The Christian Science Monitor recently reported on Detroit Mayor Dave Bing’s urban renewal initiative, named The Detroit Works Project, which aims to “redefine the physical, economic, and social landscape of Detroit.” The Project’s long-term strategy is to encourage residents to move out of less populated, blighted neighborhoods and into the city’s center and “raze and repurpose” what is left behind. In doing so, the city can reduce its size, save money, and change the way it delivers services.
In the short-term, the mayor has unveiled a plan to tailor city services based on neighborhood needs. The Project chose three demonstration neighborhoods to monitor closely so it can evaluate the impact of the new service delivery model.
Community development advocates, on the other hand, have questioned how the mayor’s strategy differs from other failed urban renewal plans in Detroit’s history.
