Detroit's Precarious Recovery: 'It Just Feels Like Something Is Happening Here'

ICYMI: Yet Another Glowing Gilbert Profile, This Time From Across The Pond
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert answers questions during a news conference at the team's training facility, Wednesday, May 9, 2012, in Independence, Ohio. Gilbert says "nothing in the NBA surprises" him, so he was not shocked when superstar LeBron James said he could envision playing again for Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert answers questions during a news conference at the team's training facility, Wednesday, May 9, 2012, in Independence, Ohio. Gilbert says "nothing in the NBA surprises" him, so he was not shocked when superstar LeBron James said he could envision playing again for Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Sandra Patterson's face lights up at the mention of Dan Gilbert. She works the car valet desk at Detroit's Greektown Casino Hotel, which the entrepreneur has just taken over. "It's like he's sprinkling rose petals all over my city," she says beaming. "He's really rooting for Detroit."

And how. A self-made billionaire Gilbert, 51, was born and raised in Detroit. His father owned Saskey's, a bar in the city, and his grandfather ran a car wash. In the 1990s Gilbert and partners including his brother Garry started a mortgage business that became Quicken Loans, now the US's largest online retail mortgage lender.

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