You would be wrong. About 14 years ago they built the Kansas Speedway in west Wyandotte and it triggered an economic firestorm in the area around it. Now you've got shopping centers, a minor league ballpark, the Sporting KC stadium, a casino, and God knows what else generating tax revenue hand over fist. I belive that Wyandotte is about the only county in the state which is lowering property taxes instead of raising them.
Give it time. Detroit has those things too.