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Detroit's Urban Revival

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Detroit's Urban Revival Detroit’s Urban Revival: The Influence of Lower Class Socioeconomic Groups on Detroit’s Urban Revitalization Master Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the Degree Master of Science in Sustainable Development, Management, and Policy Submitted to: Dr. Sabine Sedlacek Witness: Dr. Christian Weismayer Davis Gibbs 1643001 MODUL University Vienna, 18th of June 2018 Affidavit I hereby affirm that this Master’s Thesis represents my own written work and that I have used no sources and aids other than those indicated. All passages quoted from publications or paraphrased from these sources are properly cited and attributed. The thesis was not submitted in the same or in a substantially similar version, not even partially, to another examination board and was not published elsewhere. Date Signature 2 Abstract Researchers and urban development experts alike have studied the causes and symptoms of urban decay and yet the conditions in Detroit have improved very little. Revitalization efforts often fail due to misguided strategies and policies that are implemented by weak leadership. Poor social and economic conditions are the driving forces behind urban decay in Detroit. In order to reverse the decay trend, revitalization strategies and policies have been directed to alleviate these adverse conditions. Many factors contribute to urban decay, making it difficult to develop appropriate revitalization strategies. Prior conducted research of Detroit evaluates urban development based on economic growth and does little to consider social factors, hence the focus on educational attainment and employment. Known by many urban development experts as a barrier to the region’s ongoing development, Detroit’s leadership must combat the local symptoms of urban decay so that upward social mobility of Detroit’s lower socioeconomic classes can occur, benefitting the revitalization process. This report successfully examines the relationship between lower class socioeconomic Detroiters and the influence that this class has on Detroit’s revitalization process. The resulting statistical analysis supports the literature and establishes a linear flow of variables and relationships that has an outcome of a mutually beneficial relationship existing between Detroit’s lower class and the revitalization process, supporting urban development experts and local politicians. 3 Acknowledgments I would like to thank Alex Venzin and Austin Kilroy, both experts in their fields for methodological support. Alex Venzin for the statistical approach and Mr. Kilroy for helping establish the scope of the research. Additionally, Ivan Nimac for the same support and for helping communicate between the United States and here. I would also like to thank Dr. Sabine Sedlacek and Dr. Christian Weismayer. Dr. Sedlacek was more than helpful in her continuous support, from beginning to end. Without her support this report could not have been conducted in such a manner. Dr. Weismayer provided statistical support that proved vital when determining the best statistical approach to address the overall research question. The support between the two faculties was instrumental and necessary to complete this report. I would like to send the upmost of thanks to my parents, Lyn and Russell, who made my educational opportunity in Vienna possible. They have been supportive of me from the very beginning of my academic career and so without them, this report would not have been possible. 4 Table of Contents AFFIDAVIT ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2 ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................................................................ 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................................................ 8 LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................................................................. 9 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................................................................. 10 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................ 11 1.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW OF URBAN DECAY ....................................................................................................................................................... 11 1.2 DETROIT’S BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................................................................... 14 1.3 FOCUS OF REPORT ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 2. LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................................................................... 23 2.1 HISTORICAL LITERATURE ............................................................................................................................................................................... 23 2.2 URBAN DECAY & REVITALIZATION LITERATURE ........................................................................................................................................ 31 3. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................................... 45 3.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 45 3.2 RESEARCH INSTRUMENT................................................................................................................................................................................. 48 3.3 LIMITATIONS .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 52 3.4 CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 53 4. DETROIT’S URBAN REVITALIZATION ....................................................................................................................... 54 4.1 URBAN DECAY STATISTICS OF DETROIT ....................................................................................................................................................... 55 4.2 REVITALIZATION STRATEGIES, PROGRAMS, AND INVESTMENT.................................................................................................................. 61 4.2.1 Federal Level....................................................................................................................................................................................... 61 4.2.2 State Level ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 62 5 4.2.3 Local Level ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 63 4.2.4 Infrastructure Projects ................................................................................................................................................................... 65 5. DETROIT’S ECONOMIC POTENTIAL ........................................................................................................................... 71 5.1 LABOR FORCE BREAKDOWN .......................................................................................................................................................................... 72 5.1.1 Population Size and Growth ........................................................................................................................................................ 73 5.1.2 Population Density ........................................................................................................................................................................... 74 5.1.3 Demographics .................................................................................................................................................................................... 76 5.1.4 Educational Attainment ................................................................................................................................................................ 80 5.2 INDUSTRY / SECTORAL ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................................................
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