  Lowell Moderator Username: Lowell Post Number: 4961 Registered: 07-2008 |
About time! This was a hopeful undertaking for a needy neighborhood but the poor quality and chaotic deployment made it suspicious from the outset. Poor Highland Park, ripped again.  | ||
Rocknrollscientist Member Username: Rocknrollscientist Post Number: 158 Registered: 05-2005 |
There are a lot of similar homes on Alter, between Outer Drive and Jefferson. I wonder if it's the same developer? | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 7234 Registered: 11-2003 |
Lowell, great ruins story. Can we have some street addresses to see this mess? jjaba. | ||
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise Post Number: 3434 Registered: 09-2007 |
rocknrollscientist, but that particular project didn't fail. People purchased those homes & are occupying them. | ||
Rocknrollscientist Member Username: Rocknrollscientist Post Number: 159 Registered: 05-2005 |
^That's true, I was just wondering. | ||
Hudkina Member Username: Hudkina Post Number: 281 Registered: 12-2004 |
Those houses look stupid. They wouldn't be so bad if they were closer together. In fact, if they were attached homes or even semi-detached homes they would look decent. | ||
Sirrealone Member Username: Sirrealone Post Number: 213 Registered: 01-2007 |
Are you saying that the scrappers would have left them alone had they been less stupid looking? | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 1548 Registered: 03-2008 |
I think they look fine. You can't build them as close as you used to, but the narrow design still means the lots can be smaller, right? They'd look nicer with a bay window on the front, but that would be more expensive, and unnecessary for lower income individuals (a good, eventual upgrade by the buyers maybe). I wouldn't mind it for a starter home... you know, if the quality was better. LOL! I wonder what's wrong with them. I seem to remember reading it was the foundation, but am not sure. If true, that's just sad. That is a kind of important part of the house, that would be expensive, and possibly impossible to fix. | ||
Goose Member Username: Goose Post Number: 74 Registered: 02-2005 |
its amazing to me that anyone would think that development no matter how well planned would have worked.... $130K to be placed in the middle of what is essentially a war zone??? "I envisioned good (credit) rate scores and I envisioned a bunch of homeowners owning these homes," said Highland Park resident Michael Curry. "Now, it's down the drain." if you've got good credit your most likely not buying in Highland Park... for 130K at the time you could have purchased a decent older home in safer established areas such as East English village or possibly the burbs.... sadly, even these 130K houses are probably worth half that now..... | ||
Crawford Member Username: Crawford Post Number: 322 Registered: 10-2006 |
Highland Park is the worst city in metro Detroit. Highest crime, lowest income, no services, etc. Why would people with decent credit even consider HP when there are so many affordable options across the metro? | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 3024 Registered: 07-2004 |
Because this housing is NEW! Newer is ALWAYS BETTER! ;) | ||
Ltorivia485 Member Username: Ltorivia485 Post Number: 3057 Registered: 08-2004 |
Those homes definitely look like they are worth less than $30,000 each. I wouldn't even dare live in them. What a shame, too. Some folks here holler why folks won't move into the city. For starters, some of the home construction lenders are corrupt and won't build housing that would cater to middle and upper-middle class families (larger lots, larger homes, high quality materials). | ||
Ltorivia485 Member Username: Ltorivia485 Post Number: 3058 Registered: 08-2004 |
Crawford, the people were from California and had no idea that Highland Park was a warzone from the beginning. I do admit they should have done better market research. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 3025 Registered: 07-2004 |
That's funny. In other cities, the housing that appeals to middle- and upper-class families are old-fashioned adjoining buildings, not large-lot homes. That said, they are building large-lot subs on the riverfront. They're big, with huge lawns and big parking garages for big cars. In other words, the antithesis of new urbanism. Great job, Detroit. | ||
Wolverine Member Username: Wolverine Post Number: 595 Registered: 04-2004 |
I would expect the name of the contractor to be false as the article states. It's the same name of the streets these are on, correct? | ||
Mrsjdaniels Member Username: Mrsjdaniels Post Number: 1247 Registered: 08-2005 |
they don't have gutters...I hated that about them when I saw them being built | ||
Lowell Moderator Username: Lowell Post Number: 4962 Registered: 07-2008 |
For jjaba... This is the NE Highland Park neighborhood near St. Benedict and just north of the Model T Plant.  http://maps.live.com/?v=2&sp=Point.r22d7y827qc0_Northpointe____&encType=1 from Microsoft maps.live.com [Click Bird's Eye view] when you get there. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 7244 Registered: 11-2003 |
Thanks Lowell. jjaba doesn't know the Eastside very well. Add this to the tour. jjaba. | ||
Bushay Member Username: Bushay Post Number: 125 Registered: 05-2005 |
St. Benedicts being one of my old accounts, I used to deliver to, and drive John R. to Chandler every week back in the 90's and watched the transformation as it progressed and eventually stalled. Being a breadman and delivering to most all neighborhoods in the city over time, I used to think this was THE worst war torn looking part of town that I had ever seen and couldn't fathom anyone purchasing a new home in that neighborhood. Certainly doesn't surprise me reading this now. | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 2771 Registered: 07-2004 |
Off topic here, but why do I have to scroll horizontally to read this thread? | ||
Thecarl Member Username: Thecarl Post Number: 1304 Registered: 04-2005 |
quote: because of the wide image posted in the thread. | ||
Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 421 Registered: 05-2008 |
