Detroit to host urban summit on development

In step with Detroit's economic improvements, the President's Council on Sustainable Development chose the Motor City for its May 1999 National Summit on Urban Development.

The summit, which will be chaired by Vice President Al Gore and attended by nearly 5,000 leaders from across the nation, will be "the Super Bowl" of sustainable development talks for the future, organizers say.

Martin Spitzer, executive director of the President's Council on Sustainable Development, said Detroit is an excellent choice because of its redevelopment of riverfront property.

"Detroit offers an opportunity to highlight some of the excellent work going on in sustainable development as well as the challenges that many communities face all over America," Spitzer said.

SNRE senior Mona Hanna said she thinks Detroit is an excellent choice for the conference, but she has concerns about the city's future development.

"Detroit is an excellent example of redevelopment," Hanna said. "But I'm concerned that they may sacrifice the environment development in the future."

Detroit has been working for years to redevelop its riverfront area after many companies abandoned the site, said Deputy Press Secretary Greg Bowens. Millions of dollars later, the area is now seen as one of the great successes of urban redevelopment.

"Detroit is becoming known as the redevelopment story of the 20th Century," Bowens said. "You'd be hard-pressed to find a city that has faced the challenges Detroit has faced."

Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer made the development a priority when he took office, and he feels the project is going well, Bowens said.

The conference will focus on the environmental impact of brownfields - which are now contaminated former industrial sites - and ways to transform them into productive sites again. This includes looking at the impact of the redevelopment of the areas on all factors of society, Spitzer said.

"Sustainable development grew out of the environmental movement," Spitzer said. "For our council, the groups from business and labor need to face economic, environmental and social goals together."

Spitzer said the conference will act as a catalyst for development in the future.

"This event will celebrate successes, discuss the challenges we face and launch a national dialogue about a more sustainable future," Spitzer said.

Thousands of national leaders are expected to participate in the summit, but Spitzer said he hopes students also will get involved.

"The issue of sustainable development is about the future, and the future is about kids and students and the roles they can play," Spitzer said. "We have roles for all ages," he said. "If there is any way to get students involved, we think it would be wonderful."

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