Downtown Detroit Draws a New Crowd

Detroit is attracting young professionals and empty nesters to its downtown, where thousands of new jobs have been created and demand for high-end residences has surged. Photo: Trever Long for The Wall Street Journal
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[@Lukie2131]

Downtown Detroit has seen a resurgence especially the last 5 years it is crazy at how much the city has changed in 5 short years where ever you go you see construction happening all around you! on the Weekends the city is packed a lot of entertainment especially people going to the Casinos 5 Star restaurants Bars and Clubs i am really loving it here.

[@robertpreskop4425]

I used to travel through Detroit and I always found it to be an architecturally beautiful city that is worthy of national historic district status. I am very happy to see this consistantly condemned city turning the corner and steadily revitalizing itself. I love Detroit's emphasis on historic preservation and adaptive reuse of its beautiful landmark buildings that back in the 80s and 90s were mostly given up for dead. Detroit is one of my favorite cities and it was one of my favorites when it went through its rough times of decay and disinvestment.

[@deadchannelmoved9328]

Glad to see a city bouncing back to life. :)

[@vergelatioan4147]

My fellow Filipino Americans, let's visit Detroit.

[@savagee4641]

0:22 Markus, our revolution boi, is that you😂😂

[@robertpreskop4425]

It will really be awesome when that new 60 story mixed use tower is completed on the Hudson's site on Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit. I have read that it will be the tallest in Detroit.

[@flaminglaughter]

Since the bankruptcy I’ve seen good things happening in Detroit. There are big time investors bringing big time money. They’re making progress on the blight. You have to be plenty smart but there’s money to be made.

[@sunnycriti9809]

Good news, to see Detroit coming back

[@ev1558]

I'm not surprised, when an area gets run down it's only a matter of time before it is practical to invest and redevelop. Just this time it's on a city scale.

[@ubilo]

We all need to work together for the city we love !

[@sixmile2360]

Amen to that.

[@robertpreskop4425]

Best of luck to the people of Detroit. Hopefully all this revitalization continues unabated and the city is a success story in its own right. Love from Buffalo.

[@mekhig.9350]

Does the school system still suck? It’s sad seeing what those kids had to go through just to learn. They better be fixing that problem ASAP.

[@sixmile2360]

Still in trouble but they are trying to fix it. Wont happen overnight but at least there is not open graft anymore.

[@LucasFernandez-fk8se]

I had no idea it was salvageable now all they need is to fix up the suburbs and make the city a city again and who knows it might be in the top 20 largest cities in the country when there done fixing it

[@marvinstrong9374]

Lucas Fernandez it already is in the top 20 largest cities on the country... and it's metropolitan area (when Ann Arbor and Windsor is included) is in the top 10 largest in the country.

[@robertpreskop4425]

@@marvinstrong9374 Windsor is in another country you cant include it. Detroit with Ann Arbor and its large nextdoor urban satellite of Dearborn already has a metro of well over six million.

[@robertpreskop4425]

It will take roughly the same number of decades for Detroit to regrow and revitalize as it did for it to decay and decline. These cities are not just going to spring back overnight. Urban revitalization is a long, complicated, and oftentimes tedious process. There is a lot of money, ideas, politics, and conflicting personalities involved.

[@sunnycriti9809]

Detroit is like India rising from the ashes

[@bracebrooks967]

Looks like there some hope left for this city, and I have to admit downtown Detroit looks decent, something's gotta be done about its out-of-control crime rate though, same for where I'm from which is Chicago, IL, and downtown Chicago is the only part of the city that I'm ok with, besides that I'm not proud of it at all

[@zyxwut321]

Crime starts to subside when economic activity picks up and people start moving in. Part of Detroit's crime problem (and Chicago's) is its physical and economic isolation from the rest of the city. As redevelopment takes over and the worst offenders are naturally moved out by economic forces some of the worst crime will go down.

[@reasonable370]

exactly. high crime rates are likely influenced by high rates of poverty and other economic issues. when everything basically went wrong for Detroit, and 61% of its population left (from 2 million+ living there in the 1950s to 700k in 2010), I'd assume that high rates of poverty and things like that came along, and as a result, the crime rate skyrocketed. downtown I'm sure is decently safe, because right in the middle of the downtown you don't see rampant poverty, it is just fine. but when you get to the other areas with much more rampant poverty and all that crap, then you see those high crime rates. and there is a reason to have hope for this city. read this article: www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/nancy-kaffer/2016/05/19/detroit-population-decline/84590056/ from 2014 to 2015, Detroit only lost a little over 3k residents. that's still a decline, but compared to over 30k per year from 1970 to 1980, and 24k annually from 2000 to 2010, that is a really good improvement. I think things are turning around for the city, and it's very exciting to think about.

