Forbes talks with Detroit Mayor Dave Bing about reshaping the city and how those plans will and won't impact long-time residents who may be opposed to change.
As plans unfold to revitalize some of the city's strongest neighborhoods, locals are concerned that redevelopment plans could drastically change their way of life. Bing argues that fear is unfounded.
"The mayor vows that people will not be forced from their homes as the city is reshaped. But he's counting on the lure of safer streets, convenient shopping and modern services to convince residents in dying areas to move. By concentrating limited resources in areas with the highest population density, he's hopeful Detroit can be saved. Still, this is no easy task. 'I am not naive,' says the soft-spoken 66-year-old Bing. 'We are asking people who have lived here for generations to change. But if we don't change we'll fail, and I don't want to be part of that failure.'"
FULL STORY: Detroit Must Shrink to Grow
Detroit's Vacant Properties Strategy Explained
The Detroit Free Press offers clear analysis of the multiple ongoing efforts in Detroit to improve vacant and blighted properties and return them to the benefit of the city's neighborhoods and residents.
Saying No to Surface Parking in Downtown Detroit
Multiple proposals to demolish downtown buildings and put up surface parking lots are meeting resistance.
A Rejuvenation Plan for Detroit's Highland Park
Along with Hamtramck, Highland Park is one of two tiny cities entirely surrounded by the city of Detroit. Here's how its leaders want its center to develop over the next five to ten years.
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.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
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.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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