Detroit Blight

Detroit has a reputation for being one of the most dilapidated cities in the United States. Many people moved to Detroit when the car industry was booming and there were many jobs available. As a result the city had and has an enormous working class. In the late 1960s the city began to deteriorate as a result of the economic decline in the 50s.

The city now has many vacant, rundown and abandoned buildings and structures, while the occupied buildings are in poor condition. Some neighborhoods have many gang problems and populations of homeless people. The infrastructure is depleted and the amenities of the city are limited.

In, 2008 a plan to revitalize the city was formed. It was a $300 million plan to renew and rebuild neighborhoods and create jobs in Detroit. The plan targets two of the most blighted neighborhoods, the North End and Brightmoor. It is a huge and costly plan because many of the buildings need to be completely demolished and rebuilt. Some areas have been successfully rebuilt and improved, like Lafayette Park although many areas are still in detrimental condition. Sadly, the improvements sometimes push people out of their communities.

There is no outright opposition to these plans to improve areas in Detroit because it is an area undeniable in need of some revitalization but some of the results and things lost in the renewal are not always good. The urban renewal does destroy some communities though because the government just buys out or takes properties from low-income families, many black families. It is a difficult situation because there are many positives and negatives to the city improvement plans.