REVERSE FRONTIER?

Out of destruction comes renewal and out of fire comes rebirth. That has been a tenant that city boosters and politicians have long championed as the key to the city's future. However things have remained in a state of (worsening) decline over the decade. Detroit can't rebuild and then sustain itself unless there is an influx of new people and more importantly, new ideas.

This it seems is in fact possible. Terrifying to most and insane to others, the idea of actually "moving" to Detroit is something that most people would never contemplate. Especially those locked into a middle class lifestyle. However for people who have no serious roots, no overburdened lifestyle and a keen sense of curiosity, ingenuity and adventure, Detroit offers a true, inexpensive and potentially lucrative urban opportunity.

"A guy like Kevin Putalik can arrive alone from Montana with an interest in urban agriculture — a booming part of life in Detroit, where grocery stores are scarce —“I moved here blindly,” Mr. Merkel said. “I was an artist in Portland and I became more interested in food. I decided that when I moved here I would be a butcher. Within the first two weeks we had a charcuterie club.” People move to Detroit, he said, “because they have a sense of purpose.”

Much like the frontier days of people moving west for opportunity and a new life, there are people who have moved to Detroit despite the blight and violence and decay. They see this as "potential" rather than a detriment. However, as a recent NY Times article suggested:  “You can’t change a city of 800,000 with 200 people,” said Phil Cooley, an owner of the popular Slows Bar BQ in Detroit. “There’s so much work to do.” .......That includes diversifying: a largely white creative class stands out in a largely black city; integration remains rare. Some worried about the image of the city. “People think it’s a blank canvas; it’s not,” said Corine Vermeulen, 33, a Dutch artist who has documented Detroit’s community farms.