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Naaaaaahh.....really you think it could work? Tear down all the blighted areas, pump govt money into fixing it up nice, and.....people will want to live there again? Really........
I was being a bit facetious. We all know Detroit's horrible record on urban renewal (New Detroit, Detroit Renaissance, etc.) and that what worked in post-WWII Germany and Japan can't be assumed to work in Detroit.
But I do think that as long as our government(s) are going to keep throwing away our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren's money, we might as well throw it away on something local. I mean, what good is a new grade school in Fallujah going to do us?
On the serious side, I do think that once (& if) the economy recovers and there becomes a demand for housing, I do see a lot of potential in Detroit. I would rather see private money than government money used. But the government could chip in by making the process easier. Much of the government money would go into kicking people out of their dilapidated homes using eminent domain and preparing large tracts of land for redevelopment, which would then be turned over to private developers who know what type of housing is profitable.
Before the housing market crash, there were several positive housing developments in Detroit. They didn't focus on building housing projects for the unappreciative poor, which never work. But instead built middle-to-upper income type housing. Victoria Park, Harbortown, Jefferson Village (which was never completed due to the crash), Morgan Waterfront Estates (where Mayor Bing lives), etc.
It says you are ridiculous is what it says. It's a friggin' graveyard!
Its the area around it I'm afraid of..also, those particular cemeteries have been hotbeds of muggings, car jackings, etc. I'm not the only one who is concerned about crime in and around those cemeteries. If I'm "ridiculous" so are many people. I'm referring to the cemeteries along Vandyke, near the old City Airport, such as Forest Lwan, Mt, Olivet, etc.
I was being a bit facetious. We all know Detroit's horrible record on urban renewal (New Detroit, Detroit Renaissance, etc.) and that what worked in post-WWII Germany and Japan can't be assumed to work in Detroit.
But I do think that as long as our government(s) are going to keep throwing away our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren's money, we might as well throw it away on something local. I mean, what good is a new grade school in Fallujah going to do us?
On the serious side, I do think that once (& if) the economy recovers and there becomes a demand for housing, I do see a lot of potential in Detroit. I would rather see private money than government money used. But the government could chip in by making the process easier. Much of the government money would go into kicking people out of their dilapidated homes using eminent domain and preparing large tracts of land for redevelopment, which would then be turned over to private developers who know what type of housing is profitable.
Before the housing market crash, there were several positive housing developments in Detroit. They didn't focus on building housing projects for the unappreciative poor, which never work. But instead built middle-to-upper income type housing. Victoria Park, Harbortown, Jefferson Village (which was never completed due to the crash), Morgan Waterfront Estates (where Mayor Bing lives), etc.
I realized you were being facetious....so was I. hey, a little humor never hurts.
Ah, yes, the Renaissaince Center. That was the big deal. I remember going with my mother, being very impressed, but still, we chose to go during the daytime. Well, after 2-3 visits, it got old, there's only so much you can do there. the, I think within the first year it opened, there was a horrible murder in one of the ladies bathrooms, someone stabbed to death in the semicircular winding hallway going in to the restroom. Well, after that, it ceased to be a tourist attraction. Its main purpose,anyways, was to lease out office space, but that soon dropped off. I believe originally they offered excellent lease terms just to attract tennants. But after 1-2 years, they decided not to renew. It just wasn't worth the hassle, the security was lacking, couldn't get tennants, couldn't attract workers, shoppers and customers shied away. It sat half occupied for a long time........don't know about now.
Also, the revival of Greektown, and the people mover. I remember my mother and I having a blast, going up and down the quaint little shops, the restaurants---we decided to eat at a different one each visit, then top it off with a ride on the People Mover. Until one time we were down there a little too late in the evening, got "stalked" by a group of teens on the People Mover asking for change, felt uncomfortable. Then, we started reading about muggings there, decided we'd had enough Greek food.
It all comes back to CRIME. You simply can't attract people to an area, regardless of how intriguing it is, if they don't feel safe coming and going. Oh, almost forgot.....the tried reviving the BobLo Boat sometime late 70's, I remember friends going on it. Then, one day there was a riot on board, fighting, fires broke out..........after that, the BobLo boat decreased in popularity until now its in dry dock. I remember many a fine summer afternoon spent on BobLo as a kid, shame we can't do the same with our kids, but that's what its all about----crime drives people away. Why Detroit is such a haven for crime I don't know. all I know is, I got sick of constantly looking over my shoulder and almost being afraid to fall asleep at night. I had an opportunity to leave and took it, never regretted it. I had a life to live, I wanted to live it in some relative peace.
that's the whole point---people have choices. Few will decide to stay in a crime-infested city when they have options. Look at the deomographics---people have been fleeing Detroit for years. Sorry, no one's sticking around for the marvelous People Mover, greektown, etc.
Build bike paths! Nothing says, "Welcome home, young, active, vibrant professionals," like a strong network of bike paths and parks. I live in Denver now and this is a big part of the community. Why couldn't it work in Detroit?
