I was actually in Detroit over the summer visiting some extended family, and was awestruck. It's really quite remarkable... within maybe ten blocks of the (surprisingly nice) Renaissance Center and re-developed waterfront area, there were entire city blocks that were completely overgrown with ivy and other such plants. It felt like I was inside the pages of "The World Without Us". I can totally see the urban agriculture thing working out in Detroit, except for the industrial contamination problem.

Of course, what really struck me was the abrupt transition we saw driving to the north and east along Jefferson Ave. For block after block, it's nothing but abandoned factories, vacant lots, and eerily empty and overgrown neighborhoods, with the only operational (i.e., not boarded up) businesses being convenience stores and the occasional bait shop. Then, all of a sudden, without any transition, the scenery changes to a ritzy suburb. I swear, it was a sharp enough contrast that my mind was reeling from psychic whiplash for the rest of the day.

It was like the NYC good-block/bad-block phenomenon, only on a massive geographic scale and with the volume turned up to 11.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I also just found: http://www.detroitblog.org/ Some of the pictures on their seem alien to me.

I live in Benton Harbor, which is like Detroit in a lot of ways, but smaller and on the west coast; it really is a very different, fulfilling, vibe.

I live in Detroit. There are some nice areas, but you cannot avoid blight for long. I was born and raised here, so I am used to it.

I grew up in Detroit, so I'm a bit jaded, but I wouldn't recommend it. Many of the people who live in Detroit don't see the blight as a problem and actively fight anyone who tries to change Detroit.

Plus the city council is beyond dysfunctional... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TvgtGlcdTE&eurl=http://c...