Detroit Struggles to Slake Thirst for Urban Living

In Detroit's downtown and midtown neighborhoods, 96 percent of rental apartments are occupied by young professionals, students and empty nesters. The city now faces the problem of meeting the high demand for urban living, reports Susan Stellin.

2 minute read

December 14, 2012, 9:00 AM PST

By Jessica Hsu


"The thriving apartment market in these neighborhoods is a bright spot in an otherwise grim financial picture for Detroit," says Stellin. "Once the nation's fourth-largest city, its population has dwindled and its finances are floundering." City officials have offered financial incentives for people to live and work in Detroit, young entrepreneurs and artists have contributed to the city's rebirth, and now the challenge is persuading "surburbanites to live closer to where they work and go out" and "figuring out how to reuse high-rise buildings and turn an area that once emptied out at night into a 24-hour community."

"A factor that has helped draw people to live in apartments either in midtown or downtown is up to $3,500 in rental rebates available to employees of companies like Quicken Loans and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan," adds Stellin, "which have brought jobs back to Detroit." The city is also helping bring in amenities like bike paths, parks, and restaurants to attract prospective city dwellers. “This is truly a public-private sector driven strategy,” said George Jackson, president and chief executive of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. “What’s interesting is that the momentum and the partnerships are getting stronger even in light of the city’s financial situation.”

Developers could help meet expected housing demand by taking advantage of tax credits available for renovating historic buildings, but "a crucial factor is creating the thriving neighborhood hubs that places like San Francisco and New York have long offered." There is a 10-block gap between midtown and downtown "where the urban fabric drops off," said David Di Rita, a principal at the Roxbury Group. He acknowledged that the "area is gradually filling in," but pointed out that "much of the city was still struggling with empty buildings and abandoned single-family homes."

Wednesday, December 12, 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

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 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight