Detroit transplants living in Dallas

Tag: Detroit

What’s Old Is New Again

I miss the gritty history of Detroit. It’s not often that 21st and 19th century architecture can be found to co-mingle on the same block, so in some ways it was an adjustment to move to Dallas and be surrounded by little more than 100 years of history. That being said there is something about the energy and momentum of this city; from my desk window I see no less than 4 tower cranes and can hear the noises of construction echoing through the highrise canyons. Things are happening here. There is not talk of building demo for the sake of demo or a new empty lot but real growth and progress, and that to me is exciting.

The Praetorian Building is coming down brick by brick and several more decrepit storefronts on Elm & Commerce are either being razed or rehabbed. I took this picture from Stone Street Alley near Elm St to document the progress so far. *

* Extra credit for anyone that knows what building is in the top left of the frame…

Add this to the “Duh” category

DetroitCIO Magazine becomes the latest publication to pile onto Detroit:

It’s easy to pick on poor Detroit, but it would hardly be any IT staffer’s destination of choice right now. What’s left of the tech jobs at automobile industry companies that haven’t already been outsourced (see: GM) is quite low as those companies and their suppliers try to survive bankruptcy and the global recession. Detroit also has the distinction of being named to the top 10 of Forbes’ “Fastest Dying U.S. Cities” list.

Way to kick us when we’re down. Thankfully I have a job right now, but who knows these days…