In wrapping up 2013, I must say that I am more than happy with my decision to move to Detroit. In the six months that I’ve lived in the city, and the 4 months I’ve been a part of the Challenge Detroit fellowship, I’ve been able to experience things and meet people that before now, I didn’t even know I wanted to do or meet. I’ve seen so much change in the city in such a short period of time that I know Detroit is going to continue to move forward into the next year.
New businesses have been opening their doors left and right; from pop up’s to brick and mortar stores, restaurants, coffee shops, retail. The city has plans for a new hockey arena and new public transit with the M-1 rail. Cobo center has had a facelift. We’ve seen Dan Gilbert buy up so many buildings downtown and bring them back to life. The Z-lot is the first in Detroit of its kind with the necessary first floor retail spaces and level after level of public art. The Livernois Corridor has had a huge boost towards its revitalization. My alma mater, Lawrence Tech, broke ground on a new Detroit campus. Plans for a new skyscraper downtown at Campus Martius have been released. The list continues to go on and on.
Sure, we’ve filed for bankruptcy; the necessary financial clean slate that Detroit needed to keep this momentum of revitalization going. But we also got an Emergency Manager to straighten up our cities finances, a new police chief who has already worked wonders in bringing down the city’s crime rates. Belle Isle will now be a state park and get the necessary financing it needs to make major improvements. I’m thankful for the help our city has received towards its revitalization.
So what will 2014 bring? For me? For Detroit? For the specifics, we’ll have to wait and see. But I know the New Year will be filled with more challenges, more successes, and more positive change for both me and this wonderful city I live in. I feel privileged to call this city my home, and am proud of its successes. So bring it on 2014 – Detroit and I, we’re ready for you!