  Umichigangirl Member Username: Umichigangirl Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2006 |
When reading about the “cool cities” approach to revitalizing Detroit, I found an increased concentration on the need for creativity within the city. In older “urban renewal” efforts, the emphasis was often on changing governmental policies. There was also a focus on economic conditions in the city, often thinking that simply putting more money into the system was the answer. The newer ideas about how to restore the city’s grandeur are associated with retaining successful and creative city dwellers and attracting even more to come live in the city. Cities in the metro Detroit area that have gained income in recent years have been cities with “ambiance,” like Ferndale and Beverly Hills, which presumably have attracted the creative people. These changes have less to do with money and big, expensive projects like the RenCen and more to do with creating an attractive, welcoming environment in the city. I think that successful revitalization needs to involve both economic and environmental elements. One way to draw a young, creative, and sophisticated crowd into the city is to provide chic and conveniently-located housing. This housing could take the form of lofts, stylish apartments, or renovated historical houses, and should be located close to centers of business, restaurants, and entertainment. One specific example of a promising redevelopment project is the Book Cadillac renovation. The company that is revitalizing the historic hotel plans to include 455 hotel rooms, 67 condominiums, a 31,000-square-foot conference center and 119,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. This plan is likely to draw in young urban professionals, who may be interested in the history of the building and becoming an integral part in the revitalization of the city. A positive effect of the project is that it will attract even more potentially creative people into the core of the city, where revitalization is already taking place. This will hopefully encourage growth from the center out and bridge the gap between the revitalized Campus Martius and the future Riverfront projects. However, this is yet another measure that throws money into the core of the city rather than into the deteriorating neighborhoods. In addition, it also only attracts the middle to upper class type of person and is not a viable option for many who are already living in the city. It may further separate the “haves” and “have-nots” in the city, moving farther away from a unified city population. Once again, when the city needs to be focusing on its black vs. white problem, the only color it concerns itself with is green. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 730 Registered: 07-2004 |
You sound earnest and hopeful Umichigangirl. Don't let the bitchy comments grind you down. | ||
Stecks77 Member Username: Stecks77 Post Number: 171 Registered: 08-2006 |
one thing at a time please | ||
Bobj Member Username: Bobj Post Number: 1350 Registered: 11-2003 |
who are these people? | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 623 Registered: 11-2005 |
Yeah it seems like cheating to have people on the internet do your homework for you. Is this allowed now? I've been out of school for a long time. | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2897 Registered: 10-2003 |
I gotta echo itsjeff: Beverly Hills?! | ||
Stecks77 Member Username: Stecks77 Post Number: 172 Registered: 08-2006 |
Nice job Dial4hipster. The essay thing wouldn't have crossed my mind but it makes sense. The name UMichiganGirl is a bit of a giveaway I guess. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 2200 Registered: 02-2005 |
In fact, the professor has told his students to post on this forum. I've taken the class. History 393. Being someone who was on this forum before the class, I'm finding that I'm not learning too much in the class. | ||
Apbest Member Username: Apbest Post Number: 257 Registered: 03-2006 |
im from Beverly Hills and it seems to attract more young families than a critical mass of young creative professionals, like Royal Oa for example. It is def a suburb with character, and youth, but its def very family oriented. Royal Oak would be the best example | ||
Kova Member Username: Kova Post Number: 79 Registered: 12-2003 |
these people are students taking Hist 393 @ the univ of michigan. It was suggested that they might post their responses to an assignment here on the forum to see what responses they get. I just realized i didnt do this assignment. CRAP (Message edited by KOVA on November 06, 2006) | ||
Dialh4hipster Member Username: Dialh4hipster Post Number: 1839 Registered: 11-2004 |
I wonder if these are the responses they were expecting? | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 4133 Registered: 10-2003 |
"Hist 393 @ the univ of michigan"? | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 331 Registered: 04-2006 |
