Census data indicate that the population of Detroit has fallen by 25% in the past decade, making it the first American city to cross and then retreat from the million mark. While the collapse of Detroit is certain to be regarded by some observers — economists, mostly, we expect — as a benign development, reflecting the free choice of thousands of former residents, we don’t see much that’s creative in the destruction of a major city’s hopes for the future.

The question now is the degree to which the most recent census figures will discourage those who have invested in Detroit and continue to try to make a go of it.

“Obviously it’s going to be a blow,” Mr. Metzger said. “All of us are kind of shocked, but it means we have to work that much harder.”

With more than 20 percent of the lots in the 139-square-mile city vacant, the mayor is in the midst of a program to demolish 10,000 empty residential buildings. But for many, the city already seems hollowed out.

“You can just see the emptiness driving in,” said Joel Dellario, a student at the College for Creative Studies. “I’ve been in and out of this city my whole life, and it’s just really apparent.”

We believe that a lot of things went wrong in Detroit, and that Americans need to know a lot more about what happened there. We pray that the city will find redemption in the hands of astute historians.

Drop me a line at rjk@dailyblague.com
This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 at 10:30 am.