I'm sold- Detroit is the place to be

It has honestly crossed my mind to give up going to all these other countries and sticking around this place. Getting a cool internship, and actually tipping the city over the brink of some watershed that people seem to think is coming. The city seems like a playground for urban design/architecture/community collaboration- so much can happen here, and most people care about this place. We're already discussing what an incredible city this place will be in 5 years when we come back and turn it around. Naive and paternalistic, I know, but an exciting thought nonetheless. It's strange, but even in this city that's losing so many thousands of people year despite the efforts of the city, no where has change seemed more possible. It's inspiring.

Some facts about Detroit: It's HUGE! Within its borders, you can fit Manhattan, San Fransisco, and Boston combined. And all the vacant space in Detroit adds up to be the size of San Fran.

We finally made it out of the Carr Center in downtown Detroit, and went on "Agency Visits" around the city. I went to the Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC), a part of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture.


It is, in a nutshell, one of the coolest urban planning organizations I have ever heard of. They work exclusively with non-profits, often CDCs in Detroit and beyond, on design projects of all kinds: arts, neighborhood planning, and architecture. They are a professional firm that has ties to the university, but it's pretty much an independent entity. They work for reduced fees, and they view innovative, human-centered as a social justice issue. Awesome, right? I could easily see myself doing that kind of work with my life.

Detroit on paper:

Detroit in cardboard:

Detroit in life:



View of Canada across the Detroit River: