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Media attention given to "Detroit Hustle," a book by journalist Amy Haimerl that comes out next week, is drawing online comments about the costly home renovation project she and her husband began three years ago.
Its broad themes -- an ambitious makeover, Detroit's future, financial decisions a couple's relationship -- prompt varied reactions to reports in The Detroit News, New York Times and Deadline.
The heaviest response is at The Times, where "Your Money" columnist Ron Lieber approaches the saga as partly "a money memoir." His focus on the newlyweds' investments, debts and potential returns, and his tone ("are they insane?"), are echoed in dozens of critical responses among more than 350 posted. Some are so harsh that the columnist jumps into the lengthy comment thread a few times. (An example is at right. Lieber assures another reader that the West Village couple hasn't been burglarized or mugged.)
Haimerl and her spouse, Karl Kaebnick, also earn praise for "faith in Detroit" and for inspiring other urban rehabbers. "I needed this shot of inspiration," Mark Morgan of Detroit posts at The Times' site.
Below is a sampling of positive feedback on social media and under the coverage in New York and Detroit:
► I am renovating a house on the west side. I needed this shot of inspiration. Nice job. Very impressive on so many fronts. – Mark Morgan, Detroit
► You made an awesome home. Congratulations. – Roger Lesinski, Detroit
► Thank you for having the faith in Detroit! We would love to do the same but, for our retirement abode. – Martin Nadrowski, Ann Arbor
► This is a great story I do this all the time. I hope many more see the opportunity. – Steve Sandy, Ferndale
► Very interesting article. I can definitely see needing to spend big money to fix up a stripped Georgian, especially if you are going with the right materials. Why is it anyone's business how they pay for it? There are other ways to "invest" in one's future besides the 401K, etc. -- Linda Peck, Ann Arbor
► Love this! Really inspirational. – Tassany Pras
► Great story. Beautiful home. Yes, inspirational. – Joe Babiascz, Huntington Woods
► It's great what these folks are doing. There were some very grand homes in Detroit, I am happy for each one restored. I lived in a middle-class neighborhood and those great old homes are so much nicer than what is built today. Brick, great porches, beautiful woodwork and plaster, glass doorknobs, built-ins, milk shoots, laundry chutes, so many great things! Oh, and built to last. Bravo to those who bring any of it back! -- Julie Nelson
► I empathize with this couple and am excited to read their book. . . . In 2004, I bought a vacant house for $500 in back taxes and too rehabbed it -- with savings, nearly all my extra income, a lot of sweat equity and hard work. All told I figured I spent $50k for an entire gut rehab. When it came time to sell, I got an offer for $45k in 2010, house appraised at $28k and we sold it for $35k -- which I felt good about, especially because I had taken a vacant home and made it an inhabited property. Plus I was living there with essentially no mortgage. A house is a home and if you are happy with your home and have sanely worked within your budget, you should be happy. . . . I hope this couple continue to love their home, find success and are an exciting part of Detroit's fabric.” – David Josar, Washington, D.C.
► I'm a Detroiter who I grew up in NY 'burbs and lived in Manhattan for 13 years. I came to Detroit 15 years ago, purely for career reasons. Ten years ago, I paid $85k for a place and put $35k into it. (Did renovations on the cheap.) . . . It's an incredible living space -- the type of place most New Yorkers would kill for. . . . It's probably worth $200k now and its value will continue to rise with the rebirth of Detroit. Bottom line: There's great housing opportunities with minimal risk in Detroit if you just plan prudently and choose wisely. – Tony D., Detroit
► My family knew the previous owners. . . I didn't realize how sentimental seeing the house again would be.” – Anne Tyszka, Waterford
► What a beautiful story! Can't wait to read your book. – Ganny Sparks
Amy Haimerl: "Thank you for having the faith in Detroit," says an Ann Arbor retiree.
► Writing a memoir is terrifying. Putting yourself and your most personal of stories out there in the world takes a skin so thick it's hard to imagine that anyone who could handle the consequences could also have the capacity for self-reflection necessary to write an honest, insightful account. The challenge of doing that in Detroit, where the highly-charged politics of race and class and history have put critics on perpetual lookout for insults, is even more intense. So I have great respect for Amy Haimerl and can't wait to read Detroit Hustle. – Erin Einhorn, Detroit
► It is nice to see anyone living and maintaining a historic home. Here in Los Angeles they get dropped like nothing for big high-rises. . . And of course, in 30-40 years they will be knocked down and replaced by something even more boring. But your home in Detroit will still be there and unique. Some things are worth more than money. – Daniel Kinske, West Hollywood, Calif.
► It looks like a lovely house. . . . They should be very happy with what they have there and enjoy it, regardless of its resale value. Where I live, that house (in its renovated state, of course) would easily have a market value of $3 million-$5 million. – Tom Scherer, San Francisco
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