By John Gallagher andGreta Guest

Detroit Free Press Business Writers


Public relations professional David Lilly left New York City two years ago for a downtown Detroit neighborhood that was "a pretty lonely place," he recalls.

Since then, more than 10,000 workers have descended on downtown, with hundreds snatching up available rental housing or buying properties as their new home address.

With the windfall of employed people, there's a palpable difference in the look, feel and culture in the greater downtown district. Restaurants buzz at lunchtime. Clubs hop at night. Small-store owners are expanding operations, adding space and employees to meet greater demand for yoga, house wares, dry cleaning, food and more.

There are traffic jams in the morning -- and after work on streets that were once abandoned after dark. New residents walk their dogs, buy coffee, get haircuts.

Outlanders have always come to the casinos and on game days flooded the streets as they hit bars and restaurants or visited Greektown. But now, there's also something steadier, something more regular.
Full story: http://www.freep.com/article/2012081...wntown-revival