just askin. seems like with the decline of the american automotive industry, the city needs to find new ways of making money, like via the tigers and the superbowl...how has the city dealt with the loss of the big automakers?
[Edited 10/19/06 14:01pm]

IrresistibleB1tch said:

you tittilate me.

purplerein said:

wrong thread!

Yes. Everyone there has Tigers fever. That's all they talked about on the news.

purplerein said:

Like sextonseven said...everyone has Tiger fever here right now...we're in a recession and our way of life is changing so having something so wonderful to rally around has been great. It's a scary time for all of us...we've gone from the eighth best economy in the nation to the 22nd. Automotive jobs are being sent to Mexico and other countries where they pay people next to nothing (major exploitation) and people are losing their jobs here all the time. Things are very uncertain.

sextonseven said:

Tomorrow they're putting a Tigers' jersey on the Spirit of Detroit...here's pic of him with a Red Wings sweater on...

purplerein said:

Applekisses is right. When the automobile industry gets a cold, Detroit gets pneumonia. Detroit's economy is in the gutter. Unemployment is higher than alot of other cities of comparable sizes but there are silver linings to be found. The healthcare industry here is flourishing. Metro Detroit is a leading area for research and development in the healthcare technologies sector as well as the alternative fuel sources sector. It will take some time but I see the economy diversifying into broader territories and the area will find its footing again. There is alot to be worried about if you live in Michigan right now but all is not lost. Detroit always has had a way of taking nothing and turning it into something that the whole world holds in high regard. Im confident that she will turn the corner and overcome. It may not be overnight, but it will happen. Until then, we have our Tigers to lift our spirits!

GO TIGERS!!
[Edited 10/19/06 14:38pm]

purplerein said:

Not very well...lately, the money is going into developing downtown Detroit, because that is what they want people to see. By people, I mean out of towners who come for events (Superbowl, World Series, Conventions etc). The city is building more hotel space in the downtown area...that is also where the casinos are.

But, they are skirting around the major issues, issues that affect everyday folks. For instance, the bus system is whack for a major city...there was talk of shutting it down recently. People were stranded for HOURS during the Superbowl week Winterfest events. Because of the lack of parking in the immediate area, they expected people to park as far away as Fairlane Mall and get shuttled downtown (about 25 mins away), only to be stranded for hours because of the traffic congestion.

Also, during the Superbowl, city officials made it a point to pick up homeless people and put them up at nearby hotels...why?...to save appearance for out of towners.

Downtown is a small percentage of Detroit, but that's where the money is going.
What about the neighborhoods? Drive outside of downtown and you will see empty buildings, burned down houses...sad really...and not just blocks, but whole neighborhoods where you may find a single livable home on one block!

The city is full of corrupt city officials, everyone is on the take lining their own pockets (Mayor Young was a genious at the scam, Mayor Kilpatrick tries to be, but isn't as oily as Young was). I'm not saying that other major cities aren't the same, but just speaking from experience.

Finding companies that want to run their business in Detroit (or surrounding areas) will be the key to Detroit's future. Right now, the city is living off of it's reputation.

We need honest and trustworthy people (like ME!) to run this once great city.

Alot of negativity written above and I apologize to native Detroiters if any feelings are hurt.
I love the area (the suburbs are GREAT, lots of entertainment and dining downtown) and hope for a turnaround in the positive direction in the coming years.

AND....

You will NOT find a better sports city than DETROIT!

On any given weekend, we will pack MSU stadium, U of M stadium (100,000+) AND Ford Field (65,000)

applekisses said:

And here's one with the Detroit Pistons jersey in 2004 ...



and 2005 ...

a2grafix said:

i'm sure the sculptor is happy with what's going on the statue.

purplerein said:

I know...I've thought of that.

I'm actually thinking of making that image (sans sports jersey) my first tattoo



[Edited 10/19/06 15:05pm]

Revvie Rev is right on too. Detroit has suffered from decades of disinvestment, political corruption, and plain 'ol apathy. Downtown is clean. The River is clean and the city is having a miles long prominade built as I type this with new condos, hotels, and retail/entertainment going in. 3 Las Vegas styled casinos have opened with all 3 of them building additional gamming space with hotels as I type this.

Downtown is recovering from years of flight to suburban officespaces and is actually drawing residents from the suburbs to live in its main core. Superbowl XL acted as a catalyst to spur additional growth which includes the renovation of downtown structures like the historic Book-Cadillac hotel (a grand hotel that has sat vacant since 1984). There is alot of development going on but it doesnt stretch much farther than downtown or midtown. People continue to move out of Detroit. Detroit has lost more than half of its population in the past 50 years. In the early 50's, Detroit's population was well over 2 million, now its at about 900,000. The population of Metro Detroit has stabilized at about 4.6 million.

Rev, are you considering running for office?

I've started my own collection of those shots...

So far, I have:

Superbowl XL - They put a FOOTBALL jersey on the spirit!!! Come on LIONS!

Pistons

Detroit Shock

Now I will add the TIGERS!!!

here is one more from this past February's Supur Bowl XL ...

Revolution said:

I didn't know they put the shock on him too.

dreamfactory313 said:

that's the time that younger more affluent people usually come in and buy the older houses for less money, and start to turn the neighborhoods around..

dreamfactory313 said:

Not a chance......I was just saying people like me...

purplerein said:

Yesir. There are great neighborhoods in Detroit just waiting for the yuppies, gays, etc. to settle in. You cant buy some of these gorgeous homes for these prices anywhere else in the country. The time to invest in Detroit is now!

applekisses said:

I have these on my digital camera. Call a brotha...

Revolution said:

Yeah, u know how insane politics in Detroit can be.

dreamfactory313 said:

Are there any squirrels?

purplerein said:

uhh yeah. why?

purplerein said:

That's happening now...and Detroit was once considered the Paris of the midwest because of the incredible architecture here...people are buying up the old victorian mansions and finally refurbishing them...it's wonderful to see














The Greening of Detroit seeks to return the city of Detroit to its former glory as "The City of Trees" and "The Paris of the Midwest" by reforesting the city through tree planting projects and by using environmental education to generate the resolve, the necessary support, and the essential abilities necessary to ensure a safe, sustainable ecosystem for healthy trees with the city of Detroit.

http://www.greeningofdetr...boutus.htm






[Edited 10/19/06 15:26pm]

Revolution said:

I don't have your new number!

E-mail, dude!

purplerein said:

dreamfactory313 said:

It's always been a dream of mine to restore one of those incredible homes back to its former glory. The archetecture is something so unique and you just can't get that anymore. Plus, I love the way a historic home feels inside...it really has a life of its own. Something that's seen so many years deserves to be treated with respect.

applekisses said:

Oh yeah. These homes are beautiful. A friend of mine bought a house on Trowbridge just north of the Boston-Edison district near the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral and its amazing. It still has the stained glass windows and original hardwood floors. It has 3 fireplaces and a loft garage. He paid about the same as one would pay for a studio apartment in Brooklyn or the northside of Chicago. Its incredible!