RIGHTSIZING DETROITBro. Scott Benson

Candidate Michigan State Representative, 2nd District

Rightsizing – Adopting a smarter density

Creating a more sustainable way of living by providing cost benefits by increasing the efficiency with which energy is used and services are delivered. Fosters healthier and safer communities. - ANDRE BRUMFIELD

Reuses for Vacant/Underutilized Land – large and small scale agriculture, green space, prairie for grazing livestock, parks and rec., large lot residential homesteading .5+ acres – undeveloped land is not useless land. -

“People are resistant to the rightsizing discussion but Detroit is already rightsizing itself. Unfortunately, it is not being managed and that has resulted in 100’s of acres of scattered vacant lots with no contiguous marketable mass of vacant land, areas have become defacto dumping grounds, and a property tax base that no longer supports the services required for a city of this size.” Scott Benson

The real question is not whether these cities shrink – we're all shrinking – but whether we let it happen in a destructive or sustainable way," said Mr Kildee. "Decline is a fact of life in Flint. Resisting it is like resisting gravity."

RIGHTSIZING

Substantial and sustained decrease in population (1960 to 2000)—10%>◦ Detroit lost 50% of its population in a 60 year period. Pop. loss of 15.8K per year

Physical footprint remains roughly the same◦ Detroit is approximately 138 sq miles

Dwindling population and growth projections◦ Detroit is expected to have a pop. under 900K in 2010 census.

Dysfunctional Market: surplus of vacant properties and abandoned buildings◦ Detroit has a need for approximately 280K homes. Had approx 610K◦ homes in 1950“Right Sizing Shrinking Cities—land banking, green infrastructure, and innovative design,” Prof J. Shilling

WHAT IS A SHRINKING CITY?

Shrinking cities are not a Detroit phenomenon

Liverpool, England – 50% pop, loss since 1930, 435K current pop.

Detroit ranks 40th globally for pop loss over the last 50 years

Midwest and Northeast industrial centers have had steady population loss/shift over last 50 yeas w/ New York and Chicago bucking trend

Midwest and Northeast cities saw/see population shift from city to suburbs

BACKGROUND

Saginaw – 100K pop. in 1960 2010 est. 53K pop.

Flint – 200K pop. In 1960 and est. 110k pop in 2010

Detroit – 1.8M pop in 1950 and est. 886k pop in 2010.

MICHIGAN’S SHRINKING CITIES