Dear Bing Land-Use Advisors: Get Busy

Kudos to Crain's Detroit for giving us the skinny on Mayor Dave Bing's land-use summit last week, where he met with some of the major players to talk about reshaping the city.

In an article for this week's magazine, Crain's highlights some of what was said, discussed and suggested during the private meeting between Mayor Bing and some of the area's biggest wigs in terms of Detroit, its needs and its coveted land.

The article's bottom line: There is no plan – yet. All options are on the table. It will take 12-18 months for the advisory committee Bing set up to determine how this whole thing is going to happen. Mayor Bing also plans on setting up a citizen's advisory committee to keep the residents fully involved.

Openness and transparency are key, Bing said. “I think people feel like this group in particular is a secret agent for this administration, that we're going to come out with this plan and keep it close to our chest and nobody's going to know about it -- won't work,” he said. “We've got to be transparent, and we've got to be inclusive.”

I've got an open mind, Mayor Bing. Let's get the party started.

Sorry I cannot post a link to the article; you gotta pay Crain's to read it. Thems the rules.

But let me say this to Bing and his new advisors: I don't believe there isn't a “plan.” I think there had better be some pretty good ideas out there about what the city needs to do. The situation is pretty clear: This is a city in shambles, and something monumental needs to occur to change that. So speak plainly, and speak forcefully.

Now, there might not be a formal plan in terms of point-by-point steps toward reinvigorating Detroit. But bravo to all of the people named to Bing's advisory group; you have a mighty big job ahead of you, and this is progress. Real progress.

Members include the City Planning Commission director, CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership, president and CEO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, executive director of the Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative and representatives from the Detroit Land Bank, Data Driven Detroit and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. Whew. Lots of good people here; it will be interesting to see how well they play together.

And I'm rallying behind the Kresge Foundation, too. The Foundation is kicking in Toni Griffin, the nationally recognized urban planner, and a team of technical advisers “to work on the plan and a community engagement effort,” Crain's Nancy Kaffer reports. Thank you, Mr. Rapson et al. for giving Detroit the best present of all: A real chance.

This is high priority stuff, Bing Advisors. Don't waste time talking about buzz words, slogans and the right name for the project. Just get to the meat – finding a way to save this city and give its residents a clean, proper place to live. The future of Detroit and all of us living in and around the city is on you. Keep egos in check. Look forward. Plunge in. And thanks. You are doing real work here. Don't mess it up.