Downtown Detroit Stages a Rally

Like its beloved baseball team, downtown Detroit is on an upswing, writes Bill Morris. The area's rise as a desirable neighborhood can be attributed in no small part to new sports facilities located in close proximity.

2 minute read

October 20, 2012, 9:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


For the hundreds of thousands who fled the city of Detroit for its suburbs in the later half of the 20th century, a trip downtown would likely be for one of two things - to go to work or attend a sporting event. Now, says Morris, "[t]he reverse exodus has become so pronounced that downtown Detroit can now
be fairly accused of imitating such desirable New York addresses as
Chelsea or TriBeCa. Yes, it's gotten so bad - or good - that it's now
nearly impossible to find a vacant apartment to rent in downtown
Detroit."

An army of (mostly) young people, like Mandy Davenport, are flocking to downtown for the benefits of city living. "'The only thing I used to know about downtown Detroit was Tigers
games,' says Davenport, 30, who moved from tiny Williamston, near
Lansing, about six weeks ago to take a job as office manager in the
Broderick Tower, an elegant 34-story tower on Woodward Avenue that is
being converted into luxury apartments. 'My friends in California told
me I was stupid to move here, I'm going to get killed. Frankly, I
thought it was going to be scarier. There's a lot to do - bars,
restaurants, concerts, games, the Eastern Market. It's a lot of young
people, people moving in from the suburbs. A lot of people want to walk
to work.'"

For Morris, the most valuable players in the area's comeback are the city's sports franchises, who built new facilities in the city, and business leaders, who moved their headquarters downtown. 

Thursday, October 18, 2012 in The New York Times

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

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

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 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business