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STREET LIFE page 63

The city itself did not fright-
en him, though.
"I wasn't afraid to move
downtown. There was no fear
of that. Fm not stupid, so I don't
do stupid things. I do go walk-
ing at night and I have friends
in Bloomfield Hills who don't
feel they can do the same," Mr.
Liberman said.
Mr. Liberman did expect
more modem and spacious liv-
ing in the city of Detroit as op-
posed to the Bronx. But what
really sold him on the city was
the idea of diversity among his
neighbors — all ages, races, pro-
fessions.
As a basic math teacher at
Kettering High School in De-
troit, Jeff Brasch always shocks
his students when he tells them
he lives in Rosedale Park, not
West Bloomfield.
Sleepy streets tucked off the
service drive of the Southfield
Freeway comprise the cozy, old-
er neighborhood filled mostly
with professionals.
In July 1992, the 26-year-old
Southfield native decided buy-
ing was a smarter option than
renting. He would drive
through Rosedale Park and ad-
mire the quaint neighborhood,
complete with sidewalks and
streetlights. Mr. Brasch real-
ized he could get a lot more for
his dollar in Detroit than the
suburbs.
His home was built in 1927
and touts leaded-glass windows,
a fireplace and hardwood floors.
Mr. Brasch is proud of his
abode.
"I put in a lot of sweat equi-
ty," he said.
Mr. Brasch knew city
dwelling would be different
than a life enmeshed in the sub-
urbs — no nearby synagogue,
deli, community center, com-
mon meeting place — but
wasn't put off by the idea. He
spent more than a year in
Africa in the Peace Corps.
"It was never an issue (living
in Detroit). I knew the city well.
I worked here; I hung out here.
In Africa, I lived and worked in
one community," Mr. Brasch
said. "The down side is I have
had dates who didn't want to
cross Eight Mile Road to get
here."
Like many Detroiters, Mr.
Brasch knows his neighbors. He
feels they look out for one an-
other and their homes. Mr.
Brasch serves as part of a vol-
unteer watch in Rosedale Park.
He also has installed a securi-
ty system, but said he would do
the same wherever he lived.
Sometimes the grocery stores
don't offer premium selection or
service, but Mr. Brasch contin-
ues to do as much personal busi-
ness in the city as possible —
dry cleaning, auto repairs, din-
ing, shopping. His higher car in-
surance rates (due to living in
the city) trouble him, too.

"As Americans, I guess we
expect a lot," he said.
But everyone, it seems, in-
cluding Mr. Brasch, is hoping
for some positive changes in
Mayor Dennis Archer's admin-
istration. More police on the
streets, better city services and
a re-vamped image are the
wants most often listed.
"The city's really excited. I
even went to the inauguration.
He (Mr. Archer) is not God,
though," Mr. Brasch said.
"Morale is up in the city. May-
or Archer appears accessible. I
don't think Coleman Young was
be bad; he just got burned out
in the later years."
Down on West Cornfield in

ness. There's also a lot of cul-
ture here. It comes from the age
of the city, the architecture, the
museums," Mr. Berry said. "It's
well-lit and well-populated here
(by the university), but it's iso-
lated. I look out my window and
I can see the Jefferson Projects
across the expressway."
Living among other WSU
students and faculty, Mr. Berry
said he probably has more con-
tact with Jews now than ever.
Although not involved in Metro-
Hillel, he does not feel lacking
in Jewish community. He is not
a member of either downtown
congregation, T'chiyah or the
Downtown Synagogue. Howev-
er, he has attended several ser-

Jeff Brasch bought a home in Rosedale Park. Most of his contemporaries
continue to rent in the suburbs.

the attic of a Victorian-style
home built in the 1880s, Scott
Berry sits surrounded by noisy
steam radiators and a bear-claw
bathtub. He remembers the sto-
ries he heard growing up, all
about how great Detroit used to
be "in the good old days."
He thinks it's a pretty worth-
while place now, too.
A Wayne State University
master's degree candidate in
communications and waiter at
Tres Vite in the Fox Theatre
Building, Mr. Berry spends
most of his time in the city. He's
lived in Northeast Detroit near
Grosse Pointe, Hamtramck,
and Pontiac. He grew up in
Sterling Heights.
"Tor me, there's a certain feel-
ing I like to call urban gritti-

vices lately at the Birmingham
Temple.
Mr. Berry is more focused on
his commitment to the city than
any organized religion though.
"It's important as Detroiters
to be aware of how much the
city has made an impact in our
state and our region. The his-
tory is here," Mr. Berry said. if
I stay in Michigan, I'll buy in
the city. We finally have a may-
or who cares and I think Detroit
can make a comeback.
"I can't, and I won't, let fear
or over-glamorized crime get in
my way. It's a different frame
of mind down here. A lot of peo-
ple live in fear in this world, not
just in Detroit. But I'm drawn
to urban life." El

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