They should reforest the abandoned areas of Detroit and turn it into a state park

Return Detroit to nature could be a start if we wanted it...

I’m from Detroit Michigan and I moved too Florida let’s just say I’m glad I made the move fixing houses doesn’t stop crime

I've never been to Detroit but it's a city that fascinates me.

My father was there in the early 70's and described it as broken down and by the time I was there in 84 it was grass growing through freeway off ramps. The decline started not in the past 30-40 "years. 50 or more. The industrial heartland is now in the new south.

Born and raised in Detroit sad to say that city never going to be what it was 50 years ago or anything close to it. The crime is a huge factor, no jobs, and the corruption dating back to the Coleman Young era has crippled the city

I grew up in a thriving Detroit & love seeing those homes come back to life. I was so sad about it for so long but feeling a bit of hope now although I now live in Al., I still have family there & won't stop praying for my hometown.

It's interesting I was actually contracted for the Detroit Land Bank Authority. Over the summer I got the chance to go into many of these buildings for work and inspection in order to be demolished, All of them abandoned , destroyed , every type of glass and garbage imaginable was on the floor . All the walls covered in graffiti. The scariest part was finding evidence of someone living there, because we just didn't know if we were going to be attacked or how the person would react coming into their makeshift home. One of the saddest parts was we went upstairs to one of the buildings and in one of the bedrooms was a bed covered in stains and no sheets with a blanket, a teddy bear, and several game informer magazines around. A child had being living there, all alone, but surviving. It was so sad, I nearly started crying, because we were going to take his home away, and he would have to find a new place, one probably more dangerous than the one we were at. It was heartbreaking, but that's how it is in Michigan, many are desperate, and we can't even get 500 million dollers to fix flint, a story everyone forgot about since Donld Trump.

If you ever looked at Detroit through Google or Apple maps the streets look exactly like what we're seeing here. Roads and roads of abandoned, dilapidated homes, and alot of vacant lots. Weirdly some inhabatated homes are next to abandoned homes and lots. It looks depressing.

Those population figures don't tell the whole story, In 1950 it was 83.5% white. In 2010 it was 82.5% black. That's the core of the problem for Detroit. Dance around the issue all you want, call it racism to even mention it, blame it all on the auto industry, but there are other post-industrial cities in the US that didn't collapse (like Pittsburgh). A city can survive even when its white population falls below 50% as long as it doesn't get too low (St. Louis, Baltimore, New Orleans an Cleveland are examples). When it drops to less than 10% like Detroit there's simply no hope. While they may make some progress, its still like putting a band-aid on a massive wound. The only thing propping it up is federal dollars and as soon as they stop the slide will resume.

If you want people to come back stop political corruption. You need to start all over again, and people needs officers to keep it safe

Yes they can be fixed very easily. Remove the cultures in those areas that promote crime and violence. After that business will return. Job opportunities allow citizens to maintain gainful employment and buy and or fix up properties. Until you remove the issue that prevents businesses from opening up nothing will change.

SOME blacks in Detroit need to change their mindset, if not they will get left behind....

It's like a zombie land. If there's power and water, i would just try to live there rent free.

I’m from Michigan this is just a great city with a hard past and if you see what was happening You will really see the improvement and Beauty never shown on KZfaq

No mention of "white flight".

Downtown and Midtown will be a good time. The rest of Detroit is never coming back.

Amazon could have rebuilt the whole place.

The design of these buildings are stunning, even as they’ve eroded, I can only imagine these neighbourhoods at their peak when once was a community. I live in a suburb/ state/ part of my country where a less than a quarter acre block of land and small home can be at its lowest 750-800k, the average price in the millions (regular middle class suburbia)... in the small properties some have no room for proper garden let alone a patch of lawn/courtyard. Detroit from a (more ethical) developer stand point there can be opportunity there to stripe and build but in saying that the architectural aesthetic history is desirable.... the state needs to invest in its people/ environmental sustainability on the ground level as it enable better, diverse(skill sets, social, cultural... etc), thriving communities from current Detroit natives to outsiders that can be attracted to repopulate communities along with industry... increasing in positive generational attributions to the community. And this isn’t easy but it’s also not impossible... but the hardest part of it is changing the common people’s and the current governance in creation of better systems, part of that is recognising where the failures have been, where the failures are currently and forecasting different possibilities.

