FLINT: Abandoned Buildings & Dangerous Slums Surround Downtown In Michigan's "Vehicle City"
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- Опубликовано: 17 окт 2024
- I visited Flint, Michigan. Here's the list of the U.S.A.'s Most Miserable Cities: www.businessin...
Joe's Instagram: / joeysroadtrip
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My husband's aunt still lives in Flint. She has a nice little house that is paid for and a good retirement from GM. All the memories of her husband and raising her children are in that house. She will never leave. She expressed to me how devastating it was when the plants closed down and all the booming businesses that survived from the employees from the plants went under. When the economy got so bad and crime rose so high, people started abandoning their homes and the city. It's heartbreaking for her to watch it deteriorate but she still loves it because it's home.
What about the water issue? Is she drinking and bathing with bottle water? Last I saw, the issue wasn’t fixed.
This is what 50 years of democrat control gets you.
@@marriejames01Flint switched back to Detroit water years ago. They still have lead pipes like every other city in Michigan that-are safe but still need replacing.
I feel so sorry for your husband's beloved aunt. We black folks have got to do better than we're currently doing in my opinion. The 'white man' can only be blamed for so much. We must ante up and do better than we're doing or else we face extinction. We should stop playing the blame game. We blacks messed it up we should clean it up.
@@ddvette Lead pipes aren't safe. At least, not the ones that were corroded from the improperly-treated Flint River water. Anyone who still has lead piping has a water issue still. But hundreds of water lines have been replaced. The reason the issue is not over is because there's still hundreds of lines that haven't been touched.
I am 56 yrs old and from Flint... lived here for most of my life. It isn't really as bad as everyone says, except for the bad water situation and blight. I live right on Fenton rd just down the street from where you're driving... Most of the crime is drug deals gone bad, or related to prostitution deals gone bad, and if you're not involved in that stuff you really have no worries. Flint has a great cultural center, U of M Flint, the best planetarium ever, and really cool museums, a great farmers market , Bluebell beach, Crossroads Village, and Huckleberry Railroad. There is also Applewood Estates, which is a great place to visit on a nice sunny day, especially if you have younger kids that need to get outdoors to burn off some energy... they set up all sorts of outside games and activities for the kids and it is a really clean and safe environment for them to play outdoors, and it is free... plus during Christmas and Halloween they have great events going on there! That Dort Mall you drove past and mentioned is really cool... it was built by a guy in his late 70's and his buddies many years ago and was meant to be a place for families to visit and see all the amazing artifacts and nostalgic memorabilia from years past... it has so many cool antiques and things from all over the world there and even though it looks run down it is definately worth visiting! The downtown area and U of M Flint campus is absolutely beautiful, too! The old hotel with all the artwork that you mentioned is often used as a backdrop for photo shoots and the artwork is changed often. That critter wasn't a beaver, it was a groundhog. We have lots of them...and downtown is really pretty nice and quite safe. I have never felt like I was in danger or anything, and I love it here. A lot of the problems are because the city is poorly run by the government at the local level. This is fun watching... you drove right past my house...lol! Also, right down the street from the Machine Shop, which you drove past is an excellent haunted house every year during Halloween season and the theater you went by downtown is said to be haunted and is featured in several shows that are about paranormal investigation and ghost hunting... Lansing is far worse as far as being dangerous... it is where I went to college and even though it looks better on the surface, that is where you'd better watch your back! Most ly, Flint is really a friendly and down to earth place. It is sad that although the good far outweighs the bad, everyone always wants to focus on the bad, so I thought I would provide this info to shed light on things and also to provide lots of good options for those visiting here and fun things to do here... It's time to focus on all the good that Flint really does have to offer because where the thought goes, the energy flows!
We own a house near Calkins and Elms roads and we have a Flint address. It’s actually Flint Township. And it’s damn near rural.
All the artifacts in the dort mall are no longer there!
@@cultistcaine0999 Someone just told me that a couple of days ago and I was so bummed out! I heard that delicious Coney Island was no longer there and that big huge fish that was in the tank by the entrance for years and years was gone! I'm going to miss seeing that old fish swimming around in there... According to a security guard who had worked there forever that fish was at least 20 years old!
@@crypticsoul That aquarium started out at Genesee Valley Mall (opened in 1970) and moved around after they redid GV at a later point. I seem to remember it being in the mall on Court and Center Rds and maybe at Grand Blanc Mall before that. Not sure but it popped up in a lot of places over the years. That fish was a venerable old guy, for sure and the sole survivor of a tank full.
have you ever left the state?
