Dan Gilbert, the billionaire credited with the revitalization of development interest in and around Downtown Detroit, made a bombshell announcement in his first in-depth interview since suffering a stroke in 2019.
Charles E. Ramirez and James David Dickson reports on a new approach to Detroit revitalization—moving out of Downtown and into the city's neighborhoods.
In recent years, as investments in Detroit transformed much of downtown and Midtown, a short drive away on any main road — up Woodward, up Grand River, down Jefferson, up Gratiot — told a different story, and for some Detroiters the real story: the city's neighborhoods, where its people live, where its small businesses call home, are still struggling.
Dan Gilbert, the billionaire who has been credited as the driver of the ongoing revitalization of Downtown Detroit, announced this week a substantial development in the narrative of the city by saying he plans to invest $500 million in neighborhood revitalization.
"The Quicken Loans Inc. founder and Cleveland Cavaliers owner made the announcement during an interview that aired Thursday on 'CBS This Morning,' and expanded on it at a 10 a.m. press conference at One Campus Martius," report Ramirez and Dickson.
Billionaire Dan Gilbert is speaking out in his first in-depth TV interview since his stroke nearly 2 years ago.
Coming up on @CBSThisMorning, @CavsDan talks to @danajacobson about his road to recovery and reveals a big announcement to help his hometown of Detroit. pic.twitter.com/U4TkHeqqQi— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 25, 2021
"The business titan told CBS the effort will start with $15 million for overdue property taxes. It will cover about 20,000 homes, Jay Farner, CEO of Rocket Mortgage, said." The Detroit Tax Relief Fund will be administered by the homeowner's property tax assistance program and Pay As You Stay (PAYS), both under the Wayne County Treasurer's Office.
More on Gilbert's civic activities and development investments in the past decade are included in the article, in addition to a discussion about the role of Gilbert's company, in the sub-prime and mortgage foreclosure crisis of the Great Recession.
FULL STORY: Gilbert announces $500M to revitalize Detroit neighborhoods
Can Billionaires Revitalize Decayed Downtowns?
Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert has an urbanist streak. And only people with his kind of money can singlehandedly buy out big chunks of downtown Detroit. But will his approach to neighborhood-making actually benefit the city as a whole?
Shaping a 15-Minute City Vision for Detroit and Cleveland Using Data-Assisted Modeling
How master plans in the two cities hope to transform their historic, and historically underutilized, waterfronts.
New Legacy Cities Initiative Announced
The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is launching the Legacy Cities Initiative to provide a network of support for cities of the country's industrial past.
How Smaller Supermarkets Could Transform American Communities
Bigger is not always better.
Research Links Urban Design and Human Happiness
An emerging field of ‘neuroarchitectural’ research is revealing how building facades and urban design impact the human brain and body.
Save Lives on Our Roads Using the Safe System Approach
Prioritizing safety and committing to the SSA framework can make a big impact in the effort to reduce traffic fatalities.
Rising Temperatures and the Escalating Wildfire Crisis
Rising global temperatures driven by climate change are intensifying and prolonging wildfire seasons worldwide, necessitating improved forest management, public awareness, and urgent action to reduce fossil fuel emissions.
Looking Back on 60 Years of Land Development in the Twin Cities
In 1960, about 12 percent of the Twin Cities metro's land was already developed. By 2020, about 34 percent had been developed. Many factors influenced how the region has changed since 1960.
New Haven Reaches for Reinvention Amidst Failures of Urban Renewal
Seeking recovery from decades of failed urban renewal projects, New Haven rings in the new year by continuing a series of small-scale urban planning initiatives to reinvent its municipal spaces.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Oxford
Caltrans - District 7
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport