Where is Detroit?
-Located in the north east of the USA
-City in the state of Michigan
-Lies on the Detroit river
-The Canadian city of Windsor, Ontario is on the other side of the river
-Part of the ‘Rust belt’
What are the exogenous factors of Detroit?
-Ford has had large factories there which caused lots of inwards migration
-Migration of African Americans from the southern states (KKK) which brought culture and ideas
-Regeneration is happening as money is being invested into the area
-Large crime rates due to lack of employment and access to services
What are some endogenous factors of Detroit?
-Land use is largely industrial and some areas are contaminated
-Lies on Detroit river- Lots of water for manufacturing and easy transport in and out by boats for large machinery
-Borders French Canada so many migrate between the 2
-Large secondary sector
How did Detroit population changed overtime?
-From 1900 to 1950’s the population rapidly increased from 300,000 to 1,850,000
-After the 1950’s the population population rapidly decreased due to the ‘White flight’. Although the black population still slightly increased the population still dropped from 1,850,000 to 700,00 from 1950 to 2010
How has globalisation led to the decline of Detroit?
Globalisation and outsourcing to low wage Asian countries has led to the decline of heavy manufacturing industries which is what provided large proportions of jobs in Detroit.
-The reduction of jobs led to entire neighborhoods being left abandoned as large volumes of workers left alongside the jobs
What were the 3 big motor industries in Detroit?
-Ford
-General Motors
-Chrysler
Why was Detroit so vulnerable to collapse?
-Detroit was very reliant on one industry
-Mass migration of African-American people from the southern states caused racial tensions
How did Detroit’s location make manufacturing easier?
-Its location was ideal for heavy production because of its proximity to Canada and its access to large water bodies like the great lakes
What impacts do the economic changes have on the area/population?
-38% of the city’s population is below poverty level
-The residential vacancy rate was 27.8%
-Detroit has the highest unemployment rate at 23.1%
-The average police response time is 58 minutes
-Student enrollment fell by 3 times between 2002 and 2012
What is the rust belt?
The rust belt is the region in the upper north eastern united states and the Midwest which was once home to booming industries
Spatial and economic patterns in Detroit
-Higher income in suburbs of Detroit whilst the centre is very poor
-Population is dense in the city centre
-White’s have moved to the suburbs whilst African-Americans have stayed in the city centre
-More people are enrolled in schools in the suburbs then in the city
-Lots of vacant houses in the city, as you go to the suburbs there are less abandoned places
How has Michigan central station started renovation?
-Ford motor company purchased the station for £90 million in 2018
-Was a historic transportation hub which opened in 1913 however it has been left abandoned since 1988
-The aims are:
-To create 5000 new jobs with the focus on mobility and technology
-Build mixed use development like offices, retail, residential and public spaces
-Preserve historic architecture while creating modern functionality
-This will encourage new investment by promoting change in industry and attracting skilled workers
How may the Detroit river front be regenerated?
-General Motors unvieled a £1.6 Billion proposal to re imagine Detroit’s iconic renaissance centre and 27 surrounding acres on the river front
What is the plan:
-To transform the landmark into a dynamic mixed use complex focused on housing, offices and entertainment
-Demolish 2 39 storey towers in the 5 skyscraper complex to free up valuable riverfront space for redevelopment whilst preserving the city skyline.
-A catalyst for a 2 billion redevelopment
-Will increase property prices in a adjacent neighborhoods
-Improve the image of the city
What is a food desert?
A food desert is when inhabitants become increasingly deprived of access of fresh produce
-This occurred in Detroit because of the relocation of automobile factories to the suburbs which caused a chain of events that led to a downward spiral of income and employment which caused businesses like grocery stores to move out the city
How can urban agriculture help Detroit?
Urban farms has risen from 80 in 2000 to 1400 in 2016
-They produce close to 400,000 pounds of fresh produce annually
-It educates the local population on agriculture and sustainability
-Helps standards of living
-Helps ease economic burden
What is the drawback of urban farms in Detroit?
-City is very large, there may not be enough money everywhere
-Various legal and bureaucratic restrictions
-Legal restrictions on farming within city limits
-These are causing real estate prices to rise
-Opens doors to gentrification
Why did the population of Detroit rapidly decline from the1970’s onwards?
-This happened as the international oil crisis prompted people to buy vehicles with greater fuel economy.
-Competitors from Asia such as Honda, Toyota and Nissan produced more desirable models which led to sales falling
-The companies in Detroit responded by cutting jobs and shutting down inefficient factories
What happened during the race riots?
In 1967, race riots started which resulted in intervention from the national guard.
-More then 7200 were arrested and 2000 buildings destroyed in 5 days
What happened in 2013?
In 2013, the city of Detroit filed for bankruptcy with debt around 18-20 billion
What is the size of Detroit?
139 miles squared, used to be Detroit’s 4th largest city at its peak
What is Detroit’s murder rate?
-In 2012 Detroit murder rate was 53 per 100,000 which is x10 of New York city
How much of Detroit’s population is african american?
-82%
What caused an acceleration of the ‘white flight’?
The 1967 riots which resulted in 43 deaths and 7,200 arrests led to over 500,000 people fleeing for the suburbs
What is Detroits current population?
-650,000
-Has fallen by 1 million sine 1950
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Global Systems72
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Global Governance18
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Banana case study0
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Apple case study11
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Changing places48
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Detroit Case Study30
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Reading Case Study14
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Contemporary urban environments86
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Regeneration Policies in the UK since 197915
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LA and Mumbai12
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London3
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urban drainage and other urban issues19
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Urban waste and disposal16
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Sustainable cities13
