"PARIS OF THE MIDWEST. A Love Story. " a Detroit Travel Page by dtownkitty

That is what it once was called because of its beauty. And while you are sleeping in your suburban bed it is rising from the ashes and it will be again.

Detroit has possibly had the worst of obstacles that any city could face, from riots, white flight, and the block of public transportation, to 24 years of governing by an arguably polarizing and sometimes scandalous Mayor and a council elected at large. But there is a certain quality in many area residents that have passionately refused to accept the seemingly inevitable demise of an American city. Its a phenomenon that some without vision may have a hard time understanding.

Since I was a kid, a drive through most parts of Detroit was like a trip to the Roman forum. I would see the splendiferous buildings in decay and imagine. And for many adults it is the same. You hear stories from the elderly of the way it was and dream. Every victorian home, aging estate, abandoned high-rise, every road is rebuilt in your mind. You don't deny the state of affairs, but simply will not hear that it cannot be done. You love the city and the city needs you.

The tenacity of so many that love the city, see its potential, or simply detect a good investment is strong and despite the weak real estate market and local economy the trend is growing.

The future downtown Detroit I predict will be one one of the most livable cities in the region. Why? It is developing the kind of housing and communities people want to live in, and the people moving in feel the love.

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REVITALIZED: I looked at this home on Ferry Street in the summer while house shopping. The asking price for one of the condo's in this 2 unit historic building is close to $400,000. I recently recognized it as the picture on yooperprof's Detroit page & thought it to be a good example of how people are investing in the city and restoring some lovely old homes. It has been beautifully landscaped since this picture and the other homes on the street have been renovated by the same company . The neighborhoods surrounding Ferry St. have been filled w/ new brownstones. If I only had found this house a year earlier.....

RECREATION:

Detroit's waterfront has not yet been developed to its full potential, but for those seeking leisure and recreation there are options. Hart Plaza offers concerts and ethnic festivals as well as a short river walk that offers good views of the river and Windsor, Ontario. To the east is Chene Park, a nice amphitheatre and park that serves as a venue for all different types of concerts, many of which are free. Belle Isle Park is a large island (that i enjoy regularly) where many outdoor activities can be enjoyed, including fishing, golfing and picnicing.

OUR RIVER:

The Detroit River lies between Lake St Claire and Lake Erie and is as wide as 2 miles in some places. The Ambassador Bridge spans the distance of the river and connects Windsor, Ontario with the city of Detroit. It is the busiest international border crossing in North America. There is also a tunnel underneath the river that can be used to cross into Canada. The river supplies drinking water to millions of people and the tap water is used for Aquafina bottled water.