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?
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.
Economic Recovery in Legacy Cities
Americans living in legacy cities face a unique set of challenges and opportunities in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Several local, state, and federal support strategies could aid these cities in recouping losses.
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.
Push and Pull: The Link Between Walkability and Affordability
The increased demand for walkable urban spaces could make them more and more exclusionary if cities don’t pursue policies to limit displacement and boost affordability.
U.S. Transit Agencies Face a Financial Crisis
Transit providers around the country are scrambling to find new sources of revenue to replace lagging ridership and reorienting their systems to a future less dependent on daily commuters.
California Rejects Six-State Colorado River Plan, Proposes Its Own
State officials claim a proposal agreed upon by the other six states using Colorado River water disproportionately impacts California farmers.
Washington Focuses Road Safety Efforts on Individuals, Neglecting Design
Legislative efforts to reduce traffic deaths could move the needle toward Vision Zero, but state leaders failed to commit infrastructure funds to making structural improvements.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
York County, Human Resources
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
City of Piedmont, CA
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.