Just imagine what some of these areas looked like when they were first built. Wish we could turn back the clock to see the smiling faces as the families moved into their new homes. Those were the good old days.
Bay City and Saginaw Michigan, slightly north of Flint, were absolutely beautiful places in their heyday.
There are still beautiful areas of Flint he just doesn’t get clicks and clout for showing that. And even these other areas are recovery. East side is still bad and it’ll likely be a while before there is more recovery there, but so many great programs coming in to help revitalize and heal the community. There are a lot of grants for those coming in to live and invest, as well as for repair and upgrades to homes, including on the east side. It will all recover I’m sure of it. It’s the pluckiest, sweetest city with heart you could experience if you gave it a chance. The crime is down and it’s even made the top 130 places to live in US News and World Report for both 2023 and 2024 and is off the worst cities list and crime has been down consistently and the water issue was dealt with years ago, although some pipes damaged from the switch are still being replaced, but nearly every place is secured and has tested clean.
i am 70 years old and was born and raised in flint. as were my parents and grand parents. you did a decent job with your comments. flint was a good place to grow up and the suburbs are still good places to live.
I am 56 and lived here most of my life... it is not that bad here really, and actually, I love it here. I just wish they would do something about the blight... that's the only thing I really don't like about Flint, but I would never leave here!
Just a tad older but I too was raised in Flint and it was absolutely wonderful. We took a city bus to a thriving downtown area with lots of great shops. In high school,again had to ride the city bus to St.Michaels near downtown. We had a park where we ice skated in the winter We walked to teen club and walked home at night. Never had any fears . It was a beautiful childhood and teen years. Breaks my heart to see what Flint has become
It's so funny you asked about us looking up this house for sale. They're asking $52.000. I love your videos and am in the habit of looking up homes in every city you tour. I find it interesting watching your videos and looking up homes for sale all over the U.S. at the same time. Thank you for all your travels and sharing them with us. God bless 💗
Oh I just saw your reply. I usually am 'one of those sleuths' who look up the houses for sale he drives by as well. I, too love to look at houses for sale across the nation. Zillow is your friend, although probably getting too big for its britches.
Honestly those also have Tax Leanes or are will cost 5 to 10 K just to tear the place down. Also remember Rent is only 300 to 500 a month for a apartment or small home so not much money to be made
$11,200 yearly tax is insane.
Had to look it up as well. Looks like it just dropped to an even $50k. Cute house built in 1927. Thanks again for sharing your travels, really interesting to watch.
@@horseplop9. Your way off the rent in Flint. Low $700 on the north end. The rest of the city $1000. Landlords work together to keep the rent high. All about the money. Tell me where a house can be rented for less than $900. I’m waiting.
Thanks for your visit. The suburbs of Flint offer some amazing places to live, with vibrant neighborhoods, and excellent schools. Recovery for Flint is slow, but offers some excellent ground floor opportunities for creative business types. I moved my family here from the Big Thicket of Texas in 2000 to make money in the automotive industry. These opportunities have given us prosperity and happiness. God bless Flint, and God bless America !!
Thank you for doing so much research for your trips! I also appreciate that you give street names and locations. Because you do so it sets your videos apart from those who merely drive around. I really enjoy what your channel has become over time! (Yes, I found your videos long ago.)
Thank you!
I live on the suburbs of Flint. I think you captured it well. I hope that brighter days are ahead because the county needs a healthy and thriving Flint.
Genesee County
@@horseplop9 yup
Flint! Our spark will surprise you! 💥 🚀
Flint is a dump, full of people who think they are all rappers and “entrepreneurs” but yet they are all broke af. If GM ever left flint…. RIP
The future of Flint is in hands of US Senators and Congressman Kildee, and they lost direction with leadership from US Senator Levin when he passed in 2021, after forced out and Hillary took over leadership with Stabenow (now resigning). Time for change.
I'm an hour from Flint. Was called last month from the animal shelter in Flint to see if i would rescue a Min Pin. I named him Flint, he's my foster dog and the most loving 2yo Min pin I've fostered in awhile!
I appreciated this video so much. I was born and raised in Flint but I moved away in 2011. I went back to visit once back in 2012 and I haven’t been back since. I still have friends and family that live there but I just haven’t felt the desire to actually go back. It is nice to watch this video and see some of the places I haven’t seen in years and also to see some of the things that wasn’t there before I left
I worked there in 2011 and left in 2017. It's worse than ever sadly
It's nice to hear from the natives 👍🏻
Having lived in Flint for the past seven years, I appreciate this very fair assessment. It’s a very interesting city; yes, there are definitely areas where you really need to be cautious, but it’s balanced, in my opinion, by a rich history and some solid culture. There’s a thriving artist community here, great museums, a lovely and very safe downtown (as you pointed out), and some great neighborhoods. It’s for sure not a boring place!
