Gilbert Brings Another 80 Jobs Downtown and ......

[emu steve]

"As far as further real estate moves in Detroit, Gilbert said, "I think new construction is sort of the next big thing, not just with us and in downtown, but along the whole M-1 Rail line" though Midtown to the New Center area."

This prediction may not sound profound, but I think it is if one looks back only a few years in time. Folks might have predicted some new construction here and there but not anything profound.

I think too many folks, mostly critics, have concentrated almost solely on ridership numbers for M-1 rail.

In many respects that is thinking 'small', i.e., the purpose of this type of project is solely utilitarian, i.e., to move persons from point A to some other point [[B, C, D...)

If the M-1 rail excites builders, like Gilbert, to go 'all in' toward development/redevelopment along that line its value transcends ridership.

What is key and I didn't bold it but were the words: "new construction" and "along the whole M-1 rail line."

Gilbert is flat out predicting that M-1 will spur significant new constructions in areas ripe for new construction [[say downtown) and in areas less ripe [[say New Center) for new construction.

Kind of hard to bet against Gilbert. He has been golden in his acumen. If he says there will be a 'land rush' for buildable land between the Fisher and say 94, I'd bet on it.