely help Highland Park bleed funds quite a bit less.

[@greatlakescopwatchglcw127]

Easier said than done. The Highland park mayor and other govt officials aren't going to voluntarily give up their salaries.

[@vidaholmes]

Thank you for the history. It brought back a lot of memories. Lived on the border of Oakland Ave.neber the old Chrysler. I'm 70yrs. Thank you.

[@mcherylyn]

Wow...sorry you have to deal with crazy people... I enjoy all of your videos and the info you provide. Thanks for doing what you do.

[@charlesc.parker1164]

I watch a lot of videos like this but I really like your honesty. You call it just the way it is and no sugar coating. Thanks Craig

[@BriBryBriBry]

That’s why it pisses the Democrats off so much when they watch his videos. The truth hurts them so badly 🤣

[@jakessmallengines]

Good job on your videos ! My dads family lived next to Detroit Airport....brought back alot of memories on the roads...

[@MrDannyk01]

Omg I remember going thru the HP delivering furniture about 7 years ago and it was bad then. Can't imagine what it is now.

[@janicecopeland9083]

Good job documenting what is happening in a once great city, thank you.

[@artistjim114]

This was a great video! Highland Park reminds me of Elizabeth NJ. I always love old rustbelt towns. 500 artists can change Highland Park in about 3-5 years, just like we did in Brooklyn.

[@natenix5371]

My daughter bought a house in Highland Park. I thought she was crazy but two yrs. later the house looks beautiful. Definitely looks out of place. If more people thought like her the city could make a come back. Instead of talking bad about it see what can be done to make it better. Be safe and God bless.

[@toprope_]

Since about 2013-14 there are a lot of safe islands in Detroit that are cheap and safe without being in a gentrified area. There’s less now that they’re growing and the city is coming back. By 2030-40 that home is gonna be worth some nice money so close to the city but still in the suburbs.

[@MsWeirdTv]

Im going to buy a fixer upper too in Highland park! Does your daughter like living in that city?

[@MrCmarklee]

I love architecture in the city of highland park and drive thru the city often … I’m a architect and have a few small projects in this area and I think things can be done to make things better … if you receive this reply i would like to meet for coffee to discuss, thanks

[@WendyStringer48088]

People who avoid the city (Highland Park, Detroit, etc.) do so because they are concerned with violent crime. You can try to make it better but you can't fix fatherless homes ,drugs and violent crime. Plus all it takes is you in the wrong place at the wrong time (even if it is coming out of your house or arriving home) and someone with a gun willing to shoot you for whatever reason to ruin your life. All the best to those brave ones trying to make a difference. Hope she stays safe.

[@deborahtelkamp6860]

Good coverage, very sad what has happened to Highland Park. I lived there in the 50-60's My father (Vearl Johnson) was the Superintendent of the Highland Park Water Department. I was surprised that your video did not cover anything about the Water Department that they had. We use to live in a house that is on the property of the water department. Prior to living at the Water Department, we lived at 152 Candler Street. That house is still standing and occupied. Very sad what has happened to the city. I don't see any way this city will ever recover. Its been going on for to long and with no changes

[@videbytes]

My grandparents settled in Highland Park in 1901 when they emigrated from Canada. I remember seeing a picture of them sitting on the front porch of their home. I think it was on Woodward Avenue, but I'm not sure. Thank you for an interesting video..

[@bettejudyjoan]

Chris thanks for taking me down memory lane. It is sad but I can see places I knew as a kid. I attended both Ferris Junior High and Cortland Elementary school in the early sixties. HP was so different then. It was actually beautiful with all the trees. I was also there during the riots which changed the city and started it’s downfall. Still, it was great seeing the town where I spent my youth while I am 3000 miles away. Keep up the good work. 🎊

[@ChrisHarden]

If only we had 5K video technology in the 1960’s and my doppelgänger from generations ago to compare footage.

[@noname-by3qz]

Kevin!! Hello! I went to Cortland Elementary also! I had Mrs Caruso for second grade in 1961. Fortunately we moved because she liked to hit with the ruler! Grrrr. I think 1st grade was Mrs Sirloin? Kindergarten was Wadsworth I think.

[@bettejudyjoan]

@@noname-by3qz My first grade teacher at Cortland was Mrs. Smith. She had a big 1960’s bouffant hairdo with a miniskirt however, she was very nice and I still remember her face some 56 years ago. Amazing memories.

[@noname-by3qz]

@@bettejudyjoan I think you're definitely younger than me. I definitely don't remember mini skirts till a few years later.