Maybe she means Beverly Hills CA, as our Beverly Hills, while very nice, is not the poster child for cutting edge. Beverly Hills to me means parking lots and traffic on Southfield with some subdivisions and cemetaries thrown in to liven the place up a bit. | ||
1953 Member Username: 1953 Post Number: 1086 Registered: 12-2004 |
Encouraging urban redevelopment by attracting the 'creative class" through a 'cool cities' approach is a failed redevelopment strategy, commonly found in the midwestern and northeastern United States. This approach supposes to redevelop distressed urban centers by providing welcoming environments for those transient employees of the 'creative class,' a moniker coined to describe those individuals whose artistic skills or progressive thinking are valued in communities otherwise experiencing a brain drain. However, communities deemed 'cool cities,' such as Ferndale or Royal Oak, Michigan, continue to lose residents and jobs. There are several flaws with the cool cities/creative class approach to redevelopment. Firstly, the creative class is typically comprised of individuals, not families, resulting in population loss wherever its members replace established communities. Secondly, this approach values skills which create value-less wealth; nothing more than paper, signage, or webspace is often created by the creative class. Thirdly, the transient nature of the creative class makes it easy for these individuals to leave as soon as they age out of that population - and because the creative class is often comprised of individuals living alternative lifestyles, the likelyhood of them being replaced by their own children is limited. A more holistic approach to urban redevelopment is increasingly accepted. This approach hinges on attracting large, diverse populations to once prosperous cities, through improved public services, accountability by the public, private, and nonprofit sector, simultaneous small and large scall business development, and other, more traditional economic development approaches. In cities with these elements in place, population loss has been all but alleviated. | ||
Bussey Member Username: Bussey Post Number: 312 Registered: 12-2003 |
I thought UofM had the cream of the crop when it came to students. These essays are very bland and obtuse. Why were random thoughts posted on here with no obvious questions asked or desired feedback mentioned? Maybe then such flip remarks wouldn't be given. It is similar to a person posting a generic statement and expecting a worthwhile response. ______________________________ _________________ "Fiscal Vice" While reading a recent article in Newsweek I found that most older cities are experiencing conditions that can put their services in to what is called a fiscal vice. By lessening their tax base while still maintaining the same amount of infrastructure these municipalities are having to come up with creative ways to balance their budgets while trying to keep taxes at levels that still can encourage growth. I think that this predicament can best be solved through regional solutions. If the surrounding communities became actively involved in resuscitating these central cities with tax credits, regional growth boundaries, or transit bolstering, among other initiatives then the problem might become surmountable. In the past, suburbs would look at the problems of the central cities with blind eyes and say that "its not our problem." But in todays economy most suburbs realize that the fate of its central city has tremendous impact upon its own future and therefore should strive to help it grow and past the "fiscal vices" of the present. Aaron Bussey His 393 WSU | ||
Ccastudent Member Username: Ccastudent Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2006 |
If this is true that a History class at the University of Michigan is looking into urban redevelopment strategies in Detroit - It'd be great to be in contact with you all, as I am in class at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco looking at the same thing. If a member of that class is reading this post please contact me at WhatHappened719@Gmail.com Thanks | ||
1953 Member Username: 1953 Post Number: 1087 Registered: 12-2004 |
*Note: Mine was sarcasm, not an essay submitted for a class. It took approximately 3 minutes to compose. | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 4140 Registered: 10-2003 |
1953, While sober? Not that it matters. | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 6999 Registered: 12-2003 |
Come ON, man, who writes SOBER?! I thought THAT was what all four-year resident institutions were supposed to be teaching our youth. | ||
1953 Member Username: 1953 Post Number: 1089 Registered: 12-2004 |
Sober is for losers. I just finished a bottle of "Cheap Red Wine" (I swear, its on the label) without using a glass! | ||
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto Post Number: 2698 Registered: 10-2003 |
"Encouraging urban redevelopment by attracting the 'creative class" through a 'cool cities' approach is a failed redevelopment strategy" Yeah, it worked terribly in Soho, East Village and Williamsburg, eh?? | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 7002 Registered: 12-2003 |
