Urban development in Detroit

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A model of downtown in the Renaissance Center lobby.
A model of downtown in the Renaissance Center lobby.

In order to attract residential and commercial development, planners devised a strategy of investing in the riverfront, the downtown, natural landscapes, and the east side as a catalyst to improve the Motor City's image and stimulate its economy.[1] The plan included the addition of three casino resorts. As a result, the city is experiencing a significant increase in development. Historic structures are being refurbished into residential high rises and hotels.

In 1967, following the Twelfth Street riot, Michigan Governor George Romney, Detroit Mayor Jerome Cavanagh, and Joseph L. Hudson, Jr. announced the formation of a committee named "New Detroit", which at the time included such notables as Walter Reuther.[2] The committee was designed to provide solutions to urban problems. Then in 1970, another important committee emerged named Detroit Renaissance - founded by business leaders Henry Ford II, Max M. Fisher, and Alfred Taubman which actively facilitated urban development in Detroit.[3]

Contents

[edit] Detroit Renaissance

Restoration of the Westin Book-Cadillac Hotel.
Restoration of the Westin Book-Cadillac Hotel.

Detroit Renaissance was founded by business leaders in 1970 to facilitate solutions and urban development. It is currently chaired by William Clay Ford and Comerica CEO Ralph Babb. Its board includes Dennis Archer, former Detroit Mayor and Michigan Supreme Court Justice, four university presidents including Mary Sue Coleman, and others. Detroit Renaissance has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in development for the city. It is at the center of a nexus of organizations formed for the city's recent redevelopment which include the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.[4]

In 1970, Henry Ford II conceived of a Renaissance Center as way to stem the tide of white flight from the city. The group announced the first phase of construction in 1971. In the 1970s, Detroit Mayor Roman Gribbs touted the project as "a complete rebuilding from bridge to bridge," referring to the area between the Ambassador Bridge that connected Detroit to Windsor, Canada and the MacArthur Bridge, which connects the city with Belle Isle Park. The first tower opened on July 1, 1976. [5]

Former Mayor Roman Gribbs' call for a complete rebuilding from "bridge to bridge" would however come to fruition much later. A study, commissioned by Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick, recommended the formation of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization. It has raised hundreds of millions of dollars to develop and manage Detroit's riverfront. The International Riverfront area ranges from the Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle in downtown Detroit, Michigan encompassing a multitude of parks, restaurants, retail shops, skyscrapers, and high rise residential areas along the Detroit River.

The city's former mayor in the 1990s, Mayor Dennis Archer, a former Michigan Supreme Court Justice, supported a plan to add casinos as a catalyst for development in City of Detroit. Initially, Archer's plan was for a casino cluster along the east riverfront.[6] After a prolonged court case over the bidding process, the City of Detroit made headway with new casino resorts open for 2008. The plan would change as the city decided instead to have the a promenade of parks along the International Riverfront to spur residential development, thus freeing the casinos to anchor developments in other areas of downtown.

The plan has been expensive. In 2002, a major renovation of the historic Cadillac Place consolidated state offices from around the area into the city's New Center area. In 2003, General Motors completed a $500 million redevelopment of the Renaissance Center as its world headquarters.[7] The east riverfront promenade development was planned at $559 million, including $135 million from GM and $50 million from the Kresge Fundation.[8] The city has completed major redevelopment of Campus Martius Park and Cadillac Square Park. The plans have produced new downtown stadiums and a rebuilt freeway system intended to showcase the city for Super Bowl XL. With $1.6 billion in construction projects in 2004, the rapid pace of development in the city prompted construction of a $30 million cement terminal. [9]

[edit] City management

A new master plan draft prepared in 2004 has the city composed of ten clusters of neighborhoods and commercial districts. The plan revealed that Detroit has many growing neighborhoods with youth population increases of greater than ten percent within each cluster, while also showing that larger youth population losses were focused in certain areas, providing support for the concept of focused redevelopment and planning. [10] In addition to increased business investment, the city's revitalization has been focused on retaining young professionals. The Mayor has targeted two of the city's most blighted neighborhoods, Brightmoor and North End, for complete redevelopment. Grand River/Greenfield and Osbourne neighborhoods have been considered secondary priorities.[11]

Quality of life initiatives, including the revitalization of parks, residential units, new construction, and historic renovations are at the forefront of the city's plan to accelerate redevelopment across the city. For instance, in 2004, the city added hundreds of new residential units to its downtown area.[12] Under Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's administration, the city has a balanced budget, with growth in business and tourism.[13] The city's balanced budget has opened opportunities for the use surplus funds for demolition and revitalization of neighborhoods without having to pursue a debt option. Since 2000, the city has seen continuous annual increases in tax revenues from its casinos with the city estimated to collect $178,250,000 in casino taxes alone for 2007, with the casino resorts opening in 2008.[14]

