all I can tell you about Detroit is those complaining have never worked there

[HiPointDem]

86. you don't seem to know much about detroit for someone who supposedly lives there.

The Grosse Pointe Woods investor has quietly spent two decades amassing 1,152 parcels in Detroit, city records show. Most are barren lots and empty buildings picked up for $500 or so apiece at tax foreclosure sales. The city says many are so dilapidated that Kelly's firms owe $100,000 from 139 blight violations since 2005.

Williams called Kelly a "scavenger" who preys on the "carrion" of Detroit, but the city soon may have no choice but to do business with him and other speculators. Kelly's companies have land in every corner, uniquely positioning him to be a player — or impediment — that could drive up the price of land in Mayor Dave Bing's Detroit Works Project to reshape the city.

Kelly is far from alone. A Detroit News investigation found more than 5,000 city parcels are owned by 10 private landowners and their companies.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20110203/METRO01/102030395

Staten Islanders Are Buying Up Cheap Detroit Property

S.I. Devel. Co. LLC swooped into Detroit in 2011 and bought a ton of properties from Wayne County that were in foreclosure as well as properties from private owners. A quick (not entirely comprehensive) search indicates that they owe at least $25,000 in back taxes all told and $6,606 on the Saint Rita alone. But if you are feeling generous, you can take into account they have not owned many of these places for a whole year yet and may not have gotten the chance to take care of those bills.

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2012/03/the-staten-islanders-buying-up-detroit-property.php


Rock Ventures’ Z-shaped parking garage and retail

Rock Ventures, headed by Quicken Loans Founder Dan Gilbert, is building a 535,000-square-foot, Z-shaped parking garage and retail development that will zig zag from the corner of Broadway and East Grand River to the corner of Gratiot and Library. About 33,000 square feet will be dedicated to street-level retail. He reiterated that while there is interest from major national retailers, he wants development to be calculated and "done right." The Z-shaped project is scheduled to be complete in December 2013. In 2012, Rock Ventures acquired eight buildings totaling 630,000 square feet of commercial space, including five just before the end of the year. The latest purchases, including a residential building, bring Rock Ventures’ downtown Detroit real estate investments to 15 buildings totaling 2.6 million square feet of commercial space, and three parking structures for a combined 3,500 parking spaces.

The David Whitney Building

The Broderick Tower and The Auburn were seen as two successful developments in Downtown and Midtown, respectively - two areas where demand for housing has not been able to keep pace with development.

Former Michigan State University and Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson, former Detroit Deputy Fire Commissioner Marvin Beatty and Joel Ferguson have submitted redevelopment plans for the 162-acre former state fairgrounds property to the state Land Bank Fast Track Authority. The trio's plans, which are now subject to state and local boards' approval, call for 500,000 square feet of retail and housing at the site...

http://www.mlive.com/business/detroit/index.ssf/2013/01/developing_detroit_five_major.html

http://www.mlive.com/business/detroit/index.ssf/2013/01/developing_detroit_five_major.html


Whole Foods Detroit Store Opening In Midtown On June 5

The upscale store specializing in natural foods broke ground in May of last year, with some help from the city -- Whole Foods has received $4.2 million in tax credits and incentives. They're also look for people to stock the shelves, about 75 new employees in all.

Though the Whole Foods opening has been cause for excitement among some Detroiters looking for additional food buying options, it's not the only grocery store to open lately. Independent grocer Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe opened last year, nearby on Woodward Avenue, and two Meijer stores are in development within city limits.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/01/whole-foods-detroit-store_n_2788935.html

Gilbert Buys Woodward Avenue's Brick-Hurling Vinton Building

Detroit Monopoly master Dan Gilbert has struck again! His latest acquisition is the Albert Kahn-designed Vinton Building, located just south of the First National Building (which he also owns). Featuring Woodward Avenue retail frontage on the bottom and residential space above, the Vinton is exactly what Gilbert is shopping for...

http://detroit.curbed.com/

Gilbert and Friends Unveiling a Big Retail Secret on Thursday

Details are sparse, but it would appear as though Dan Gilbert is convening a meeting/gathering at the City Theatre this Thursday focusing on "Woodward Corridor Place-making and Retail Strategy." The guest list features several big players in new Detroit development, including Detroit Economic Growth Corporation prez George Jackson. Crain's is hearing that it's an unveiling of "Plans for a creative and distinctly Detroit development of Woodward Avenue retail and the activation of public spaces, sidewalks and streets along the corridor."

http://detroit.curbed.com/


"Emerging!": Forbes Throws Downtown Detroit a Bone

Just after labeling Detroit "America's most miserable city," good ol' Forbes is here again to arbitrarily rank the city using the same old stock photographs. This time, at least, we land on the positive side of things: Downtown Detroit is now officially one of America's top 15 "emerging" downtowns! Champagne! Downtown Detroit won its spot on the list by increasing its population of 29- to 34-year-olds by 59% between 2000 and 2010...

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2013/03/emerging-forbes-throws-downtown-detroit-a-bone.php


Who do you think all these big shots are building retail space for, & why do you think all these folks are buying up property?

You're clueless or worse.