Jacked this from a city data forum :
The problems facing Detroit are immense.
"they neglected the roof"
That's the problem with most of the vacant buildings. They are hollow shells.
"Are you also going to wait?"
I was Mansion Shopping in Boston Edison. About 50-60% of the Historic Neighborhood is vacant - 400 or so homes in all. Most of the vacant houses have an upstairs window missing. Two problems. 1. the place was looted. 2. Water Damage.
Also, these mansions need a lot more than paint and carpet. Many of them need extensive brick work. Some have 4'-0" diameter trees to close to the house. Some have Slate Roofs that need reglazing, etc.
The streets parallel to the Neighborhood area mostly ruin. A major problem is the Freaks cut through the Neighborhood while walking to the Liquor Store. The same Freaks are the people who will mug you, rob your house or break into your car.
" Maybe you guys would want to go 50-50"
I sometimes day dream about fixing up a Mansion in Boston Edison. But I won't buy-in when the surrounding houses are vacant.
We'd need about 50 to 100 people who would want to buy and fix-up their own Mansion.
These same people would have to be committed to the Team. We'd have to stick together in fighting the City Offices to redesign and wall off the Neighborhood from the blight, as well as fighting the crime. Sadly, some people would have to get shot to take back the neighborhood. And then we'd have to work through the retaliation.
It would be a monumental task.
Read more:
What are the WORST Detroit Neighborhoods? (Warren, Royal Oak: sale, renters, mattresses) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum
you my nikka
haven't had that in some years.Went by the old hood last weekend,shyt looks bad (it was never good to begin with),even Hamtramck looks 
.The Hamtramck carnival in the summer was hoodrat heaven. 
Blown out buildings everywhere.
I was gonna stretch all the way to Pontiac (which woulda been killer)...
true. its a start tho, right 
