In the past two decades, Detroit has lost 32 percent of its population. The suburban exodus of jobs and workers has trapped Detroit in a downward economic spiral, leaving the local government without sufficient funds to manage the city. Detroit also faces its share of urban environmental problems. Neighborhoods are lined by abandoned buildings and garbage. While the presence of brownfields does not translate into human exposure to toxics or land contamination per se, it does detract from the economic value of the land.
Companies are hesitant to invest in the land because of expensive cleanup regulations.
Further exacerbating the chasm between inner city and suburb is the lack of an adequate public transportation system. Before World War II, most factories were located along railroad lines, and workers' homes were clustered near train stations. As motor vehicles became less expensive, however, industries began to use trucks instead of trains to move materials. Today, the lack of public transportation facilities limits job opportunities for inner city residents. Many other cities in both the United States and the United Kingdom face similar problems of suburban flight and industrial downsizing.