Development of a simulation model of the Detroit housing market

Abstract

A first generation model simulating the Detroit housing market has been developed for the City of Detroit. The model has the capability both to assist the City in planning for future housing and renewal needs as well as to aid in research to improve understanding of the functional relationships in the housing market. The key inputs to the model are census tract data describing specific attributes of the households, dwelling units and neighborhoods in the City. The model can provide forecasts of future levels of demand for housing with the specified structural and locational attributes. By operating the model under varying assumptions concerning public actions, it is possible to simulate the effects of the public policies being considered. The model is based on what is known, but it is designed to permit the development of a second generation model in response to advances in the state of the art of urban simulation modeling.