Survey Shows Younger Generation Believes in Detroit; Majority of People Dissatisfied with How Elected Officials Work Together

DETROIT, April 21 /PRNewswire/ — Nearly half of SE Michigan residents say they love living in the Detroit region. But most are frustrated by current conditions and believe elected officials at all levels must work together to revitalize the region, according to a recent survey.

The study, conducted by the Detroit Regional News Hub and Intellitrends, takes the pulse of the region from a number of different perspectives including quality of life, economics, demographics, tourism and revitalization efforts. The survey included 2,030 people – 829 SE Michigan residents living in nine counties including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Monroe, St. Clair and Washtenaw and 1,201 from outside Michigan.

Results showed that the younger generation – those ages 18-34 – holds out hope for improvement.

About 11% of those interviewed love it here and wouldn’t think of moving, while 39% love it here but are discouraged with current conditions. Another 8% like it here and will do whatever they need to do to stay. However, 31% said they dislike Detroit and want to move to another region.

“It is important to know what the community feels about what is going on in Detroit,” said Marjorie Sorge, executive director of the Detroit Regional News Hub. “Our study shows that the region has a future because young people believe in what needs to be done and they are willing to make a difference.”

The survey also showed that almost 90% of those surveyed believe getting a degree beyond high school is important to critically important to revitalizing the region.

Of all those surveyed living in the Detroit region, one in three would leave for various reasons. Of those, one-fourth say they like it here but would consider living somewhere else. Only 7% dislike it here and are moving and only 2% are in the process of moving.

Those 18-34 are also in downtown Detroit more often. Nearly half of SE Michigan residents in that age group say their use of downtown Detroit increased compared to previous years. Almost half of those 18-34 responding say they would come downtown more if there was a light rail system from the suburbs. Overall, one in three SE Michigan residents says they would visit downtown if there was a light rail system.

“That so many of our young people are committed to the City of Detroit and the Detroit region is proof we have the backbone and support to reinvent ourselves and transform this region,” said Cindy Pasky, chair of the Detroit Regional News Hub board of directors and president and CEO of Strategic Staffing Solutions. “It is up to all of us, as residents, business owners, entrepreneurs, the educational community and politicians to work collaboratively to do just that. In short, collaboration is not an option; it’s a mandate for all of us.”

The study showed that 59% of Southeast Michigan residents do not feel elected leaders are working together effectively to revitalize Detroit and the region and all levels of government need to be involved in the effort. 80% of SE Michigan residents feel the Governor should be strongly engaged in the revitalization/reimaging efforts for Detroit.

When asked if current efforts to revitalize the region are on the right track just over half of those responding believe we are on the right track but have a long way to go while just over a third believe we are not on the right track or are not doing enough to improve or revitalize Detroit.

As one 18-24-year-old respondent said, “Very little has changed over the years. You would think at some point elected officials would get together and say ‘we have had enough of this, let’s get something done and revitalize Detroit.’ It seems as if we are accomplishing very little.”

Among the other findings:

• Just 13% of those living outside of Michigan have heard or read about any revitalization efforts in Detroit. The majority of those living outside of Michigan said they get their information on the region from national TV.
• 91% of the residents of Southeast Michigan feel the Detroit region is portrayed negatively to extremely negatively in the national media and take exception to that portrayal and say some progress is being made.
• One-third of those responding see the region as a good or excellent place to do business as compared to only 14% outside of Michigan.
• Those living in the region see automotive and advanced automotive, film and entertainment and energy/green as the region’s best opportunities for diversification.
• The majority of SE Michigan residents and those living outside Michigan see revitalization efforts as increased jobs and new uses for vacant buildings or tearing down those structures. Increased businesses and a more vibrant downtown also ranked high.
• Neighborhoods, diversification of industry, increased entrepreneurs, more people living downtown and parks and green space were ranked higher by those living outside the state than those living inside.
• Residents living in the region who are 18-34 ranked new uses for vacant and abandoned properties as their No. 1 issue for revitalization followed by increased jobs, a more vibrant downtown, tearing down abandoned structures and increased new business.
• Those ages 35-54 put increased jobs as No. 1 while new uses for vacant buildings and tearing down vacant structures tied for second place. A more vibrant downtown was third followed by increased new business and neighborhoods.
• Those over 55 put tearing down abandoned buildings as No. 1, followed by increased jobs, new uses for vacant and abandoned homes, increased new businesses and a more vibrant downtown.
• Residents in from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb had very different perspectives on what revitalization means. Wayne ranked increased jobs as No. 1; Oakland residents said it was a more vibrant downtown while Macomb residents put tearing down vacant structures first.

The Detroit Regional News Hub’s partners include Business Leaders for Michigan, Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, Detroit Regional Chamber, Downtown Detroit Partnership, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and One D as well as several businesses and other organizations.

For a copy of the survey go to www.thedetroithub.com.

About the Detroit Regional News Hub

The Detroit Regional News Hub connects journalists with the experts, stories and data on key topics so they can write or report more complete, multi-dimensional and nuanced stories about the Detroit region. Without spin, the Detroit Regional News Hub conveys the strengths and the assets of the region while owning up to its challenges. Funded by the New Economy Initiative and Business Leaders for Michigan (formerly Detroit Renaissance) the Detroit Regional News Hub works collaboratively with a host of local partners to provide the experts, stories and data. These experts include the region’s leaders in business, economic development, government, community and philanthropic organizations as well as education.

About Intellitrends

Intellitrends LLC, a leading international market research company based in Clarkston (Oakland County), Michigan, for the past 20 years, is committed to working closely with clients to achieve continuous competitive advantage and understanding of their global marketplace and the dynamics within, through decision-focused, quality-driven marketing research that provides a fact-based foundation.

    Contact:        Marge Sorge
                    734-578-6507
                    or
                    Maura Campbell
                    517-944-0811

SOURCE The Detroit Regional News Hub