News   Mar 28, 2024
 523     0 
News   Mar 28, 2024
 338     0 
News   Mar 28, 2024
 347     0 

Afternoon in Downtown Detroit: Itinerary Suggestions?

Two Words: Dan Gilbert

His companies; notably Quicken Loans relocated to downtown Detroit some years ago from the burbs. His development group (Bedrock) has also been behind several renewal projects.

Here's just one story, following the 2021 announcement of 500M donated to renewing Detroit:


Beyond that, key factors include the Bankruptcy of the City of Detroit, which allowed it to shed a great deal of debt; Ford Motor company decided to rehab the long abandoned Michigan Central rail depot, and the large donation/bequest by the late Ralph Wilson to waterfront parkland as key items.

Michigan Central; before / after: (prior to any restoration)

View attachment 535581
Source: https://www.bridgemi.com/urban-affa...ing-passenger-trains-michigan-central-station

Current State: (restoration ongoing)

View attachment 535584

The Park:


The City now has momentum; on top of that Gordie Howe will open in the not to distant future, with many associated renewal investments in the adjacent area.

Fair credit to the current Mayor (Duggan) who has focused, post-Bankruptcy on a lot of basics (all new LED streetlights, getting lawns mowed, and trash picked up); and to the voters of suburban Detroit, who have voted for a .mil rate (dedicated property tax) to enhance regional bus services.

***

For all of that, much of Detroit is empty; and much remains impoverished. Many announced developments have yet to materialize, and overall population of the area is only now stabilizing. Its a long road back from the abyss.
My daughter went to school in Detroit for 4 years, and then moved onto Chicago. Your last paragraph is spot on, and continues to be. There are pockets, pinpricks of light, but the challenges are enormous and the road long. And not a road back, this needs to be a road forward, Detroit needs to firmly adopt goals that are not rooted in the past.
 

Back
Top