Media Report
May 20, 2012In Detroit's distressed areas, the neighbors left, and now services disappear
http://www.freep.com/article/20120520/NEWS01/205200478/In-Detroit-s-distressed-areas-the-neighbors-left-and-now-services-disappear?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE
Amid dwindling population and revenue, Detroit is trying to encourage people to move out of rundown neighborhoods that are largely vacant, yet drain the city of its resources. That means many of the services that once were available to residents in those areas are no longer an option. City officials announced they are refocusing dollars on steady neighborhoods that have little blight and a high number of owner-occupied homes. Lyke Thompson, director of Wayne State University's Center for Urban Studies, said the city's targeting approach is a good thing. "You really need to focus those dollars if you want to have any impact at all," Thompson said. "There's not enough to do everything for every neighborhood."
Amid dwindling population and revenue, Detroit is trying to encourage people to move out of rundown neighborhoods that are largely vacant, yet drain the city of its resources. That means many of the services that once were available to residents in those areas are no longer an option. City officials announced they are refocusing dollars on steady neighborhoods that have little blight and a high number of owner-occupied homes. Lyke Thompson, director of Wayne State University's Center for Urban Studies, said the city's targeting approach is a good thing. "You really need to focus those dollars if you want to have any impact at all," Thompson said. "There's not enough to do everything for every neighborhood."
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- Detroit Free Press
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