Anticipating Gentrification in Detroit

Where is gentrification most likely to occur in cities like Detroit? And how can that data guide policy? A new report provides some insight.

1 minute read

May 1, 2018, 9:00 AM PDT

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Pete Saunders discusses the first report out of the Turning the Corner project, which examines where gentrification is likely to occur in Detroit. The initiative is a joint effort between the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership and local organizations in Detroit, Milwaukee, Phoenix, and the Twin Cities. In the Motor City's case, Data Driven Detroit is the local partner.

For the report, "the researchers developed what they called a Neighborhood Change Index Score for all Census block groups in Detroit, ranking them in terms of likelihood of neighborhood change from lowest to highest."

In addition to neighborhoods close to downtown, the report suggests that "a wide swath of the city's northeast side" is vulnerable to gentrification. Saunders notes: "that part of the city is known for its modest homes and stable, longtime homeowners, but also for a lack of investment."

He also points out that the report excludes areas where few residents live. "A simple Google search of 'Detroit empty blocks' would reveal large-scale former residential areas that, once the city and developers figure out how to unwind the tangle of ownership, might become new revitalization hotspots -- without the specter of immediate displacement."

Tuesday, April 17, 2018 in Forbes

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3, 2025 - Governing

White park shuttles with large Zion logo on side and red rock cliffs in background in Zion National Park.

Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”

Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.

2 hours ago - Reasons to Be Cheerful

Chart of federal transportation funding comparing Biden and Trump administration spending.

Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden

Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.

3 hours ago - Transportation for America

Close-up on yellow and black TAXI sign on top of beige car in central Munich, Germany.

German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence

Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.

4 hours ago - Bloomberg