http://detnews.com/article/20111201/BIZ/112010344/Investor-Tony-Goldman-interested-in-Detroit-properties#%2ETtfYQSWTTb4%2Eemail
note the part of the article that talks about the Dequindre Cut...lakelander has mentioned this path before as an example of what the S-line could someday be.
It seems like this guy really gets it. However, it seems to me that if anyone threw that much money at a project it would work itself out. I'm not sure Jacksonville is sophisticated enough and interested in QOL enough to make one of his art redesigns successful. However, we could benefit from a huge investor like this. I know that Lake says a one trick pony won't save DT, but a giant project like this or the Laura Street Trio could sure get the ball rolling.
Don't sleep on Detroit....at least not downtown, Midtown and New Center. Those areas are going to boom big time within the next five years with what that city has done recently and continues to do. In those areas, they are paying young professionals to move there, the local companies ponied up $100 million for an LRT starter line and the city is putting in hundreds of miles of bike lanes, mulituse paths, etc. It's not surprising that a guy like this would be interested in investing in the area. If I had the cash available, I'd invest there before I would in any Jacksonville neighborhood.