Making Educational Reform: Hard Times in Detroit 1988-1995

This article examines education reform in Detroit, employing data from over 75 semi-structured elite interviews. The research explores the apparent collapse of a local education reform effort in Detroit despite broad dissatisfaction with the current education system. Both collaborative and competitive approaches to reform are investigated through a regime framework. Reformers who implemented change were removed from office and yet a business school compact, neighborhood-based empowerment schools, and schools of choice remain as a legacy. This indicates that although short-term political support for change in Detroit did collapse, some long-term institutional impact of the reform remains

Cleaning Up the Mess: Redevelopment of Urban Brownfields

This article explores the impact of a brownfield redevelopment initiative in the state of Michigan. Although such programs are often perceived as having a positive impact, there is remarkably little evidence beyond anecdotal examples to support such claims. The reported analysis is based on a 5-year project to create a database capable of assessing the impact of the Michigan program. Findings indicate that a viable market for brownfield redevelopment has been created since the change in Michigan brownfield law. On average, brownfield sites have shown a decline in quality over time; however, many sites demonstrated significant improvement.brownfields; economic development; remediation; evaluation