City Invests $1.6M into Planning and Design Work for Revitalizing Detroit Neighborhoods

Posted on December 5, 2016

City Council approves contracts for professional services to support the development of affordable housing, improved landscapes and storm water management, infrastructure upgrades, increased focus on economic development and more.

Mayor also plans similar investments in additional neighborhoods in 2017.

The City of Detroit took another step toward fulfilling Mayor Mike Duggan’s pledge to invest in Detroit neighborhoods. Wednesday morning, City Council approved contracts for transformational planning and design initiatives in four study areas in Detroit‘s neighborhoods. The initiatives, which build off of the Mayor’s “20 Minute Neighborhood” strategy, will invest a total of $1.6 million to develop community driven neighborhood framework plans in the following communities:

  • Southwest Detroit/ West Vernor Corridor (Council District 6)
  • Northwest Detroit/Grand River Corridor (Council District 1)
  • Islandview/Greater Villages (Council District 5)
  • Rosa Parks- Clairmount (Council District 5)

In 2017, additional neighborhood framework planning will begin in Jefferson Chalmers, Russell Woods/Nordin Park and additional neighborhoods.

“I have always believed the soul of a city lives in its neighborhoods” said Mayor Duggan. “With the approval of these planning proposals, we can build on the vision of creating a vibrant Detroit with opportunity for everyone.”

Earlier this year, the Mayor announced his vision for a series of 20-minute neighborhoods across the city where, through targeted investment, residents will 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.

The planning and design initiatives approved today will cover a large scope of work in the neighborhoods, including research/ community engagement; landscape, architecture and stormwater design; public infrastructure improvements; mixed-use developments; and mixed-income housing.

“We have attracted among the best talent in Detroit and the nation to help advance community-driven visions for Detroit’s neighborhoods,” said Maurice Cox, Director of Planning at Development at the City of Detroit.


Islandview/ Greater Villages

The Islandview/ Greater Villages RFP will invest $600,000 in a comprehensive neighborhood framework that includes improved approaches to landscape design, stormwater management and streetscaping. A portion of the funding will be dedicated to development of the Beltline Greenway, a non-motorized trailway along a former north-south railway that runs between Beaufait and Bellevue. The Beltline Greenway will complement existing efforts to connect the City’s greenway network.


The Northwest/ Grand River Corridor

This RFP will provide $380,000 in investments for the construction of an improved landscape/stormwater management system, new mobility/streetscape strategies and increased focus on economic and workforce development in these neighborhoods.

Southwest Detroit/ West Vernor Corridor
The RFP will provide $380,000 to create a comprehensive neighborhood framework, and will include an implementation strategy for viaduct repairs, streetscape improvements, open space and green stormwater infrastructure enhancements, affordable- and market-rate housing rehabilitation opportunities, and truck route assessments.

Rosa Parks-Clairmount
The Rosa Parks-Clairmount study area will receive $275,000 to activate housing, re-imagine open land, and leverage economic development for the area.

Planning and Design RFPs: List of vendors and community stakeholders

Islandview/ Greater Villages

The RFP was awarded to SmithGroup JJR to handle project management, landscape design and civil engineering. The Christian Hurttienne Architects will work on research and community development. Sub-Contractors awarded the proposal include HR& A, Quinn Evans, Copenhaganize and the Center for Community Progress.

Northwest Detroit/ Grand River Corridor
The primary contractor, Design Workshop, will oversee project management, research, community engagement, and streetscape /landscape design. The sub-contractors are Mannick & Smith, Lorcan O’Herily and Ventra.

Southwest Detroit/ Vernor Corridor
The RFP was awarded to Goody Clancy, with LivingLAB LLC, Giffels Webster and Zimmerman/ Volk Associates, W-ZHA and Global Detroit serving as the sub-contractors.


Rosa Parks-Clairmount

Gensler will serve as the primary contractor, working with subcontractors Hood Design Studio, Sam Schwartz Transportation and JFM Consulting to design open space, neighborhood identity, streetscapes, mobility, and green infrastructure through a community engagement process.

Community engagement remains central in development process
The contracts will embrace community engagement throughout the framework process, under the direction of the City’s planning department. The planning department will continue to work with City Council members and the Department of Neighborhoods to ensure communities within the study areas are integrated into the framework conversations.

A series of public meetings will be held within each study area to collect input from a variety of residents and stakeholder groups.

These contracts will advance community planning efforts underway in the districts for many years, and will support future citywide master plan initiatives around Open Space, Historic Preservation, Stormwater Management and Mobility/ Streetscapes.

Timeframe
These planning initiatives will kick off in January 2017 and will continue through the year.

City of Detroit.