I have lived in Ypsi off and on cumulatively for 10+ years dalem177 and I probably lived next door to each other at times.
I would describe Ypsi more simply as low income than dangerous. If you get my meaning. A lot of people live in Ypsi for the cost of living which is pretty high in immediate surrounding areas. So a lot of what happens is you get generational families, EMU college students, and people who want the area but don't want to pay premium Ann Arbor / Canton Prices.
There are places that I would not feel comfortable walking at night, but not more so than about 12 other cities I could think of off the top of my head. It is a little bit like Flint because of the ford plant shutting down. But all and all I think it's reputation is largely undeserved. A lot of the inhabitance of Michigan ave downtown look more rough around the edges than they are as genuine people. I would say the werdist place to walk or drive by is the buss stop off washington st.
I know people personally that have been mugged
And several bars you are more likely to get in a bar fight than most. But there are also gentrified parts and people that restore these huge peak train station era houses.
Ypsilanti actually has a really amazing mix of culture and things to do for its cost of living. With a side of unease in certain places.
But nothing tops the iconic landmark hahahahaha
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