I think areas destined for this type of use must be allowed to foster and grow organically...as in Barnes' examples above...not manufactured by an outside NON-creative group. Creative types simply do NOT respond to governmentally designed anything...especially some plan to draw together a community of them for some greater purpose. It would never be 'theirs'. So...true Cool Cities should be noticed, awarded, rewarded...anything BUT planned in advance...creativity is NOT done on command, neither will it fit into any manufactured event. Just another academic studying an event, noticing a trend, and thinking they can make it the same or better...because they are doing it for a PURPOSE. Richard Florida might be smart, and hanging around the 'right' company...he got to speak at the Bohemian Grove a year or so ago...but after hearing him speak at Orchestra Hall and quickly reading his book I realized that he didn't get it. He noticed what had happened when they arrived and settled together, but never admitted that working with creative types is not unlike herding cats. Cheers! | ||
Hybridy Member Username: Hybridy Post Number: 28 Registered: 08-2006 |
doesn't sound like a very in depth paper for 300-level course at U of M, of all places... scoff write a paper worth reading and you won't have to worry about bitchy comments try visiting the place you're writing about, interview people who are actively participating in urban renewal i know there are a bunch on here judging by what was written this paper was due shortly after the post, which means all is lost i view my own as constructive criticism ride em yoshi | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 2201 Registered: 02-2005 |
you can't really call it a paper. Our prof. has weekly short assignments that are just reaction to readings. i will say that the lack of depth seen in the essays reflects the lack of depth in the class. I had signed up for this class thinking I'd be learning something; the prof. only scratches the surface, with a strange repetition of the same liberal buzzwords (typical UM). The class features a long list of socialist/union/black power-type speakers, too. | ||
Kova Member Username: Kova Post Number: 80 Registered: 12-2003 |
the most insightfull part of the class i'd say are the guest lectures really. The readings are so-so. We are required to visit detroit at least three times. | ||
Hybridy Member Username: Hybridy Post Number: 29 Registered: 08-2006 |
i have weekly critical analysis essays in a 200-level architectural theory course at UDM the readings use more words than i have time to look up. after about 4 hours of discussion i have to write the fuckin paper. add another 4 and it's a b-level paper. add on a part time job, and 16 other credits. please realize that all udm architects are engaged in active design studios for 14 hours/week for every hour in class 2 hrs out of class are recommended to complete the courseload 14+27=41 hours for one class/week ps-it's never enough-ask any udm archi alum i sure hope this girl puts in a tad bit more effort in her next 'reaction essay' it's funny but u of m grads would get all the jobs because of where their diplomas came from luckily that isn't the case so much these days people need to start paying for their education out-of-pocket and take some responsibility for their own betterment i work my ass off at work and school, and i love working in my studio late at night it's surprisingly relaxing-most of the time now don't anyone try to dump that 'all you do is draw pretty pictures and build little model houses' i swear to your god that i will give you the most beautiful columbian neck tie look that one up | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 7006 Registered: 12-2003 |
Apparently all you do is draw pretty pictures, build model houses... ...and actively threaten any and all of your detractor's lives with a gruesome death, merely for teasing you?! Yeah, I'm comfortable with the next generation of UofM grads...they're getting all they need to succeed in today's cut-throat global business climate. | ||
Rasputin Member Username: Rasputin Post Number: 3785 Registered: 10-2003 |
WTF is a "creative class"??????? More classism stemming from white supremacy upbringing, eh?? Black-atcha ..... roflmao at so-called education | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 7013 Registered: 12-2003 |
Probably the best assumption you could make, from your dank shadow perspective, Rasputin. Richard Florida made MORE than a few waves around the country by insisting that this class absolutely have NO bounds of race, religion, orientation, heredity, whatever. Gasp! Creative types abound outside of classification...you should try it sometimes, Rasputin, it is quite refreshing. Air out those bitter roots...shake the dust off your perceptions...come on into the 21st century. Unless you're afraid of any who don't share your pigmentation... |
