Spotlight: Detroit
Surprisingly, the NY Times featured an article on the redevelopment activity happening in downtown Detroit: Wave of Renovations Helping Downtown Detroit.
This city has certainly taken its lumps over the last half century. It has lost more than half its population and remains at or near the bottom of many indices of urban quality of life.
Still, there have been signs of a downtown revival over the last few years, with one of the most remarkable changes being the creation of residential lofts in the blighted central business district. About 440 new residential rental units, many of them in move-in condition, have either been developed over the last two years or are currently under construction in the roughly one-square-mile area. In addition, another 220 units are planned.
Almost all of the projects involve the renovation of long-vacant historic commercial and industrial buildings, many dating from the early 20th century and featuring the kind of heavily ornamented terra-cotta facades and floors with relatively small square footage that are especially attractive to residential developers .
—
Still, the revival is at an early stage. Almost all of the conversion projects in the central business district are rentals, as opposed to condominiums, because they are being financed in part with national and state historic tax credits, whose rules require that projects must remain rentals for at least five years.
We need more positive media coverage like this WITHIN the state (attention Detroit Free Press and Detroit News)!! It’s unfortunate that many elected officials and constituents still don’t know the benefits of historic preservation. One way to educate the public is through the local media outlets (yes, the same group that currently refers to preservationist as “history buffs”).
Have you read the Detroit Free Press or Detroit News? They regularly feature stories on development in the downtown area. Usually they aren’t front page stories, but they are in there.
Additionally, there are local television stations that have featured stories on such development projects as the Michigan Central Station and the Book-Cadillac Hotel (which seem to be the two of the more popular landmarks).
Just know that the local media is covering the renovation and preservation of Detroit
I haven’t seen the television programs, but I do read both papers daily. Where can I find these programs you mentioned (I’d really like to see them)? The papers do focus on redevelopment activity, but I think they fail to inform the public that it is through preservation that these activities are possible (eg, the tax credit program, etc). Most people are unware that these incentives make preservation an economically viable option to demolition and new construction. The Freep (especially) tends to portray preservationists as building hugging “history buffs” (I, for one, am more involved in urban planning that history). Maybe I’m just overreacting because I really want to see a revitalized Detroit and, having worked in the media, tend to be a bit overly critical… I dunno, but thanks for the tips on the video!
Increased press coverage would be nice but I’d put more effort into getting City Council buy-in. With the dominant attitude being, “it’s not my history.” It’s very tough to convince the biased council of the benefits in preserving as opposed to distroying.
Off course, education through press coverage might help but shouldn’t Council be heading this drive for education not lagging behind it?
Preservation is definitely a tough sell in Detroit. I think the way to avoid the “it’s not my history” debate – in a cities similar to Detroit – is to educate the people on the economic benefits of preservation and reutilizing existing infrastructure. As you and I know, preservation need not always be about history (unfortunately, the title “historic preservation” tends to get people caught up on the history end).
Speaking of City Council, I think the Detroit needs to reduce the number of councilpersons. Why is there currently the same number as when the City had 2.5 million inhabitants? Seems like a wise decision in a cash-strapped city…
I’ve never been a resident of Detroit, but I’ve seen the impact that the city council has had on the city.
It seems like more often than not, they sit around and argue about this and that and nothing ever seems to really come out of the meetings.
The one good thing they are REALLY good at is pissing away taxpayer money. And the part that makes me the most upset is that most of the city residents just let it slide by.
But that’s an entirely different conversation altogether . . .