OK, born and raised a Detroiter. Over 60, and here's my take on what happened.

[navarth]

67. Well since all the Detroiters are checking in.....

I'm from the Goode Olde East Side as well, also born 1952. Grew up near Detroit City Airport in a lovely neighborhood. I will NEVER forget the beauty of 'The Green Tunnel'. For those non-Detroiters reading, The Green Tunnel refers to the cathedral effect created by the wonderful Dutch Elm trees that lined all the neighborhood streets. They created such a beautiful atmosphere with the way they shaded the streets. Then the Dutch Elm Disease, a true manifestation of Pure Evil, deforested our neighborhoods. I've always said the Dutch Elm disease did more to hurt our city than any racial rebellion.

I also lived for a long period of time on the far east side, East English Village to be exact. It was just plain wonderful in the 80's and 90's. But my favorite all-time place to live by far has been Midtown. As Faygo mentioned, it is doing very well. I didn't know it was 95% occupancy rate! That's even better. In my opinion Midtown Detroit is the hippest address in Michigan and I hope to live there again.

Detroit music has been mentioned in this thread by the noble Loonix whose posts I enjoy on a regular basis; however I must add that, as usual, mention of Detroit music seems to be egregiously neglecting to mention the great tradition of top-level jazz musicians that Detroit is famous for in the Jazz World. You can look it up if you're curious. Blue Note and Prestige records are populated by musicians primarily from Detroit and Philadelphia, with Pittburgh getting honorable mention. Any jazz musician worth his or her salt will get a faraway look in their eye if you mention Detroit because of all of the great musicians that come out of here. I made my living as a jazz musician for 30 years and I can tell you that the world of jazz is the one place where Detroit gets great respect. I could also make mention of Motown, but everybody already knows about that, and besides, Motown musicians were jazz musicians first. I know because many of them were and are close friends. I shared the stage at Baker's Keyboard Lounge with many fine jazz musicians that had made their living recording Motown hits. But perhaps I digress....

I am a Detroiter to my bones and always will love this city as I love my own Mother. The sad thing is this: I'v always said it and I say it now: Detroit will be successful again; it just won't be mine. I fear that whatever they do to 'fix' it will destroy it's soulfulness, and that will be a great loss. If you have to ask me what soulfulness is, I probably can't tell you.

We should have a Detroiter forum on DU. Is that possible? I also occasionally harbor a fantasy of getting together with Detroit DUers for a beer. I believe Detroit is well-represented on this board.

Faygo, you touched on just about everything I could say. Thanks for doing this. Thanks for keeping the faith.