Political events aided redevelopment plans. In 2000, the city requested an investigation by the United States Justice Department into the Detroit Police Department which was concluded in 2003 over allegations regarding its use of force and civil rights violations.[15] The city proceeded with a major reorganization of the Detroit Police Department, allowing it to trim its budget by $20,000,000.[16] Savings from downsizing and reorganization of the police department, as well as new tax revenues, created greater flexibility for accelerated revitalization. However, in November 2007, the City of Detroit was again named the most dangerous city in the country by the Morgan Quitno report published by CQ Press Press, a private group whose controversial report is denounced by the American Society of Criminology as an "irresponsible misuse" of crime data.[17] The U.S Conference of Mayors and the FBI have cautioned against using the Morgan Quitno - CQ Press report ranking cities as 'safest' or 'most dangerous'.[17][18]

[edit] Partial list of new residential developments

The historic Kales Building was renovated into a residential high rise with retail in 2004.
The historic Kales Building was renovated into a residential high rise with retail in 2004.
New Formstone and brick rowhouses construction coming into the city in 2008.
New Formstone and brick rowhouses construction coming into the city in 2008.


Old buildings in the city are being transformed into lofts, condominiums, and luxury high rise residential units at an accelerated pace along with new Formstone and brick rowhouses construction.

  • Brownstones on John R.-Luxury Brownstones(2007).
  • Carlton luxury condominiums(2007).[19]
  • 1001 Covington-luxury condominiums(2007).[20]
  • The Elmore- converting to luxury condominiums(2007).[21]
  • FD Lofts and New Central Yard in the Eastern Market area and Regina Condominiums in Brush Park.[22]
  • The Grisswold-Capitol Park - luxury condominiums(2007).[23] - delayed until further notice
  • The Park Shelton-luxury lofts/condominiums(2006).[24]
  • Garden Lofts at Woodward Place- luxury condominiums(2008).[25]
  • English Village- townhouses (2007).[27]
  • Edmond Place- refurbished Victorian mansions(2007).[28]
  • Garden Court condominiums (2007).[30]
  • Green Acres Brownstones-luxury Brownstones(2007).[31]
  • HarborTown- luxury condominiums(2007).[32]
  • Heritage at Riverbend-townhouses(2007)
  • Jefferson Village- single family homes(2007).[33]
  • 1300 E. Lafayette-condominiums(2007).[34]
  • Nine On Third- luxury condominiums(2007).[35]
  • Research Lofts on Trumbull Ave. - Loft Condominiums (2007) [38]
  • Rock Custom Homes- single family homes(2008)
  • ShorePoint Village- luxury detached condominiums(2007)
  • Wood Bridge Estates-master plan community(2006).[40]
  • Woodward Place in Brush Park- townhouses (2007).

Many more projects are in the process of planning/rendering and this is all helping bring back more residents to the downtown area.[42]

[edit] Historic renovations

Newer and restored homes in Detroit's East Ferry Avenue Historic District.
Newer and restored homes in Detroit's East Ferry Avenue Historic District.

These are some of the multi-million dollar renovations that have been or will be completed by 2008-09:

  • 1001 Covington Drive - Albert Kahn Residential Building (one of a very few Kahn Residentials) [1]
  • Old Redford
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Building
  • Asian Village
  • Brush Park
  • Vinton Building

These renovations are bringing back more luxury hotels to downtown such as Hilton, Westin, Double-Tree, and four seasons. Some of these hotels have been out of the city for nearly three decades, but a new wave of development is once again attracting them. These projects are attracting corporate headquarters, offices, and retail.

[edit] City enhancements

Projects are happening all around Detroit to enhance landscaping, parks, plazas, and playgrounds.

  • The Detroit International Riverfront is a newly constructed plaza and promenade of parks that stretch for 3 miles along the Detroit River. The riverfront development includes miles of trees, fountains, and engraved slate along with skyscrapers, luxury high rise residential areas and shopping. This 200 Million dollar project also created new grounds in Detroit for the Riverdays Festival.
  • Grand River Avenue Streetscapes
  • Dock of Detroit

[edit] Casino resorts

Since 1996, Detroit's casinos have seen steady increases in revenue. Expansion plans for the casino resorts are scheduled to be completed in 2008. Detroit is the largest city and metro area to offer casino resorts. As of August 2007, Detroit had the fifth-largest gaming market in the United States while its three resorts were spending a combined $1.1 billion in renovations and construction to attract new customers.[43]

-MGM Grand Detroit Casino- 2007.