It’s too dangerous for newcomers to want to move too.
@@dalepxp8963 55% blacks, what could anyone expect, really? It's like that wherever a large majority of blacks reside
@@dalepxp8963 Interestingly enough, on the Flint subreddit, I see people coming to ask about the area because they're looking to/in the process of moving here. It's surprising, but it happens.
This is a really awesome video, I have been travelling virtually through your videos to places I would never have ever seen. I love that on your channel, you show the beauty and the blight of all these locations you visit. I do like to see the blight, there is some beauty, but also tragedy in seeing abandoned places being taken over by nature, but to see it juxtaposed against the beauty of beautiful, old and well cared for houses that I could never ever afford is also amazing. Anyway, keep it up, I am greatly enjoying travelling with you!
Thanks, Richard!
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip Yeah, it's great you're out doing. I've been to all the place your seeing. God speed...
OZ// Thanks Joey, LOVE what you do- I look for your vids with great anticipation. You are a 'relief' from most YT vids, which are filled with angst. Dont change a thing !! - "Dont fix something that aint broken", eh? cheers from Sth Australia.
Thanks, Cherie!
I really appreciate how you create your content. Unbiased and fact based.
also what drew me to watch and subscribe. unadulterated view, sincere, factual and as it is.
I was born in Hurley Hospital in Flint 71 years ago. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins all over Flint. I think I just have one relative left there. My parents moved from Flint to Seattle when I was 3. But we always went back to visit. You drove right past my aunt’s house just off Fenton on Barrie. I do remember visiting my cousins there when it was a sparkling little neighborhood. My aunt lived there until her 90’s and left less than 10 years ago before she passed. It was in very bad shape by then. Good memories of get-togethers there, and other family homes that were throughout Flint. It was a different world.
Grew up in Saginaw and lived late teens in Detroit so I visited Flint often and have friends there. I played the Machine Shop a few times, it has become a Flint icon and a great venue. As is the Big Johns Steak and Onion next door and the original and greatest hockey store ever across the road in Dort Mall. If you play hockey, imagine a hockey store the size of a grocery store, that's what Bob Peranis Hockey World was (hopefully still is). Also iconic but didn't see it in your video, Bob (I believe was owner) had a giant metal Alred E. Newman outside the malls entrance. There was a collection of metal art stuff. The Alfred E. Newman was great. I live now in Lansing, have past 22 years. I feel safer in Lansing than I do in Detroit, Flint and even Saginaw where majority of friends and family still live, for what it's worth. Detroit is rapidly changing for the better in many places.
You played at Machine Shop?
Before it, we had Cardis there for venue, and nearby was Wallies to eat breakfast after the after-hours places closed.
Have you met Maggie Meadows and Tony Labrie from 101.5 Banana that host concerts there?
It's been a long time, think we played 2 times or so. Never did a 101 night there.
@@stevenjenny8521 interesting, thanks.
I was born in Lapeer County Hospital in 1963, and raised until 7 in Detroit, then raised on farm in Lapeer County after the Rebellion Riots of 1967-1968 and Detroit Tigers winning World Series my dad took me to experience.
From the farm we would go to either Detroit, Flint, Saginaw or Port Huron for weekend entertainment, so got to know all these places in Michigan's Thumb quite well in my teens and 20s.
Was raised in small town known as the Gateway To The Thumb.
👍
Went to kindergarten through second grade in flint in the late 80s. At that age i was aware that flint was in decline, that things were tense with auto workers, and that things were starting to get dangerous, but it was still pretty normal. We could ride our bikes around, there were businesses like grocery stores and banks open, we had friends and neighbors, etc. but I saw the news and a few telling things happened around us. Yes, kids know whats going on even if theyre like 5.
I grew up in Flint. Wish I had video to show the contrast from the late 70's to today. I had a tear in my eyes watching this. FYI when on Atherton Rd. you drove by the old Fisher Body plant. " home of the sit down strike".
And 'in the hole' of the old Chevrolet plant
I believe that was fisher cold water… my dads old plant
I attended Cook Elementary in 1970. Thank you for sharing that. I worked on houses in that neighborhood through out my teen years. I witnessed Flints decline of the 70’s and 80’s. I left a few months after I turned 18. No regrets just memories
Went to Cook in 1987 we lived across the street from it. I liked Mr Caswell the principal. Who was your favorite teacher there?
