Survey: Detroit area not alluring to young professionals for many reasons
Fewer than one in 10 metro Detroiters believe the region is a good place for young professionals, according to a new survey that underscores the challenges of retaining recent college graduates.
Many of the 1,000 metro Detroiters interviewed by the Gallup polling organization as part of the final year of a three-year quality of life survey gave the six-county region negative marks for a variety of issues that drive resident attachment to a place, which is considered a key indicator of economic growth.
The study, which surveyed residents in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, Livingston and Lapeer counties, cited three factors that emotionally attach residents to the area: openness [[how welcoming the community is), social offerings [[fun places to gather) and aesthetics [[physical beauty, including parks, playgrounds and green space).
While the findings aren't surprising, they are vexing for city officials, nonprofits and foundations that are pouring tens of millions of dollars into the region a year, specifically in Detroit, to attract young professionals.
Nearly 70% of those interviewed have a negative view of the region's nightlife offerings, despite new restaurants, bars and entertainment venues over the past three years, particularly in downtown and around Wayne State University in midtown.
Another challenge of attracting young professionals is the perceptions of public schools. Fewer than one in every five residents have a positive image of K-12 education.
Continued at: http://www.freep.com/article/2010111...r-many-reasons
Reurbanize Oakland County
Well it is true that urban professional want a dynamic energetic pedestrian area to live in. So there are two options. 1)Develop Midtown correctly, or 2)Urbanize Woodward Blvd from 9 mile to Maple. If you look at the Amtrak rail, it goes from Ferndale [[9 mile and hilton), through Royal Oak, then in between Royal Oak Golf Course and Elks Park, then through Eton Park where the Birminham Amtrak stop is located which is incidentally acrosss from Oakland-Troy Airport. Perhaps a start would be converting this Amtrak line into a shared pedestrian train [[Metro). Then building up 9 mile, converting the Golf Course and Elks Park into a Pedestrian downtown as well as the Eton Park area...And who knows, if the Oakland Troy airport which is being remodeled were to just take over the City Ariport, that would be huge area to develop. This would result in many downtown areas [[larger than Royal Oak) being connected by a Metro. Then you would have all these downtown areas next to each other and connnected by a Metro: Eton Park/Oakland Airport, Royal Oak Golf Course/Elks Park, Downtown Royal Oak, and then Downtown Ferndale. In addition, there is downtown Pontiac connected further north and let's not forget downtown Birminham and Berkely. If you even want to go further with this idea, the Amrtrak line goes through Springdale Golg Course at Adams and Big Beaver. This is just an idea...meaning there is actually the possiblity to reurbanize Oakland County...a metro system, many downtown areas. etc... In the meantime, Midtown and Downtown Detroit could be developed. We would have an incredible urban layout with a beautiful downtown, midtown, and then 7-10 downtowns between 9 mile and Pontiac. I know, this will never happen though. People would be dead set against converting golf courses and Parks to downtowns, and the Oakland Troy airport is not going anywhere...But just thought Id mention this as a pie in the sky.