A 64-year-old lifelong Detroiter comments on the remodeled David Whitney Building’s full residential occupancy a week after reopening with 108 apartments. This is adapted from eight posts by her on our Facebook page.
By Nancy Edwina Patterson
Many of the buildings downtown have priced out the senior citizens who lived downtown for years and kept the buildings downtown open. None of them can afford the David Whitney Building, where one-bedroom units start at $1,050 for 569 square feet.
Nancy Edwina Patterson: "I am not judging, just stating facts." (Facebook photo)
I moved from downtown to Palmer Park two years ago. The owner of my downtown residence stopped doing anything in the building because he bought another one and spent all his profits on the new one. Rent in his new building is $1,400-plus. I would have moved into the new building, save for his lack of due diligence to those of us who were already residents of the other building.
Believe it or not, there were large numbers of people in the downtown area for the past several years. When I was living downtown, the majority of the buildings were occupied.
It is unfortunate that those who paved the way often have to move where it’s affordable. I am truly looking forward to all of the city returning to its previous state of being.
I have been a Detroiter all of my 64 years of my life. I am not judging, just stating facts.
It is a fact that many of those who stayed in Detroit (downtown or in the neighborhoods) when things were sliding downhill are now the disenfranchised! They kept properties from sitting empty by living downtown.
I am happy to see my city on the mend. And I know that it will take money and more to return Detroit to its former glory. I understand sacrifice, but the city belongs to all who live here.