[@bettejudyjoan]

@@noname-by3qz It was 1965 when I was in 1st grade. My tracer was also young.

[@FixIt1975]

The most depressing street in the US? I'm guessing you haven't been through Elderwood in East Cleveland yet. I lived in Cleveland almost 30 years ago when I went to trade school out there. Oh there's Camden here in my home state. That's a real gem. Yeah, not. Always enjoy your videos, I really hope you carry in some of these neighborhoods

[@apocyldoomer]

Plenty of dilapidated cities to go around, sadly. You can thank Nixon for opening the Pandora’s box of Communist China, thanks tricky Dick, Watergate my eye!!

[@apocyldoomer]

Plenty of dilapidated cities to go around, sadly. You can thank Nixon for opening the Pandora’s box of Communist China, thanks tricky Dick, Watergate my eye!!

[@jacknoble6668]

Grew up in Cleveland. I can co-sign that East Cleveland in particular and Elderwood in general are horrifying

[@dvferyance]

East St Louis is really bad as well.

[@trowwzers5057]

I think Flint is the worst. It puts Highland Park to shame and it is only an hour north. East Cleveland is very close in the rankings too

[@Thuase]

I spent a few years working for an ISP in this area recently and this is a wild stroll down memory lane for me. I had no Idea the city was down this bad financially to worst in nation levels, but at the same time it explains so much. I hope the city will rebound soon the people there are so genuine.

[@rsohlich1]

I played an AAU basketball tournament in spring 1996 in Highland Park. As we left my game we noticed we had a flat tire. We were obviously scared as we were sheltered suburbanites. A man came up to our car and said, "get out of here fast and try to reach the hospital." Am experience I'll always remember

[@jpjpjp453]

@@TugIronChief Correct. In a lot of cities , you'll find a police presence in and around hospitals almost 24/7.

[@jb-iw5yd]

Stop with the be

[@briancunningham707]

In 2004 my son was in a regional high school wrestling tournament at Highland Park High School. A gang fight broke out in the sachools parking lot and the tournament was locked down until the Wayne County Sheriff's Department arrived.

[@ChrisHarden]

Good grief.

[@WendyStringer48088]

Silly you, you thought the school vs school battle ended when everyone went back to the locker rooms and went to leave to go home. You must not have been paying attention to the other team's cheer: "On the court your team may be hot, but we'll beat your ass in the parking lot."

[@BlackSheepTruthMedia]

thanks for your time and dedication. The information's that you are releasing are very important and need to get out there in order to be able to create solutions. thanks, and much love from Canada.!

[@normamurphy5627]

I'm from Highland Park, born and bred. Graduated in the early 1960's. My mother graduated from HPHS in 1933. My grandmother was one of the first residents of Highland Park and raised her children there. It's sad to see how Highland Park has lost its charm and unpaid water bills are just the beginning. Thanks for the video, but I didn't recognize much at all.

[@JustMe99999]

Significant demographic change. No one left to care about the place or maintain it.

[@robertrice8397]

My Grandparents live at 240.W. Davison, 3 houses away from Hamilton. When the freeway went through, according to my grandmother, dug a new basement, and moved the house back 100 feet. My father went to and graduated from Highland Park high in 1941. From the stories Highland Park was like Birmingham Michigan, high end suburb. My grandmother would want to drive by the old hose, but after a while my Dad would say"They tore it down." Now the property is part of the service drive. I try really hard to picture it as it once was.

[@dplomin1954]

I find your video very informative. Thank you for shooting it!

[@georgemallory797]

Reminds me of Gran Torino. (Edit) Just found out Gran Torino was filmed there! Wow!! In all honesty, you could have told me this was Pontiac or Gary, IN and I couldn't have proven you wrong. The rust belt took things hard in the 70's and 80's. The final death blow was Bill Clinton's 1993 signing of NAFTA.

[@salemdesigns65]

However, Reagan began talks of a multi commerce deal with the U.S. and Canada in 1988. Michigan was about to make a major shift. Clinton only tweaked the deal by including Mexico. He kicked us over a cliff.

[@spaceghost8995]

NAFTA was heavily supported by the Republicans also.

[@knighttuttruptuttrup8518]

Your doing a fine job, bringing things to light.

[@richardmang2558]

Being from very dry southern California, where any non-irrigated land is parched. I am amazed at how beautifully green all the trees and grass are.

[@CPTR111]

Because of all the rainfall and moisture originating in the Gulf of Mexico, most anything in America east of I-35 is generally going to be pretty green...North or South (unless it's flood plain). 😉🌳

[@Ekam-Sat]

It's like we are living an an upside down situation. Everybody should move there. People are odd.

[@ChrisVargasrpht2000chris]

I have never been to Michigan but I thought you covered a lot of useful information. I wasn't offended and I already know Detroit and surrounding areas were in trouble. Great coverage of the city and the history. 💯

[@chandeliersattic2661]

Incorrect

[@TakenTook]

There are still some decent areas within Detroit proper, and absolutely many decent areas and even ritzy areas in the nearby suburbs. But it's easier and more sensational for most people to jump on the Detroit bashing bandwagon, focusing only on the rundown areas.

[@moon2162]

The summer of 1993 My wife was invited to visit a friend from high school who happened to be visiting a relative that owned a house in HP. I can't remember the street of the home we stayed at. This neighbor hood seemed livable compared to some. And the homes were all brick and were nice but had seen better days. In short , we stayed one night and it was an interesting experience for 2 people from rural farm country of Ohio. I was very glad to leave the next day.

[@phyllis9750]

I did home care in Highland Park as an RN. It's a 3rd world country. Crushing poverty and lack of basic services and education. I was always shocked when I drove in. Richest country in the world huh?

[@Lp-ze1tg]

Few years ago, I noticed one of my neighbour's roof was rotting and it looks terrible. I tried to be a good neighbor and reminded them with a smile. In return, they looked at me with hate then I realized that they knew their roof was in bad shape but were embarrassed that I brought up the subject. Another year passed, one rainy day I overheard that they yelling at each other in their house. I can imagine that rain water must had been poured into their house from the roof. What you are showing in your video is real but people who live there are embarrassed.

[@DavidRice111]

and lazy...

[@TempoDrift1480]

I don't think someone needs to be reminded that their roof is rotting out. I'm sure you need to be reminded that you are irritating though.

[@tashavolovsek9115]

And poor . Too bad some roofers can't donate the left over beams and shingles from other jobs and pitch in to help them

[@tashavolovsek9115]

@@DavidRice111 not everyone can do roofing

[@shanetrimble9265]

@@tashavolovsek9115 Roofing is a very difficult job. Takes a lot of work and pre planning. And money

[@leongroves5840]

Hello Chris, I hope all is well with you and your family.. I just want to say, I really enjoy your video. About the reason for Detroit’s DOWNFALL. I was born and raised in Detroit in the early 50’s we left in 1967, 3 days before the Riot. I now live Tennessee for 55 years. Thanks for the video. Stay safe my KZbin friend..

[@tcjon4321]

No matter how many times I see Detroit, either in person or on a video, it never fails to make to make my jaw drop seeing the amount of decline that has happened.

[@ChrisHarden]

It’s fascinating to me too.

[@02WIFE]

This is not Detroit

[@02WIFE]

@@ChrisHarden You don't have anything better to do.

[@detroitbanks9140]

This not Detroit first of and dnt talk if you never been here Detroit is a nice city they just always show the bad neighborhoods show the beautiful sides Rosedale Park, Palmer woods, North Rosedale Park, Sherwood Forrest, the beautiful side of North End, Our beautiful downtown of famous Great Lakes show that also

[@tcjon4321]

@@detroitbanks9140 I've been to Detroit many times and I am aware of the great and beautiful places that also exist there. I am aware that this is Highland Park not Detroit. But this kind of decay still happened in Detroit and it always amazes me to compare it to the nice neighborhoods that exist. Chris Harden even has a few videos showcasing these nice neighborhoods.

[@tribalxredklr4039]

It's actually a really quiet spot with lots of urban farming going on. I recently bought a house off the landbank for $2000. Tax exempt for a year. Invest $10000 into the house and I'll be able to live in it and stop paying rent. Lots of my friends are doing the same. The area is honestly pretty prospective.

[@NinjaRunningWild]

If enough people move there in the hopes of carving out an inexpensive life for themselves, it could have a revival, which would obviously be a lot better than watching it crumble into disrepair.

[@billkaldem5099]

This is great as long as you can keep the criminal elements away.

[@FinneasJedidiah]

@@billkaldem5099 reducing poverty will reduce the 'criminal element' as you call it. The vast majority of 'criminals' are just regular people who are either desperate, or grew up desperate and don't know how else to get by

[@ST8URCASE]

@@FinneasJedidiah hello, who is responsible for reducing poverty: the impoverished peoples or society?

[@FinneasJedidiah]

@@ST8URCASE society, since it's responsible for putting those people in poverty. If you believe otherwise you're both ignorant of how this world works, and extremely naive.

[@lizb1537]

Thanks for your video Chris! So sad to see a town in such disrepair with so many abandoned buildings. I grew up in the Detroit area. Thanks for sharing!