Thanks for slowing down and not running over my sister’s cat on Lincoln. P.S. that cat totally knows where the street sign is…
While you were driving down Fenton Rd. You drove under a railroad bridge that had the words “Grand Funk Railroad”. That bridge was used on an Album Cover for a 70s area Rock Band called Grand Funk Railroad. They were a very popular rock band from Flint. The homes there supported the Fischer Body plants. Remember the carriage plants you mentioned in the beginning of your video?
Originally the bridges (there were two) said 'Grand Trunk Railroad'.
@@kendallsmith1458not many people know that! I only knew because I worked at CK back in the 90s! LOL
Great video, just looking at all those potholes my vehicle went out of alignment. Ouch the crime is horrible! Keep your head on a swivel... safe travels. Cheers!
I was born and raised in Jackson, about 35 miles south from Lansing, 78 years ago. It was a great place to be raised back in the 40s and 50s. Miss it a lot since I retired to the Philippines. Hate hot weather. Love your videos though. Flint wasn't a desirable place to live even back when I was a kid in the 50s.
Thanks for including Michigan in your trip.
At 4:37 you went by Luigi's,one of my family's favorite restaurants. If you continue south on Franklin crossing Longway Blvd to S. Franklin it's a lot better. My uncle has lived there 47 years, most of the houses are kept up. He had a break in maybe 30 years ago and his car stolen,and once had his car stolen from work downtown, got it back both times, but no problems recently. Flint is a tough place,he has another house in Florida but he considers Flint his home.
I am a Flint native. I moved away with my family many years ago. Parts of my family still lived in the area until the last few years. I remember Flint as being a vibrant and happening place in the late 1960's and early 70's. Then the UAW and GM decided to get in a pissing match. GM closed most of their plants there. The city went into decline. That led to the city being bankrupt. That led to the lead poisoning of the homes there. It's so depressing to go there now. It breaks my heart to see it. I knew Flint when it was at it's peak. Now, it's just gone. I went to restaurant there recently, the waitress told me she wanted to leave Flint to raise her child, but she couldn't affort to move out. That's where Flint is these days.
she could literally move 2 hours north for less than $1000 in moving expenses and be in a nice small town with zero crime and plenty of restaurants for her to work at.
@@Alex420DT Thats still a tall task for a parent living pay check to pay check. She would probably need a place to rent that needs a deposit plus the rent, and all sorts of other easy to forget things. Not to mention doing things when there are kids involved is much harder.
@@Alex420DT Where would she work "up north"? Most jobs are seasonal.
Agree
Thanks for this one boss...
I remember asking in a previous video to do Flint.
This is where I grew up and I was shot before I even made it to 18.
My family moved in 1960 from Mt.Morris ,6 miles from there.Our dad & uncle's all worked in auto plants. We moved to So Cal . Sun ,no snow 🎉Dad went to work in Auto plant .A great move ❤
Love the Machine Shop! Flint is pretty cool to me. I used to hang out in Burton all the time & go into Flint. Good parties back in the day.
I was raised in a Buick neighborhood in 1970s and 80s. My dad worked in the foundry at Buick. Off Western Avenue we lived. We had a house off Pasadena also. I haven't visited in decades. Thanks for taking me down memory lane.
I was born at Hurley hospital and raised in Beecher. It was awesome growing up there. I haven't been back for a long time so thanks for the ride thru. Nice job.
Brings back memories. I grew up in a small-town west of flint called Durand. The only reason it's there is because 2 rail lines cross there. One of which is Grand Trunk, which Grand Funk RR was named after. At about 21 minutes you can see graffiti on the RR trestle.
This was a very interesting video. Some beautiful neighbourhoods, but lots sadly not. The downtown area looked quite nice, and as always, I love to see a gorgeous old theatre being looked after, and open !! I love seeing the occasional cat, too !! Thank you so much, Joe and Nic, very much appreciated as always.😊💚
Those buildings didn't "catch" on fire. Those buildings were set on fire, not for insurance money or anything like that. The buildings are abandon and sit empty for years and used by squatters, critters and drug crash pads. Sometimes they are set ablaze just because. Sometimes the neighborhood (what's left of it) gets tired of the blight after years of asking the city to tear down these structures and sets it on fire. To the city's defense there are so many abandon properties they literally do not have the resources to raze all the structures.
Oh the schools. Once the hub of neighborhoods, Flint Community Schools was a model for education with many out-of-state educators coming to Flint to experience the Community School concept. That is hard to believe today. Once a neighborhood loses its elementary school the neighborhood quickly deteriorates. I saw it happen over and over again. It was like the school was the center and heartbeat of the neighborhood and when lost the neighborhood just gave up.
