Can Technology Redefine Detroit? • Hacker News Board

Re: Can Technology Redefine Detroit?

#51

Post by rmason » Tue, Aug 28, 2012, 6:18 PM UTC

I grew up in Detroit when it was at its peak, then I watched it crash and burn. Though I live outstate I've been in Detroit at least monthly for the past two years and am convinced that I am witnessing its rebirth.

Detroit is like a startup there is huge opportunity with a capital O along with huge risk. As a result Detroit has become a magnet for ambitious young people.

The city's despair has made it open to bold ideas where you'd never get a hearing anywhere else.

Want to start a farm? The city will sell you the land and even tear the buildings down for you.

Want to own a skyscraper? Detroit has over fifty for sale and according to the Wall Street Journal they're at the lowest prices anywhere in the world.

http://www.dailywealth.com/952/The-Cheapest-Skyscrapers-In-T...

Re: Can Technology Redefine Detroit?

#52

Post by BallinBige » Tue, Aug 28, 2012, 6:19 PM UTC

growdetroit wrote: post #44

geogra4 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ferndale and Royal Oak don't really have white collar office jobs. At any rate. The state of Detroit is extremely Depressing. It's the region's major city!

This is just not correct -- plenty of white collar jobs in Royal Oak. There are an abundance of creative/web design shops within downtown Royal Oak area itself.

not true at all... Just last week I saw a sign for WambaTech being put up in downtown Royal Oak - http://www.wambatech.com

Re: Can Technology Redefine Detroit?

#53

Post by growdetroit » Tue, Aug 28, 2012, 6:33 PM UTC

msdet11 wrote: post #50

growdetroit wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Totally agree with your perspective on enterprise software, and inroads to the auto/suppliers/etc being a tremendous opportunity. I initially thought the same about lack of funding, but it is not true. There are numerous funds as well as angel investors across the state of Michigan that are poorly connected, and historically as a region we've done a poor job of highlighting accomplishments of up-and-comers. We're try…

Interesting. If that dynamic improved I believe that'd be a huge asset to the region. What are your thoughts on health tech in the area? One of my projects is pretty focused on improving the lives of researchers, and I've found this area has quite a few institutions looking to become more cutting edge.

We hosted Scott Case (Founding CTO of Priceline.com) at an event in Grand Rapids last week, covering the implications that the JOBS act will have on the Entrepreneurial and Investment communities alike.

It was...to date, the strongest representation of Michigan VCs I've ever seen gathered together at the same time. Absolutely overwhelmed by this group and the interest they had in health tech in the region.

At the same time, had the privilege of meeting a young Entrepreneur who went from founding Avomeen, to creating a very young startup called Labdoor. He's out of Ann Arbor. I'd bet on this kid in a second...he'll do massive things.

Re: Can Technology Redefine Detroit?

#54

Post by growdetroit » Tue, Aug 28, 2012, 6:38 PM UTC

kscottz wrote: post #39

I moved back to Ann Arbor from NYC about six months ago. I think I had to move to New York to see how truly awesome things are here. There is a lot top notch technical talent, the cost of living is low, and abundant cheap space makes it a startup's dream. The quality of life in Ann Arbor is very good, particularly if you want to start a family. To be honest a lot of the really talented people I met in NYC were midwes…

Hi K, I remember your name from previous threads on this topic. Would love to meet you in Ann Arbor for coffee and learn more about what ya'll are working on.

Re: Can Technology Redefine Detroit?

#55

Post by MSM » Tue, Aug 28, 2012, 6:47 PM UTC

tlb wrote: post #36

MSM wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also have worked for QL, and there are actually very few of the workers that live downtown. Most commute from the 'burbs. I considered it and did a lot of research and here were my thoughts: -The income tax needs to go. 2.5% to live in a city with pretty bad crime and no amenities? No thanks. -Car insurance is through the roof. If you park on the street it's assumed your car will get broken into occasionally. -I do…

Municipal taxes pay for police. You can't simultaneously propose to eliminate tax and decrease crime.

It's true that my living in Detroit will help provide the police with more money, which may in turn make more people in the city, which may bolster the police even more... etc. However, I think it's quite a gamble. What if I buy property and the area does not improve? Who will buy it off me if things maintain or go south further?

All of the "nicer" areas that I mentioned in my previous post have very low crime rates and no municipal tax. To add to the previous issues I had, Detroit is poorly run. There have been quite a few cases of corruption of city officials.

It's just another thing that needs to be wrangled in.

Re: Can Technology Redefine Detroit?

#56

Post by mgkimsal » Wed, Aug 29, 2012, 2:12 AM UTC

numo16 wrote: post #27

mgkimsal wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i've worked at quickenloans, have lived in the metro detroit area, and have worked in downtown detroit. It needs more lifestyle infrastructure than one or two companies can provide incentives for. The state needs to take over the city, incent multiple neighborhood businesses (grocery stores, shopping malls, etc) to be relocating within a moderate radius of the downtown area, and incent families to move there (tax bre…

How is the dev life over at QL? They keep calling and trying to get me to come in for an interview, but I haven't had the time to really consider it having just gotten in at ciber in Southfield a few months back.

For me it was mixed, but it was 8 years ago. mgkimsal@gmail.com if you want more details - not comfortable posting publicly.