DETROIT February 2016

part 1 of a 2-part feature

 

 

Plans for a Detroit renaissance started news flashing years ago at the peak of the recession. Nobody outside Detroit could believe it. Then, the city declared bankruptcy, and the flame of opportunity for reinvention was ignited.

 

Today, signs of redevelopment abound. You can’t walk a block without seeing scaffolding outside a historical neo-classical or art deco building or a Caterpillar at work. Density is growing. Open air sitting rooms with street views and tidy, treelined sidewalks paving the way between community anchors are brimming with life.

 

The green backing Motor City’s transformation comes primarily from four major investors and donors: Dan Gilbert in Real Estate; Roger Penske in Transportation; Mike Ilitch in Sports and Entertainment; Kresge Foundation in Arts and Culture. They want to see people and companies return downtown after white flight drove masses to outlying suburbs during the 60’s and 70’s.

 

With impassioned vision for making this the city of the future, high-profile Dan Gilbert might be considered the Walt Disney of a theme city and Downtown Detroit a Disneyland for nextgen urbanites. A masterplanner sowing the seeds for a new generation of Detroiter and new roots in tech. Major league marketing genius is at play here.

 

Opportunity Detroit, the big downtown picture depicts a vibrant public realm, rich with parks and plazas, a state-of-the-art streetcar system called M-1 Rail, and affordable, modern residential lofts and office spaces – attractions intended to draw tech entrepreneurs and anyone seeking vibrant, sociable, art-filled, high quality living on the low. Build things that the young, restless, ambitious want, and the young, restless, ambitious will come.

 

The model appears effective, especially at the intersection of Woodward Avenue (aka M-1) and One Campus Martius, which overlooks Campus Martius Park onward toward the revitalized Detroit Riverfront. Known as “Detroit’s Gathering Place,” the redesigned 148 year-old Campus Martius Park is outfitted with vogue amenities – sandy beach, taco and beer/wine bar, community benches and tables, white noise water feature, and brisk cafe. A multifunctional park, as well as a transitional crossroads at the junction of six major pedestrian intersections, it bustles with diverse users, morning to night.

 

Properties of planning and architecture from an urban designer’s dream 21st century Monopoly board extend several blocks beyond this radial core.

 

Trendy businesses line Library Street, across Detroit Public Library and Park – Library Street Collective, a modern art gallery; Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine; Citizen Yoga; 7 Greens, a farm to fork, made-to-order salad bar; Nojo Kicks, a luxury sneakers shop; Cadillac Center PeopleMover Station. All the makings of a cool neighborhood pocket.

 

There’s The Belt, a public alley decorated with respectable grit, featuring graffiti art by celebrated bad boys like Shepard Fairey – strategically located outside Dan Gilbert’s Bedrock Real Estate offices. Ponyride, a community work-live-play incubator. Bon Bon Bon, an artisan chocolate boutique founded by Alexandra Clark, ranked in Forbes’ “30 Under 30” List. Historic Greektown. Comerica Park. Red Wings Detroit Events Center under construction. "Coming Soon" is everywhere.

 

Creative locally-owned businesses are booming downtown. No big name national clothing chains yet, except for a couple shops by local fashion hero, John Varvatos. No supermarkets yet either, although Whole Foods is an eight-minute drive up Woodward.

 

A more exciting option for produce, provisions, and some local fashion a short jaunt away is Eastern Market, another equally inspired yet different type of green economy. Homegrown, organic, and low-profile, this historic packing district represents a nourishing and socially equitable approach toward reviving Detroit, focused more on food than tech. With community service as the main objective, it is less intent on culling new genesis and more on sustaining legacy and heritage.

 

Opportunity? How often does a city get the chance to invent its future and preserve its past at the same time? 

 

 

Please tune in for Part 2, which will cover Detroit Eastern Market.

 

 

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