Re-Imaging Detroit
If I decided on what to do with the empty space in Detroit, I would focus on Option B: Suburbanize, which implies that old and abandoned houses would be replaced with new and affordable neighborhoods. I defend this choice because it is better than the other two. On the one hand, it took approximately 300 years to build the city and its neighborhoods (Kahn, 2011). That is why it is irrational to free up the space and give it to nature, which refers to Option A. On the other hand, Option C does not seem a suitable solution because building the city of the future requires large investments and innovative technologies. I am not sure that sufficient resources will be available to rebuild Detroit.
This solution is attractive to many people and me, which denotes that the idea will make me want to live in Detroit. Large-scale developers are expected to create new houses that satisfy the standards of other American cities. That is why I think that these neighborhoods will additionally have sophisticated transportation, education, healthcare, and policing systems. People tend to draw much attention to these issues when they select a place to live. Thus, I believe that new neighborhoods in Detroit will be attractive to other citizens and me.
The suggested solution implies both pros and cons that are worth attention. On the other hand, some of the positive aspects have been discussed above. Another significant advantage refers to the fact that building new neighborhoods will create many jobs, which will improve people’s economic conditions. If large-scale developers help their employees purchase new houses more easily, this strategy will contribute to the faster settlement. On the other hand, a significant drawback can emerge if discriminatory principles are used to decide who can get a house in a particular area. According to Young (n.d.), this system was used in the 20th century, which contributed to tax delinquency and tax foreclosure. It is necessary to avoid these issues to ensure that Detroit will not face the same rebuilding process in the future.
In conclusion, I believe that the suggested solution celebrates the history, identity, and character of Detroit. According to Okrent (2009), Detroit was among the most prosperous manufacturing cities in the US, which became possible because it had a sufficient workforce. Kahn (2011) mentioned that the city population had decreased from 1.2 million in 1980 to 700,000 in 2011. That is why the suggested solution is expected to bring Detroit’s regeneration by providing the city with new citizens who will contribute to its economic growth.
Journal Conclusion
Since Detroit is left with empty spaces, it is rational to utilize a creative approach to find an outside-of-the-box solution. The general suggestion is to bring technology and innovative interventions to make Detroit a smart city. This solution has the potential to create a healthy environment for citizens and build a stronger community. My opinion is based on the information from class lecture slides and outside sources.
If Detroit wants to witness massive development and growth, it is not sufficient to fill in the empty spaces with the same, but new, buildings. The best option is to rely on innovative and technological solutions, and utilizing the experience of other cities seems an effective strategy to cope with the task. On the one hand, cities are considered more effective if they offer different and multi-purpose opportunities for individuals. Suitable examples include London, Tokyo, and San Francisco because they provide citizens with excellent business, tourism, travel, and socializing options (Bateman, 2022). This information denotes that a modern city should develop many spheres to become convenient and attractive for people.
On the other hand, a suitable option is to invest in innovations and sustainability. According to the article by Silver Rail (2020), different cities across the globe succeed in this area. For instance, Singapore impresses with autonomous taxis and an automatic metro network, which makes the transportation system more effective and faster (Silver Rail, 2020). Bangalore, New York, and Seoul are attractive because they invest money into the IT sector, which makes life more convenient and digitalized for their citizens (Silver Rail, 2020). Finally, Amsterdam and Reykjavik are famous for their sustainability activities because they rely on innovative solutions to minimize or eliminate environmental harm by banning gasoline cars and generating energy from hydroelectric sources (Silver Rail, 2020). These findings demonstrate that cities have many opportunities to grow and develop.
As for Detroit, I can offer a specific strategy to fill in its empty space. Firstly, it is necessary to build a particular number of houses for citizens. Secondly, it is essential to create multi-purpose centers that will include business, socializing, and entertainment spaces. Designers should ensure that these centers are famous tourist attractions, which will result in an influx of new people into the city. Finally, city planners should invest money in innovations, technology, and sustainability processes. According to the identified evidence, a suitable strategy is to rely on autonomous vehicles, green energy, and new technology. I believe that this comprehensive approach will allow for breathing new life into Detroit.
References
Bateman, K. (2022). Which are the world’s most innovative cities in 2022. World Economic Forum. Web.
Kahn, H. (2011). Destroying Detroit (in order to save it). GQ. Web.
Okrent, D. (2009). Detroit: The death – and possible life of – a great city. Time. Web.
Silver Rail. (2020). 11 of the most innovative cities in the world. Web.
Young, C. (n.d.). Minimum bids. GooBing Detroit.