Detroit's hard edge -- and dirt-cheap real estate -- attract artists from around the world

[billyoc]

At first glance, the hardscrabble neighborhood north of Hamtramck might seem an unlikely spot for an artists' colony.

Typically, such communities favor bucolic settings or ocean views, like California's Carmel-by-the-Sea, a famous artists' retreat before it was overrun by tourists.

But then, northeast Detroit has virtues Carmel never had -- among them $100 houses, one of which is being purchased by two Chicago artists, Jon Brumit and Sarah Wagner.

Their plan is to move to this budding community near Klinger Street and the Davison, to live in a tiny bungalow with a fire hole in the roof.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090313/LIFESTYLE/903130306

[burythehatchet]

1. I've thought about it

[Barack_America]

You should do it.

Detroit is a great city. It is suffering, true, but the reality is never as bad as the media portrays it and, despite it's pain, Detroit has amazing soul.

That being said, I think that many of these artists, particularly the European ones, are in for quite a shock. But, if they stick around, they'll eventually get it.

[nonconformist]

3. I was thinking that they're in for a shock as well.

I too hope they stick around.

[blue_onyx]

4. I like the houses in Detroit

I see pictures of these vacant homes that are huge, beautiful, and probably a hundred years old. Some of these homes would go for hundreds of thousands of dollars in other cities. Hopefully one day Detroit will be as vibrant as any other big city in the country.

[burythehatchet]

7. Pittsburgh, PA went into its' own decline after the steel industry left. Then it rose again

on a healthcare/financial service economy. It has a very vibrant arts scene. Cities have to re-invent themselves, and the process should be controlled and managed. Our leaders never seem to have the foresight to manage these things proactively. Where has Jennifer Granholm been in managing Detroit's transition?

[blue_onyx]

Granholm has been doing a great job managing the transition

The problem is that the job of diversifying our economy was left to her (it should have started years before she came into office). It will just take time and she has set Detroit and the entire state up for success in the future. For example, she has made Michigan a big player in the film industry. There are plans to open three production studios in the Detroit area. Detroit will also get the facility that will produce the Volt batteries and the 14,000 jobs that come with it (some say up to 50,000 in 5 years). A123 Systems will also open at least one battery plant here. Yes, those are automotive related but it's also green energy jobs. There's more green energy jobs (solar, ethonal) in Detroit and other parts of the state. The Detroit city council and mayor (or previous mayor now) have been disappointments.

Pittsburgh is a good comparison. The Detroit Free Press had a pretty long article showing the similarity in Detroit and Pittsburgh. I do think Detroit will improve but it will take time.

[burythehatchet]

13. That's very encouraging. The artists always seem to be the trailblazers in rebuilding

and in this case its film. Cool. I did not know that.

[Raineyb]

6. So have I. It's not like I have a job holding me in my current location

But I decided to go back to school instead.

Regards

[blue_onyx]

2. There's a lot of opportunities like this...

for those willing to move here. One reason I don't think I would ever move to California or NYC is the housing prices. I can't see paying at least a half a million dollars for a tiny house or paying thousands of dollars per month to rent an apartment the size of my living room. As the artists in the article said, being able to spend more time/money doing things you love is better than working endlessly to live in an expensive location. Detroit/Michigan may be down now but we're not out...things will get better.

[anigbrowl]

5. I can see that...won't be the first time either

Last time Detroit was going through very hard times, we got techno music out of it. If there's one thing that fosters the development of new music, it's large tracts of empty buildings in which you can organize loud parties for cheap. Seriously.

[sixmile]

8. Many artists got inspiration living in and around Detroit

Motown
Bob Seger
Mitch Ryder
Iggy Pop
The Romantics
Ted Nugent
Alice Cooper
Grand Funk Railroad
Kid Rock
Eminem
White Stripes
etc.
etc.

[Motown_Johnny]

9. LOL... Motown as one person.

might want to expand on that

[sixmile]

18. I'm not writing a history

If someone is unaware of what 'Motown' means, too bad.

[ddeclue]

10. Glenn Frey

[anigbrowl]

15. Ted Nugent? Erm...

Not a good advert. Anyway, I'm talking an entire damn genre, not your washed-up 20th century geetar-rawk. beep beep.

[closeupready]

16. What, no Madonna!?

:mad: ;)

[sixmile]

19. Good catch

I'm certain there are many others as I was just popping them off...

[aikoaiko]

11. Not that I'm supermotivated, but I'm keeping an eyer out for jobs in Detroit.

My work, if I can get it, is pretty secure.

[aikoaiko]

12. left bank in Paris, East village in NYC, Taos in NM, Jerome in AZ all used to be cheap.

Its really amazing the massive positive impact artists have had on Downtown Savannah, GA (of course, SCAD was the major driving force).

[burythehatchet]

14. so so true.

[maxsolomon]

17. good luck to them

as i've said elsewhere, i'd sell a kidney before i move back to the midwest.

detroit is the city americans LEAST want to live in. followed by cleveland & cincinnati.

[blue_onyx]

21. Detroit might be low on the list of desireable cities now

but things change. Our state has a lot of water (the most valuable resource on earth) and as water continues to be a huge issue in the areas experiencing the most growth, populations trend may change.

[maxsolomon]

22. i hope you're right

but other parts of michigan will thrive before detroit proper does.

[WolverineDG]

20. I couldn't believe what I was hearing about housing prices in Detroit

then I did a random search on the net. I honestly don't know whether to laugh, cry, or grab my checkbook & buy up some property.

dg

[sufrommich]

23. I certainly hope this is a sign of things to come for the city. nt