[@Tacet1000]

That was fantastic Chris...I have tears in my 80 year old eyes!

[@billyjoejimbob56]

I have lived in suburban Oakland County for my 27 years as a Michigander. I remember visiting Chrysler's Engineering Center when it was still operating in Highland Park. I am retired from the auto industry and still a big fan of it, even if its glory days were decades ago. In so many ways, this part of the country is still more livable and affordable than many other places. To me the only future Highland Park has is bankruptcy and annexation into Detroit, where it just might become part of the massive decades long effort to clear the unsalvageable rubble that is so much of the city, and prepare it for a new era.

[@billyjoejimbob56]

@@TugIronChief You make your choices and I'll make mine. Most of the suburbs are still clean, safe, and affordable compared to many other states and metro areas.

[@billyjoejimbob56]

@@TugIronChief I hope daily is often enough for you. I suggest you refrain from telling people you have never met what they should do. IMHO life is too short to start every day with a negative attitude.

[@carmshlotsky5447]

@@TugIronChief same as parts of Atlanta now, common denominator as to the cause.

[@3beltwesty]

Highland park was once a great rather new super growing city. Its population doubled in 10 years during the Ford model T boom era.. Folks had ice boxes and the ice man used a team of horses. They were so smart that the horses knew which house to stop at and the iceman just walked to the next house on the route. Heating of most houses was by coal that too was once delivered to your house via horse drawn wagons. So the coal that was dumped your driveway had to be moved up the driveway to the coal shoot that went to the basement. Many houses had no water meters you paid a flat rate. Water powered washing machines that used a vertical drum that clunked back and forth were run by a water motor. To get a used car you could travel far north on woodward Avenue and just get parts of a model T and assemble it with neighbors. The whole neighborhood was full of folks fiddling with Model T cars. So for 15 bucks you could build a working car from junked cars and the license was 25 bucks.. Yea my relatives new house was like 1400 bucks. 2 story with a basement. During the gas wars in Detroit gasoline went down to 2 and 3 cents a gallon. During prohibition folks would go South to Windsor Canada for booze. Before prohibition was to end they allowed the former Detroit brewers to make beer before it could be sold legally. Highland park was once on fire with growth and prosperity and a great place to grow up and raise a family. At Ford Motor company across Woodward Avenue there was a tunnel underground to a bank and ford employees got paid in cash each payday. The pay was so great that highland park and Detroit was a great city to be in and work

[@keithbarrett4630]

Some of the houses on these side streets are absolutely beautiful... still displaying the wealth the city once held.

[@bobscott6223]

Some of the houses off of six mile and around the Detroit Golf Club have the luxury homes from that era. They have carriage houses with apartments above for the chauffeur.

[@xDrFireflyMavis]

Grow up in Akron Ohio, and watch it crumble, had friends in College from the Detroit Area, we use to cruise the streets watching the decay. Then I moved to the Coalfields of WV. So, many dead cities throughout the Rust Belt, and the Coal Fields. Sad, because you can see the pride the building, and see how these places were the backbone of building some of the nice things we have today. Thank you for sharing the video!

[@ChrisHarden]

West Virginia and rural Appalachia is on my radar. So many ghost towns out there that don't get to have their stories told.

[@cdoggyish]

@@ChrisHarden You should put Centralia, PA on your bucket list too Chris. An ongoing coal fire underground started driving people out of the city back in the early 70's I believe. The city has a couple dozen occupants still, but the vast majority of Centralia is abandoned. There are still hundreds of pockets of fire beneath the city, some of the roads have split open in places. It's like going into another world.

[@WhittyPics]

My mom was from Detroit and we used to go there every summer to see my Grandmother until she died in 1969. I was 10 at the time. I remember my dad talking about Woodward Ave and the riots in the 1960s. It is sad hard far these places have fallen

[@redriveral2764]

Now the homies are referring to the riots as a "rebellion". Yeah, sure.

[@FlowJunkie65]

Hey, Chris. Thank you for these type of informational videos. I really appreciate them because as a social worker, I imagine the types of infrastructure and investments that might help mitigate some of the problems and suffering among the folks who lives in these communities and improve their lives, and I would hope that city and state politicians are actively looking for these! My late dad attended Olivet College on a football scholarship many, many years ago, then earned his pharmacy degree from Ferris State College (now University). I've never visited Michigan, and I know these schools are way on the other (west) side of the state, but Michigan is still on my bucket list of places that I really want to visit one day. Thanks again, man. Liked and subscribed.

