I think it's pretty clear those are the borders today. But the building of the freeways did, over time, both broaden and constrict the definition of "downtown".
There were remaining residential neighborhoods in the northeast and northwest corners of that freeway-limned box that were not considered "downtown" at the time the freeways were built, and that remained into the '70s. On the other hand, the portion of Woodward north of where 75 is today [[where the new arena will be) once had several tall office buildings and hotels on it and would have been considered as "downtown".
Few things grate on my eyes and ears more though than seeing or hearing just any part of the central city referred to as "downtown." For instance I was recently reading an article that repeatedly referred to Wayne State as being in "downtown Detroit". I've seen areas as far afield as Indian Village or even Highland Park described as "downtown".
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