Originally Posted by
313WX
You make some fair points as well, but a couple things.
1. We don't build cities like we did before the automobile. As a result, IF much of Detroit's vacant land is re-developed, the neighborhood won't resemble anything like the neighborhood that was demolished, but rather some place in Novi or Sterling Heights, especially if the development in Jefferson Village is any sign. Part of the city's charm of course is the fact that it has an environment uniquely different from what is offered in the suburbs. Eliminating more of this and putting what's in the suburbs in its place diminishes Detroit's appeal for some.
2. Detroit just has SO MUCH vacant land already. Never mind the 80,000 additional structure that MUST come down, no ifs, ands or buts. Realistically, much of this land will never be redeveloped, even if you buy the extremely optimistic prediction that Detroit as a whole will start growing again in 5-10 years. So even if you accept that only a few of Detroit's historic neighborhoods will retain their integrity, the fact of the matter is whatever Detroit supposedly grows from the ashes will look nothing like the great city it was of the 20th century. Instead, Detroit will probably be more like a modern-day Atlanta.