[@ChrisHarden]

Thanks for the kind words! Michigan has many places with both extremes… amazing and sad. It’s really hard not to like the beaches along the Great Lakes, and many of the other inland lakes. It’s also just as hard to ignore the current state of some of the cities.

[@FlowJunkie65]

@@ChrisHarden Yep. I live in a beautiful little city in Los Angeles County, but it doesn't take too long a drive to encounter the growing number of homeless individuals on the streets, including many who are coming to L.A. from other states. Times are hard all around...

[@TuxWing]

As a fellow Michigander, it breaks my heart to see such a great city (i.e. Detroit and its many suburbs) in the state they are in. How and why they are in that position are and continuing their decline, I am sure, are very simple questions with VERY complex answers. Well done video, and God Bless Detroit and the rest of Michigan...and of course the USA.

[@JamesThomas-pj2lx]

You know the answer, don't be daft.

[@TuxWing]

@@JamesThomas-pj2lx Yes, largely it comes down to politics and greed, and the unions hurt more than helped in my opinion...as they exasperated both of the main reasons. I left it unanswered intentionally!

[@AyKlay]

Um when was the last time you were in Detorit?

[@TuxWing]

@@AyKlay Honestly its been a while, outside of flying through the airport I would probably say visiting the Willow Run Museum, right before it burned would be the last time I was in the area for any significant amount of time, but I used to spend weekends there with my dad when I was really young. Not that has any real bearing on my previous statements. I know that the combined greed of politics and unions, which go hand-in-hand, are what perpetuated its down fall...I'm sure people blame the management of the automotive companies...however when politicians continue to raise their taxes because of their cash flow and unions essentially do the same from the other direction...can you blame the automotive manufacturers moving their plants somewhere where labor and taxes are both cheaper (i.e. other countries)? If you don't think that's what happened you are delusional.

[@AyKlay]

@@TuxWing I went to downtown last night and had a blast! The city was full and vibrant.

[@w.j.tuckfield5438]

Hey Chris, thanks for taking me down memory lane, I spent alot of time there when I was a kid. My Aunt lived on Ferris st 2houses off Oakland. My Grandma lived on California a few houses off Woodward .My Grandpa worked at Chevrolet Gear and Axle as a Maintenance man for 45 year in Hamtramck . So sad to seen it in such ruins in the late 60"s early 70"s it was a beautiful city

[@HJKelley47]

I attended 2nd grade in Highland Park in 1953-54 before my parents moved to 3780 Monterey, where I went to Roosevelt Elementary and Durfee Jr. High. I still remember my art teacher - Mr. Miller. I have a small scar over my left eyelid from an accident on the swings at the elementary school yard in Highland Pk. My Dad worked at Chrysler, and there were some tough financial times while living in Highland Park because of strikes. Memories of tree climbing as a child with my brother and a couple of childhood friends while living there in HP. Do have some fond childhood memories, for it was while living in HP I received my first real baby doll named Dydee Dee and my first pair of moccasins my Mom got me for Christmas. I also remember my mother keeping food products outside in a milk crate covered in snow because our frig was not working. My brother played in the sand created from building a road in HP, and got head lice. Loved sitting on the porch and watching the planes preparing to land. Graduated from Highland Park Community College with an A.S, earning a scholarship, and then went to Wayne State University where I graduated with a B.S. degree. It was HP Community College I learned to play chess.

[@dlovesuper]

I watched and enjoyed the video because I'm a born and raised Detroiter and former Checker driver and very familiar with the areas you filmed. I drove through some of it when I was in town last year.

[@agentravioli2736]

This is an interesting video for me especially because I am temporarily living in a house that can actually be seen at one point in the video. All of us in the house are current students or recent grads of the nearby University of Detroit. It sort of happened out of necessity so we all wouldn’t have to pay thousands to live in the dorms at the school. When I first heard that my friends had found a place in Highland Park I was incredibly skeptical because this part of southeast Michigan is quite notorious for all the reasons discussed in the video. Despite all the history of the area, we’ve had little problems in the 3 or so years that we’ve been staying there. I want to emphasize that i am not a permanent resident of the house, I just frequently stay there for a few days or so at a time, so I likely don’t have the full picture, but all of my friends would say they enjoy living there as of right now. Every few days you hear the occasional gunshot and police sirens wailing at the other end of the city, but we kinda just make sure our cars are locked with no valuables inside, that the front and back doors are locked at night, and the alarm is set when we go to bed. Also, the landlord of the property is an incredibly nice woman who is trying her hardest to improve the quality of life of our street and make the area safer for everyone here. In my opinion it seems to be working. So while the city of Highland Park as a whole is in pretty abysmal shape, you can at least be relieved to see that there are small pockets here and there that are starting to change for the better.

