New Yorker is learning to love Detroit

Detroit is not New York, never will be. But former New Yorker, broker and current downtown resident is learning to love Detroit -- despite its lack of downtown falafel stands.

Excerpt:

She'd already seen new buildings go up and elected officials go up the river, but she'd never come across a city so empty. She didn't get why the streets weren't full of people buying pizza and falafel from the little restaurants that weren't there, either.

Over time, she came to understand that the absences are related. More people equals more commerce equals more life equals more people. It worked that way in Royal Oak, which strikes her as more of a downtown theme park than a real downtown, and she's certain it could work in Detroit, if only we'd all move a little quicker.

"I'm on a New York rhythm," she says, snapping her fingers. "There's no sense of urgency here. That needs to be revamped."

So do the political structure in the city, she says, and the thoroughly un-Manhattan notion that the city is something you run from instead of flock to, and the big issue she had the chat with God about before she signed her lease.

But "there's a sincerity and a wholesomeness here I wasn't exposed to growing up," Debs says, not to mention some spectacular architecture. There are friendships formed with the parking lot attendants and homeless characters she sees when Chica needs a walk, and a sense of optimism even at the points where optimism makes no sense.

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