AHC: Prevent the decline of Detroit

It's well-known today that Detroit, once a wealthy city and worldwide engine of car manufacturing, has declined dramatically, so much that Wikipedia has an article on it. The city's population has dropped dramatically, it's economy is failing, crime rates are high, and the city is experiencing large-scale urban decay.

With a POD no further than 1945, prevent the decline of Detroit.
 
I'll use my Streets of Detroit premise: The Chevrolet Corvair scores big and teaches a generation of American drivers the wonders of an excellent-handling car, while a very-confident GM takes that as a sign of things to come and builds line after line of more advanced machines in the handling and braking department, and the company never sinks into inertia. The result is a 1960s of engineering prowess, 1970s being the seeking of new markets and improving labor relations, 1980s bringing the minivan, the beginnings of the truck boom and new electronics, the 1990s being going global with the awesome stuff from Detroit and the 2000s reaping the rewards plus looking closely at the world around them and working to suit.

This is combined with a diversification of Detroit's economy into other areas, better industrial policy in Washington and the enaction of universal health care and better education to advance the society's competiveness. That Detroit bounced back to a considerable degree from the 1967 riots, bottomed out in the early 80s and came back in the 1980s and 1990s based on large-scale gentification, new construction and highly-developed entertainment and social advancements that made it be a big positive to live in the city. Result is Detroit blows through its 1950 population peak in the late 1990s and keeps going.
 
I'll use my Streets of Detroit premise: The Chevrolet Corvair scores big and teaches a generation of American drivers the wonders of an excellent-handling car, while a very-confident GM takes that as a sign of things to come and builds line after line of more advanced machines in the handling and braking department, and the company never sinks into inertia. The result is a 1960s of engineering prowess, 1970s being the seeking of new markets and improving labor relations, 1980s bringing the minivan, the beginnings of the truck boom and new electronics, the 1990s being going global with the awesome stuff from Detroit and the 2000s reaping the rewards plus looking closely at the world around them and working to suit.

This is combined with a diversification of Detroit's economy into other areas, better industrial policy in Washington and the enaction of universal health care and better education to advance the society's competiveness. That Detroit bounced back to a considerable degree from the 1967 riots, bottomed out in the early 80s and came back in the 1980s and 1990s based on large-scale gentification, new construction and highly-developed entertainment and social advancements that made it be a big positive to live in the city. Result is Detroit blows through its 1950 population peak in the late 1990s and keeps going.

What would be the legislation establishing a better industrial policy? And what would be the other areas for economic diversification? Lastly, are you gonna update Streets of Detroit?
 
Armored Diplomacy said:
With a POD no further than 1945, prevent the decline of Detroit.
Would you accept 1944? A quite small change in the G.I. Bill of Rights, to discourage only buying new houses (in new 'burbs:rolleyes:), or also encouraging renovation with the same lo-interest loans, would be a big help.

Lobbying to eliminate the mortgage interest deduction would be good, too.

(Yes, these affect more than Detroit...but Detroit got bitten by these harder than most cities.)

A ban on insurance company redlining would be good, too. (That's a state issue AIUI.)

Changing the state tax laws to discourage 'burbs subsidized by inner cities, or so farmers don't end up paying insanely high taxes (& selling out to developers), would be a big help, too. (Also a state or local matter.)

Improving the overall build quality of Detroit cars starting in the '50s or '60s would be a big, big help. (There's a reason a Lincoln owner set his on fire:eek: in the '70s, & it's not high gas prices.:rolleyes:)
 
I don't think you can stop suburbanization and a decline with a POD as late 1945, honestly. But you can stop Detroit from declining THAT badly.
 
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