[@luv2watch32]

I was born and raised in Highland Park and I still live here. I'm 64 years old with a B.S. in Business Admin and hold a Masters Degree in Public Admin. I live in a beautiful home built in 1915 and my family owns several homes in Highland Park. I earn enough to live just about anywhere I choose. I raised my children here. I have successful siblings - we all grew up H.P. None of us have ever had any problems living in Highland Park. If you could see what I'm seeing and know what I know - in a matter of years you won't even recognize Highland Park or be able to afford a home here. This video has some truth but it's mostly biased in its assessment and the outsiders that are commenting are clueless!

[@bobscott6223]

@@luv2watch32 You were paid to print this. Homes can't be built in HP without having security cars standing watch 24/7. Tell your lies walking.

[@luv2watch32]

@@bobscott6223 ok lol! Whatever you say (rolling eyes) Who said homes were being built? Have a great life. Boy bye.

[@bobscott6223]

@@luv2watch32 I'm an adult, only boys around here are the ones you are with. Yeah, keep on stepping.

[@luv2watch32]

@@bobscott6223 Listen Ken, I don’t know why your panties are in a bunch over Highland Park but you really need to find Karen to banter with because I really don’t have the time or the Will to deal with you and trust me you really don’t want to come for me…now carry on because you sound foolish. Bye boy!

[@GypsyRose37]

My dad works for Chrysler.. as a young kid, I can remember us meeting my dad for lunch there. My dad now works at yes the headquarters in Aburn Hills. I myself have not been to Highland Park since a kid, and sadly, its downfall does not surprise me.

[@lindamosley922]

In the early 60s, my dad worked at one of the automobile factories in Detroit. He had a sister who lived in Highland Park and he would stay with her during the week. He hated Detroit and Highland Park so badly that he would leave work on Fridays and drive all the way home to Johnson City, TN. He would get home around 2 in the morning on Saturday and leave on Sunday afternoon to get back to work on Monday.

[@improbablya7]

being from the outer area of detroit and living my teenage years in those areas is crazy. literally grew up knowing to never stop at a red light in detroit at night. don’t talk to anyone you don’t know, i’m only 20 so this was recent years, my grandparents tell me of a different time 😕 so much crime in our great city now.

[@kitchenskills5427]

Those Palmer Park homes that you passed are very nice. There also used to be a subdivision in Highland Park of nicer and newer homes East of Davidson. I wonder if you passed that are in your tour?

[@dawnprice4252]

I appreciate the videos I'm from Detroit but I no longer live there and it really sadness me and make me want to cry literally when I see the decay of the Cities it's very sad to me it really tears me up inside I wish I had money to help the city and bring it back because it was so beautiful and my childhood years it was so beautiful like 20 years ago I'm not understanding what did everybody go where all the houses look like they've been on fire people are setting the fires the houses aren't burning themselves it's very sad and it's scary for the children who have to walk to school everyday I pray for the cities and wish someone could help them it's not all bad they're beautiful places in the cities but there's more decayed places in the cities pray for the city pray for the families pray for jobs thank you

[@mindfury1980]

I worked in the Dialog Direct/formerly Budco office building for almost three years back in 2012-2015. We had to have water pressure boosters because it was so low. Not too far S of that location (you drove down a parallel street) is where portions of Gran Torino was filmed, Walt’s house was on Rhode Island St. It’s interesting to see the deterioration that has continued after I stopped working there. I do remember the roads being the worst thing though. Seen many cars get bent wheels there.

[@erichehir9672]

That was a great tour , thanks

[@heatherharrison264]

This has the look of a city that been stuck in an unstoppable death spiral for a long time. Reversing this situation won't be easy, but I hope it happens one day. I've always found it strange that even in the most troubled cities, a few nice area somehow survive. I wonder how the people in those neighborhoods have managed to hold out against the destruction that surrounds them. Aside from those remaining nice areas, it seems like much of this city needs to be demolished and returned to nature so that large abandoned areas are no longer a drain on the city's limited budget. It's sad to see this. The city has a lot of history that could be a great asset, but it has been allowed to crumble.

[@seanb6478]

Agreed & why would the citizens be upset about a dilapidated house is burned down? If anything, abandoned buildings are an attraction for crime & squatting. The abandoned buildings should be tore down for nature to reclaim until new building can be justified & done.

