Michaela and her husband set off to explore Detroit. Source: Supplied
IT’S not an easy decision to uproot your family and move to the other side of the world.
This is the decision my husband and I have recently faced after he was offered a job overseas in Detroit - the city that recently filed for bankrputcy bringing with it a slew of issues.
For me, the opportunity to experience life in another country ticks a lot of boxes. It offers a sense of adventure, international exposure, career opportunities and it would offer our kids a unique look at life elsewhere.
But a great deal of uncertainty also accompanies such a big change. And in order to address some of the uncertainty, visiting the new city is vital.
My husband and I have just returned from a “look-see” to Detroit, where he has been offered a job. And while I wish the offer was in a more vibrant city, like Chicago or New York, this city offers colour in different shades.
Abandoned houses in Detroit. Source: Supplied
Otherwise known as Motor City, Detroit conjures up images of cars, abandoned buildings, crime and poverty. It is perhaps these images that prompted raised eyebrows and puzzled expressions from people when we mentioned we were considering a move there.
It’s understandable they might wonder: “Why would you leave one of the world’s most livable cities for Detroit?”
Bankrupted last July, the city is at rock bottom, with an estimated 80,000 abandoned homes. And violent crime in metro Detroit remains the highest in the country.
But there’s a lot more to Detroit than cars and crime. Naturally a different city in a different country is going to be, well, different. I’ve spent enough time in the US to appreciate the diversity of the country but Detroit was unlike any city I had been before.
Empty and crumbling houses. Source: Supplied
During our week-long stay we weighed up the pros and cons of life there.
We explored the area in terms of affordability, lifestyle, schooling, houses, and the “heartbeat.” We spoke to locals to get a feel for how they lived. As a mother to three young children, education, safety and family lifestyle were key tenets of our decision.
We spent most of our time in the more affluent suburbs and discovered they were safe and the schools were some of the best in the country.
Affluent neighbourhoods lacked a heartbeat. Source: Supplied
We spent time driving around to get a sense of what it would be like living there. Our “realtor” showed us many of the “nice” neighbourhoods. Interestingly, just north of Detroit’s infamous 8 Mile Rd are some of the most affluent suburbs in Michigan.
While some of these areas were quite nice, they lacked a heartbeat and I struggled to form a connection to the neighbourhoods. Most of the houses are built in “subdivisions” in fenceless arrangements.
While the absence of fences has aesthetic appeal, and probably promotes a connection with your neighbours, overall I found these housing clusters to be soulless. Every house looked the same as the one next to it.
Exploring the Detroit neighbourhoods. Source: Supplied
The majority of neighbourhoods don’t have a main street or strip shopping. You have to drive to the mall to buy even a loaf of bread, and you’re never going to develop a personal relationship with the local butcher.
First-hand we experienced a snowstorm and discovered the perils hiding beneath its beauty. The roads are terrible in Detroit due to the snow and salt, and it’s even more challenging to avoid the potholes when they’re covered in snow. Our car got stuck at one point, and my husband had to get out and push.
Snow covered roads and cars. Source: Supplied
Admittedly, we visited during Michigan’s coldest and snowiest winter in recorded history, but cold winters are a reality there. The parks are frozen over and with three preschoolers to entertain, the idea of living indoors for three or four months of the year is not enticing.
Frozen playgrounds means kids play indoors. Source: Supplied
Like many places in the US, there’s a noticeable absence of sidewalks in Detroit. It’s a motorised city that does not accommodate the walker, and there’s no public transport. I struggled to reconcile my current outdoor lifestyle with a car-driven one. Walkability, for me, is a neighbourhood necessity and we could not find it.
Iconic American chain store Walmart. Source: Supplied
While Melbourne may be one of the world’s most livable cities, it’s also the sixth most expensive. We estimated that there would be a 30 per cent reduction in living costs in Detroit (with the exception of rent). Houses are relatively cheap to buy, but in comparison rent was more expensive than Melbourne, mainly due to high land taxes.
Detroit’s economic and social decline is as complex as it is sad. It was confronting to drive around the deserted streets and see house after house rotting away; the echoes of a prosperous past long gone.
The school bus driving past abandoned neighbourhoods. Source: Supplied
Ultimately we asked ourselves what we stood to gain and lose by relocating. In our case, we felt that the rewards wouldn’t offset the sacrifices we would be making to live there. To uproot our family and take them to the other side of the world, away from family and friends; we needed an offer too good to refuse. And unfortunately, it wasn’t.
Harsh Detroit winters. Source: Supplied
While Detroit is not going to make any “Top cities you must see before you die” lists, there are signs of hope. New life is emerging in active and diverse neighbourhoods; a burgeoning art scene is one of the exciting developments. A city is being reborn.
I don’t want to live there but I am really glad to have visited.
Detroit’s entertainment district. Source: Supplied
Michaela Fox is a freelance writer and blogger. She writes for a number of life & style, business and parenting publications. You can follow her on Twitter, join her on Facebook or read her blog Not Another Slippery Dip.
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