Observations of Detroit after a visit

[ghettopalmetto]

Of course not, but let's dream a bit here and say for the sake of argument that a developer wants to build a "neighborhood" [[subdivision, in suburban terms). Don't you think he might prefer the prairie? An individual looking to build new would more likely desire a neighborhood that has well kept houses and a single or double lot or teardown.

No. This land isn't virgin prairie. It's littered with abandoned basements and God-knows-what in the ground. Excavating soil is expensive, but it's a heck of a lot cheaper than excavating concrete. There are too many unknowns--and too many potential budget-busters--to consider such sites as viable for new construction in the near future.

If the City had plans for these neighborhoods, that would be "something". Knocking down and leaving for dead is the lazy way out. But they'd rather perpetuate the belief of Demolition + Magic = Development [[We Hope!) than to think about what it would really take to make these neighborhoods viable again and [[God forbid) maybe attract a few new residents, instead of driving the remaining ones away.