LOL! Sad thing, I can remember a bustling downtown when I was a kid.
I have heard stories.
In Cleveland, it was just the opposite. In the sixties, no one went downtown. In the eighties, they started the nightlife in the warehouse district. Tons of $$$$ sunk into security and safety. The police pulled no punches. You could party until the sun came up, never mugged and your car was safe.
When I left 10 years ago, the partying was moving into the Public Square area and Tower City as well. They got a Hard Rock Cafe and a Huge Movie Theater there. It takes money and manpower to keep the people coming in. I don't think Detroit is ready or able to finance it.