I was just reading about the expressway that was once proposed to be built across Lower Manhattan. If built, that project would have leveled many of what are today's most desirable neighborhoods in New York City. A former New York City Assemblyman said about the project:

Except for one old man, I’ve been unable to find anyone of technical competence who is for this so-called expressway. And this old man is a cantankerous, stubborn old man who has done many things which may have, in their time, been good for New York City. But I think it is time for this stubborn old man to realize that too many of his dreams turn out to be nightmares for the city. And this board must realize that if it does not kill this stupid example of bad city planning, that the stench of it will haunt them and this great city for many years to come
The "old man", Robert Moses, favored 1950s Detroit style car-oriented development over mass transit and pedestrian oriented development. Fortunately, the city of New York put the kibosh on the project before it ever became a reality.

But unfortunately, the city of Detroit did not put the kibosh on many of their misguided city planning efforts like the excessive freeways, Poletown, the Riverfront casino project, the list goes on. These renewal/reinvention projects have done MUCH more to make the city less viable than a riot that took place before more than half the current residents were born.

So why is it that the city of Detroit [[and the state for that matter) has never been forced to reconcile their planning blunders? Instead, the leaders grapple with these red herring arguments and continue implementing misguided policies. It's common in Detroit to talk about broken car windows, and muggings as for why the city isn't viable. But those are just symptoms of the real problem[[s) that makes Detroit such an inhospitable place; it became a city that isn't built for people anymore. IMO, of course.