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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Detroit: End of the American Dream or Hope of the Future?

Detroit is a shrinking city, with just 700,000 residents in a place designed for two million.  Many who still live there want to leave. But instead of trying to restore the Silicon Valley of the Jazz Age to its time of industrial greatness, civic leaders have another idea.

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

Detroit is a shrinking city, with just 700,000 residents in a place designed for two million. Many who still live there want to leave. But instead of trying to restore the Silicon Valley of the Jazz Age to its time of industrial greatness, civic leaders have another idea. The Detroit Future City report is hugely ambitious: showing a greener, healthier and more prosperous city — at Detroit's present size. Can the symbol of post-industrial ruin become a model for re-inventing not only Detroit but other failing cities in the Rust Belt, Florida and California?

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Evan George

    Director of Content, News

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    Christian Bordal

    Managing Producer, Greater LA

  • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

    Sonya Geis

    Senior Managing Editor

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    Mark Binelli

    Rolling Stone

  • KCRW placeholder

    John Gallagher

    Detroit Free Press

  • KCRW placeholder

    Toni Griffin

    Detroit Future City

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