http://retailtrafficmag.com/design/a...ail_lifestyle/

I came across this article about a high-end "retail life center" development that is struggling in Queens. It got me thinking about about the challenges that similar developments would be faced with in our beloved Detroit. We all hope for such developments in the city, but are the hurdles just too high for this to occur? The primary issue cited in the article is the improper selection of tenants when compared to the socio-economic status of the surrounding neighborhood. Other, equally relevant, issues are cited as well, such as poor access to freeways and the presence of other competition close by.

Couple the pure economics with the recent high-profile crimes downtown, and it seems paints a poor picture. Thoughts?