Also, on the topic of Houston and sprawl, sprawl works there for the moment because it's growing. Metro Detroit's last decade of real growth was the '60s, but we've continued sprawling out. Sprawling beyond your means eventually becomes a serious financial drain, as we've seen.

In truth, Houston is growing in spite of the costs its unchecked development. When you're that economically successful, you can afford to be foolhardy. Metro Detroit, given its stagnant economic reality, needs to retrench and pursue smart growth. Sorry, but it's true.

It is proven that strong cores promote growth. If that wasn't the case, they could put towering office parks wherever they wanted. Instead, any major office park is strategically built on the edge of a significant metropolitan area. You don't need Manhattan density to succeed, but you need some density.