Will The Citizens Play Ball?
I've always been a fan of Dave Bing, and if anyone can handle Detroit, it's him. Unfortunately, no one can handle Detroit. Still, the Mayor will give it the old college and NBA try.
Detroit has the troubles of every major city multiplied by ten. With one third of its living areas abandoned, and parts of the city of returning to a state of nature, Bing wants to relocate citizens, so it's easier to handle their problems. I'm guessing there are two problems with this plan--he won't be able to do it and it wouldn't work if he could. Still, I understand his problem. The city proper has half as many people as it had in 1950. The place is imploding. Certain areas seem impossible to deal with, and he'd rather concentrate on sections of the town he can do something with.
The trouble with Detroit is there's almost no place to stand. All cities have bad areas, but Detroit has few good ones. He'd like to reestablish places so they can thrive, but there's almost nothing to build upon, and anyone who's doing well moves to the suburbs.
So I wish Bing well, but I won't blame him if he doesn't save Detroit.
posted by LAGuy @ 12:05 AM
3 Comments:
Didn't certain smaller former industrial cities in Ohio do something like this? ( I'm thinking near Youngstown) Combination of bull-dozings of certain areas and offering remaining residents low cost relocation loans- that might have been pre-Kelo and subprime mortgage crisis though?
Another issue is that the Red Wing's lease on Joe Louis Arena expires soon and they could leave the city. Tom Wilson recently quit his job as President of the Pistons, then was quickly hired by Ilitch (red wing and Tigers owner). He is the frontman for a new arena or possibly the Palace. Since former Piston owner Davidson's passing last year, his family (now operating owners) has been looking to move the team. Hard 2 imagine, but the Pistons could be leaving the Detroit area. Also, I think that Detroit is the only (or certainly one of the only) cities with the four major sports represented without any of the venues being shared. With the down Michigan/Detroit economy, taxpayers probably will not want to give anything toward new construction, so, keep posted...
Detroit is a huge city square area wise. It is hard to deal with the downsizing because of this. There may be little oases here and there but overall there is mass desert ( or deserted) land. There is a great website by a new urban frontiersman. A lawyer couple who are raising their family in Detroit. He has incredible photos of the deterioration of the city. sweet-juniper.com
AAGuy
Post a Comment
<< Home