A
s a proud metro Detroit native, I'm often accused of being a bit too enthusiastic about my hometown. But it's hard not to be when you're surrounded by the rich history and cultural significance that Detroit embodies. From Aretha Franklin to Eminem, Stevie Wonder to Madonna, our city has been home to some of the most iconic musicians in American history.
But there's more to Detroit than just its musical heritage. During World War II, our auto factories transformed into the "arsenal of democracy," producing tanks, bombers, and military Jeeps on a massive scale. And at the heart of it all is the Detroit Institute of Arts, one of the nation's finest museums.
My personal connection to Detroit runs deep. My brother, Gerald E. Rosen, was a federal judge who helped lead the city out of bankruptcy as chief judicial mediator. He played a key role in negotiating the "grand bargain" that allowed for large-scale reinvestment in the city.
As a lifelong fan of the Detroit sports teams, I've always been proud to call myself a Detroiter. And when my son Julian decided to move back to metro Detroit after college, I saw it as an opportunity to invest in the city's future. I bought him a home in Ferndale, a charming neighborhood just outside the city limits.
But what was supposed to be a straightforward real estate transaction turned into a nightmare of bureaucratic red tape. The house, a rare 1925 Sears Craftsman built from a prefabricated kit, had been zoned for parking back in the Roaring Twenties. When I tried to sell it years later, the buyer's mortgage provider, Chase Bank, nixed the deal due to this zoning issue.
The city's response was less than helpful, offering only a vague letter assuring me that they "had no plans" to enforce the zoning designation – for a fee of $100. It was clear that Ferndale had been aware of these zoning contradictions for years but had done nothing to fix them.
In the end, I managed to find a new buyer, but not before losing thousands of dollars in extra mortgage payments. The experience left me with a sour taste and a newfound appreciation for the complexities of Detroit's real estate market. While my love for Detroit remains unwavering, I'll be thinking twice before investing in Ferndale again.
