Originally Posted by
Delray
In a word, yes.
The arrogance of one man "planning" the core of the city, in utter ignorance of the 700,000 people who live there is breath-taking. What makes it worse is that [[1) the media buy it hook, line, and sinker and pass it along in happy talk, and [[2) people who should know better miss the big picture and focus instead on whether the streets would be too narrow or the windows the wrong size or whatever.
News flash: Detroit is an oveerwhelmingly African-American big city, unique in America in that regard. It is chock full of irreproducable African-American historical, cultural, religious, social, and other institutions and attractions. Why not capitalize upon that? Why, instead, try to "transform" downtown Detroit into yet another boho hangout, complete with "Pineapple Republic," sidewalk cafes, and whatnot?
Furthermore, if you want to dream big, fine. But at least talk about it in terms of how it will benefit the people who actually live here. Talk about it in terms of providing jobs, or increasing property values and thereby helping finance better city services [[ignoring the details about tax breaks, BIDs, etc.--money is fungible).
This is not Dan Gilbert's city, and the rest of us just happen to live in it.
Jeez!