I first traveled to downtown Detroit on business in 1992 to visit a company (a tape duplicator) that was right next to the Ford HQ. I got off on the freeway and drove down the ramp and then to the company. I had never seen an American city so dilapidated and run down as I did that day.
The one and only time I was in Detroit was to visit a National Guard facility (for work purposes, circa 1995).
After leaving the interstate, we traversed a few dozen blocks of dilapidated houses with a couple of denizens out and about.
The Armory had serious fencing with concertina wire atop it. Across the street was a church that was probably very nice in 1937. It had a huge tree growing out of the broken stained glass window in front.
The whole thing was very creepy and I was glad we made the suburbs before nightfall.
Can only imagine what that area looks like today.