Friday, 8 April 2016

World cities - Urban decline in Detroit

Detroit, USA


Reasons for decline:
  • Poor housing stock- abandoned apartment buildings, small family homes.
  • Few trees, banners and decorative lighting so it is unattractive.
  • City centre could not compete with suburban shopping malls, even offices moved to the suburbs.
  • Loss of streetcar network, no commuter rail, just buses.
  • Corruption in local government.
  • Race riots
  • Loss of industry from Chrysler, Ford and General Motors
  • Negative multiplier effect.

Problems:

  • 70,000 abandoned buildings
  • 31,000 empty houses
  • Urban blight
  • High crime rates
  • Population decline - 61% loss in 60 years
  • Unemployment rate of 23.1%
  • Poverty rates of 36.4%

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