This page will provide you with more information in regards to the factors that caused many buildings to become abandoned. Each reason listed will you allow to understand why Detroit is how it is today.
Riots
One major event left a deep scar in Detroit that has played a significant role in the abandonment of buildings, which was the 1960s riots. As previously mentioned Detroit has been known for the issues between the African Americans and whites. It has been a segregated city ever since the 1960s, but the riots had a lot to do with that. The riots caused many of the whites to move into the suburbs. This was also causing for the number of jobs available to decline. According to Abandoned Detroit: Empty Houses that Use to Be Homes by Theresa Welsh it states “ the exodus continued as jobs began to move out as well and city Detroit neighborhoods declined. Today much of Detroit is empty land or tracts of abandoned homes.”
Detroit is now suffering from the damage that was caused many years ago. It has been harder for Detroit to bring people back to the city where there is not much to offer. The wall that separated the black neighborhood from the white neighborhood still remains. Everyday people are reminded of what Detroit was and how the segregation contributed to situation that they are now living in. To learn more about the Riots that happened in the City please go to 1967 Race Riots: Rise where more information can be provided.
Detroit is now suffering from the damage that was caused many years ago. It has been harder for Detroit to bring people back to the city where there is not much to offer. The wall that separated the black neighborhood from the white neighborhood still remains. Everyday people are reminded of what Detroit was and how the segregation contributed to situation that they are now living in. To learn more about the Riots that happened in the City please go to 1967 Race Riots: Rise where more information can be provided.
Crime
Not only did the riots contributed to the abandonment of buildings , but also the crime. Who would want to live in a city where the crime rates are really high? People will fear for their safety as well as their family's safety if they know that nothing is being done to reduce the number of crimes. Detroit is very popular for the high rates of crime that occur . The crime rate is really high compared to the national average. Crime that people commit include, rape, robbery, assault, and murder.
Many young people have been getting assaulted in abandoned homes and people who live near an abandoned building live in fear everyday. They don’t feel safe because some of the residents in Detroit are involved with drug activity. Which has been happening in most of the abandoned buildings that are located throughout the city. To learn more about the situation of crime in Detroit please visit the crime page where more information can be found.
Many young people have been getting assaulted in abandoned homes and people who live near an abandoned building live in fear everyday. They don’t feel safe because some of the residents in Detroit are involved with drug activity. Which has been happening in most of the abandoned buildings that are located throughout the city. To learn more about the situation of crime in Detroit please visit the crime page where more information can be found.
Water Shut Off
The city of Detroit had decided to shut off the water in some areas of Detroit because many people have not been paying their bills at all. According to What Happens When Detroit Shuts Off the Water of 100,000 People, states “ the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has been turning off water at the homes of customers behind on their bills.”Many people have decided to move out from Detroit because they don’t have the basic need which is water. Detroiter's are struggling being without water. They are not able to shower, use the toilet, wash dishes etc. Unfortunately some people have lasted without having water for about a year, but the city does not seem to be concerned with that.
On the contrary the city decided to shut off the water because they want the people to pay their water bills even if they owe too much. The city is doing this because they want to minimize the water debt that Detroit is undergoing. Although because of this people are leaving Detroit ; they can not live without water and it is very difficult for them to pay their past due bill especially if they do not work. They are just leaving their homes behind and deciding to go somewhere else where they can seek better opportunities.
On the contrary the city decided to shut off the water because they want the people to pay their water bills even if they owe too much. The city is doing this because they want to minimize the water debt that Detroit is undergoing. Although because of this people are leaving Detroit ; they can not live without water and it is very difficult for them to pay their past due bill especially if they do not work. They are just leaving their homes behind and deciding to go somewhere else where they can seek better opportunities.
The video below shows how people are suffering being without water. Many of them are struggling to pay their bills and it is having an impact on them. Unfortunately it is sad to see how they are struggling to afford the most basic thing that is needed to survive.
To learn more about the water crisis in Detroit please go to Water System where more information can be provided.
Decrease in Jobs
Over the last couple of years the number of jobs available in Detroit has tremendously decreased because of the auto industry declining. During this time many people were losing their job and they were struggling maintaining a home. People began to move out and decided to go somewhere else where they would seek better opportunities. It seems as if many people depended on the auto industry because those who have worked their all their life were having difficulty finding a job. According to the article, Detroit natives , research doubt efficacy of funding for industrial development, a Detroit native named Jasmine Womack, states “It’s really hard to find new jobs if you’ve been working there your entire life because some people might not have gotten degrees.”(1)
Jasmine is referring to the auto industry.For some people the auto industry was all they knew. So when the number of jobs began decreasing there was not really much left for them to do. The unemployment rate began to increase in the city of Detroit. Throughout the same article it states “ Based on the 2010 census, the city of Detroit’s unemployment rate has been as high as 24.8 percent.” With the city of Detroit having a decrease of job opportunities, this was causing the number of abandoned buildings to increase. Many factories began closing and homes were becoming vacant due to families moving away.
Jasmine is referring to the auto industry.For some people the auto industry was all they knew. So when the number of jobs began decreasing there was not really much left for them to do. The unemployment rate began to increase in the city of Detroit. Throughout the same article it states “ Based on the 2010 census, the city of Detroit’s unemployment rate has been as high as 24.8 percent.” With the city of Detroit having a decrease of job opportunities, this was causing the number of abandoned buildings to increase. Many factories began closing and homes were becoming vacant due to families moving away.
To keep reading more click on one of the above links to learn about Rise , and Rebirth of Abandoned Buildings in Detroit, which are Racial Tensions and The Beginning For A New Detroit. Or to learn about the Demolished Buildings in Detroit.
1. "Detroit natives, research doubt efficacy of funding for industrial development." UWIRE Text, 9 Oct. 2016, p. 1. Academic OneFile, cod.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&u=cod_lrc&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA466028867&it=r&asid=d52ac571338c0e41900ae2badde98b79. Accessed 27 Apr. 2017.