I lived around Detroits (Pontiac, Lincoln Park, South Gate, Taylor, Dearborn and finally Canton) when I worked in the auto industry from 1997-2009. I loved talking to old farts about how Detroit was back in the day. There was a guy I particularly liked to talked to who graduated from Henry Ford Technical School in 1946 as a tool maker. He made a great living until he retired in 1999, although he too had to jump around a bit. Every building I would tell him about, he knew about. I went urban exploring in the David Whitney building, and he told me about a dentist he visited in that building in the 50's. I told him about the "old" redford theather...he told me how he saw Harry Belafonte there in 1964. I spent many, many, many hours looking at old building, and wondering about how great it would have been to be in Detroit pre 1960. I too also hoped for a Detroit turnaround, but by the time I left, I agreed with that old fart that the only hope for Detroit is too blow it up and start over again.
The Jalopy Journal
