Married daughter and oldest son in San Diego (1 year) and living where Bearishgurl recommended (92117 and 41st/University. Owe a lot to this forum. May retire or semi retire there. Got c-36 plumbing contractor license just in case “Laguna Beach Mechanical” is name if I do.
I know downtown Detroit like the back of my hand and can tell you Birmingham, Birmingham, Birmingham. Old money was on the water close to town (Grosse Points)from 1900 to 1990
Then in the 50’s it was Birmingham-still is. New “best area” Oakland Township-30 miles north of Downtown and just north of Rochester. Downtown started a “warehouse district” 7 yrs ago before the bubble. Politicians and power czars were buying up Detroit riverfront property hoping for a killing. All went bust. Crime is still issue and Detroit is laying off police and using state money to police city. My wife commented while visiting kids in San Diego last year, which answers the question you ask. While driving to eat downtown and seeing all the people at night,she said “It is so beautiful to be in a vibrant alive downtown for a change” So no, not yet, maybe in 20 years.(I work downtown at Chrysler Jefferson, the only car left “made in Detroit”)
