High end retail doesn't take away from poor folks, all cities need choice. Detroit's downtown was very well equipped for years. Heck, it had one of the largest department stores in the world.

Gilbert and others like him are only trying to give that shot in the arm that can revive the patient. The metro area of Detroit comprises plenty of very wealthy individuals that otherwise spend their money in Chicago or New York if the Somerset Mall or other high end shops don't carry the goods they are after.