I love all those old houses! I hope they save as many as they can. If you are creating good neighborhoods, then good people will occupy them and the crime rate should go down. They've got a lot on their hands but it looks like they are making good improvements.

I live here in Detroit. Folks left, and I love it. Three or families on a city block is a good thing to me. Knock the houses down and what you have left is a shitload of land you can use to your benefit. Please continue to show the world the bad side of these vacant properties. Those of us who still live here will continue to have first dibs at buying acreage at a discount price. How much is an acre of land in NYC or San Francisco?

Its a shame what happened to Detroit, but i feel it will never recover.

They have money for drugs. They have the physical stamina to commit crimes. There is no excuse. It's called lazy.

Tiny home communities would help eradicate homelessness. Give poor people the option to rent to own. Once the run down houses are demolished, the vacant lot could be turned into a community garden. There are so many possibilities.

Africa lookin greener these days

HEART ISSUES...….NOW WE CAN GET TO THE TRUTH OF THE ISSUE OF THIS GREAT CITY, CITY OF LIGHTS!! I moved to Detroit three years ago. The LORD called me here. I lived in Cleveland and growing in the ministry of JESUS CHRIST. I felt like a balloon ready to burst when the HOLY SPIRIT spoke to me and told me to move to the south side of Detroit (southwest). I thought the same thing you just thought, "WHAT?" So a month later I began to make trips on the weekend to visit and listen to the LORD. When I drove the streets, I cried for this city. I saw the devastation and destruction, I seen and spoke to the prostitutes, beggars and broken. I will never forget the day I spoke to someone and he shared how Jesus had saved him from a brain aneurysm and being shot six times by a 9mm. I cried for that man that day. When things happen in our lives, it's because of our reactions to something. People lie, cheat and steal, their hearts are not set right. When we do things, it doesn't matter what it is, it comes from the attitudes of our hearts. Whether good or bad. In The Bible GOD says, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." Detroit is a city where people have turned away from the PURITY of the way our hearts SHOULD be. You drive down the streets and you will see garbage all over the city. The people of the city have lost hope, so they just throw trash right out their windows. That's a heart problem. A CHANGE IS HERE! Since I have been here I have heard the prophetic words of how GOD is going to raise this great city! And he has been speaking this for years! And now it's time! I have met and heard of people from all over the United States and how they are moving to Detroit because they see what is happening. Detroit was once one of the GREATEST cities on the planet, and then greed, superiority, status took over. Heart issues. The fall of the city began. The city has been humbled, and now the rise from the ashes has began. DETROIT WILL BE THE CENTER OF REVIVAL for the United States. Detroit is a "hub" of many great things to come! In the three years of my being here, I have seen the abandoned houses torn down to make cleaner neighborhoods! I have seen the business of remodeling of the houses and buildings explode. Even something as simple as the fire hydrants being painted this last summer. They haven't been painted in years. The roads and highways in and around the city are being redone. There are many things that are changing in this awesome city! No matter where we are heart issues will always come into effect, good or bad. We need to check our hearts today. The LORD had me move to the city to help the people. To help the hurting hearts. When we help the people, the hearts change. When the hearts change, the city will change. THE REBUILDING OF THE CITY OF DETROIT IS HAPPENING AS WE SPEAK!! TO GOD WILL BE THE GLORY!!

The U.S. should offer an incentive for people to come to Detroit. Maybe no taxes for business for the first $500k, then every $500k after that increases by 1% until it hits the normal federal rate. Allow this for 15 years, then over the next 15 years phase it out.

Detroit is toast and Chicago is not far behind. The entire West Side, once a thriving working class area, is now mostly empty lots where homes and apartments buildings and neighborhood shops once stood.

It's theoretically possible, but what incentive do people have to live in Detroit? The state pushed all the jobs out.

Let it return to nature as a lesson of what not to do or allow to happen in the future.

Tragic! Such blight and deprivation should never have been allowed to happen. Detroit was once one of the jewels of the US crown because of its extraordinary architecture.

They should film parts for 'The Walking Dead' in Detroit! They look more post-apocalyptic with no effort than all the work the show's special effects people do in Georgia...

I believe that if we work together as a community and truly invest in Government, we can fully destroy Detroit.

