The Energizing Urban Hoods

The article about entrepreneurship in Detroit in the New York Times was inspiring and started a number of new thoughts. The first thing that came to mind was all the passionate people behind these new small businesses. It’s just fantastic that despite all the negative economic news that is peddled across the major media outlets there are still people who just rise up through the ashes to rebuild and build new. To claim their human right to their own destiny, to take risk and to create. To follow their passion.

Secondly, I was reminded of how energizing pre-gentrified or turn-around neighborhoods can be. It’s in these beaten down, urban environments that magic happens and that innovation takes place. It starts with a few creative minds that are looking for a place where they can spend enough time - what now is called runway in venture speak - to reach their goals. Think artists, bohemians and mavericks.

Just imagine energizing neighborhoods like Quartier Latin, Shoreditch, Palermo Viejo, West Hollywood, The Village, El Born, Notting Hill and Södermalm. Before they became gentrified and world known they were where bohemians, artists and other renegades hung out. House and food was cheap, the camaraderie heartfelt and the architecture inspiring. Due to the lack of wealth these hoods are usually fairly run down.

But they offer a refuge for people that need time to create on the cheap. And that’s what entrepreneurship and creativity is all about. It’s about creating tomorrow, following your passion, realizing your ideas and have enough time to fail to succeed. It’s never about over-paying, flaunting your wealth or being cool.

Once a neighborhood has become gentrified the creativity moves out and the money moves in. Just look at Notting Hill. When I lived there in the end of the 90s it was still shady, somewhat dangerous and oh so fun. We had Jac’s which was a hard to find late night hangout behind Westbourne Grove. You knocked on a wooden door and if approved let into paradise for any late night desolate.

Today this hood has become the home for people with more money than time. Rents and prices have been skyrocketing and the international brands have all moved in, making most of the Westbourne Grove extremely uninteresting. Thoughtless and tasteless creations aspiring to satisfy the need of being perceived as cool.

That’s why I felt inspired by what’s going on in the Cass Corridor in Detroit. This is the beginning of the neighborhood life-cycle. It’s the reboot that starts with the risk-takers, the artists and the bohemians, dying to create and explore the wonderful life of borderline urban living.

I’ve never been to Detroit but after reading that article I’ll definitely visit and my desire to travel to keep exploring the world grew even stronger. If that is even possible.