Opinion: We should delay GM, Bedrock’s plans for Detroit’s Riverfront

A Neighborhood Advisory Committee member explains their opposition to the Community Benefits Agreement for Detroit's Renaissance Center redevelopment project, arguing that the negotiation process was fundamentally flawed and unfair to community representatives. The author criticizes that public funds constitute the second-largest contribution to the project—primarily for demolishing a city landmark—while developers GM and Bedrock face no binding commitments for promised amenities like marinas, theaters, or transit contributions. Despite community input throughout nine meetings, the author contends that key aspects remained non-negotiable and many promised features lack contractual obligations, with only verbal assurances and a non-binding timeline.