According to the most recent Census data, the city of Detroit lost over 237,000 people over the past decade. Today, the Motor City has a population of only 713,777, making Detroit America’s 18th most populated city. The Census findings fit nicely into the narrative of Detroit as a modern-day ghost town. However, say argue that the city’s blight is also an opportunity to build a new urban environment with opportunities to create a new local economy. John Gallagher is a business reporter for the Detroit Free Press and author of the new book “Re-imagining Detroit: Opportunities for re-defining an American City.” He explains why the city’s slimming population might turn out to be a good thing.
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