German business journal finds business owners and artists in Detroit that are fighting the negative cliches of the city.
(Danke for including Model D co-founder/publisher Brian Boyle.)
Excerpt (their translation from German to English is a bit shaky):
What can be done for a city like Detroit that was designed for cars and
now is half empty? City planners envision converting entire districts
into artificial lakes or farmland. The part left over would be a
compact structure of vibrant, interlocking neighbourhoods convenient
for pedestrians. “We are behind the curve somewhat, but it’s a first
step," says designer Claire Nelson, founder of Open City Detroit, an
association for young entrepreneurs.
Already the first of these vibrant areas is emerging. In the downtown
area, stately buildings like the historic Book Cadillac Hotel are
awakening to new life. Renovated at a cost of approximately 200 million
dollars, since the end of 2008 the hotel has again been an attraction.
“That was the start, and now we are making this part of downtown
liveable and passable again, building by building,” vows property
developer John Ferchill.
Read the English version
here. If you're up for it, read the German version
here.
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