[@osamabindrinkin40s]

I want to visit Detroit! Can you still go into the Silverdome?

[@dominicedwards9944]

Brace Brooks cities across the nation are making a comeback. I’m from Toledo and there’s been significant work done in Downtown in the past couple years

[@sixmile2360]

Best stadium in minor league badeball.

[@michellemarie1197]

Detroit looks nice tbh

[@karonsmith9740]

I love Detroit And All That's New, I Can't Wait To Get Into The Techno Music Scene Again, With Juan Atkins In Detroit, Coming From West of Metro Airport Its My Favorite Time Of Summer

[@darthutah6649]

From 2000 to 2010, downtown Detroit's population went down by 13.9%. Guess we'll have to wait until 2020 to see if things have really changed.

[@thomasgeorgecastleberry6918]

Apparently some area's in Detroit are expensive, to bad you didn't include the property taxes, which I've heard are astronomical.

[@mommag2959]

Yaay....Detroit is proof positive that nothing in life lasts forever!!!

[@zyxwut321]

Good or bad.

[@GIguy]

OMG!!!!! That is SO CHEAP!!!!!!! I'm in Toronto, where any downtown 800 sq ft condo (give or take) is going for at least $600k! Housing is so affordable in Detroit. My spouse and I have been wanting to buy, but with insane prices here for a closet, we've been looking elsewhere, I wonder if Canadian citizens are allowed to buy there, and if so, how safe is it now? (Don't mean to sound ignorant, but up until recently, all I've ever heard about Detroit is it's insanely high crime rate, but I'm assuming that's improving if people are really buying downtown.) Anyone know a good real estate agent in the downtown area? For the price of one tiny unit here, I could buy two, maybe three there!

[@Rapture582]

You could move to Windsor if you're Canadian.

[@TurboTheGloden]

Don't buy in Detroit as a Michigander I highly suggest you dont

[@Rapture582]

DawnStar As a Michigander I highly suggest he does.

[@TurboTheGloden]

Rapture582 how so?

[@GIguy]

Why shouldn't I?

[@jesusGutierrez-jb6jq]

Gentries, Gentries everywhere.!!!

[@deekid311]

Omg yes. the gentries are killing my spirit

[@3618499]

@@chiknj23 😀 " EXACTLY!.... Like it ir not, Gentrification is the only way most semi-blighted urban areas will ever become revitalized and attractive. I live in Peoria, Illinois. Which is a much smaller city with a much similar industrial heritage to other ' Rust Belt ' cities. The same phenomena is occurring here, albeit on a smaller scale. Let's Face It! Most civic investment will not come to blighted and high-crime areas with a steadily declining tax base, without massive public subsidies that most of those areas cannot provide nor sustain to offset unprofitability. Without a more prosperous demographic reinvigorating blighted urban sectors, nothing will change. "

[@UnderRatedBeauty88]

Christopher yeah but you don’t think its racist that in order for Detroit to be revitalized and flourishing white people have to come in? African Americans have been stripped of resources for ages starting in Africa which continues on to this day. African Americans didn’t mess up the city economic deprivation did and now it’s being restored to attract non black people which usually means the blacks will get pushed out in a matter of time , smh

[@AmandaFromWisconsin]

@@UnderRatedBeauty88 I don't think the race matters so long as they have the money.

[@yolandabermea1209]

yay

[@riskbusin3ss]

Should an Asian guy move to Downtown Detroit? How's the diversity there, are there any racism in the city? im an entrepreneur and those price are very attractive...

[@PatrickDSimpson]

I haven't seen any racism against Asians (not being one, myself) and the University and Medical districts (mostly centered around Midtown and New Center) have a decent Asian population.

[@carlociaravino1668]

riskbusin3ss there are lots of asians in Detroit so you'll have no problem with racist behavior

[@SkyfromLa]

we love all here in the D

[@zyxwut321]

Get it while the getting's good.

[@olskoolnewpaint]

I wouldn't move there if I were you. Unless you want to sleep in fear every night.

[@jessem7556]

Nice video.

[@MrQbenDanny]

Those prices are affordable?

[@pikminlord343]

+MrQbenDanny Relatively. There was an article in the paper version of WSJ and a key point they left out of the videos was that those homes in other cities would be worth far more. In NYC 1 million gets you an apartment but in Detroit it gets you a 5000 sqft penthouse or mansion

[@lorenj.238]

Detroit has a land mass of 138.75 sq miles.....and yet, only 677,000 reside in the city. What they don't tell you in this video....only about 15 sq miles of that 138 are developed and relatively safe to live in. They also don't bother to tell you....Detroit has virtually ZERO choices for shopping. Even the simple task of grocery shopping requires a trip out to the suburbs.

