Kraydich 1

Matt Kraydich
Professor Ewing
Hon 1000
4 November 2016
A Symbol of Hope
The 12th Street riots, one of the most violent urban revolts in the 20th century (Wang)
and a low point for Detroit. Rising black unemployment, segregation, and socio-economic
conditions were underlying issues affecting the city. As the car companies faltered for a variety
of reasons, plant closures and layoffs ensued (Moskowitz). Detroit city financial leaders led by
Henry Ford II, watching as business and trade moved from the city to the suburbs (Detroit 1701),
formed a coalition called the Renaissance Center Partnership (Detroit 1701). This partnership
was an attempt to bring businesses and trade back into the city and create jobs. The Renaissance
Center was meant to symbolize to the world the effective way Detroit rebounded from the riot
(Detroit 1701). The Renaissance Center is a symbol of hope, a shiny beacon, and a promise of
better things to come for a city that has seen its share of adversity.
To represent where we are going, my group chose the Renaissance Center or RenCen.
We made our choice because of the history surrounding the Renaissance Center and its
continuing importance to the citys revival. I agree with my group that the Renaissance Center is
a good representation of who we are and where we are going. I also agree with the groups
suggestion that the Renaissance Center is the center piece of the city and that which distinguishes
Detroit from other cities. In 1977 the Renaissance Center, designed by John Portman and
Associates, opened housing the 73-story Detroit Marriott hotel (Moskowitz) (see figure 1).
Upon its opening, Mr. Ford declared, Detroit has reached the bottom and is on its way up

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(Marshall) and called the Renaissance Center a catalyst for downtown (Desiderio). In addition
to the main tower, two 21-story office buildings opened in 1981. The Renaissance Center
complex was referred to as a city within a city (Marshall). Although not the city savior that it
was intended to be, the RenCen did bring dining, theater, and some businesses back into the city
(Detroits Downtown gets a tonic) and established itself as Detroits signature (Detroit 1701).
It was a start.
Out of the ashesa phoenix rises. We forward to 2015, a post-bankruptcy Detroit is
emerging from a lengthy 16 months of court protection, humiliation, negotiation and
compromise with a plan to move on from its default and rebuild (Davey). Detroit, like many
cities that face economic issues, will now be faced with the daunting task of charting a new,
sustainable course for a city rescued from financial collapse (Davey) and that course will not be
an easy one. In an effort to rebuild as well, General Motors, who purchased the Renaissance
Center in 1996 and moved its world headquarters there in 2004 (Bleznick), re-brands itself as
The GMRENCEN (see figure 2). This new logo Reflecting a New Detroit (On the Plaza
keeps the fun going in August) is an important step in again making the Renaissance Center
Detroits signature. This New Detroit is who we are: strong, resilient, and able to rebound
from adversity. According to Moskowitz, Detroit is seeing major growth in its downtown area.
The riverfront is experiencing new development, including a 5.5 mile walking and bike strip
along the waterfront and in the area around the RenCen. Other cities should take note of and
learn from the mistakes Detroit made. They should also note the fact that Detroit is rebounding
and re-building. General Motors and the Renaissance Center have become a central part of the
rebuilding of Detroit.

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The Renaissance Center is a good illustration of who we are and where we are going.
Henry Ford II and his Renaissance Center Partnership saw the Renaissance Center as a symbol
of hope, the cornerstone of citys rebirth, and the vision of what is to come. General Motors is
offering up a similar Way of Seeing the GMRENCEN as Reflecting a New Detroit. The
City of Detroit has seen its fair share of hard times, some self-imposed and some out of its
control. The Renaissance Center is a reminder that our city is great, beautiful, and strong and
that we wont be held down. The Renaissance Center, the signature of the City of Detroit, and a
vision of hope for all.

(Figure 1)

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The Renaissance Center in a photo dated October 1979. The main tower, housing the Detroit
Marriot hotel, opened in 1977 with the two side towers opening in 1981 (Detroit Historical
Society).

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(Figure 2)
The Renaissance Center as it stands today. Home to General Motors world headquarters, fine
dining restaurants, theater and entertainment, lodging, and business (On the Plaza keeps the fun
going in August ).

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Works Cited
Bleznick, Susan R. Architectural Record: GM Moves to Renaissance Center, Powering Detroit's
Building Boom. The Record and Guide, 02/01/1998. Web. 5 Nov. 2016.
Desiderio, Francis. A Catalyst for Downtown: Detroit's Renaissance Center. Michigan
Historical Review, vol. 35, no. 1, 2009, pp. 83112. www.jstor.org/stable/25652152.
"DETROIT'S DOWNTOWN GETS A TONIC." Business week Aug 09 1976:
52. ProQuest. Web. 5 Nov. 2016.
Florian, M. Hart Plaza - Ren-Cen. Digital image. Detroit Historical Society, 1979. Web. 8 Nov.
2016.
Marshall, Colin. The Renaissance Center: Henry Ford II's grand design to revive Detroit a
history of cities in 50 buildings, day 42. The Guardian, 22 May 2015.
Moskowitz, Peter. The two Detroits: a city both collapsing and gentrifying at the same time.
The Guardian, 5 Feb. 2015.
On the Plaza keeps the fun going in August GMRENCEN.COM, 3 Aug. 2016,
www.gmrencen.com/blog/#on-the-plaza-keeps-the-fun-going-in-august/
Renaissance Center. Detroit1701, www.detroit1701.org/RenCen.htm, Accessed 31 October,
2016.

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Wang, Tabitha C. Detroit Race Riot (1967) BlackPast.org. Web. 8 Nov. 2016,
www.blackpast.org/aah/detroit-race-riot-1967