In the 80's there were 27 elementary schools in Flint. Today, there at my last count a few years ago, 4. The newest school in the district was built in the early 60's. A couple of them were erected almost 100 years ago. In the 1980's Flint Community Schools had the highest teacher salary in Genesee County. Now they are the lowest paying district in the county.
The North end is probably the worst part of town. There were streets up there that even if the light was red, I would slow down, scan my environment and if no cars coming keep going. It was not a good idea to stop unless absolutely necessary. The East side has taken a real hit because there was a lot of industry over there and it is all gone now and so the neighborhoods declined with it.
You did a good job showing Flint in short video. About the only thing I would advised you to hone in on would have been some of the sites where there once stood sprawling auto factories employing thousands almost all gone. The truck and bus plant is still there but not much else. There were so many factories making parts and assembling vehicles. One of the largest was Buick City that was several blocks long. Raw material came in one end and a new Buick came out the other. It was really something in its day.
Flint was also the place where the UAW started at a facility just south of Kettering University and on the river called Chevy in the Hole. There is a little memorial on the location of the sit down strike that ushed in the union. That would have been a good thing to get on camera.
Overall I think you captured the essence of Flint in the short time you had. I am glad you did mostly a car tour and only got out of your car when downtown. Good choice.
@@jws3925 Went to GMI and worked at Chevy in the hole until 1979. Was a good place back then . Learned to swim at the new Northern. Great adult community education program, could learn anything you wanted. So sad. No city could survive the loss of 70000 good paying jobs.
I used to work at the Sundown Saloon, right at the top of the "Chevy Hole". Holy smokes that was a lifetime ago...in the late '70's
@@bungalowmo I think there were two bars there......something with Tracks in the name (since the train tracks ran behind the bar). There was also a commercial linen cleaning service in that area. All of it long gone.
What was really sad is watching Corunna Avenue from Ballengar down to confusion corner decline over the years. I drove that road to work everyday for 20 years and watched as the homes became unkept and one by one the many businesses that dotted this stretch of road close and the buildings get vandalized. Then Zimmerman was abandon it became a terrible eyesore. This area is just a microcosm of what occurred in other parts of the city as well. Look at what Fenton Rd. has become! I retired 7 years ago and swore I would not entire that city again. And, I haven't.
@@bungalowmo Used to go the Happy Hour for a burger. We always called the plant “happy valley” when I worked there. I heard “Chevy in the hole” after that. Long time ago. Drove thru several years back, all gone, so sad.
Thank you for sharing and you have a great day and safe travels
Hey Joe! I have to give you kudos on how well you produce these videos. Very informative and great editing. Good job!
Thank you!
I was born in Flint, Michigan. Back in the 50s and early 60s, it was one if the most desirable places to live in the U.S
Me too, NOT ANYMORE 😂
Back in 1982 to 1983, at the height of the decline of Flint, the State of Michigan started the 'Flint Restoration Funding Program' where they offered either very low or zero % loans to Non-Residents to purchase property as long as the buyer occupied the house for at least 3 years. I purchased an entire block in the worst part of town for about $28k with a 0 interest 30 year loan. I cleared the entire block and built a 6800 sq. ft. residence with a 3-car detached Garage and Workshop, In-ground Pool, Regulation Tennis and Basketball Court, and an English Garden . Of course I had to install an 8' Fence around the entire perimeter of the property and had the best Security System that the 1980's had to offer. I lived there for the required 3 years and then sold the property to an anonymous buyer for just under 11 million. I had a total of just over $800k in the project. It is still occupied by the same buyer and is known in the community as 'The Big House'.
Why would Anyone pay 11 million when they can get it for less? You must have had more going on then stated
Interesting.
🧢
So you sold it to him for so much that he cannot sell it after years and years of the areas decline likely making it not worth the high price tag you sold it to them for!?
Wait...that's a lie?
Love your videos. Can’t get enough of your page truly. It is unlikely I will ever get to see some of these locations for myself so I love watching your adventures especially with the knowledgeable commentary and statistics. I love demographics too and always thought I was so weird for looking up random cities and crime rates and history, but it appears I have found my people! Yay.
Side note: the audio on this vid is not great, I had to turn it up a lot and then when the ads came on my tv I almost had a heart attack lol.
Keep up the amazing content! God bless 🫶🏼
I started following your channel about 4 months ago. Thank you for all the videos and states you have shown !
Thanks, Martha!
Flint is one of those places that gets more fame/notoriety than it's size would warrant. I've been hearing about it steadily over the decades. I know it mostly through the Michael Moore films and, of course, the water crisis. (I remember Moore saying his films couldn't be viewed in Flint because all of the movie theaters had closed down.)