-MotorCity Casino - 2007.

-Greektown Casino - 2008.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Bailey, Ruby L (August 22, 2007). The D is a draw: Most suburbanites are repeat visitors.Detroit Free Press. New Detroit Free Press-Local 4 poll conducted by Selzer and Co., finds, "nearly two-thirds of residents of suburban Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties say they at least occasionally dine, attend cultural events or take in professional games in Detroit." Retrieved on August 22, 2007.
  2. ^ New Detroit Inc., Collection 1967-1975 Walter Reuther Library for Labor and Urban Affairs. Retrieved on July 24, 2007.
  3. ^ Detroit Renaissance. Retrieved on July 24, 2007.
  4. ^ Detroit Renaissance accomplishments. Retrieved on July 24, 2007.
  5. ^ Compiled. How the Renaissance Center changed the landscape of Detroit Rearview Mirror, The Detroit News. Retrieved on July 24, 2007.
  6. ^ McWhirter, Cameron and Darren A. Nichols (December 13, 2002). Hurdles will test riverfront vision. Detroit News.
  7. ^ Mercer, Tenisha (October 19, 2005).GM's RenCen renovation attracts new business back. Detroit News.Retrieved on July 24, 2007.
  8. ^ Detroit News Editorial (December 13, 2002). At Last, Sensible Dream for Detroit's Riverfront. Detroit News.
  9. ^ Concrete Monthly (October 2005). Lafarge's new cement terminal is an important part of Detroit's revitalization. Retrieved on July 24, 2007.
  10. ^ City of Detroit - March 2004 Master Plan Draft Executive Summary, p. 4.
  11. ^ Bello, Marisol, (March 13, 2007).Reclaiming the neighborhood series Detroit Free Press. Retrieved on July 24, 2007.
  12. ^ Sharoff, Robert (January 30, 2005). National Perspectives: Waves of Renovations Helping Downtown Detroit. New York Times. Retrieved on July 24, 2007.
  13. ^ Mayor Kwami Kilpatrick (April 12, 2006).Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Explains Budget PlanWDIV ClickonDetroit.com
  14. ^ City of Detroit General Fund -Percent Change in major Revenue Sources. City of Detroit 2006-07 Budget
  15. ^ Quarterly Status Report to the Independent Federal Monitor. Detroit Police Department Retrieved on April 8, 2007.
  16. ^ Lin, Judy and David Joser, (August 30, 2005).Detroit to trim 150 cops, precincts. Detroit News. Retrieved on July 24, 2007.
  17. ^ a b Criminologists Condemn City crime rankings (November 16, 2008).PRNewswire. Retrieved on January 13, 2008.
  18. ^ .The U.S Conference of Mayors challenges city crime rankings (November 18, 2008). PRNewswire. Retrieved on January 13, 2008.
  19. ^ The Carlton. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  20. ^ 1001 Covington. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  21. ^ Elmore. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  22. ^ Urban Life Development. Retrieved on July 26, 2007.
  23. ^ The Griswold-Capitol Park. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  24. ^ The Park Shelton. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  25. ^ Garden Lofts at Woodward Place. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  26. ^ St. Anne's Gate. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  27. ^ English Village. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  28. ^ Edmond Place. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  29. ^ East Ferry Street. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  30. ^ Garden Court. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  31. ^ Green Acres Brownstones. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  32. ^ Harbortown. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  33. ^ Jefferson Village. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  34. ^ 1300 E. Lafayette. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  35. ^ Nine On Third. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  36. ^ Loft at New Center. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  37. ^ Ren Shores-Luxury. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  38. ^ Research Lofts. Retrieved on July 25, 2007.
  39. ^ Watermark Detroit. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  40. ^ Wood Bridge Estates. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  41. ^ 1001 Woodward. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  42. ^ Tweh, Bodeya and Jewel Gopwani (June 14, 2007). 8 Mile Woodward mall plan gets a boost. Detroit Free Press.
  43. ^ Will casinos help put Detroit on tourist map?

[edit] Further reading

  • Ford, Larry R. (2003). America's New Downtowns: Revitalization or Reinvention. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0801871634. 
  • Greenberg, Michael R. (1999). Restoring America's Neighborhoods: How local people make a difference. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 0813527120. 

[edit] External links

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See also: Metro Detroit
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