Detroit's Future

By 2040, Detroit will be bigger, more urban, older, and whiter predicts a report from the New Urban Institute that looks at trends, challenges, and assets of the Michigan city.

1 minute read

August 4, 2017, 1:00 PM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Downtown Detroit

djtansey / Flickr

Fifty years ago, Detroit saw riots and uprisings that caused the National Guard to be called in. A report from the New Urban Institute looks at what the city may look like in the future. "The Motor City has been rebounding—slowly and unevenly, for sure—but rebounding nonetheless. The question now is: what direction are the city and its surrounding areas headed in now?" Tanvi Misra asks in CityLab.

According to work done by the New Urban Institute, the city will be aging (like the country overall). It will grow fastest within the city limits and the white population growth will be the largest in terms of raw numbers. "While households of other racial groups will grow at faster rates, whites will remain the biggest group in the region," Misra reports.

Thursday, July 27, 2017 in CityLab

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

November 11, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6, 2026 - Grist

People walking and cycling on a street in Boston.

Study reveals best places in the U.S. for cycling, walking

New research from Streetlight Data examines bicycle and pedestrian miles per capita in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population.

November 8, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

People watch as carbon dioxide is vented during a safety demonstration outside Nome City Hall in Jefferson Co.

As Texas embraces carbon storage, a Black community questions the risks

Texas now issues permits for companies to store carbon dioxide underground. East Texas residents fear safety risks, and skeptics doubt the climate benefits.

8 seconds ago - Texas Tribune

Two horses in the plains of Colorado. One is white, one is copper.

New BLM proposal would slash public comment periods, environmental protections

The proposed rewrite would also strip legal leverage from Tribal nations and state governments.

1 hour ago - The Trek

Mamdani speaks behind a podium in a navy suit.

DSA members accuse Mamdani of 'abandoning values' over housing redevelopment

New York City's mayor plans to replace about 2,000 units of public housing with private, mixed-income housing.

November 12 - Gothamist

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.