2020 is reminding me of 1967. As a youngster in ’67, I can vividly recall images of parts of a major American city, Detroit, being devastated due to a civil disturbance. Once vibrant streets sat empty for years in the aftermath of the ’67 civil riots on hot, July days. Empty and hallowed out store […]
It’s not the most ordinary landscape for development. From east to west, Detroit communities are diverse not only in their residential makeup, but in their depth of economic and professional resources. The various obstacles faced by neighborhoods envisioning assets that would enhance their quality of life is an ongoing discussion in the city. Although developers […]
Fifty leaders – ranging from corporate to grass roots residents, foundations to community development professionals, academics to bankers – converged on Baker’s Keyboard Lounge on Thursday, July 27 to mull this question over, all the while feasting on Baker’s trademark “catfish nuggets” and peach cobbler. In a wide-ranging conversation co-moderated by Donna Murray Brown of […]
Mayor Mike Duggan promises a “city for everyone.” But getting from “here” to “there” in a city that has more than 10,000 homeless and a whopping one third of residents living below the poverty level is admittedly going to be a challenging task. In order to be successful, Duggan must bridge the gap between the […]
Lots of people are vying for a stake in Detroit’s redevelopment efforts. Perhaps there is no group more interested or concerned about the spread of neighborhood investment interest, than long-time city residents. Some are already beginning to see a steady stream of investors sizing up or “evaluating” their beloved neighborhoods, but far too few know […]
In a meeting a Detroit representative called “historic,” a Detroit neighborhood took a new step toward having a big voice in the city’s future in terms of strategy, development and investment. The Rosa Parks Clairmount meeting – which drew more than 150 residents – is an example of how the new Community Benefits Ordinance (Proposal […]
Detroit is a city of opportunity, innovation and investment. We can become a leader in urban revitalization’s best practices if we can commit to providing inclusive housing options for all Detroiters: our long-time residents, recent transplants, and especially the community’s most vulnerable. But there’s a formula for success. Implementing multi-dimensional housing solutions and strategies to […]