Detroit’s revival takes shape after decades of decay

I live in the greater Detroit area and would love for it to become a thriving tech community. While articles like this portray a thriving tech scene here, it’s not entirely accurate. Many automotive companies claim a need for tech talent but establish labs and locations in the Bay Area. For instance, Rivian’s vehicle software isn’t developed in Michigan, despite being HQed here.

The prominent tech employers in our area are Rocket, United Wholesale Mortgage, and GM. I believe our tech talent lacks the competitiveness of other tech hubs. I hope the state of Michigan can take proactive steps to enhance the appeal of our state and Detroit as desirable tech locations, but we must acknowledge that we are not yet a thriving tech hub.

30 miles West in Ann Arbor, there are tech gigs but not tons of them. If you are apart of the University of Michigan, there are tons of opportunities via the college and the groups there, but if not there aren't tons of openings.

Detroit itself is an amazing city, but it isn't a tech hub, nor is it for everyone. It is the shell of the automotive companies that started to move their operations of out the country in the 50s-70s. Check out the book "Origins of the Urban Crisis" to get an understanding of the decay in Detroit and other large cities who the Big 3 have abandoned for a profit.

All of my friends that I have brought to the D are always weirded out by how big the city is, yet how few people you actually see outside of the entertainment district. The streets and sidewalks can be fully empty, with a 6 lane road that has so many holes that it is more pothole than road now.

This piece is nothing but an advertisement for Dan Gilbert.

There is some truth to this, but i worry detroit is just doing the same thing that blew them out last time (overdependence on a small group of extremely rich businessmen that can leave at any time). Hope this works out for them, Detroit has really suffered since the automakers left (and the riots)

I wonder how the tariffs will affect this given how integrated Windsor is into Detroit's auto manufacturers.

I was in Detroit for a big tech event a couple years back. The more or less universal consensus was that, yes, the Riverwalk during the day (and the Convention Center there) were quite nice. But people felt uncomfortable away from large groups of event-goers at night and there were a few incidents. It definitely felt different from other events I've been to. Some of this is admittedly probably a matter of familiarity; I generally know to just avoid the Tenderloin for example.