[@michiganresidentjay9291]

Detroit is making a comeback but no one talks about that you all come with what’s in you already negativety when was the last time you been here I can think of a lot of places that’s a lot worse

[@Nonayabizness360]

This is sad for me to see. My dad was born in Highland park at home. He just passed away last summer. I’ll have to ask my mom what the address was where he was born but they moved to Warren Mi before the riots and my parents and my in laws told me they remember hearing and seeing tanks going up and down 8 mile.

[@Markus65o2]

Very interesting and well-done video. Great naration with informative facts. I grew up in Michigan and didn't know the history or current state of Highland Park. Thank you and keep up the good work!

[@ChrisHarden]

Thank you!

[@simonmacarthur6808]

The conditions of the roads in Highland Park, remind me of Egypt, where i live

[@cdikkers30]

Interestingly they remind me of an area in Southern Illinois we call "Little Egypt".

[@edwardmiessner6502]

They remind me of the streets in New Orleans, where I live! ☹😡

[@kova1577]

@@edwardmiessner6502 New Orleans has nothing on this dystopia

[@pcojedi]

great video, keep up the good work

[@ericscottstevens]

4:00 The high school mascot "Polar Bears" was from the US Army 85th division that participated in the AEF campaign in Russia in the summer of 1918. About 75% of the AEF Polar Bears stationed in Russia were from the Detroit area and the force was nicknamed "Detroit's Own" this included the 339th Infantry Regt. 337th Ambulance Corp. and the 310th Engineers. The last veteran of the Polar Bears died in 2003 at the age of 102.

[@rickl9253]

Great story. My dad was a native of Sault Ste Marie in the UP. Traveling up there from S Louisiana, we never got to the eastern part of Michigan. I don't condemn it, because I've seen what it did to neighborhoods and towns in the New Orleans area, but white flight leaves areas to a culture that can't sustain the style of living formerly found in those places. Highland Park is just one example, and it's a sad fact of life.

[@gregpanek523]

Back in the '60s when I was young, I would go with my dad to Highland park from Southfield to go to the Sears parts warehouse to get parts for our garden tractor and anything else we bought from Sears that my dad fixed himself, back then everything was servicable, not throwaway as it is now.My dad worked nights so this could happen any day of the week as long as we were back by 4 pm for him to eat and get ready for work, where he made parts for cars. Anyways, Sears had parts for everything they sold. Then we went to Hamtramck, my birthplace and stopped at Atlas Bottling where my dad's uncle or some reletive on his side of the family owned. I would have the run of the place, get all the free pop I could drink, while the adults switched to speaking Polish telling dirty jokes or something so I couldn't understand what they were saying. All I know is that there was a whole lot of laughter going on as work there pretty much stopped when we walked in and everyone greeted my dad. Then we would stop at the bakery in Hamtramck and bring home all kinds of treats, bread along with Kowalski cold cuts. then go back home to Southfield where we moved to in 1955 in a house my dad built himself on 1 acre on a dead end gravel road with 80 acres of wooded land behind us, which is still there..

[@rebelrocker7494]

I remember the State Fair Being There,Doubt it still is..What a Shame✌

[@Marcd4DeathVideos]

Love your videos man. I am from the burbs of SouthWest Detroit and I enjoy all the information you share about the areas you drive through. Maybe one day Gentrification may move Highland Park in the right direction? Other then that happening IDK what will help that town.

[@kibblenbits]

The riots of the late 60's is what actually did Detroit in (I'm from MI, was a teenager at the time and watched the migration out of Detroit). All the people who actually paid taxes, bought local goods, took care of their properties, supported schools and the community left as soon as they were able because of this, even when they still had jobs. If it hadn't been for the riots, working people would have stayed longer, and other job opportunities would have grown, as Detroit had a good infrastructure in place, at that time, to attract other types of businesses. However, no business is going to relocate to an unstable city. What you see in those neighborhoods today is the direct byproduct of the riots and the same holds true for Flint. The rioters basically sentenced their own descendants to a life of violence, drugs, low pay, and little to no education (except for the very few who make it out on their own). This is what happens when radical people want abrupt change, violently tearing down a system they don't like, and not giving a moment's thought about a plan to build, manage and direct that change if it occurs. In this instance, saying that they were shortsighted has got to be one of the biggest understatements of all time. Cause and effect is not always what one might expect.

[@ChrisHarden]

Wait until my video upload tomorrow

[@kareneDallas]

My family also lived in the Detroit metro area (not HP) from 1961-1967. Seeing the current state of the area is heartbreaking. This once great city was was amazing & filled with a multitude of incredible neighborhoods & communities. With the riots, my Dad had enough and we left.

