Fight Over Detroit

[Chad]

Was reading some atricles over at forbes.com and found two interesting columns written by writes with two diametrically opposed views of Detroit.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/08/det...ha-dalmia.html
http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/21/det...09-reform.html

They seem to get a little heated at times[[read the comments) and both strongly believe in their view.

How can two individuals have such different views of the same city?

[gazhekwe]

Interesting set of articles. Reading the first one with the negative view, I could agree with some things, such as the overall damper placed upon a community when attacked, as in the break-in at the artist community. How can you not feel attacked and violated, and apprehensive? Evans does seem to be focusing on increasing safety, let us hope there will be some progress.

Reading the second article, one can see the future, if we are able to continue in this mode. We will know we are making forward progress when cries of "Gentrifaction is bad!" erupt in the media.

After visiting other cities in various stages of progress, it is hard to see where we will end up. We are making slow progress, but it is limited. Will we get stuck in the mud like Cleveland did after their marvelous efforts to recharge? So far, their downtown is looking good, but empty.

Boston? Some neighborhoods their have really juiced up from art colonies. The whole place looks great. I'm thinking particularly of an old warehouse district on the Inner Harbor, and a mainland neighborhood in Sobo, where big old rowhouses have been converted into pricey condos and shops. It took a good 15 years from start to ignition, and was started by a few hopeful entrepreneurs.

Portland OR is another that has poor areas being developed into lively, artsy, fun communities with lots to do for tourists. Maybe ten years from start to ignition there.

We are working on it here, and if we take off our blinders and look around, maybe we can learn from others, what worked, and what didn't. It all takes time. And it does leave out the original inhabitants of the area being rejuvenated.

One other thing, steady progress is needed. When it stalls, and things sit empty, confidence wanes and values drop instead of rising. We do seem to have a fair bit of wonderful property sitting empty and forlorn. I wonder if the lady being outbid for downtown property would be interested in some of the lesser known places.

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

Thanks for those links. It all comes back to whether one sees the glass as half full or half empty. Both authors are correct; there are terrible problems as well as wonderful opportunitues in Detroit. Sort of like living in Palmer Woods or Indian Village, or a few short blocks [[but a world) away.

[Danny]

Lot of corrupt business men, politicians gangs and DEAD [[C) KRAK HEADS had been fighting over Detroit your hundreds of years, but ended being beat by appealing laws and what's left of strong willed Detroiters.