Hostel Aims to Introduce Youth to Detroit

Why would a young person choose Detroit over Chicago as a destination to live out their twenties?  That is a question that has concerned many urban planners, business owners, and politicians in recent years.  Answering that question for college students around the state is one of the primary goals of Hostel Detroit, which plans to open its doors to guests in April 2011.

The visionary behind the project, is Emily Doerr.  She grew up in Goodrich in Genesee County and studied at Central Michigan University before beginning a career in the nonprofit world.  Emily did not originally have her sights set on living in Detroit, but after spending considerable time visiting friends in the city, she was determined to make it her new home.

It might surprise some to discover that it was the city's grit and underdog character, that actually captured her heart.  "I like the idea that there is a need to be working toward by living here, even a sense of urgency.  I could've moved to the north shore of Chicago and just gone out with friends all the time and had fun, but I wanted to spend my twenties working on things that were worth putting my time and energy toward."

Emily is not alone in her desire, nor in the new endeavor to create Hostel Detroit.  From the moment she first conceived the idea, she got supportive encouragement from nearly everyone she talked to, and in the end, many stepped up to help make her dream a reality.  "Nearly a hundred people, many of whom were my friends, and some who were total strangers and have become friends of mine, have helped," she said.

The building is located at the corner of Vermont and Spruce, in the popular and historic Corktown neighborhood of Detroit.  It will be the first youth hostel the city has seen since the late nineties, and one of the only ones located in the midwestern United States.  Yet, hostels are incredibly common in other large cities around the world, as a means of helping younger people to travel and experience the culture of the cities they visit, without the high expenses traditionally associated with lodging.  Rates at Hostel Detroit average $25-$40 a night and guides are on hand to help guests access the coolest happenings around town.

Upon hearing the price you may wonder how hostels differ from ordinary, inexpensive motels.  According to Emily, "It's a social way of lodging that invariably forces you to interact with other people staying there because you share a kitchen, a bathroom, and common space."  It is perhaps that social aspect that will provide the greatest benefits for Detroit in the long term.  This project is not about providing a cheap place to stay, though clearly that is an element.  Instead, it is about raising the consciousness of visitors to the city and helping them discover the gems beneath the surface.

Guests will have the opportunity to converse with one another, experience Detroit's vibrant art and music scenes, and be encouraged to buy locally produced goods.  The hope is that travelers from around the world, and around the state, will discover the value of living and working in Detroit.

In fact, the second floor of the hostel is designed for short-term housing.  The idea being that people can afford to experience and stay in the city, while they search for a job or a permanent place to live.  In addition to artists and global travelers, Emily and her host of twenty-something friends hope to see many Michigan college students come through Hostel Detroit to discover the authenticity of the Motor City, and to carve out there own place in shaping it's revitalization.

If you'd like to donate to the Hostel Detroit project, click HERE.  To check out the site for yourself, a Grand Opening Party is scheduled for Sunday, April 17th.  Visit www.HostelDetroit.com for more details or to make a reservation.