Studio Render Inc.Architecture, Politics and Philosophy

Mar 11th Thoughts on the City of Detroit

Detroit today is a city bound by what built it: the car. With advances in technology, commuting to work has become the rule rather than the exception. Commuting is unbearable – to our time, our money, the environment and our childcare. The fact is, people love their cars and the suburbs offer a desirable lifestyle. The result is that Detroit has become a place of decay with a stereotype to match it. The current residents of Detroit have a median household income of $18,742 and 37% are without a high school diploma (census information). On the other hand, one of the suburbs close to Detroit (Redford Township) has a household income of $51,840 with only 21% of residents without a high school diploma. The scale follows this trend the further you travel from Detroit. So, how can Detroit attract these middle to upper class suburbanites to live downtown?

Money needs to be spent within city limits. This increase in affordable technology (computers, cell phones, etc.) has made being your own boss no longer just a dream. Live/work housing combines living and working into one piece of property, making the employees full-time residents of the city and keeping money in the area and local retailers. The book, “Loft’s: Living in space” states loft living began in the United States when artists began occupying entire floors of industrial factories in New York’s SoHo during the 1940’s. It was the fashionable residence of the day; a symbol of millennial cool. The concept adapted over time from the store owner living above his store, the lawyer whose office in front conceals his residence in the rear and the artist who can work at any time of the day. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 million people work from their home.

Cities need people in them to make them a thriving, inviting and exciting area. Detroit has sections of the city where land is abundant and in need of revival. For a live/work development to work, it must be based on the city center. If there are no supporting amenities for the residents, there will be no appeal. The Fox Town/Sports District offers residents access to theatres, sports venues, night clubs, casinos and restaurants. This area would be able to attract young professionals, dot-comers, entrepreneurs, young and empty-nesters to name a few. By offering some of the suburban amenities in the city as a viable alternative to conventional housing, live/work units will help provide the draw needed to bring people back into the city.

Isolation, sense of place and separation. Architect Thomas Dolan, AIA of the live/work institute claims, “The greatest drawback of working at home is isolation”. He suggests that a sense of community will arise with opportunities of spontaneous socializing due to a greater caring for the space and for others who share it because of the 24-7 lifestyle. Conversely, separation of living and working spaces may become the fine line of success or failure. “One Space Living” by Cynthia Inions stresses degrees of separation in the units. Public and private areas must be distinguished to ensure the appeal and mental health of its occupants.

Copyright © 2007 Adam A. Dailide www.studio-render.com

Posted in Editorial and tagged area, automobile, automotive, car, city, community, commuting, decay, detroit, economic, economics, Editorial, exciting, industry, isolation, lifestyle, living, michigan, money, residence, residents, socializing, space, suburbs, technology by Studio Render with 12 comments.