Author(s)

I. Vojnovic, L. A. Reese, J. Eckert, G. Sands

Abstract

After a decade long demographic and economic decline, culminating in America’s largest municipal bankruptcy, many observers were ready to proclaim that Detroit was dead. Nevertheless, following the resolution of the bankruptcy and new municipal leadership, there has been a dramatic shift among academics and the popular press to documenting Detroit’s recovery and resilience. Indeed, the rapid and dramatic turnaround in the city’s fortunes appears to tell the stories of two different cities.

People and jobs are again returning to Detroit, along with levels of investment not seen for decades. These developments are, however, highly concentrated in Downtown and Midtown. The reality is that a strengthening core area is enjoying some measure of prosperity while the balance of the city continues to bleed population, jobs, and economic activity. The positive changes have done little to address the problems of a population that is poorly educated, lacks job skills and work experience, not to mention the problems of a deteriorating built environment and aged infrastructure.

Keywords

urban regeneration, Detroit, shrinking cities