Official's Embrace of Gentrification Causes Stir in Detroit

"George Jackson Jr., the influential leader of economic development in Detroit, told an audience in Grosse Pointe Farms that he’s a staunch supporter of gentrification because the city needs a larger tax base to emerge from a decades-long funk," reports Steve Neavling. "Speaking at a forum about Detroit’s future Tuesday evening, the president and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation said gentrification is 'one of the costs of progress.'”

“When I look at this city’s tax base, I say bring on more gentrification,” Jackson told the audience. “I’m sorry, but, I mean, bring it on. We can’t just be a poor city and prosper.”

"But the comments couldn’t be timelier," adds Neavling. "In the past few weeks, hundreds of low-income residents and seniors have been told they are being evicted from at least four large apartment buildings."