These before and after photos reveal how much Detroit has changed

For decades, Detroit has been America's underdog. The city has scrapped and fought its way through racialized urban planning and white flight, deindustrialization, and a massive recession. Through all of this, at times, Detroit has been down – but never out.  Just years after the city filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in 2013, the city is looking more robust than it has in decades. That's not to say that redevelopment doesn't come with a cost, however. Housing prices are increasing while blight spreads, gentrification is displacing lower-income populations, and some shady corporate deals are giving corporations the upper hand over public interests.

You can see how much Detroit has changed in just a few years in these before and after photos.

*Some addresses are approximations

Photos by ©2018 Google unless otherwise noted
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Then – June 2009 The vacant Wurlitzer building 1509 Broadway Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Then – June 2009


The vacant Wurlitzer building
1509 Broadway Ave., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
Image: These before and after photos reveal how much Detroit has changed
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Then – June 2009 Griswold Pharmacy 1214 Griswold St, Detroit MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Then – June 2009


Griswold Pharmacy
1214 Griswold St, Detroit MI
©2018 Google
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Now – Aug. 2018 The Albert luxury apartments and retail 1214 Griswold St, Detroit MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Now – Aug. 2018


The Albert luxury apartments and retail
1214 Griswold St, Detroit MI
©2018 Google
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Then – June 2009 Grand Army of the Republic Building 1942 Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Then – June 2009


Grand Army of the Republic Building
1942 Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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Now – Aug. 2018 Grand Army of the Republic Building 1942 Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Now – Aug. 2018


Grand Army of the Republic Building
1942 Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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Then – June 2009 The Fox Theatre 2299 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Then – June 2009


The Fox Theatre
2299 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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Now – Sept. 2018 The Fox Theatre 2299 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Now – Sept. 2018


The Fox Theatre
2299 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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Then - Aug. 2007 Crystal Lofts pre-construction 1 Watson St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Then - Aug. 2007


Crystal Lofts pre-construction
1 Watson St., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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Now – Sept. 2018 New Order Coffee 1 Watson St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Now – Sept. 2018


New Order Coffee
1 Watson St., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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Then – June 2011 Vacant lot 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Then – June 2011


Vacant lot
2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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Now – Sept. 2018 Little Caesars Arena 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Now – Sept. 2018


Little Caesars Arena
2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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Now – Aug. 2018 The Siren Hotel 1509 Broadway Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Now – Aug. 2018


The Siren Hotel
1509 Broadway Ave., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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Then – June 2009 Tony-Lin Produce 2701 Russell St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Then – June 2009


Tony-Lin Produce
2701 Russell St., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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Now – Sept. 2018 Tony-Lin Produce 2701 Russell St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Now – Sept. 2018


Tony-Lin Produce
2701 Russell St., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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Then – Aug. 2007 Intersection of Winder Street and Riopelle 2499 Riopelle St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Then – Aug. 2007


Intersection of Winder Street and Riopelle
2499 Riopelle St., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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Now – Sept. 2018 Intersection of Winder Street and Riopelle 2499 Riopelle St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Now – Sept. 2018


Intersection of Winder Street and Riopelle
2499 Riopelle St., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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Then – Aug. 2007 Vacant land 229 Orleans St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Then – Aug. 2007


Vacant land
229 Orleans St., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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Now – Aug. 2018 Orleans Landing 229 Orleans St., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Now – Aug. 2018


Orleans Landing
229 Orleans St., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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Then – Aug. 2013 Gold Cash Gold pawn shop 2100 Michigan Ave., Detroit, MI ©2018 Google
©2018 Google unless otherwise noted

Then – Aug. 2013


Gold Cash Gold pawn shop
2100 Michigan Ave., Detroit, MI
©2018 Google
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