Environmental groups funded the auto-workers unions and their lobbies who in turn destroyed the auto industry and turned Detroit, one of the most polluting cities that produce polluting products back into a wilderness. It really is kind of beautiful. Poetic even.

These are the four main reasons for Detroit's demise: 1. Blacks keeping their bitter attitudes from the unjust treatment of the Jim Crow south thus reinforcing the black stereotype from the local white population. 2. Electing a leftist black racist and corrupt mayor named Coleman Young from 1974 to 1994, which destroyed race relations and business opportunities in the city. 3. Relying on one industry for far too long while other cities, like Pittsburgh, diversified their economies for the 21st century. 4. Becoming a one party city that caused a lack of diversity of thought and ideas to solve the city's problems.

I could fix this entire situation it would take less than 4 years 1) don't destroy the materials take the houses down and recycle everything stone, roofing material, wood, That. Would cut 20-30% of costs Use the materials to build tiny houses, 2) have the community volunteer on the labor forces or pay the locals who are homeless to assist in general labor I have a few more but it could be done in 4 years only thing holding you back Is lack of self confidence and lack of imagination

They could call Chip and Joanne Gaines and get each house remodeled haha😂😂😂

The crime is what is killing Detroit not the houses. I can certainly say that I would totally buy a house in Detroit. Those homes are beautiful! But I would never move there because of the crime.

From somebody who’s born and raised in Michigan, I can 100% tell you that downtown Detroit is stunning! Why show the neighborhoods that are very run down? Ive seen so much progress in the last 10 years than the last 60 years. Its starting to grow art, attractions, restaurants, bar and grills, businesses, etc. Why aren’t people talking about that? Because everyone in Michigan is. It’s generally becoming even more of an upscale place than Chicago. Investors from different states have bought 20 apartment buildings and housings that are being renovated right now. Detroit is on the come up.

A person can tell these were once beautiful houses and neighborhoods. What happened? What a sinful waste? I would have loved to have lived in one of these homes. I would have taken such good care of it.

Detroit boggles my mind. I'm amazed at what was and what is now. It's a surreal and unkempt graveyard.

The majority didn't "walk away" willingly, they were pushed out.

It was a genocide. Don't lie to yourself, those people left because of violent crime not because they were racist. They were under attack as were their children in school.

I'm ambivalent towards the word blight; I would rather... rural renewal.

Too late for the ghetto

Have faith in Detroit! The people have been through a lot. It's had a lot of problems but has a lot of potential! Entrepreneurs and new people are trickling in slowly. Rebuilding, making community gardens, restaurants and other businesses. I pray for Detroit!

Revive Detroit by making it green. Tear down all of the blighted structures and plant trees.

Downtown has gotten way better, but these areas really need help

It seems that if Detroit could attract a few employers of size, I certainly think that parts of the city could be turned around. The greater NYC area experienced similar issues in the 1970s thru 1990s (I can point to many places in all five boroughs) and many areas have fuly turned around and are very desirable to live in today. It did take time for the transformation to happen, so patience is required. People who recall the NYC blackout in the summer of 1977 can convey how things were at that time. It was not good. There is hope. From what I can discern, the housing stock that still stands in Detroit is of good quality and could be renovated and families could move back in and reviatilze the city. A master plan needs to be formulated in order to right-size the city to its existing and projected target population. Perhaps a greenbelt could be created encapsulating the center city with covenants put in place that this land could not be developed in the future. With proper planning it could be turned into a very desirable place to live in the future. I do recognize there are other challenges, like the school system, but perhaps a rebirth of the city will bring in fresh ideas to tackle the existing problems or ideally create an entirely new platforms that wont carry forward the legacy issues. Lastly, I have read a number of articles about the land being repurposed for farming in Detroit. While a great idea, I think this needs to be organized so that there is enough critical mass to make it commercially viable. Regardless of how Detroit gets there, I wish its citizens the very best as they move forward.

Modern Ghost Town

Its really a shame cuz these look like they once were Beautiful houses

You can take those homes apart and build smaller ones .

The best hope for the motor city is for total removal off these house . Let it rest for 20yrs . And then rebuild

What Democrats did to this City is UNFORGIVABLE!

Detroit will never recover

Flint has the same problem

I was feeling an opportunity in bidding at auction until I see its being investigated by the FBI for fraud.

