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Can This Planner Save Detroit?
Architect ^ | 10.19.10 | Fred A. Bernstein

Posted on 10/20/2010 8:54:08 AM PDT by Thebaddog

Time magazine called Toni L. Griffin a “star urban planner,” which doesn’t have quite the same ring as “starchitect,” but properly describes the 46-year-old. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, where she still teaches, Griffin began her career in the private sector, working first for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in her native Chicago. While at SOM, she helped turn the Renaissance Center, John Portman’s office and hotel complex in downtown Detroit, into General Motors Co.’s world headquarters.

This spring, Griffin signed on for what may be America’s toughest urban planning challenge: helping to remake Detroit, a city that has seen its population decline by half over 60 years. In September, Griffin helped Mayor Dave Bing’s administration launch the Detroit Works Project, a 12- to 18-month effort to map the city’s future. It began with a series of widely attended public forums.

(Excerpt) Read more at architectmagazine.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: detroit; planner
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Are there limits to what government can do?

Government can make some transformative moves, but those are going to be combined with a lot of smaller-scale efforts that bubble up from the grass roots. There are already examples of that happening. For example, people are using public art projects and community agriculture to transform entire neighborhoods

There is no discussion about tax abatement for businesses to move to the city. No real discussion about police protection, no real sense of how a city grows and rejuvinates.

I'm from Detroit and have witnessed numerous attempts to "save" the city. Until the fundamentals are addressed, this planner will produce more words than action. IMHO.

1 posted on 10/20/2010 8:54:10 AM PDT by Thebaddog
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To: Thebaddog

People won’t move into a blighted neighborhood without assurance of safety, an opportunity to safely raise families, readily available goods & services and work opportunities.

Safety has to be on the top of the list.


2 posted on 10/20/2010 8:58:39 AM PDT by lurk
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: Thebaddog
"There are already examples of that happening. For example, people are using public art projects and community agriculture to transform entire neighborhoods"

So nailing large stuffed animals to a falling down house, and subsistence agriculture and hunting raccoons is going to bring back Detroit? ( You'd have to be a Harvard graduate to believe that )

4 posted on 10/20/2010 9:01:32 AM PDT by Leisler
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To: Leisler

This chick isn’t even leaving her day job to save Detroit. What does that tell you about her expectations?


5 posted on 10/20/2010 9:05:41 AM PDT by Thebaddog (Shakey Jake said, " The hippies will never survive!")
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To: Thebaddog

I deal with ‘planners’ all the time. Its no coincidence that the ascendency of planning and zoning in the early 60’s was the start of the decay for so many cities.

And this ‘planner’ is talking about urban gardening as the solution to Detroit’s problems?

I know very little about Detroit or its problems; but, I am doubtful they will be successful if they put their fate in the hands of urban planners.


6 posted on 10/20/2010 9:06:02 AM PDT by lacrew (Mr. Soetoro, we regret to inform you that your race card is over the credit limit.)
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To: Thebaddog
While at SOM, she helped turn the Renaissance Center, John Portman’s office and hotel complex in downtown Detroit, into General Motors Co.’s world headquarters.

So, she's a world-class pork procurer. And she evidently has close connections with Obama.


7 posted on 10/20/2010 9:09:10 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius.)
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To: Leisler

“There is a vibrancy to the downtown.”

There most certainly is a “vibrancy” to the downtown area - it can be felt in the sidewalk as a black urban predator closes in on its prey. The knocking knees cause the vibrations.

This Ivy League loon is just another willing servant of socialism.

Remove regulations and regulatory agencies, outlaw unions, and place a $50,000 bounty on all criminals killed during any violent crime.

Once criminals become a potential resource waiting to be harvested, people will once again move into high crime areas because those criminals are then seen as a resource rather than a risk.


8 posted on 10/20/2010 9:09:42 AM PDT by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is essential to examine principles,)
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To: Thebaddog
Can This Planner Save Detroit?

No. Next question please.
9 posted on 10/20/2010 9:11:08 AM PDT by rockvillem
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To: Cicero

First question for this genius should have been about how to expand the tax base. Not the tax rate, but the base.


10 posted on 10/20/2010 9:11:55 AM PDT by Thebaddog (Shakey Jake said, " The hippies will never survive!")
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To: GladesGuru

“Remove regulations and regulatory agencies, outlaw unions, and place a $50,000 bounty on all criminals killed during any violent crime.”

Wash, rinse and repeat as necessary in any major city.


11 posted on 10/20/2010 9:12:44 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Remember March 23, 1775. Remember March 23, 2010)
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To: Thebaddog

Cities exist for a purpose. If that purpose goes away, and a new one is not found, then the city dies.

Detroit was first a trading center, then became home for the American auto industry. What does Detroit have to offer today that can not be found elsewhere?

Without a purpose, cities will eventually cease to exist.


12 posted on 10/20/2010 9:19:58 AM PDT by CIB-173RDABN (California does not have a money problem, it has a spending problem.)
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To: Thebaddog
The team is sensitive to the scars left by federal urban renewal programs in the mid-to-late ’60s, which in fact did uproot people.

Forced busing and crime drove people out of the city. White flight turned into urban blight.

Maybe Detroit should move twenty miles north with the rest of the population.

13 posted on 10/20/2010 9:21:22 AM PDT by Slyfox
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To: Thebaddog

The best thing I can think of for Detroit is to evacuate the place and turn it into a live-fire exercise area for ICBMs


14 posted on 10/20/2010 9:22:49 AM PDT by hoagy62 (.)
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To: Thebaddog

Yes, architecture and city planning are the root causes of Detroit’s slide into anarchy...

I also have a toll bridge for sale...cheap.


15 posted on 10/20/2010 9:35:28 AM PDT by ltc8k6
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To: Thebaddog

I’m sure people are leaving Detroit for Dearbornistan where they can live under the “peaceful” arms of sharia law.


16 posted on 10/20/2010 9:44:50 AM PDT by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July, democrats believe every day is April 15.)
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To: Thebaddog
Just use this to remake Detroit:

A W-53 performs miracles.

17 posted on 10/20/2010 9:56:01 AM PDT by OldMissileer (Atlas, Titan, Minuteman, PK. Winners of the Cold War)
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To: lacrew

I suppose November trough March will be ‘slow’ months, in an otherwise rocketing revived Detroit.

/sarc


18 posted on 10/20/2010 10:01:17 AM PDT by Leisler
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To: ltc8k6
Detroit just really needs a great architectural leader.


19 posted on 10/20/2010 10:07:01 AM PDT by Leisler
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To: AdmSmith; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; bigheadfred; Convert from ECUSA; Delacon; dervish; ...

No! Next!

http://tonilgriffin.com/default.aspx


20 posted on 10/20/2010 10:54:00 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
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