Brinda Devine
How to Lose a Neighborhood
A Developer''s Perspective:
By Design - Power, Policy, and Detroit's Black Poverty Model
What This Book is About
How to Lose a Neighborhood is about what actually happens on the ground—not what people say happens. It breaks down how neighborhoods change, who makes the decisions, and who benefits from those decisions. This isn’t theory—this is based on real experience working in development, dealing with systems, and seeing how things play out in real time.I walk through how economic displacement shows up, how real estate deals are structured, and how policies and investment patterns shape outcomes long before people realize what’s happening. A lot of what drives neighborhood change is not visible—but it’s consistent.Detroit is the backdrop, but this is happening everywhere. If you want to understand how neighborhoods are lost—and what it takes to do it differently—this is that conversation.
“A real-world look at how neighborhoods are shaped and lost.”
About the Author
Brinda Devine is a Detroit-based real estate developer with more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate, asset management, brokerage and development. Her work focuses on neighborhood development, access, and long-term ownership. Brinda is founder of P8 Real Estate Solutions, a small scale real estate development company, Kornr Store, a small scale cafe + market in Detroit and co-founding member of a not for profit organization that helps mentor emerging women developers. Click links below for more information.
Individual Purchases
Buy the Book
You can purchase How to Lose a Neighborhood directly through this site. If you’re serious about understanding how development actually works—and how decisions impact real neighborhoods—this is a resource you should have in hand.This is not a theoretical book. It’s grounded in real experience, real projects, and real outcomes. Whether you’re a developer, policymaker, investor, or working within community development, this book will challenge how you think about your role and the systems you operate in.If you’re purchasing for yourself, you can order a single copy below. If you’re working within an organization, institution, or team, I strongly recommend bulk orders so this can be used as a shared resource across your staff or stakeholders.Click button below to purchase your book!
Bulk Orders
Bulk Orders & Institutional Purchases
.If you’re leading a team, organization, or initiative, this book is designed to be used collectively. The conversations it raises are not individual—they are organizational.Bulk orders are available for:Universities and academic programs
Foundations and nonprofit organizations
Government and public sector teams
Real estate and development firmsThis is an opportunity to align your team around a clearer understanding of how neighborhoods are shaped—and how to approach development more intentionally.Bulk Orders (25+ copies)
Discounted pricing available.
Contact (248) 219-6685 for pricing and availability.
“A real-world look at how neighborhoods are shaped and lost.”
Book Brinda to Speak
This book is the starting point—not the full conversation.If you’re looking to go deeper, I offer speaking engagements and facilitated discussions that expand on the concepts in the book and connect them directly to your work, your projects, and your community.Sessions are designed for organizations that are actively engaged in development, planning, investment, or community-based work and are looking for a more grounded, real-world perspective.Contact:
Brinda Devine
Em: [email protected]
Ph: 248-219-6685
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