About New Center Area (Detroit: crime, how much, neighborhoods)

[Tommy999]

I'm going to start my new job in New Center Area,not far from WYU and the highways. I will live outside of Detroit so I will drive in and out daily.

I do not know too much about Detroit and I have seen so many people talking about the crimes there, pretty scary. My feeling is that it's dangerous everywhere and at every moment. So I'm wondering how the people there can handle this on a daily basis if it's that bad.

Anyway does anybody know New Center area? Is it relatively safe (for me, it's just driving in around 8:00 am and driving out about 5:30pm)? How about the areas closeby? Anything I'd keep in mind/or try to avoid?

[cardwellave]

New Center and Downtown is all pretty safe. I have never felt scared for my life ANYWHERE in Detroit, and currently live about 5 minutes from the border. I have been to lots of different areas in Detroit, and I deal with it pretty fine. There are plenty of people who will tell you death is around the corner, but there aren't a lot of random acts of violence. Not that I'd want to hang around in a dark alley some night, but if I gotta go there I'm not having panic attacks. Not to mention there will be plenty of other people working with and around you downtown, leaving and coming every day.

[jrmontag]

I work out of the New Center area.

No one is going to kill you.

[detshen]

There is no need to be afraid, you will be very safe, feel free to walk around. I spend all my free time in the city, I'm there at all hours and never felt scared, not once. If you can get out for lunch there are many great places to go around downtown and midtown. I wish I worked there, it's much better than working in the suburbs. I think you will be shocked at how much you enjoy it. Take a look at this link to learn a bit more about the new center area. Good luck on the new job!

Model D - New Center (http://www.modeldmedia.com/neighborhoods/newcenter.aspx - broken link)

[Slappy san]

Originally Posted by Tommy999

I'm going to start my new job in New Center Area,not far from WYU and the highways. I will live outside of Detroit so I will drive in and out daily.

I do not know too much about Detroit and I have seen so many people talking about the crimes there, pretty scary. My feeling is that it's dangerous everywhere and at every moment. So I'm wondering how the people there can handle this on a daily basis if it's that bad.

Anyway does anybody know New Center area? Is it relatively safe (for me, it's just driving in around 8:00 am and driving out about 5:30pm)? How about the areas closeby? Anything I'd keep in mind/or try to avoid?

That's easy. It's not a war zone like most would lead you to believe. No one is going to jump onto the hood of your car during your commute.

[Cheeto]

Even with the economy slumping in MI, downtown and surrounding areas are better than they've ever been in my lifetime (33 yrs) . Though Detroit crime is amongst the highest in the world, most victims are people involved in illegal stuff or people who run with the "wrong crowds". Most violence happens in pockets of notorious residential neighborhoods throughout the city. I'd move back to Detroit in a heartbeat, if the city could provide up to par services for its residents, like good schools for my children, better police presence in residential areas, etc. but unfortunately, I can't afford to send my kids to private schools so living in the city is not an option for me. But there are many places in the city to visit and spend time in once you get past the tired stereotypes.

[Nearborn]

Would you folks let your kids run around the single family housing areas of the New Center Area?

[detshen]

I don't have kids. I can't really see how that question is relevant to someone who is worried about being there for a job.

[OhEdo]

Originally Posted by Tommy999

So I'm wondering how the people there can handle this on a daily basis if it's that bad.

Exactly. The population of this city would be even less than the 900,000 or so remaining today if they had to fear for their lives everyday, and it stands to reason that no matter how bad the crime stats are 900,000 people can't all be a bunch of muggers and rapists! No question there are bad areas in the city that you as a suburban commuter working in New Center/Midtown wouldn't run across anyway, but as others have stated if you don't go looking for trouble it won't find you. As evidence, I live and work downtown and walk about half a mile to and from work everyday, sometimes very late at night, and never run into trouble except for the occasional spooked out of towner asking for directions back to the highway or casino.
And even if you do find yourself in a sketchy area along McNichols or Seven Mile just stay in your car and keep driving and you'll be fine. The worst you'll likely run across are derelicts; even if some of them are a little loud they are harmless.

[Nearborn]

The crime stats are easy enough to look at at the FBI's site. Google "FBI Uniform Crime Report".