Robert Sedler, professor of constitutional law, commented about plans by a group of local entrepreneurs to open a shopping mall, dining locale and catering company in Detroit called Asian Village . Sedler said there were no legal impediments to designing a particular area of the city as a business district, making him the first legal scholar to support African Town when debate questioned its legality. "The city has the constitutional power to establish an inner city-business district and, above all, to secure city funds and resources and to assist Detroit residents to acquire, own and operate businesses located in African Town ," Sedler said.