[@marvinstrong9374]

Loren J. that still gives Detroit a higher population density than Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Phenoix, Denver, ect. and how would only 15 square miles be developed if it's a city of 700,000 people? also about the grocery stores you don't know wtf your talking about... Detroit has well over 70 grocery stores in the city limits alone.

[@sneakypete139]

Marvin Strong thanks for getting that dumbass straight. People in the burbs always talking negative about the city. If they had ran when things got tuff the city wouldn’t be where it is. They took the cowards way out now they want to stand outside and throw stones. And they’re out there over paying for the area they’re in. Especially in the area closest to the city. Some of the home in those areas or 100G’s for what amount a shotgun house. Built straight back.

[@sixmile2360]

Loren J. Wow. I didnt know that there were no grocery stores in the city. Well except for Meijers and Whole Foods where I shop. Are you even from Detroit?

[@larywest7341]

THE ONLY REASON EVERYBODY IS MOVING DOWNTOWN IS BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY SAFE PLACE WITH STREET LIGHTS !

[@marvinstrong9374]

Lary West the entire city has brand new LED street lights... not just downtown

[@ryanvandy1615]

lol 100 percent of the streetlights are working

[@bluebo1212]

Here is a 2018 video filmed in the "new" Detroit: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKeQfXVpec2VrK8

[@Countcho]

So i should buy one of those 10k homes? :)

[@Countcho]

***** im joking. and i been kinda in that area (flint) i wouldn't want to move there

[@nepalihercules]

***** used to

[@nepalihercules]

***** im in london now but houses get broken into frequently and too many squatters. from what i've heard downtown is getting better but the rest is still the same. i lived in detroit from 2002 to 2010.

[@Rapture582]

you don't know shit.

[@Sweetnproper]

That is a lie from the pit of hell. You have no idea what you are talking about. I am Canadian and I drive around with my Canadian plates even in the not so good area and no one bothers me. They look but then again so would I. Its human nature. The stereotype of Detroit is outstanding and it comes from people who have never been there and that is the funny thing. I bought 4 homes and they are all tenanted and doing well. The best things folks. I have no mortgage. Its great! Let me know if anyone needs advice. Stop making mischief olskoolnewpaint.

[@nsdax7]

holly Crap that is cheap! i live in Miraflores(lima,Peru) and buildings around my place cost at least 580k and can get to 700k or 800k

[@Harvard.Unofficial]

is WSJ using computer narration. sad

[@gurjeetswallows6709]

The true savior is domino's pizza

[@sixmile2360]

Why is that?

[@gurjeetswallows6709]

Because they helping Detroit fix their potholes and infrastructure! 😂

[@gurjeetswallows6709]

You know its bad when a pizza place helps fix your roads.

[@sixmile2360]

Oh. The tv commercials! Sorry that I am so dense.

[@robertpreskop4425]

Actually it is Quicken Loans that helped get the ball rolling in Detroit. They helped fund the new light rail line on Woodward Avenue, bought and restored numerous downtown landmark buildings, and now building a new 60 story mixed use tower on the Hudson's site downtown.

[@ryanjohnson9442]

🎙〽🌨🤬🥶

[@actright6340]

The world will end all the pretty thing's in America

[@allstardemon]

Drawing in a new crowd of white rich people.. Perfect!

[@deekid311]

gentrification is real..

[@robertpreskop4425]

Not only whites but also Asians and prosperous blacks and Hispanics as well.

[@biggreens7319]

Move to Milwaukee

[@robertpreskop4425]

Milwaukee is a very beautiful city that I used to visit frequently when I was younger. A high quality city. Hopefully Detroit and my home city of Buffalo become high quality cities in the near future.

[@mookixox]

You could give me a house and pay me 1 million dollars and I still wouldn't agree to live in Detroit!

[@pikminlord343]

+mookixox why not?

[@mookixox]

Umberto Fournier Black gangs control the City.

[@Rapture582]

you have a low IQ

[@mookixox]

kabman Detroit is very different, it became even more shitty...

[@Rapture582]

mookixox You are very different, you are even more shitty. : )

[@frostoshi]

BS

[@Tamasha1]

sorry i rather live in London

[@sixmile2360]

Detroit has no intention of trying to compete with London. Two completely different cities. However, with that said, London cost of living is unbelievably high. Unless you were talking about London Ontario. Then I'm not so sure.

[@robertpreskop4425]

All of both Canada and the UK are very expensive.