Detroit's Alienated Communities

The Detroit skyline. Photo by Michael Tighe.

High rises under construction; white, affluent, educated people moving in down the block; long-time residents of those homes being evicted and physically displaced. That’s often how we picture gentrification.

And yes, gentrification can manifest in this manner. However, it is misleading to assume that it always occurs in the same sequence, beginning with physical displacement. Gentrification can also happen in an inverse process, for example: cultural displacement can precede physical displacement. The process is not limited to physical space, and also includes the emotional and cultural relationship residents have to the neighborhood. It is the exclusion of long-time residents in the decision-making processes that involve their space. In Detroit, gentrification is brushed off because direct, physical displacement is not occurring at a high volume and it is rather poverty that seems to be the larger threat. 

The city’s neglect goes back decades. An increase of white flight following the 1967 Detroit Race Riots was a pivotal moment in segregating Black residents from the neighboring suburbs and preventing their access to resources. Most recently, the ongoing coronavirus outbreak is exacerbating the effects of discrimination, putting Black Americans at the highest risk for infection. These issues persist today and while Detroiters are in the early stages of residential displacement, they began feeling this disconnect between culture and locality much earlier. Black residents of Detroit report that they no longer feel comfortable in their neighborhoods due to these cultural shifts as white communities move back into the city.

Hotspots for gentrification are not limited to residential neighborhoods: industrial projects are also causing harm to nearby residents. For instance, Ford Motor Company planned a new expansion by purchasing a vacant lot in Corktown, the city’s oldest surviving neighborhood. This project created a rift between the company and the public, as it would inevitably lead to an increase of white-collar workers, high rents, and an overall change in the culture of the neighborhood.

Although the project was an unpopular private undertaking, the purchase still took place, putting the site under Ford’s influence with plans to be completed by 2022. Ford’s investment, however, is one of many ongoing efforts. A new development project allocated $150 million dollars toward the construction of new, loft-style apartments. Another project built a youth athletic facility and banquet hall. 

Of course, the city must assist its low-income residents out of poverty by investing in the city. However, the current development efforts are counterproductive. An increased corporate presence and new urban projects are leading to the displacement of low income individuals. Meanwhile, many Black-owned businesses are being pushed out as young, white residents are establishing their own presence, primarily in the downtown area. Residential displacement in Detroit is a reality because of these various factors, including industrial occupation and feelings of alienation. The culture of many neighborhoods has been changed by the inevitability of displacement. For instance, residents of Grandmont Rosedale in Northwest Detroit felt secure when they were experiencing stability in income and rent. However, a block-by-block analysis now reveals that most renters and speculators would quickly raise their rent or sell their property if the right investments came along—coinciding with a sense of fear and instability. Gentrification is making slow progress, and it’s only being noticed by its victims. 

Gentrifying varies among cities, neighborhoods, and streets. To suggest that it has a uniform standard is inaccurate and risks intensifying its harmful consequences. In order to properly revitalize Detroit, community members must be included and supported in the urban planning process so the area retains its cultural identity. These efforts stem from nonprofit organizations run by and for community members.

Organizations like the Community Development Advocates of Detroit amplify the voices of city residents through public policy that supports nonprofits and place-based initiatives, launching neighborhood projects that involve its community members. Seven initiatives have succeeded so far, including the creation of an outdoor ecological education center. C.D.A.D. also engages with several city council members to promote collaboration with community organizations—in efforts to raise the voices of city residents. Investment in community organizations that develop according to the needs of the neighborhood is the first step to combat gentrification.

So Detroit can be the vibrant home to its residents that it once was.