Motor City: The Road to a Better Future

Detroit, Michigan: bankrupt, poverty-stricken, yet still hopeful. Motor City has undoubtedly seen better days, however the future of the city appears to be promising.

Detroit natives are suffering greatly, yet fellow Americans are just watching and offering their sympathy instead of a solution.The media has exposed Detroit to the public as a city consumed by criminal activity. Although this is supported by statistical evidence, city officials are in denial of Detroit’s high crime rates. Often times they disregard statistics while diverting the attention from their issues, to those of another city.For years, Detroit has been largely misunderstood, however lately things have been looking up for the desolated city. On July 18, 2013 Detroit, Michigan filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy, making it the largest recoded in American history.

Chapter 9 bankruptcy is when a large municipality comes to an agreement with its creditors in order to pay off debt, while still maintaining business in the city (“Chapter 9”).Detroit used to be one of America’s most thriving cities, a hotbed of automotive production located in southeastern Michigan. Since the mid-twentieth century, Detroit’s population has seen a huge decline, as well as increasing unemployment rates.A contributing factor to this is Detroit’s violent crime rate, which”remains a serious issue for the city.Detroit had the highest crime rate for any U.S.

city over 200,000 in 2012″ (“10 Things to Know About Detroit”). Though most Americans are familiar with Detroit’s innumerable plights, many are unaware of their origins. The city was built by factories, but was destroyed by the very same thing.Detroit lost a lot more than money in order to face the fiscal crisis that it has.It has been a long road for Motor City, gaining that title for its incomparable auto manufacturing business prevalent in the first haft of the twentieth century. For years, Americans flocked to the Mid-Western city knowing that work was plentiful, yet recently the contrary has contributed to Detroit’s rapid population drop.

Recently, Chrysler commercials supporting and glamorizing the city have aired, yet these are nothing more than a facade. The commercials idealize Detroit’s hard work ethic of an era long gone. A recent article of one man’s attempt to refurbish a home on the outskirts of the city tells a tale of risk, failure, and above all triumph.It would appear that many venturing to this fallen city see a potential, which is hidden from the public eye.In the BuzzFeed Article Why I bought a House in Detroit for $500, journalist Drew Philip shares his reasoning and hope for the future of the city. Phillips explains, “I wanted something nobody wanted, something that was impossible.

The city is filled with these structures, houses whose yellowy eyes seem to follow you. It would be only one house out of thousands, but I wanted to prove it could be done, prove that this American vision of torment could be built back into a home” (Philip).Drew Philip has a personal goal, setting out to prove that life in Detroit, Michigan is not impossible, though it is indeed difficult.He however, is not alone, for many young entrepreneurs and artists have recently immigrated into the city in order to follow similar dreams. Detroit possesses a deep-rooted history, making it apparent that there is much more to the city than meets the eye.This would help to explain the recent influx of fresh young minds into the city.

Beneath the desolation and corruption lies a budding industry of creative young minds at work.Many artists have chosen residency in the city due to the inexpensive housing prices and abundance of inspiration.Economically prosperous cities such as New York leave individuals struggling to pursue their dream and meet the necessary standards of living.Artists find beauty in the ruin and current rebuild of Motor City. Business owners are taking a new interest in rebuilding Detroit, seeing it as a new and profitable venture. As mentioned in the April 2014 edition of the business magazine Fast Company, “Dan Gilbert, the CEO of Detroit-based Quicken Loans, has poured a billion dollars into Detroit’s downtown” (Zax).

Gilbert views the potential success of the city, mainly because of the bountiful past it once had.He like many others believes that slowly, the city can make a comeback. Beside the barren city streets and apparent ruin, is is a brilliant young group of entrepreneurs waiting for the day that Detroit, Michigan is no longer looked down upon.Peeking out from beneath the ruin is the gift of creativity, which thrives in this seemingly dismal atmosphere.Demolished buildings serve as a canvas for young artists to express the life and resurgence of the city. Right now there is hope, yet the city is struggling to grow past its hardship in order to embrace the bright future that many see for it.

As Americans, we are sympathetic with the city’s plight, yet remain hopeful for a bright future. Works Cited “Chapter 9 Definition | Investopedia.” Investopedia. Investopedia, 15 May 2007. Web.

26 Mar. 2015. Philip, Drew. “Why I Bought a House in Detroit For $500.” BuzzFeed.

BuzzFeed, Inc., 9 Jan. 2014. Web. 26 Mar.

2015. Zax, David. “Some of the Most Amazing Startup Spaces in America Are in Detroit.” Fast Company. Mansueto Ventures, LLC, 2 Apr.

2014. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. “10 Things to Know About Detroit.” Forbes.

Forbes.com LLC, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2015.