Originally Posted by
myrridin
Such exodus' seem largely based upon economics. Lack of employment opportunities. We could argue about the reasons for such lack, but that would undoubtedly venture into a political discussion. The basic reason is simple: other areas offer better conditions for business, so business relocates to those areas and employment opportunities diminish in the less favorable area.
Something like low cost (or high desirability) housing only helps an area if employment is available. Usually such communities as the OP described would only serve to reshuffle the location of existing population, not bring in new population.
Given all of the desirables, how many would choose to live in Hawaii (or choose some other desirable spot), if they could find employment there? Indeed California, which has many desirable attributes seems to be experiencing an exodus, largely caused by the availability of jobs...
You're right about economics and employment being a main factor--probably THE main factor.
But Detroit has been losing population for decades now, and the reasons are many and complex. For example, crime is another factor that still makes Detroit undesirable (it's the main reason I left the city in 1977). Of course crime can be said to have a basis in the economy also. Racism was a big factor in population loss in the 1960s and 1970s, and probably a minor factor since then. A lot of Detroit's problems reflect nationa trends too. For example, black families seem to be returning to the south from all the northeren cities plus California.
A big reason for Detroit's problems, ironically, is the automobile. Affluent people moved to the suburbs starting in the early 1950s. The city was unable to annex suburbs because of Michigan's weird laws, and the tax base gradually eroded. By the time people noticed there was a problem, it was practically too late to do anything about the problem.