How to fix Detroit (Wayne, St. Louis: lofts, crime, new home)

[STLCardsBlues1989]

This is not a thread for comparing cities, or bashing Detroit. But obviously Detroit, like any city, has issues.

I don't want to sound like a test essay question, but what are the most important Detroit issues to you, and how would you improve upon them if you could?

Just Curious.

[Dexterguy]

You can never really totally "fix" a city. The only way in my opinion to fix Detroit would be to put 1 million people in Detroit city limits. If you had people in the city like you had in the 1940's - 50's then the city would not have tax problems, therefore the city would not have problems with its public schools. You could build thousands of new homes for people to live. But to bring in new people into city limits you need jobs and that is one thing Detroit and Michigan don't have.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

I think a lot of people, right or not, wouldn't move to Detroit if you paid them, especially if they have kids.

[Bluefly]

More people don't inherently fix cities. Detroit proper has hundreds of thousands more people than San Fran, DC, Boston, Miami, Seattle. That's a myth held over from past generations where bigger always meant better.

Here's how to fix Detroit:

1. Re-brand Detroit as (for starters) a regional entertainment mecca so that people from Toronto to St. Louis and Chicago say, "Let's go to Detroit for the weekend to blow off some steam". It has always churned out new styles of music that have swept the world. Now it has a solid entertainment infrastructure geared toward adults including hip nightclubs, classy casinos, theatres, edgy art galleries and museums, top quality restaurants.

2. Use that shift from Detroit being a joke to a destination to attract new and foster within its own population the technologies and businesses for the next industrial revolution in green and sustainable manufacturing. Rather than depending on the auto industry, fold the auto industry into this broader mission and create research and manufacturing jobs for the large working class population. The warehouses / factories that the last industrial revolution outgrew could be used again for the next revolution. as well as a pioneer culture of artists and creative types reclaiming once abandoned industrial infrastructure. While you won't hear much about it, there's a vibe of creative revolution in the air in a place like Detroit specifically because it's not a thriving city.

Keep in mind that Detroit rose to global power based on the vision and ideas of a relative few progressive minds after which followed many people just looking for a job. Detroit just has to find a way to draw those few minds back for the next industrial revolution in sustainability.

[snoopygirlmi]

I agree that Detroit needs to be "rebranded", but I think that part of the puzzle is being worked on with the casinos; WSU, Hockeytown and the sports arenas in downtown. Slowly, but surely, there are changes going on.

However, if the question is how do we "fix" Detroit, then we have to start with finding a way for people to in the 'burbs and the city to change their attitudes towards themselves and one another. Stereotypes exist for a reason.

Also as dexterguy said, it's about jobs and having them! If people had more disposable income, then they'd be more willing to give to charities/perhaps pay more in taxes for services. Also, when people have money and know that they aren't going to lose their houses, etc, they tend to be more optimistic about life in general. And everywhere you look, the prevailing attitude is pessimism and despair. I really don't consider that a "creative buzz", but to each his own.

[Bluefly]

^^
My point was that Detroit already has the basic infrastructure to be an entertainment mecca. While metro Detroit, as a blue collar city, loves its sports, that's really not going to attract the creative minds necessary to create the jobs and industries of a sustainable future. It hasn't in the past 50 years. Creative transient people are attracted to areas for more cultural offerings and quality of life, not just a job or a sports team. I don't think Seattle became the hub of IT because of the Seahawks.

And I proposed a way to create jobs that also serve the larger needs of humanity, like Detroit once did before. I don't know why you dismissed me as if I ignored that rather critical part. I guess I'm just annoyed because you just fell back on the age-old "there are no jobs. Everybody's miserable" rant that infects metro Detroit. Propose a solution and a better vision!

As for the creative buzz, you really have to spend time in the industrial lofts and galleries and such downtown where space is ample and cheap and urban amenities are available. It's what brought much of New York back from the brink. I just meant that it's already there - just needs to be built upon.

I guess if you're looking for pessimism and despair, there's plenty to find. If you're not, there's some good stuff churning.

[michiganirish]

Rebranding Detroit, while a great idea, at the present would be like trying to use a bandaid to repair a severed limb.

Originally Posted by Bluefly

^^
My point was that Detroit already has the basic infrastructure to be an entertainment mecca.

No amount of "infrastructure" basic or otherwise can hold up if the foundations are not strong. Before this city (and btw I was born and raised in Detroit) can move forward it has to be fixed from the ground up, and that has to begin with the residents of Detroit. It begins with the clean up of neighborhoods by those that live there.

