"At first you are probably thinking that moving to Detroit is a terrible idea. You are wrong. It's not. This page is for a forum for anyone who is interested in moving to the final frontier, a land with immense opportunity, especially for young folks like us who ARE the fuuuuuture!
PREMISE:
The idea is to get a massive community of people to simultaneously move to a very specific section of the city. Because many sections are abandoned it is possible to purchase and entire city block and revitalize it for virtually NO cost. Think about it this way... imagine 50 people all living in close proximity to one another, all equally minded with a goal of Dionysian fun and adventure all passionate about what they want.... It is an opportunity to create anything without restriction or hesitation! We can start an unstoppable collective of minds! When people think of the 1960's, San Francisco is an immediate connotation. When people think of the 2020's, DETROIT will be this connotation. This is the general premise... if you think it seems unrealistic and overly ambitious read on. The details await. If you want to live with friends, friends of friends and new friends waiting to be had, while creating a new future for a city and a good time for its residents old and new-- then this is a plan for you.
REASONS:
1. Price: You can buy a house for $100 in some cases. If you don't believe this read for yourself
http://www.treehugger.com/files/200
2. Opportunity: this is the place to start a new business, open your art gallery, rent a musical practice space, start a restaurant, anything! Read about some of the ideas people are having here
3. Revitalizing a major city. If the younger generation embraces what others have started in the city it could make a progressive and restored city. Portland, OR used to be run down and on the ropes, same with parts of Austin, TX-- now thanks to the younger generation they are flourishing.
4, Ecology and Sustainability, micro-communities, small-scale agriculture, bike-ability… for those with a ahem… “green” side to them Detroit can be a promising jump off. As the automobile industry grapples with becoming more environmentally friendly, the rest of the city will need to follow step.
More Info and Resources:
Similar project: http://www.powerhouseproject.com/in
Artist Community: http://www.boingboing.net/2009/03/1
Any areas of Detroit picked out for migration? Specifics always help convince people. Also, in your wooeing of individuals to worcester, you'll probably have to come up with some argument explaining why crime won't be a huge deal.
ReplyDeletei mean wooeing of individuals to Detroit. TYPO OMG
ReplyDeleteYa, especially in areas that have $100 houses
ReplyDeletegentroitification.
ReplyDeleteromanticize it. make people feel like moving to detroit would render them 'part of something bigger than themselves.' stress the historical--shunning the mainstream and moving to the slums has always been the natural step for all creative young people, even long before SF. make moving to detroit a catalyst for sex and art BEYOND YOUR WILDEST BELIEFS.
correction--maybe not ALL creative young people.
ReplyDeleteI GOT CARRIED AWAY!