[@arribaficationwineho32]

The auto makers did not leave due to riots and the loss of that economic base brought on the demise of the area.

[@greyeaglem]

@@arribaficationwineho32 And you can tell by the landscaping on a lot of the derelict houses you see now that these were nice properties until around 2010, almost 50 years after the riots. The riots only lasted a few days and the majority of the damage was in a small area. Really small area when you consider how massive the land area Detroit occupies is.

[@arribaficationwineho32]

@@greyeaglem I was thinking as I saw the houses. It looked as if it had been really pretty with fine houses and yards.

[@rezenking8426]

running redlights in Detroit is super common . the deeper you go the less laws the roads have

[@RBS.2]

We are from Brasil 🇧🇷 Congrats for the work Estamos te acompanhando. Graciously, Vankesh & Christina

[@peteryamaha6426]

As a former resident of Detroit and student at Highland Park Jr. College, it saddens me to see what has happened to these cities due to uncaring, corrupted and negligent individuals and companies. You described the problems accurately Chris. Occasionally, I return to visit family that live outside of the city and while listen to the "experts" tout the strides that these cities have made to bring back what they once were, we pretty much know that isn't what is going to ever happen again no matter what they say. For as rich as this country and cities are, those that can certainly help, avoid doing so. Let's also include the residents that use every excuse to not do their part.

[@billkaldem5099]

Everything should be done for them. Didn’t you know?

[@nufaith]

Waiting for you to tell about the Chrysler plant that was located in Highland Park and move to Perrysburg Ohio. I am a retiree of that plan and I work with many Highland Park employees who relocated to the new Factory. Why nothing about Chrysler and their Machining plant?

[@annj4107]

He didn't mention anything about the homes east of Woodward n Highland Pk or the people yet paying water bills or taxes. Interesting video

[@jeffchildress8525]

I lived on Glendale.av back in the day sad to see it now Great video :)

[@LGN_Sniper]

Love the videos. You should do one on Flint.

[@ChrisHarden]

One day I will for sure.

[@rty1955]

Thank you SOO much for posting this! This is SOOOO sad to see all these abandoned buildings in a once thriving community. Seems to me that all these houses need to be repurposed for all the homeless in this country! They look like nice houses and the community SHOULD take advantage of the housing shortage and re-build the community and take it back from the depths of dispair

[@STScott-qo4pw]

i always thought the same thing. seems a real obstacle is zoning laws (kinda) but the real pain in the ass are many of these abandoned places are still owned by people who literally use them as a "tax write-off" - they are commercial buildings (factories, warehouses, apartment blocks) that are bringing in zero bucks so the owners are given some tax credits on their returns. the only way to keep that tax credit is to maintain the buildings as empty/unproductive. Scum. Bag.

[@rty1955]

@@STScott-qo4pw ugh. If there is no occupancy for XX years the structure should be Deemed abandoned and repurposed. If the are occupied, the structure should be maintained to be usable space. Or again, taken and repurposed just my $0.02 USD

[@glitch_cloudy8606]

Thank you for your videos and your honesty

[@derricklogan2058]

Highland Park does SUCK!!! WOW, I remember when I was a child of about 12 when there was once a small recreation center located on Hamilton just past Davison during the early 1970's where me and some of my friends used to go and play pool or air hockey. During the early to mid 1980's, I worked at Sears on Woodward and as a Security Officer at what used to be Jabar Security-Detective Agency which was located inside the BT HALL on Hamilton near 6 Mile Road. We worked with the Security at Highland Park Community College on Glendale Ave. Now it's just another decaying building!!! Also, before becoming a Security Officer, I was a parking lot attendant there for a short time! I heard a few other bad things about some of the Police Officers and drugs during 2018 that were mentioned on the news! 😢 Sad when you're supposed to lead by example! Gives Good Officers a Bad Name and residents as well as visitors passing through don't know who to trust!!! Nothing about Highland Park resembles the beautiful city that it used to be!!! I used to walk to Palmer Park as a child without a care or worry in the 🌎 World! But now, I try my best to AVOID going through there as much as possible. It SUCKS!!!

[@msswannee636]

just having a bad day.

[@riccacook7139]

I started kindergarten in Highland Park 70 years ago. I lived on Ferris St. Our backyard was Ford Field !!

[@crankychris2]

From one Chris to another; I find your videos more balanced than some others that show the same things, Let's face it folks, America is in trouble, and talking about it just might help... Sadly, there are too many cities in America that are struggling today.

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

BIG trouble everywhere

[@JustMe99999]

It's only in places where a certain demographic is the majority, unfortunately.