Re:Renaissance City Forever
While you may feel you wasted your time, I use the transit stops [[People Mover or 53 Line) around your former building all the time. Currently, there is a lot of activity in this area with Quicken Loans buying a adjacent building. The David Whitney Building is kept very secure. There is a security guard that goes around and checks all the doors every hour or so, and makes sure everything is kept in good order. The current David Whitney Building owners clearly treat their building as an investment, and are not letting it decompose the way other nearby building owners have.
As to Detroit being a Renaissance City forever, I don't think it has really been that long since Detroit was at it's height, when taking a step back and looking at it from the grander view of history. After decades of repeating mistakes, it seems that there never really could ever be or have been some grand renaissance. Detroit was not to be the answer to the urban dilemma.
While at first glance it looked like the spirit of Detroit had died, in reality it just lay dormant in the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of the young. The new generation is learning that it isn't just about big projects that take decades to work out, but rather about small projects, millions of small projects, operating through trial and error over the span of decades. It isn't about always being the leader, but rather about learning to be a follower when appropriate.
Though there will be no triumphant renaissance to greatness, I think she will be a different place when you return, though maybe not as grand as you remember or hoped for. I am optimistic, not for a renaissance of what was, but rather for a new creation of what will be.
