With plans congealing for the USA to accept a large influx of refugees from the Syrian civil war, a plan is being floated to resettle them in a once predominantly Arab-American neighborhood of Northtown, formerly known as Chaldean Town. It it roughly centered around John R and Seven Mile in Detroit. What do you think?

Haifa Fakhouri, president and CEO of the Arab American and Chaldean Council, has a vision for Detroit — specifically, one square mile of the city.

A nearly 20-year-old plan to redevelop an area on Seven Mile Road, now known as NorthTown and formerly called Chaldean Town, was stalled several years ago after the first phases were completed.

Now, Fakhouri and the ACC see opportunity coming from war-torn Syria, where millions have fled seeking asylum across the eurozone to realize the NorthTown project, including new multifamily Section 8 housing.

She believes as many 5,000 Syrian families seeking refugee status could call NorthTown home and revitalize the blighted neighborhood.