It’d be cooler if Detroit keeps on deteriorating until the entire city is just completely abandoned

Some guy even said him and his family saw a Sasquatch climbing through a window of an abandoned house in Detroit. 😯

Detroit is a prime example of American hubris and then someone forgets to flush the toilet.😨

I go to Detroit every year to see my aunt and it’s depressing. Some of those houses were really cute

So sad. My husband is originally from Detroit. I hope they are able to rebuild these communities.

Would not invest in these properties even if free, the entire area in a 50 mile radius needs to be razed and start over with new business/industries before the residential can thrive.

It’s not the place but the individuals that live in it. Being pore is not synonymous with filth and crime but a certain group is always tied to it. Do the math and come up with your conclusion. You know where I’m going with this.

I believe in you Detroit!!!

Detroit has a great opportunity to Rebuild the city to a Beautiful city. just need money

Why don’t they show the good areas of Detroit? Like downtown?

Love that MineCraft music you guys are rockin during the intro.

Make Africa great.. Or at least make it worth something

It's time to rebuild.. I support this program.

If you’re not from here, don’t worry about what’s going on here

What a concept let anyone else fix it not the ones that really caused it.W welcome to Detroit.

There are areas that are bouncing back in Wayne County

Demolish all the run-down houses and allow people to live there with mobile homes. Those houses are not worth saving.

Answer is No.

Should refurbish the old industrial buildings into car manufacturing museums. Am sure it will attract new business models into the city.

I wrote my essay on this topic last semester regarding the housing crisis and demolition. I also wrote about urbanization, gerrymandering and how downtown Detroit attracts young college grads to the area for work.

I would not be surprised detroit is the next big city to start genterfication

still better than france look at Paris

I'm a Long time Detroit area resident who watched the city fall from the outside. I now live in Detroit and what they're building now is too expensive for the average Detroiter. We need affordable single family homes and apartments not more condos made for people who make $100K a year.

"Mistakes may have been made". Its called corruption.

Can Tom Brady run a 3 second 40 ?

Give away Detroit to Canada, problem solved!

It's incredible to watch this from the UK where house prices are sky high and any one of these abandoned houses would be worth £90K even in wrecked condition.

No. Why would anyone with the means live somewhere with a city income tax.

Walking Dead!

Who else wants to raze these homes to the ground and start over?

Possibly 20% of the remaining population have drug and crime connections. People need to WELCOME CHANGE, SUPPORT CHANGE and CONTINUE TO EVOLVE FOR THE BEST. PEOPLE need to unite against CRIMINALS and criminal activities. The culture of violence and not welcoming other races into the city needs to change. A MULTI-CULTURAL/ DIVERSE city in AMERICA are the ones who are SUCCESSFUL and going strong.

I LOVE DETROIT! Give me the opportunity and the city can be restored! THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL CITY

The thumbnail made Detroit look like a small county town, and in a way it feels tranquil...

short answer. no.

I remember being station in the upper Michigan, Oscoda, in the mid 1980’s a couple buddies and myself would drive down to Detroit and it seemed so robust at the time. Now looking back it probably was not as rich as it was in the 1970, but for us the city seemed like it had so much was going on. Chrysler, GM and Ford was still the king and if someone said they worked one of those companies and was a supervisor, you were special. After I retired from the Air Force in 2009 I flew there to see some friends and what I saw was down right scary looking, I could not believe what I was seeing.

I live in the middle of all this Buildings, but never say we live like animals. We still respect this land and the people . No hate in Detroit. 😉

Answer: Who cares.

Detroit was a company town. As the companies left the city it lost it's tax base. Motown became a place to warehouse the poor. This was a choice. Toronto CA had a similar problem back in the day. They incorporated the suburbs into the city's tax base. Now Toronto is a world class city and Detroit looks like Managua, Nicaragua after a war and an earthquake. The USA is not a democracy. It's a plutocracy- ruled by and for the rich. I was born in Detroit in 1948 as was my mother in 1918. What a waste.

The banks did this, but they were bailed out. Left DETROIT holding the bag

If downtown Detriot comes back what it used to be, then the rest will follow. Always have to build that foundation to a city and that foundation is always the historic downtown district of a city.

they've been saying this since my dad was born.

Only if a certain group is removed!

Why not help the people stay in their houses, then u wouldn't have this bs.