I was being a bit facetious. We all know Detroit's horrible record on urban renewal (New Detroit, Detroit Renaissance, etc.) and that what worked in post-WWII Germany and Japan can't be assumed to work in Detroit.
But I do think that as long as our government(s) are going to keep throwing away our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren's money, we might as well throw it away on something local. I mean, what good is a new grade school in Fallujah going to do us?
On the serious side, I do think that once (& if) the economy recovers and there becomes a demand for housing, I do see a lot of potential in Detroit. I would rather see private money than government money used. But the government could chip in by making the process easier. Much of the government money would go into kicking people out of their dilapidated homes using eminent domain and preparing large tracts of land for redevelopment, which would then be turned over to private developers who know what type of housing is profitable.
Before the housing market crash, there were several positive housing developments in Detroit. They didn't focus on building housing projects for the unappreciative poor, which never work. But instead built middle-to-upper income type housing. Victoria Park, Harbortown, Jefferson Village (which was never completed due to the crash), Morgan Waterfront Estates (where Mayor Bing lives), etc.
Complete agreement on all of the above. I read in an article today that housing occupancy in Midtown is at 94%. Downtown is at least that high, and Corktown is probably higher. O'Connor Realty is leasing residential properties faster than they can make them available. As usual, Detroit is both of two extremes, i.e. intense demand in certain areas and extreme abandon in others. Developers really need to take a look at the bright spots and start building up around them. There is money to be made, and we are clearly attracting people from outside the region.
Consider North Corktown and Briggs, much of the area is simply barren fields in the shadow of the skyline. I mean, if you had money and expertise, you could build it into anything you wanted and the demand for housing would be there. Same goes for much of Brush Park; I ride my bike through there and one side of the street is vibrant condos and restored tenements and walk-ups, and the other side is undeveloped. Lots of potential there as well. Going east, the area just outside of Eastern Market around St. Aubin and Mack is empty fields. It actually resembles a rural area: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=&q=De...56.83,,0,10.41 With Eastern Market booming these days, I'm sure someone could build condos and attract tenants no problem.
Why don't they tear down the huge hollow shell (old train station) in the middle of the city that is the poster child for abandoned cities? Detroit is a disaster with very few areas worth saving.
I was being a bit facetious. We all know Detroit's horrible record on urban renewal (New Detroit, Detroit Renaissance, etc.) and that what worked in post-WWII Germany and Japan can't be assumed to work in Detroit.
But I do think that as long as our government(s) are going to keep throwing away our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren's money, we might as well throw it away on something local. I mean, what good is a new grade school in Fallujah going to do us?
On the serious side, I do think that once (& if) the economy recovers and there becomes a demand for housing, I do see a lot of potential in Detroit. I would rather see private money than government money used. But the government could chip in by making the process easier. Much of the government money would go into kicking people out of their dilapidated homes using eminent domain and preparing large tracts of land for redevelopment, which would then be turned over to private developers who know what type of housing is profitable.
Before the housing market crash, there were several positive housing developments in Detroit. They didn't focus on building housing projects for the unappreciative poor, which never work. But instead built middle-to-upper income type housing. Victoria Park, Harbortown, Jefferson Village (which was never completed due to the crash), Morgan Waterfront Estates (where Mayor Bing lives), etc.
After the people are kicked out and bad houses are torn down, where are the low income people of Detroit going to live? There is an enormous population of very low income people in Detroit, like it or not, and they are going to need to live somewhere. How many developers want to build low income housing? where's the profit in that? Developers have one motive: money. Detroit needs to be rebuilt from the ground up but it won't succeed unless all the poverty and low income folks have jobs or some way to support themselves without government handouts. Huge issue.
Why don't they tear down the huge hollow shell (old train station) in the middle of the city that is the poster child for abandoned cities? Detroit is a disaster with very few areas worth saving.
Why doesn't Greece tear down that huge hollow shell (the Acropolis) in the midde of Athens that is the poster child for ancient ruins? Because it's an architectural masterpiece, a historical landmark, and because it has value. That's why. MCS is Detroit's Acropolis, and it is currently being cleaned up if you've been following along.
BTW, Detroit has plenty of areas worth saving, and plenty that don't need saving- they're doing just fine.
Why don't they tear down the huge hollow shell (old train station) in the middle of the city that is the poster child for abandoned cities? Detroit is a disaster with very few areas worth saving.
It's not in the middle of the city. It's privately owned as well. Detroit is not a disaster and is worth saving. Thanks for the ignorance.
I just love how people have been conditioned to crap on people who don't make a lot of money. The way things are going, a lot these same people will be in the same spot as their homes are taken and their jobs/benefits are taken away. Maybe when that happens, they'll see how ridiculous they were being.
Detroit needs and infusion of five hundred thousand to a million people. Hard to bring these people in when they are losing jobs wherever they are. And trust me, Detroit is not the place to come for jobs. So lay off the folks who have chosen to stay or can't afford to leave. They don't deserve to be kicked out of their homes to make way for developments that have no guarantee of success.
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you think it could work? Tear down all the blighted areas, pump govt money into fixing it up nice, and.....people will want to live there again?
