In 1971, municipal leaders in Detroit, led by Henry Ford II, announced the plans for a aspiring project that would change Detroit's skyline and wishfully, out the city on the right path back to renaissance (Encyclopedia.) The Renaissance Center is seven linked skyscrapers in the Downtown area of Detroit. The complex is located in the International Riverfront, and is owned by General Motors. The building of the complex began in 1973 and was completely finished in 1981, and renovated in 2004. The original builder, John Portman, built the first phase which had a five tower rosette rising from the base. He then added a shopping center, banks, and restaurants. (GMCrencen) The renovation is 2004 consisted of adding the Wintergarden atrium, which provides entrance into the International Riverfront. The Detroit Marriott is the central tower of the center and is also the second tallest all-hotel skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. It has also been deemed the tallest building in Michigan since …show more content…
Over the past few years Detroit has become to be known as the most dangerous city in Michigan. With almost 5,000 reported crimes every 100,000 people. Most of the crime takes place in neighborhoods such as the upper east and central west. Delicia Williams, a Detroit native, says that "Detroit when I was growing up was dangerous and poor. We didn't have much, but the little that we did have was stolen. We didn't live in a very good condition, but once I started to grow up things got better. The crimes dropped tremendously and neighborhoods grew more safe. Although Detroit only moved down one step on the crime ladder, I think that is still progress" (Williams.) In 2015 Detroit has its lowest number of homicides in 40 years, it's safe to say that Detroit's crime is slowing waning