Yesterday was the second venture of Michigan day trips with Karla. It also was my birthday. The result was an insightful, and sobering experience that equated to one of my most memorable birthdays ever.
I call it the "Victory Tour," because the path of the two long, straight drives forms a letter "V" above the Metro Detroit area. And in the case of the first leg: Gratiot Avenue. it represented a facing of my rural, Washtenaw County fears. According to a lot of news reports through the years (and we all know what to think of modern news reporting), parts of Gratiot border some of the most at-risk and depressed areas of Detroit. But Karla, of course, is unphased by this, a trait she shares with someone else that would surprise you, and who you may get to know better during the course of future journeys.
I was impacted by national events of the past week. Our goal is unity, so I will not delve much into issues that divide. But I will say that the national news made me angry. Karla and I are pursuing a good path, in which diverse people create shared experiences, and dialogue with one another. But the national news is trying to get in the way of this. "Sources predict a repeat of last weekend's violence."
Why can't the angry people stay home, so that we can focus on the good stuff, which we so desperately need? I implored one good friend on Facebook, to please stop sharing and commenting on all the bad news . . . as I needed to get into the positive vibe of experiencing Detroit and its people. My friend relented and began encouraging me.
This is not the same as ignoring serious problems. I do not intend to look away from them. It is more like a direct response to it. I see your fear, hate, and bad news, and raise you a hope, peace, and good news.
I picked up Karla, and we continued on to Chesterfield, and the start of M-3, which is mostly Gratiot Avenue. This north part of the trip is all in Macomb County. I found that Macomb County is different than the Oakland County we saw last week. Oakland seems to have a series of clearly differentiated communities, each with a distinct identity. But Macomb's communities: Chesterfield, Mount Clemens, Clinton Township, Warren, Eastpointe, and Roseville, all seem to merge, from each to the next. Macomb has a character which is shared by all of its communities: a lot of newer, suburban type of development. It is a very rapidly growing part of the Metro area.
But the main thing I noticed about Gratiot, is how this quality of gradual transition, was evident throughout the entire route. Woodward was marked by clear delineations from one section to the next. But Gratiot begins with new retail, and heavy traffic where all the cars seemed new. As you drive south, everything gets a little older, a little less chain store . . . and by the time you cross 8-Mile, you're seeing a heavy preponderance of liquor, cell-phone, auto repair, and discount grocery stores. These dwindle down, and as you cross 7 Mile, you're faced with almost total blight. Yet even here, Karla described to me that people live in these areas, by being smart and understanding their neighbors. You just learn where to go, whether or not to go by foot, bike, or car, and whether or not to travel alone. You learn that, in every setting, there are people getting by, even living happy lives. You just learn how to cope. Where crime is high, there is still a majority of people that do not commit crimes.
I asked Karla a lot of questions about what is needed in these communities. Over time, I will share the details. But I am inclined to believe the first step is to show up. I have now driven the length of Gratiot Avenue, from north to south. That is a very small step. But it's a step, where for my entire life, I had not moved at all.
As we got into the downtown area, things began to brighten up. More pedestrians, more people out and about. We took a detour within blocks of the high-rises, so that Karla could visit her elementary school, The Friends School of Detroit. We hung out at the playground for a while, as Karla warmly reflected on her happy memories as a student, grades K-8. But sadly, the school has closed down, due to lack of funds. The weeds are growing through the cracks in the parking lot and sidewalks. Places like this, throughout Detroit, are Calls to Action for anybody wondering what they can do to help. When you show up, you find these things out.
Our big destination this week, was the Eastern Market. This is a place I have heard about for years. It seemed like everybody was always going to the Eastern Market, but me. We parked and walked around the area, finally settling on the Russell Street Deli for lunch. I tried the BLT, to see if it competes with Joe and Rosie's BLT in Dexter (the best BLT ever). It does.
Russell Street Deli offers cooking classes, including a soup-cooking class being offered this fall. Karla got information on it, and may register. You find out things when you show up.
We finished up there and proceeded to the termination of M-3, which is down near Hart Plaza. From there we found I-75 South, around to I-96 West, which brought us to the start of M-5: Grand River Avenue. The plan, from here out, was just to drive all the way to the end of it, which is at a roundabout at Pontiac Trail in Commerce Township.
At this point I began to really notice the differences between each of these major trunklines into downtown Detroit. I had seen old photos of Grand River Avenue, from probably the 1930s and 40s. As we exited I-96 onto M-5, I told Karla that I expected to see a lot of commercial and retail along the way. The image I had of Grand River, was a sort of small-town main street feel. And this is what we got.
But here, as elsewhere, there are a lot of boarded-up and abandoned buildings. They do have that Main Street feel. Grand River in Detroit is an excellent spot for "Main Street Redevelopment". A restoration of these old businesses, and something like a couple holiday parades every year, in our lifetime, would be an excellent goal.
While Gratiot and Woodward, north of 8 Mile are heavily developed, the north end of M-5 shows a different picture entirely. We are on the edge of the lake country. The area is still heavily wooded. Zoning ordinances must require more setback of retail, from the roads. And development is more likely to be screened from the roads, by way of landscaping and natural features. This was the first look at broad rural spaces in the "By The Numbers" project.
During yesterday's drive, I also got my first sober tip from Karla, about a section of town to avoid, strictly. But I will not go into that here.
Our entire excursion lasted something like five hours, and it was a blast.
Next week, we wrap up our set of Detroit Days, by taking on the Davison and Lodge Freeways.
Addendum: August 20, adding some of Karla's photos!