Someday you gotta come on over to New England and make some videos showing off Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Plenty of old and beautiful towns to see here. Some are run down, most are not. Massachusetts has a lot of beauty too. There's a RUclips channel I like called "Trout and Coffee" and he shows off much of the region.
It does get More fame for its size that's for sure. But it honestly is one of the top most dangerous cities in the country. Literally a warzone at night and Very little cops and services imo
New England? That might be happening pretty soon. :)
People like Michael Moore still live there, that says plenty.
I lived in Grand Blanc and worked for DuPont in Flint across the street from Buick #1 from June 1979 until January 1981. It was a busy bustling place back then. Now its all gone.
I was born in Flint Michigan and I lived there from 1958 to 1976 and it was a beautiful town back then, the areas you are showing were never like that when I lived there. You passed the Chevrolet dealership where my dad bought all of our cars on Dort highway.
When the crushing weight of trying to survive in California starts to get to me, I watch these videos to remind myself I need to work harder because I have nothing to go back to. Beyond difficult to view, but somehow validating.
The empty lot on the corner of the "blocked off" street is where I went to elementary school. It was called Cody Academy, later Cody Elementary, there was a public library attached to it. My Dad owned a house on Barrie, two streets north. Back then it was a decent working class neighborhood, I walked to school by myself at 6 years old.
Dort Mall was a bit abandoned even before Flint's decline. I remember asking my Dad why it was so empty in what would have been 1985ish, walking around while my Mom returned something at the Sears outlet store that was at the one end. I remember it dimly lit with dark wood paneling, maybe 4-5 stores total along a single hallway.
Once again a really enjoyable video amazing the contrast between the various districts of Flint looking in from the UK
I was born there in 1958, my Dad employed by GM, moved from Atlanta after he left the Army. My earliest memories were of a vibrant, crowded city, lots of cars and shopping centers and markets. It was really nice then. My Aunt still lives nearby in one of the nicer suburbs still, but it is heartbreaking to see some of the areas you showed. Luckily my Dad decided to move us back to Georgia before the big collapse....
Sounds like the reverse of what my mother did. She moved out of Flint in 79 and moved to Atlanta. Best decision she ever made!
Hurley Medical Center in Flint is worth noting. Amazing work tracking down the problem with lead leaching out of old water distribution. It's good they sounded the bell when they did. Our response as a nation is embarassing.
They have a Great Baby or Childerns delivery
I grew up in Flint in the 50s and early 60s. I went to Pierson Elementary from kindergarten thru 6th grade and then attended Bryant Jr. High in the 7th and 8th grades. We moved before my 9th grade year. I have fond memories of Flint and remember it being a nice city. I’m really sad to see the condition it is in today. 😢
I like the part where you take us into all the neighborhoods.Thats always been my favorite part.
You have to remember when you drive through these formerly-glorious industrial rust-belt cities that all that green space between homes used to have homes. As they burned and rotted, when there was money, they'd be bulldozed and removed. Flint has intentionally closed and removed entire neighborhoods through the years. neighbirhoods
Very true. I'm in bay city and though we don't have quite as many abandoned homes, no new homes are being built in the city and ones that are abandoned or Burned get torn down. So in the city there are quite a few double lots.
Wouldn’t have guessed New Mexico on the top 10 list… that being said, Flint looks like it was once a great place. Unfortunately like many big Midwest boom cities the higher ups turned their back on their communities and focused on growing their pockets. There are still good people with great intentions, but seeing cities crumble is a crazy thing to witness. Thanks for sharing, as always safe travels from a fellow midwesterner
That was neat. I lived in Flint for about 10 yrs in late 70's to early 80's. It was a trip down memory lane for me.
My Mother lived in Flint on the East side and my Grandmother in Saginaw on the North. I am old enough to remember when the downtown areas were beautiful. Shopping galore and entertainment. So, so sad.
I am so glad that I left there. I was born and raised in Flint. you even drove by my old childhood home at 2:23. I got to see the city flourish and then immediately perish due greed and poor managing. Even though I miss a few things I'll never go back there
In the 19th century, Detroit also produced Calistoga wagons. Detroit made wagons were a fixture along the Oregon Trail with the great migration. The primary manufacturer of those wagons became Studebaker. In the 1860s, Detroit also became the US's primary manufacturer of gas stoves. When you combine wagons, gas stoves and sheet metal, the automobile becomes obvious.
I went to Kettering University in the 80s. Back then was called General Motors Institute. It was a fantastic education and the school is thriving now as Kettering.
