David Veselenak

hometownlife.com

When he's not working, Detroit resident and Livonia native Andrew Davis is able to keep himself occupied. Just like most people, he tends to follow a routine, sticking to the same typical places.

Those activities can include stopping by the Detroit Institute of Arts, going to Belle Isle or going to a favorite watering hole for a drink.

"If you put a little energy and thought into it, there's always something you can do," the 2003 Stevenson High School graduate said. "There's always something to do and there's always a friend who wants to drink."

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Davis is just one of many Detroit residents who grew up in the suburbs, only to flock to the inner city and the lifestyle that comes with it. It's a decision many young people have made over the last few years, especially those looking to make a difference in a city that was the site of the largest municipal bankruptcy in American history.

This comes even as population estimates for Detroit continue to drop: U.S. Census Bureau figures show Detroit's estimated population was at 677,116 as of July 1, 2015. That's down from the 713,777 that were counted back in the 2010 census.

Davis currently lives in Corktown, but has lived many places across the urban core, including Midtown, Indian Village and the enclave city of Hamtramck, a place he grew quite attached to because of its rich culture and blending of people.

"I kind of grew to love that area," he said. "It is refreshing to be around not all white people."

He currently works at SMPLFD, a local clothing shop downtown, along with others who grew up in the western suburbs. One of those is Abbas Hassain, who moved to Detroit about three years ago to complete his studies at Wayne State University. He'd commute five days a week, sometimes from his home in Canton, and found a friend who had an open room. He recently graduated from the school, but plans on staying in the Woodbridge neighborhood, where he's been since coming to the city.

Hassain, a 2011 Canton High School graduate, said he's noticed the wide range of diversity in the city without the fear of being racially profiled.

"I haven't come across any forms of racism on me in Detroit," he said.

Despite the buzz he feels happening in the city, Davis knows there's still plenty to be done to make Detroit even better. Development downtown is seeing big investment, but he knows getting the neighborhoods across the city fixed and cleaned up will help improve the city.

"There's straight up neighborhoods where there are two houses left," he said. "It's so much area in Detroit, that it's going to be tough to get it all back in order."

But knowing his role in the city is just as important, Hassain said. Knowing the story of those who have lived in the city their entire lives is key to understanding their thoughts on those who lived in the suburbs before coming to the urban core.

"Treat it as if it's your own, but a lot of people don't do that," he said. "I try to stay aware of what's actually good for the community. I think that stuff's pretty important."

Staying around

Dan Ross is a newcomer to the city, but he sees a bright future living in the urban core. Ross, a 2007 Milford High School graduate, moved to Detroit about six months ago when a room opened at a friend's place in the Boston Edison neighborhood. He's spent time all over, living in Milford, Wixom and Pontiac, and recently had his job take him from Redford to Royal Oak, where he currently works.

So far, he said, he's always able to keep occupied when not working. It's a far cry from his time as a youth in Milford, where, he said, it was routine to spend the evening at Meijer, though he did say the transition from being in a more rural area to an urban one has taken some adjusting.

"It's kind of cool being so close to downtown," he said. "It's neat that there is a nightlife that exists."

Josh Wilt, who had grown up in cities like Troy and Berkley, moved to Detroit in 2009 and lived in the city until 2015. He said he always wanted to be a part of the scene in Detroit, enjoying the music, art, food and other experiences it had to offer. He got married in 2012 and he and his wife lived in several neighborhoods, including Boston Edison, Milwaukee Junction and Woodbridge.

But living in the city wasn't something he and his wife felt they could do when they began raising children, given the current situation with the school district in Detroit. With that facing them, they opted to move out of the city, but stay as close as possible: they now live in Grosse Pointe, just five houses from the Detroit border.

"I was not willing to pay for school and have to deal with driving my kids to a private school," the Royal Oak Shrine High School graduate said. "It’s a sad truth, but I have met several people and heard stories about a lot of young couples not willing to move to the city for this reason."

'A lot of good'

Ross said he plans on staying in Detroit, hoping to make it his home for the foreseeable future. He's routinely asked "why?" when he tells people he recently moved downtown. The connotation of Detroit being a dangerous place, he said, is unwarranted.

"There's bad areas to every city, but Detroit has a lot of good going for it," he said. "There's a whole lot to see and do and they don't give it a chance. You don't have to be afraid."

Hassain agrees, saying it's best for those in the suburbs to come to their own conclusions about what Detroit is all about. They might just be surprised what they find.

It's a conversation he's had with many others who haven't lived or spent much time in Detroit.

"They would think it's just some sort of deserted dump. I've always advocated for making your own opinions and check it out," he said. "As long as you put out good vibes, you'll get good vibes."

dveselenak@hometownlife.com | 734-678-6728 | Twitter: @DavidVeselenak