Detroit's a little bit away from being on the verge of a renaissance in anything, however one blogger says that the city is primed for an architectural one.
Excerpt:
And yet I can't help but feel optimistic about these neighborhoods
for a few reasons. Number one has to be the election of David Bing to
replace Kwame Kilpatrick as mayor. The impression one gets from the recent Sports Illustrated profile
of the former NBA player is that Bing is pragmatic and incapable of
forgetting that his new title gives him as much responsibility as it
does power. He has only been mayor for a short time, but he already
seems like the anti-Kilpatrick and being somewhat of a political
outsider, also seems willing to ignore political pressure.
Another reason for optimism is simply a shift in mentality; years
ago, the idea of demolishing vacant houses and ripping out unused
streets/utilities would be viewed as an unforgivable waving of the
white flag - that Detroit's best days were over, never to return. But
thanks to the efforts of a variety of local groups and entrepreneurs,
residents and public officials are beginning to see the practical
benefits of tearing down the worst-gone neighborhoods and tearing out
old infrastructure.
...
No one expects Detroit to change quickly. But at least the progress
made in its urban core suggests that the time will soon come when
re-development will radiate outward to the neighborhoods that need it
most. It doesn't hurt that Detroit's historic preservation contingent
is flexing its muscles - or that its creative class recognizes the transformative potential of small projects - or that there are plenty of residents determined (and organized) to preserve their neighborhoods for the future - or that there are entrepreneurs (and backers) who fully intend to succeed in Detroit.
Read the entire article here.
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