Preserving Detroiters' Way of Life

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.

1 minute read

October 28, 2010, 6:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


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.'"

Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Forbes

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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

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