Roberta Gratz and the decline of Detroit

Roberta Gratz is the author of two must read books on urban revitalization: Cities: Back From the Edge and The Living City. I think of them as primers that help draw out the lessons from Jane Jacobs Death and Life of Great American Cities, by providing practical and understandable "case studies" through the chapter-by-chapter examples of what succeeds and what doesn't and the anti-urban strategies that cities face.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, the New York Times wrote an article about Detroit and its dire financial situation--the city has lost 1/2 of its once two million residents, and it has an infrastructure and a cost basis that still reflects its larger size. (Here are articles about the problems faced by the City of Detroit and its suburbs.)

Ms. Gratz sent a letter to the editor, short and sweet...

To the Editor:

It should come as no surprise that Detroit is failing once again (''Shrinking, Detroit Faces Fiscal Nightmare,'' news article, Feb. 2). Multiples of every failed magic bullet keep being tried: three casinos, two stadiums, a new megasize corporate tower and suburban enclaves replacing bulldozed renewable neighborhoods.

Yet the productive good things happening remain undervalued by civic and business leaders. Loft conversions by committed downtowners, small entrepreneurs starting new businesses and community development corporations regenerating neighborhoods have occurred despite city policies and will eventually be what leads the way to genuine regeneration.

Roberta Brandes Gratz
New York, Feb. 4, 2005

If you only have the time to read one book on urban revitalization, I recommend Cities: Back From the Edge.