I grew up within sight of the Renaissance Center (on a clear day).
In High school, I'd ride my bike through Coleman Gardens - the neighborhoods depicted in the "DetroitYes" link, Between JohnR and Woodward, Between I-75 and Warren. I recognize some of those homes. My senior prom was at the Detroit Boat Club, also depicted on that link. I (like many other of my peers) had a beer can collection. Mine had a brick from the demolished Stroh's brewery.
I was standing in Trumbull smoking street reefer when Kurt Gibson hit one out of Tiger Stadium to win the '84 Series (or was it the pennant?). The DPD mounted division had to run me (and several thousand others) out of the way hours later.
I locked my keys in a friends van before a concert at Grand Circuis Theater in 1984 (Bon Jovi - 4 dollars, sat on the back of the seat in the second row). We came out and asked a beat cop to help us unlock the van... He slim jimmed it, saw the bottle of Tennesse Whiskey on the motor cowling, laughed and said (this is a direct quote) "Jack'll kick your ass" and walked away with a chuckle.
We had a number of bars we went to and drank underage, some were money fronts supporting the IRA, others had back rooms where we could buy anything that the bible warned against... We got mugged at knifepoint, ran red lights, crossed the border...
Had a typical adolescence.
It was as bad as depicted. In most places, it was worse, but not nearly as photogenic.
One of the starkest sights I ever saw was a federal housing project, roughly 5-10 acres, abandoned, vandalized, partially burned surrounded by 8 foot chain link topped with razor wire.
Holes were dug and fabric bent to allow access (for god only knows what purpose). This was late college, 1988-89. In 1990 I moved away.
I took my wife (not from Detroit) back through the 'hood for a Saturday afternoon drive in 1995 or so to check on those grand old architectural ladies. I wasn't scared, Hell, I was a native, I own these streets..
It was worse than I'd remembered, and I've never wanted to go back.
The photographs, the corruption, the waste, the fire...
It's all real.
It's typical.
It's Detroit.
I'll be back tonight to answer questions. I've got to move some firewood around and get groceries.