Changing places case studies (detroit)

Question 1

what is the background of detroit?

Answer 1

• detroits growth came from the huge car manufacturers in 1950s providing detroit with the fact of being the 4th largest city in america. By 1950 the population peaked at 1.85 million as people moved for jobs.
• due to this from 1910 - 1950 millions of african americans migrated in pursuit of work, however this bought with it racial issues
• however due to cheap labour and globalisation car firms moved to asia. This caused huge problems in detroit as the wealthier people moved away leaving poor low income households in detroit. Whole neighbourhoods became abandoned and this came with loads of issues
• detroit is geographically very large at 138 square miles.
• as people left taxes decreased causing services to slow down and reduce

Question 2

what’s the economic change in detroit

Answer 2

• As company’s moved away from detroit tens of thousands of jobs were lost causing an economic recession in the 80s. Profits plummeted. There became an ageing population and labour healthcare costs shot up.
• Detroit is a place of urban decay with its infrastructure crumbling and the city operating at $300 million short of municipal sustainability
• Detroit was too dependent on the automobile industry and its location was perfect due to it being situated so close to the great lakes it allowed for good trading opportunities however due to the opening of the highway it caused inflation in labour costs. The city’s geographical location became irrelevant.
• The average home price in 2012 was $7500 in 2013 47 houses listed at $500 and five at $1 and we’re still not sold.
• over half the population didn’t pay tax in 2012 loosing them $131 million

Question 3

what’s are the social exclusion and inequality issues like?

Answer 3

• 36% of population is below poverty level
• in 2010 residential vacancy rate was 27.8%
• unemployment rate of 23.1%
• police response time was 58 minutes
• due to no one paying tax local services could not be maintained causing 40% of street lights to not work, causing darkness meaning crime rates increased with 7/10 crimes unsolved
• 1 million people left with the industry
• murder rate was 53 per 100,000 10x NYC
• 70% of homicides were drug related
• in 1967 there were riots due to the racial issues black people felt segregated and poverty some of the most violent riots in history with 43 deaths and 350 injured

Question 4

how is detroit trying to regenerate?

Answer 4

• redevelopment in areas of poverty
• refurbishing cork town to try and boost tourism
• gentrification (cycle lanes pedestrian zones)
• opening new hotels and restaurants
• art
• small local businesses
• job creating
• cutting pensions
• aesthetics of place
• historical renovations
• downtown for its trendy music and art