I call it the "Victory Tour," because the path of the two long, straight drives forms a letter "V" above the Metro Detroit area. And in the case of the first leg: Gratiot Avenue. it represented a facing of my rural, Washtenaw County fears. According to a lot of news reports through the years (and we all know what to think of modern news reporting), parts of Gratiot border some of the most at-risk and depressed areas of Detroit. But Karla, of course, is unphased by this, a trait she shares with someone else that would surprise you, and who you may get to know better during the course of future journeys.
I was impacted by national events of the past week. Our goal is unity, so I will not delve much into issues that divide. But I will say that the national news made me angry. Karla and I are pursuing a good path, in which diverse people create shared experiences, and dialogue with one another. But the national news is trying to get in the way of this. "Sources predict a repeat of last weekend's violence."
Why can't the angry people stay home, so that we can focus on the good stuff, which we so desperately need? I implored one good friend on Facebook, to please stop sharing and commenting on all the bad news . . . as I needed to get into the positive vibe of experiencing Detroit and its people. My friend relented and began encouraging me.
This is not the same as ignoring serious problems. I do not intend to look away from them. It is more like a direct response to it. I see your fear, hate, and bad news, and raise you a hope, peace, and good news.
I picked up Karla, and we continued on to Chesterfield, and the start of M-3, which is mostly Gratiot Avenue. This north part of the trip is all in Macomb County. I found that Macomb County is different than the Oakland County we saw last week. Oakland seems to have a series of clearly differentiated communities, each with a distinct identity. But Macomb's communities: Chesterfield, Mount Clemens, Clinton Township, Warren, Eastpointe, and Roseville, all seem to merge, from each to the next. Macomb has a character which is shared by all of its communities: a lot of newer, suburban type of development. It is a very rapidly growing part of the Metro area.
But the main thing I noticed about Gratiot, is how this quality of gradual transition, was evident throughout the entire route. Woodward was marked by clear delineations from one section to the next. But Gratiot begins with new retail, and heavy traffic where all the cars seemed new. As you drive south, everything gets a little older, a little less chain store . . . and by the time you cross 8-Mile, you're seeing a heavy preponderance of liquor, cell-phone, auto repair, and discount grocery stores. These dwindle down, and as you cross 7 Mile, you're faced with almost total blight. Yet even here, Karla described to me that people live in these areas, by being smart and understanding their neighbors. You just learn where to go, whether or not to go by foot, bike, or car, and whether or not to travel alone. You learn that, in every setting, there are people getting by, even living happy lives. You just learn how to cope. Where crime is high, there is still a majority of people that do not commit crimes.
I asked Karla a lot of questions about what is needed in these communities. Over time, I will share the details. But I am inclined to believe the first step is to show up. I have now driven the length of Gratiot Avenue, from north to south. That is a very small step. But it's a step, where for my entire life, I had not moved at all.
As we got into the downtown area, things began to brighten up. More pedestrians, more people out and about. We took a detour within blocks of the high-rises, so that Karla could visit her elementary school, The Friends School of Detroit. We hung out at the playground for a while, as Karla warmly reflected on her happy memories as a student, grades K-8. But sadly, the school has closed down, due to lack of funds. The weeds are growing through the cracks in the parking lot and sidewalks. Places like this, throughout Detroit, are Calls to Action for anybody wondering what they can do to help. When you show up, you find these things out.
Our big destination this week, was the Eastern Market. This is a place I have heard about for years. It seemed like everybody was always going to the Eastern Market, but me. We parked and walked around the area, finally settling on the Russell Street Deli for lunch. I tried the BLT, to see if it competes with Joe and Rosie's BLT in Dexter (the best BLT ever). It does.
Russell Street Deli offers cooking classes, including a soup-cooking class being offered this fall. Karla got information on it, and may register. You find out things when you show up.
We finished up there and proceeded to the termination of M-3, which is down near Hart Plaza. From there we found I-75 South, around to I-96 West, which brought us to the start of M-5: Grand River Avenue. The plan, from here out, was just to drive all the way to the end of it, which is at a roundabout at Pontiac Trail in Commerce Township.
At this point I began to really notice the differences between each of these major trunklines into downtown Detroit. I had seen old photos of Grand River Avenue, from probably the 1930s and 40s. As we exited I-96 onto M-5, I told Karla that I expected to see a lot of commercial and retail along the way. The image I had of Grand River, was a sort of small-town main street feel. And this is what we got.
But here, as elsewhere, there are a lot of boarded-up and abandoned buildings. They do have that Main Street feel. Grand River in Detroit is an excellent spot for "Main Street Redevelopment". A restoration of these old businesses, and something like a couple holiday parades every year, in our lifetime, would be an excellent goal.
While Gratiot and Woodward, north of 8 Mile are heavily developed, the north end of M-5 shows a different picture entirely. We are on the edge of the lake country. The area is still heavily wooded. Zoning ordinances must require more setback of retail, from the roads. And development is more likely to be screened from the roads, by way of landscaping and natural features. This was the first look at broad rural spaces in the "By The Numbers" project.
During yesterday's drive, I also got my first sober tip from Karla, about a section of town to avoid, strictly. But I will not go into that here.
Our entire excursion lasted something like five hours, and it was a blast.
Next week, we wrap up our set of Detroit Days, by taking on the Davison and Lodge Freeways.
Addendum: August 20, adding some of Karla's photos!
Did you find any 'green spaces' reclaiming the areas south of seven mile? I read mention of them from time to time, do not know if I believe them.
ReplyDeleteYes . . . there are pockets, everywhere, in Detroit, of very positive developments. Safe, beautiful neighborhoods are always just a few blocks away from blight. Livernois turns out to be a road that I can drive with safety. There's a commercial stretch that's wonderful. And there is new retail in various spots. I learned that I should stay away from Joy Road. But Brightmoor, the most blighted neighborhood in the city, is home to an exciting Makers Space Project of the U of M Art School. I truly believe that the key is more of what I have been doing: show up. But get a friend to show you around.
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