Good vid! I eas born & raised in Flint, but my parents, grands, lits if relatives moved there from southern states, cities...Flint eas beautiful, thriving, busyling until GM sold out & moved out keaving Flint somewhat desolate. Neighborhoods were beautiful & very friendly then! Its sll about $ now & not the city or its people...Lots of apartments are going up, some new businesses. Hurley Medical Center is very integral & a great hospital thats staffed greatly! Around the Court street area around Mott Community College is a beautiful are of homes as is around Miller Rd...Those are where larger stately homes are too! Flint is full of rivh history & is coming back slowly...I still love my #Hometown ❤
Plenty of the nouveau poor around I see. Great videos. Thank you for getting this out. Most people do not understand that things are this bad. God speed.
I grew up in Flint. It was a vibrant, interesting place to live. The kids had all kinds of programs such as the CanUsa games and Mott funded schools. When Flint lost GM is when the city went downhill Other cities should know that they should not be a "one horse town". That spells disaster. You missed the lovely country club and the Circle Dr. area but I understand you can't do it all. I have nothing but good memories of Flint.
Canusa games…good times. I played in that soccer league for a decade as a kid.
Cool video. Locally we don't call it "the State Streets Area", we call it "the East Side".
I think he made that up
@@kendallsmith1458 👍
The getto
@@deborahwhit118 for sure. Growing up the east side was always pretty tough, but not quite ghetto status. Nowadays I would definitely agree it's a ghetto.
love these trips of yours even though Nic isn't there for some of it. Saving us a lot of gas $$$. Thanks mate
Thanks for the video! In around 2010, there was a rash of arson fires that took out a lot of buildings, and there are still a lot of arsons now. Sad to see for someone who was born and raised here, and still lives here. I remember when Flint was thriving, but there are still a lot of good things going on here. I also have several videos driving around town, but haven't made one in several years.
Reason for all the arsen was because the city government refused to tear down abandoned houses. And do anything about the crime. That was happening in an around the abandoned houses.
Citizens had to take action because the government wouldn't.
The machine shop is great. I've seen shows there. Good small venue.
Poor Flint sure has had their problems. I hate seeing cities falling apart. OMG I can't believe what's left of the school. So sad.
thanks for showing us flint. i can cross it of my bucket list.
Another great video the variety of the architecture on the homes were awesome but also sad…. Some of these homes were as cheap as $5000 wow thanks again God bless and safe travels
Well done, I'm glad I found this channel.
Awesome!
I was born in Flint in 1956 and lived there until 2004 when we moved to Northern MI. Had you continued another 2 blocks west on Bennett, you would have passed the remains of the home I was raised in. Sad what has become of the city, but I still love my hometown.
I stumbled on this while watching a bunch of your other videos. I live north of Flint in Bay City. I was all excited when I saw you pass the Machineshop and then you turned around and went into the lot and gave it a mention. I love The 'Shop! I've been going down there for about 20 years now. Kevin runs THE best music venue I have been to (and I've been to quite e few). Plus Perani's across the street is great for hockey equipment!
When you video these cities I need to up the dose of my antidepressants.
Greatest thing about Flint was the Flint Tropics. Semi-Pro was a great movie!!!
The Tropics are a fictional team. We do have an OHL hockey franchise and they’re doing pretty well. Can’t wait for hockey season.
Beautiful docu again, thanks.
Very interesting. And sad.
Everyone comments on safe neighborhoods growing up. I don’t think most neighborhoods are as safe as when we grew up. Times change. Life.
Thanks for sharing. So informative, as always .
Thank you, heartbreaking. So much history and decimation.
Trees live and so do the people, God bless... Beautiful place and will have people, Again...
Oh man what a City. The Streets West of 475 and East of 75 are the worst. The state streets are hellholes also. Dakota on the east side. I had to work there in the 2000s.
I went to Cook Elementary in the 1960s. I lived only a couple blocks from there. It was a very safe neighborhood. We had teachers, college professors a bank manager and 2 doctors in the neighborhood. You could go anywhere and be safe. We played outside until the street lights came on. Some of us walked downtown one Saturday when I was 11. The neighbors kept an eye on you so you stayed out of trouble. How sad to see Cook abandoned and the area a mess. Such nice homes back in the day. Things changed when GM started pulling out.
Born and raised in Flint, it’s so sad to see my hometown in dispare. I stopped going home because it’s so heartbreaking to see a city that was so beautiful, was flourishing, had community pride. Most of my family has moved away, or passed on. I still have some family there, and a few friends who remain. I moved away in late 2005, it was still in pretty good shape. 5-10 years later it looked as though someone dropped a bomb! 😞
I often weep for my hometown…and am angered that such a beautiful place is in ruins.
