Detroit has seen some hard times in the last decade… All eyes and opinions seem to be on this once great city. Home to so many noteworthy historical people, cultural events, and business, it is really a perfect example of how we as a culture, tend to lift people and places above where they could have naturally risen. Then, just when they’ve been lifted to a height of greatness, we let go and enjoy the carnage. Detroit, though, has deep roots. Not to be owned by single industry, it is rallying. There is an amazing buzz of community growth, local belief, and Detroit pride that permeates the entire downtown and all of its inhabitants.

After walking around for the weekend, I am quite sure that in one decade, downtown Detroit will be a major cultural hot spot. The city has everything required to do so and seeing the turn around that GR did in the 90s, I bet Detroit will make an even more dramatic rebirth.

A few things have to happen, starting with a public transit system that is clean, easy, and accessible. The light rail will be a good first step but the people mover, unfortunately, seems more like a tour train around a zoo, than a functional transit system.

The city has tons of gems though…

Great breakfast hot spots

Some decent brewpubs

and

The historic Greektown neighborhood illuminated by a massive casino… Good food was found there!

We even stumbled on a swank cigar bar with a pretty killer VIP area upstairs.

It is a great time to see Detroit. I feel like the sling shot is loaded and drawn… The buzz is absolutely amazing… It will just take a few more investors to believe and help make downtown a great place to live… Everywhere I turned I could see some beautiful old places that could house whole community condo projects… Like the old train station in corktown…

(Photo courtesy of Dianna Berggren Photography)

It would be the perfect economic injection into a cool old neighborhood which has reinvented itself now that tiger stadium is no longer in it’s backyard.

There are many sites dedicated to bringing people back to the city center, so we’ll see how it all shakes out… but I will watch this awesome city with much anticipation for a vibrant future! It will be my absolute pleasure to watch it grow…
…Maybe even be a part of that growth…