TURNAROUNDS TAKE TIME

GREAT CITIES DO NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT

CREATING PLACE AND PROSPERITY REQUIRES PATIENCE

For a classic building, that had truly been in decline since the late 1960s, the rebirth of Michigan Central has to be the all-time case study for patience paying off.

“We have been deliberate in the redevelopment of a historic area and delivered a true mix of uses.

The downtown economy is not dependent on any one industry. We have some wonderful high density that supports transit,” Eric Larson, head of the Downtown Detroit Partnership, said.

“People want authenticity and originality — you only get that in a city that was built over time.

The reality is, cities that work, aren’t contrived. They have been able to embrace their past, their character.

You can build a big project fast, but you can’t build the trueness of the community back overnight — you have to have patience and vision.”