The 2010 Census reveals that Detroit's population is approaching the 1910's level. Of the City's 714,000 residents, 83% are black and nearly 40% live in poverty. With virtually every statistic going against its favor, can Motown make a comeback?
That Detroit faces "a demographic catastrophe [...] without parallel in the developed world" is anticipated. For starters, the City has over 60,000 vacant homes, dismal property values, stratospheric crime rates, and a dysfunctional school system. On the last point, a mere "11% of Detroiters aged between 25 and 34 has a college degree; in Seattle, the equivalent figure is 63%," according to The Economist.
"Yet despite all the gloom, there is a bit of a sense that things might just be starting to turn, and the reason is simple: Detroit is now incredibly cheap. And that has drawn some admittedly rather pioneering types back into town," says the article.
To that effect, Mayor Dave Bing "would like to concentrate his citizens, boosting the population density in areas that are still economically viable, while encouraging people to move out of districts that are not." The proposed M1 light-rail system "will run along Woodward Avenue, the main axis of Detroit's planned redevelopment. With the river and downtown at one end, the 'Woodward Corridor' stretches north to one of the other great hopes for the city, a cluster of universities and business parks."
FULL STORY: The parable of Detroit: So cheap, there’s hope
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
How California Transit Agencies are Addressing Rider Harassment
Safety and harassment are commonly cited reasons passengers, particularly women and girls, avoid public transit.
Significant Investments Needed to Protect LA County Residents From Climate Hazards
A new study estimates that LA County must invest billions of dollars before 2040 to protect residents from extreme heat, increasing precipitation, worsening wildfires, rising sea levels, and climate-induced public health threats.
Federal Rule Raises Cost for Oil and Gas Extraction on Public Lands
An update to federal regulations raises minimum bonding to limit orphaned wells and ensure cleanup costs are covered — but it still may not be enough to mitigate the damages caused by oil and gas drilling.
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