Detroit is a difficult town in many regards -- and any attempt to simplify it as either a hell-hole or a pollyanna frontier are woefully inaccurate. Nonetheless, some exciting developments are happening in Detroit and they may hold some of the keys to showing the world the way to build the dream city of the 21st century. And they may not. Understanding the key issues at stake is part of what will determine whether Detroit can accomplish this goal. Jacob Corvidae has been working at the heart of Detroit's sustainability movement for over a decade.