Detroit is abuzz with talk about "millennials" – the generation that is currently in their teens and twenties and just may be the key to Detroit’s revitalization.
Here’s some of what Crain’s had to say:
“Young people are the future of the country,” said Laurie Volk, a research analyst and principal at Zimmerman/Volk Associates Inc. brought in to speak by Detroit area leaders. “To retain and attract millennials, the region and state need to create more of the urban, mixed-use neighborhoods they seek."
There was an assumption young professionals moved where the jobs were, said Lou Glazer of Michigan Future. “But today it’s the other way around — knowledge-based employers move where the talent is.”
The Michigan Suburbs Alliance pointed out that, "Increasingly, America’s young and mobile talent is seeking urban, mixed-use, walkable communities that support the social lifestyles they desire. In order to attract them – and the companies that want to hire them – to southeast Michigan, we need to create these types of places. Did you hear that? The experts say we need to invest in our urban communities to reenergize Michigan’s economy."
According to CEOs for Cities, millennials seeks cities that:
- Are clean and attractive;
- Support the lifestyle they desire (meaning places that include entertainment, social and cultural venues);
- Are innovative;
- Encourage walking and multiple modes of transit;
- Are safe; and
- Offer the types of housing they desire at prices they can afford.
This once again confirms what TRU’s been saying for years – southeast Michigan’s recovery depends on vibrant urban communities, and transit is one of the keys to creating that vibrancy.