I absolutely love your videos! Very entertaining. Been watching for quite sometime and finally subscribed. Please keep them coming and I ride along with you also😂
Awesome, thank you!
That big empty lot full of trees across from dollar general use to be a Delphi plant that stretched that whole block. They tore it down somewhere around 2010….. but 20 years ago it was a very busy area.
Sad city's. Joe What are you using for a handheld or gimble for your camera while driving? I'm going on a road trip with the family and would like to record it. Thank you.
DJI Pocket 2
Another great video. Grew up in a small town east of Flint and worked here a lot, travelled much of US but after yrs in Tx moved back to care for grandparents, now in N Mi but return downstate often, Flint is one of the best cities in central Mi even tho gets bad rap
Machine Shop is a great venue. I've been there many times. L.A. Guns, Adelitas Way, New Years Day, John Waite, & many other bands.
Only good about it, can vape weed inside.
It's Seether's favorite venue to play. I saw them do a show there, and got to hang out with the band for the singers after party 🖤
Escanaba was interesting my niece has lived their her whole adult life. I’ve never visited there. It was nice to see the area she lives in and works in. She raised two sons up there. She is a very hard worker ones her own home there.
She move her mother there almost six years ago . She no longer could live a lone. 😊
nice video. Did not know of those larger homes west of the city. If you go to Detroit on this trip be sure to check out Palmer Woods, Boston Edison and other historic home areas.
I remember my friend Scooter (Great Dude!) and his Son Andrew living just off Fenton road across from a school in that neighborhood. He would barbecue well we drank a few beers after a day of work and we would do some bull shooting . I lived in a apartment about 6 miles south of their. Also at the 21 minute mark you see the Grand Funk Railroad tracks over pass. That’s where the Grand Funk Railroad Band got the idea for their bands name. Boy I have lots more memories and facts from that area. Good times.
The loss of jobs at the Big 3 automakers wasn't due to outsourcing, at that time, it was due to loss of business to foreign competitors (especially Japan). The OPEC oil embargo that caused gasoline shortages and price spikes drove demand towards smaller, lighter, and more fuel efficient vehicles. In later years, outsourcing played a larger role in the decline of the auto industry and subsequent jobs. The cumulative effects of the above rippled through the entire Rust Belt and lead to economic and population decline; Flint, MI is a textbook example of this.
Flint was the largest city dependent on one company GM in the U S.
The house on lincoln is listed for 52k. 1200 sqft. 2 bed 1 bath. Nice looking home inside and out
They actually dropped it to 50K
I have seen houses in rough parts of flint listed at $5k to 6K!!
Still too much for the area
continue to enjoy your unique info and documentary on Americana
Lansing native here. Been enjoying your tours, and interested to see how you capture the city. Plenty of interesting things to see!
I was pleasantly surprised of Lansing. The video will be up Tuesday. :)
I love your videos keep up the effort! Makes my day so much better
Good morning Joe I enjoy watching your videos. It is so educational. I live in Michigan and I’ve never been to the town of Flint. I choose not to.😊
My childhood years between 1951-1964 were spent living on Concord Street not too far from Kettering U. (formerly General Motors Institute) and Hurley Medical Center. In those days Flint was Michigan’s second largest city and a great place to live. Your tour took viewers by the two schools I attended, Cook Elementary and Longfellow Jr High, both boarded up but still standing. My childhood house and all but one still standing on the block were vandalized and ultimately torn down. Truly sad to see what happened to such a city as this. 😢The photos in my old photo albums tell a different story than the one your viewers have seen.
@davidmalin1884 Yes, Flint was growing rapidly after the World War II years. For an example of growth, Flint Southwestern High School opened in 1959, and Flint Northwestern High School followed in the fall of 1964. The other two City high schools Flint Central and Flint Northern had been open for several decades.
As always, great video
🎵Machine Shop! 🎶
Is one of the best venues in the United States.
1129 Lincoln ave home was listed at $59,000. Kind of cute, very small kitchen. 2 brd, 1 bath, 720 soft. Nice size lot, 3920 sqft
Nice vid ~~~~ terrible wind noise !
Most of those homes were torched ....
The name of the burnt-out school is Washington elementary.
Gotta love The Machine Shop. Legendary.
That place is in Flint getto
Listed at $52K
Renovated inside but outside is looking tired. Front veranda area appears to have foundation issues and is pulling front of the house downward, with noticeable kink in the roof.
Cheap enough to fix up.
spent a couple of days in flint , probably downtown or right near it , on tour back in the early 90's. first time i had seen an abandoned mall. things were looking so great even back then.