A University of Michigan graduate student in urban planning, Joseph
Ciadella, crafts a cogent op-ed piece about Detroit corporate
development strategy as opposed to smaller, organic strategies.
Excerpt:
"Sustainability, local economy, and community
are three pillars of the path not-yet taken in Detroit. A path that
moves beyond downtown development, beyond 'cool cities.' The
Imagination Economy can be an authentic expression of who we are,"
writes Jackie Victor, co-founder of Avalon Bakery, highlighting not
only her business model, but also broader themes of local reliance and
self-determination. These themes are not present on the same level in
city redevelopment policies, given the uneven focus on downtown, which,
much like suburban sprawl, ignores, displaces, and perpetuates racial
and class divisions in society that have been a part of Detroit’s (and
other cities) history for years.
Read the entire piece here.
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