Synopsis:

Rather than tearing down its vacant buildings or pooling large sums of money to revitalize only a handful, Aaron Renn has another option for Detroit. Utilize the revitalization money to stabilize a majority of the vacant buildings. The city can then sew these properties together as a large tourist destination. Renn’s temporary use proposal provides multiple benefits: maintains the buildings for potential reuse down the road; makes the buildings more enticing to future developers; de-blights the properties; makes the sites active pieces of the city; enables the community (and tourists) to the see the opportunity in the buildings rather than just the problems. Detroit is at a serious crossroads right now. The opportunity is immense. Hopefully the city does not turn its back on those spaces that have helped to define it.