I haven't been to Baltimore in a while, but it definitely wasn't anything like what I imagine Detroit to be (a bigger Newark). Sure, lots of it was horrible, but there were middle class neighbourhoods, fun areas with good bars and restaurants - sort of like DC back then, minus actual serious wealth. I've heard it's improved somewhat - i.e. a little bit of gentrification.

As for my area - it never was the worst of places. Geographically and practically in between the buppieville that was Fort Greene and the byword for 'hood that was Bed-Stuy. So crackhouses next to solid blue collar buildings, next to some lovingly restored old houses inhabited by buppies, plus a few whites from the big art school (Pratt). Bullet proof glass filled bodegas and a couple nice restaurants and bars. Now - let's just say my closest wine store was a half hour walk when I moved in. Now there are a half dozen within fifteen minutes. The other day I saw a $5 packet of five small tortillas at the recently opened local high end supermarket.

Or to put it differently - this building is getting completed a block away from me.