Just a small ancedote that helps make my point: My husband used to be the plant manager at Thyssen-Krupp, located near McGraw and Livernois, the company would hold a neighborhood clean up every year. There employees got out cleaned the trash up, swept, cleared debris and over growth from vacant lots, etc... The company provided lunch, hot dogs, burgers, etc, for the event. Their wasn't too many residents that helped with the clean up, but nearly all of them came for lunch.

If people do not care enough to show pride in the neighborhoods how can we rebrand the areas that surround them.

Originally Posted by Bluefly

^^
And I proposed a way to create jobs that also serve the larger needs of humanity, like Detroit once did before.

When 60% of Detroit high school students do not graduate how can we expect investors to pour money into the city? What pool do they pull from for employees? Not the city. What high school dropout can qualify for the type of jobs needed to help Detroit. Employing more people from outside the city only serves to widen the chasm between city and suburbs.

The mentality of the people of Detroit needs to be changed, unfortunately we are dealing with a few generations that do not see value in education.

Originally Posted by Bluefly

^^
As for the creative buzz, you really have to spend time in the industrial lofts and galleries and such downtown where space is ample and cheap and urban amenities are available. It's what brought much of New York back from the brink. I just meant that it's already there - just needs to be built upon.

New York came back "from the brink" because it had a no nonsense mayor. He cleaned up the police department. Ran the drug dealers and theives from Times Square, and much more. He started with the foundations of the city and then built up.

Chicago saw an increase (I believe in the last year) of over 130,000 in residents in downtown. Crime has dropped 40%, but only after the housing projects were demolised and located elsewhere. I'll admit it seems like a drastic step, and perhaps a bit unfair, however something needed to be done to help bring residents to downtown.

Detroit's city government has to be intolerant to the things that are ruining this city. In order to do that we first have a city council that isn't divided and a mayor that sincerely has the city and it's residents as his/her main concern. Unfortunately for Detroit some of it's past mayors seem to only serve themselves.

Originally Posted by Bluefly

^^
I guess if you're looking for pessimism and despair, there's plenty to find. If you're not, there's some good stuff churning.

While you are correct, there is "some good stuff churning". But it takes much more than just stirring the pot. Unfortunately for every step forward this city takes it seems to take two steps back. There is no amount of "good stuff" that will bring Detroit into the forefront if it constantly shows itself not ready for the next step.

Change cannot start at the top, it must begin at the bottom. You can't build a house from the roof down.

[Bluefly]

Well, whatever. Then it's hopeless. I guess that's your take-home message. Congratulations on being another part of the solution.

Perhaps - and this is just a CRAZY idea - if the people of Detroit had some reason to get educated, they might care a little bit more. Perhaps if the fresh ideas for the next green industrial revolution were attracted to the city for incubation, there might be jobs that make getting educated worthwhile. Perhaps, if Detroit's downtown became well known as an entertainment mecca, the people with those ideas might be attracted to the city rather than repelled by it.

It's as if people think because there are bad neighborhoods that all of Detroit is doomed. You point to neighborhoods, but there are conserted efforts to keep downtown clean and litter free. Start there.

God, there's just so much defeatism in this area. It's sad, really.

[Jwo85]

Detroit needs to become the Las Vegas of the mid-west.

The youth like to party and lets face it, Detroit or the suburbs are no party places when the clubs shutdown at 2AM while clubs in party cities stay open past 2AM which helps attract the youth to come visit or live in the area.

Either the PR people in the Detroit casinos are not good in advertisement or the Detroit casinos just don't have the entertainment. Wayne newton shows? Siegfried and Roy magic type shows? I here about all this stuff going on in Vegas but I don't here anything like this going on in Detroit.

That's just some ideas.

[Bluefly]

^
I don't think they do have the entertainment. I, personally, go to Vegas for the nightlife, art galleries, and shows. I'm one of the "new breed" that only does minimal gambling. They'd be smart to build that sort of mixed-use attraction in Detroit - maybe use the existing theatres in town rather than enclose everything in casinos.

I'm not sure Detroit wants to be the "Vegas of the Midwest", only because it will always be perceived like Atlantic City as the "Vegas of the East", which isn't very good. Vegas is a monster unto itself that has no compare. Though I think you're on the right track - Detroit has a lot more to offer culturally already than just casinos.

They pushed last call back to 4 a.m. for the Super Bowl week. I agree that they should really make that permanent and build a club culture (not a neighborhood dive bar culture).

Other posters have said you have to start with the neighborhoods, but I feel like if Detroit has as reason to attract people, the neighborhoods will follow. Just my opinion.