It's a crass remark but raises a good question: why does change in Detroit take so freaking long? It seems like the only things that get planned, built, changed with any type of expediency are sports stadiums and casinos.

Mitchell Moss, a professor of urban policy and planning at New York University's Wagner School of Public Service, said the city has witnessed an enormous recovery since 2001, and the greatest change has been felt in Brooklyn, which has drawn newcomers because of its housing, access to Manhattan and improved safety.

"Cities don't stand still, and the cities that stand still are Detroit," Moss said. "So if Spike Lee wants to see a place where there is no gentrification, he'll also find a place where there are no investments. Obviously, he's someone who knows how to make a movie but doesn't know anything about cities."

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/26/us/new...ion/index.html