The D draws comparisons to Pop City

Detroit’s crystal ball might be Pittsburgh. The city of steel isn’t the city of steel any more. The industry feel out, they lost population, and the city hit hard times. Now, they’re pulling themselves out.

Sound familiar?

So, as Detroit’s major industry of autos slowly crumbles and the city begins shifting toward new industry and infrastructure, there’s a model to watch, a kind of lighthouse showing the way.

Excerpt:

“The Pittsburgh economy is a healthy place,” said Frank Giarratani, an economics professor at the University of Pittsburgh. “If Detroit can somehow find itself in the same place, it will be OK.”

The two metropolitan areas share striking similarities.

Both long relied heavily on one industry for economic growth and ignored warnings to diversify. Both are home to strong research universities and foundations and a multitude of research and development centers. And both see their populations getting smaller and grayer.

But Pittsburgh was forced to cope with a severe economic crisis much earlier than Detroit. The outcome provides a glimpse of what may be in store for Michigan.

Read the entire article here.