Not to hijack your thread Lowell (yes, I know I do this often) but in a thread some time ago, I remember discussion concerning out-of-state investors. The mention in this thread about the investors reminds me of the many out of state companies purchasing a large number of homes in historic districts throughout Detroit. I know it's happening in non-historic districts, but I'm going from my experience. I wanted to purchase a home and was sniped by some investment company from out of state. What happens when these "investors" sell to just anyone? I'm afraid the integrity of these neighborhoods will suffer greatly. I would sure love to kick the a**es of those involved in mortgage fraud for this latest affront to residents. I wouldn't be surprised to learn KK and the "family" were found to be involved in this. | ||
Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 422 Registered: 05-2008 |
Not to hijack your thread Lowell (yes, I know I do this often) but in a thread some time ago, I remember discussion concerning out-of-state investors. The mention in this thread about the investors reminds me of the many out of state companies purchasing a large number of homes in historic districts throughout Detroit. I know it's happening in non-historic districts, but I'm going from my experience. I wanted to purchase a home and was sniped by some investment company from out of state. What happens when these "investors" sell to just anyone? I'm afraid the integrity of these neighborhoods will suffer greatly. I would sure love to kick the a**es of those involved in mortgage fraud for this latest affront to residents. I wouldn't be surprised to learn KK and the "family" were found to be involved in this. | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 4916 Registered: 06-2004 |
quote: Detroit and Highland Park have always been single family detached home areas with a few low rise multi-family dwellings mixed in. Why is everyone trying to force a change that isn't natural for the area? It's stupid and a waste of time and money. Lodgerdodger, the Blackwells are Highland Park's KK and family equivalents. | ||
Wolverine Member Username: Wolverine Post Number: 597 Registered: 04-2004 |
Correct, I think a lot of these lots are zoned for single family detached housing. Although it's a shame the driveways had to run alongside the houses. | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 1551 Registered: 03-2008 |
Lodgedodger, that is a very good point. Maybe we need another topic about that one. Is it reasonable to assume that some of these investors, are tomorrows "lost" owners or slumlords? As far as the middle class in Highland Park; s\Slums are a way to enter an economy from the bottom. Not everyone stays there forever (in theory). Many work there way up. In the past that meant moving to the suburbs, or out of state. The idea was to provide better housing nearby, that some could move up into. I think it was for those who still wanted to stick around their family, who may not be able to move. Some like to be close by to look after their aging parents, or something similar. Also, those abandoned buildings... Progress would be better made (in theory) with a association or neighborhood groups to constantly pursue the areas goals and improvements (as well as to reduce crime). (Message edited by Sean_of_Detroit on August 21, 2008) | ||
Renfirst Member Username: Renfirst Post Number: 196 Registered: 12-2006 |
Out of state investors are buying like crazy right now in Detroit... I've got cash buyers calling an associate of mine who is one of the top REO agents in the city... they're requesting lots of 5-10 homes, site unseen... What does that tell you? | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 4923 Registered: 06-2004 |
What happens to those 5-10 unit purchases if they don't get up to code on time? | ||
Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 439 Registered: 05-2008 |
It frightens me. Do they have a price point? I know ten homes were purchased for $200K. I don't like this one bit. People who are looking for a decent home to live in are getting shut out. | ||
Peterhuntprincess Member Username: Peterhuntprincess Post Number: 7 Registered: 03-2008 |
I work in highland park and can tell you that the scattered homes are in an area where most other standing homes are also in a state of ruin. Its not a surprise, however, that those large brick homes look just as liveable, even without windows, or doors. When I first started teaching in HP in 2005 these homes where the talk of the town. Residents were angered by the "little houses" as they called them. They were offended that homes like this were even built in Highland Park. There are very successful apartment communities that are of quality construction just scattered all over Highland Park, as well as nice communities tucked here and there. I believe that filler houses would have been much more successful, even "little houses". This community might even have worked if it had been fenced. Apparently those idiots who planned Northpointe didn't have a clue what they were doing. By the way, St. Benedict is now a charter school, conveniently names "Northpointe Academy". So the plan just might have worked if any brain power had been used... | ||
Genesyxx Member Username: Genesyxx Post Number: 912 Registered: 02-2004 |
I always wondered what those mini-tunnels were. Underground school passages, huh? I'd hate to see what's down there now. As for the homes, I'm glad they're investigating, but I'd have to side with common sense here. The houses were poorly built, developed and maintained. The area that the accompanied was a good choice, but one can't help but to wonder how one say they didn't try to make it work. | ||
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto Post Number: 5382 Registered: 10-2003 |
I recall that when these prefab houses were built, a forum member tried to take photos and was chased off by the crew "building" (assembling) the houses...They used the excuse that the process was "proprietary"...This smelled fishy from day one. Highland Park was also the epicenter of an earlier real estate scam in which a developer fixed up old houses and resold them. |
