For decades, Detroit has been America’s underdog. The city has scrapped and fought its way through racialized urban planning and white flight, deindustrialization, and a massive recession. Through all of this, at times, Detroit has been down – but never out.  Just years after the city filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in 2013, the city is looking more robust than it has in decades. That’s not to say that redevelopment doesn’t come with a cost, however. Housing prices are increasing while blight spreads, gentrification is displacing lower-income populations, and some shady corporate deals are giving corporations the upper hand over public interests.

You can see how much Detroit has changed in just a few years in these before and after photos.

*Some addresses are approximations

Photos by ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – June 2009 Griswold Pharmacy 1214 Griswold St, Detroit MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Aug. 2018 The Albert luxury apartments and retail 1214 Griswold St, Detroit MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – June 2009 Grand Army of the Republic Building 1942 Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Aug. 2018 Grand Army of the Republic Building 1942 Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – June 2009 The Fox Theatre 2299 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Sept. 2018 The Fox Theatre 2299 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – Aug. 2007 Crystal Lofts pre-construction 1 Watson St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Sept. 2018 New Order Coffee 1 Watson St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – June 2011 Vacant lot 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Sept. 2018 Little Caesars Arena 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – June 2009 The vacant Wurlitzer building 1509 Broadway Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Aug. 2018 The Siren Hotel 1509 Broadway Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – June 2009 Tony-Lin Produce 2701 Russell St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Sept. 2018 Tony-Lin Produce 2701 Russell St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – Aug. 2007 Intersection of Winder Street and Riopelle 2499 Riopelle St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Sept. 2018 Intersection of Winder Street and Riopelle 2499 Riopelle St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – Aug. 2007 Vacant land 229 Orleans St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Aug. 2018 Orleans Landing 229 Orleans St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – Aug. 2013 Gold Cash Gold pawn shop 2100 Michigan Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Aug. 2018 Gold Cash Gold restaurant 2100 Michigan Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – June 2011 Mr. Sweiss Imports 1561 Adelaide St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Aug. 2018 Mr. Sweiss Imports 1561 Adelaide St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – June 2011 The James Scott Mansion 81 Peterboro St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – July 2018 The James Scott Mansion 81 Peterboro St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – June 2011 Vacant lot Intersection of John R Street and Mack Ave. ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Aug. 2018 Whole Foods 115 Mack Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – Aug. 2007 Library Street surface lot ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Aug. 2018 The Z Park and retail 1226 Library St., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – June 2009 Former nightclub and restaurant Oslo 1456 Woodward Ave., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Sept. 2018 Cornerstone Barrel House 1456 Woodward Ave., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – Aug. 2007 Eastern Wig & Hair Co. 1400 Woodward Ave., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Dec. 2018 Shinola Hotel 1400 Woodward Ave., Detroit Photo with permission from Devin Culham Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – June 2009 Intersection at Jefferson Ave. and Woodward ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – 2018 Intersection at Jefferson Ave. and Woodward Photo with permission from Devin Culham Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – June 2011 Detroit Fire Headquarters 452 W. Larned St., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Sept. 2018 The Foundation Hotel 452. W. Larned St., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – June 2009 Abandoned apartment building 439 Selden St., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Aug. 2018 SheWolf Pastifico & Bar 439 Selden St., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – June 2009 Vacant building 4240 Cass Ave., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Aug. 2018 The Auburn 4240 Cass Ave., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – Oct. 2011 Vacant lot 50 Erskine Ave., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – July 2018 The Scott at Brush Park 50 Erskine Ave., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – July 2013 The Farwell 1249 Griswold St., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Dec. 2018 The Farwell 1249 Griswold St., Detroit Photo with permission from Devin Culham Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – Aug. 2007 Liquor store on State Street and Griswold Ave. 1145 Griswold Ave., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Dec. 2018 Prime + Proper 1145 Griswold Ave., Detroit Photo with permission from Devin Culham Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – Oct. 2008 Public parking lot 1241 Woodward Ave., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – Dec. 2018 Hudson Site 1241 Woodward Ave., Detroit Photo with permission from Devin Culham Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Then – July 2009 Michigan Central Train Depot 2001 15th St., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
Now – July 2018 Michigan Central Train Depot 2001 15th St., Detroit ©2018 Google Credit: ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Have something to share?

SEND US A NEWS TIP

Since 1980, Metro Times has been Detroit’s premier alternative source for news, arts, culture, music, film, food, fashion and more from a liberal point of view.