City of Detroit Invests $1.6M in Revitalization of Four Neighborhoods
The planning and design contracts refer to housing, reimagining open land, leveraging economic development and more.
Detroit—The City Council approved several contracts for professional design and planning services aimed at revitalizing four areas in Detroit. The $1.6 million agreements are part of Mayor Mike Duggan’s “20-Minute Neighborhood” strategy and will kick off in January 2017.
The four communities are West Vernor Corridor in Southwest Detroit, Grand River Corridor in Northwest Detroit, Greater Villages in Islandview and Rosa Parks in Clairmount. “We have attracted among the best talent in Detroit and the nation to help advance community-driven visions for Detroit’s neighborhoods,” Maurice Cox, director of planning and development at the City of Detroit, said in prepared remarks.
The $600,000 framework for Greater Villages includes landscape design, streetscaping and developing Beltline Greenway, a non-motorized trailway along a former north-south railway that runs between Beaufait and Bellevue. The request for proposal was awarded to SmithGroup JJR for project management, landscape design and civil engineering, while Christian Hurttienne Architects will work on research and community development.
The $380,000 project for Grand River Corridor targets the construction of an improved landscape/stormwater management system, new mobility/streetscape strategies and increased focus on economic and workforce development. Design Workshop was named primary contractor.
In West Vernor Corridor, the City of Detroit will invest $380,000 for a comprehensive neighborhood framework that will incorporate an implementation strategy for viaduct repairs, streetscape improvements, open space and green storm water infrastructure enhancements, affordable and market-rate housing rehabilitation opportunities plus truck route assessments. The contract was awarded to Goody Clancy.
In Rosa Parks, the $275,000 allocation will be used to activate housing, reimagine open land and leverage economic development. Gensler was announced as the primary contractor.
For 2017, the City of Detroit announced similar interventions in Jefferson Chalmers, Russell Woods/Nordin Park and other areas. The efforts are all part of Mike Duggan’s vision to create 20-minute neighborhoods throughout the city. More precisely, following sustained investments, residents should be able to access everything from restaurants and shopping to recreation, public transit and more within a 20-minute walk or bike ride from their homes.
Image courtesy of City of Detroit
