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R E C L A I M I N G D E T R O I T:u r b a n v i l l a g e r e d e v e l o p m e n t

Rebecca Laree McKevitz

Ball State University | College of Architecture and Planning

Undergraduate Landscape Architecture Thesis Proposal

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

April 29th, 2016

Instructors: Pete Ellery, John Motloch

Advisor: Carla Corbin

LA404 Comprehensive ProjectDepartment of Landscape ArchitectureCollege of Architecture and PlanningBall State UniversityMuncie, Indiana

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A B S T R A C T

After the economic crisis of 2007, many rust-belt cities had a hard time recovering from deindustrialization, high unemployment rates, loss of population and a complete change in the culture and structure of the economic system. Detroit, with its industrial roots set in the automotive industry, was hit especially hard. It has been almost a decade since the economic collapse and Detroit has only continued to struggle with problems that were present before the crisis. With a suffering economy and sprawling infrastructure, it is now time to begin to think about a new way of transforming Detroit into a premier mid-west city. Through the consolidation of residents and resources, the boundaries of urban Detroit will begin to be redefined and the density of the urban core will be increased while the less dense sprawling areas will be utilized for more productive uses.

By designing at a variety of scales and considering a wide variety of issues associated with the current conditions of Detroit, this project will begin to facilitate the emergence of a transformative innovation in the field of urban planning and design. The creation of a template for a dense, mixed-use, culturally rich urban village will begin to take the unsustainable sprawl of the past and transform it into an efficient and interconnected city of the future. Through an abundance of research, site visits and a thorough design process, the intricate economic, cultural and transit problems of today’s Detroit will be rearranged into an entirely new system that will improve the conditions of Detroit’s economy and the quality of life of the city’s residents.

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A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

This work could not have been accomplished without the help and encouragement of many individuals to whom I owe my sincerest gratitude.

Many thanks to the entire Ball State landscape architecture faculty and staff who, over the past five years, have transformed the way I think about the importance of design, and how we can employ landscape architecture to positively impact the world around us.

Thanks also to Carla Corbin, my faculty mentor, for working tirelessly to ensure the success of this project. I truly appreciate your advice, criticism, and the time you spent helping to expand the breadth of my thoughts and designs.

To Martha Hunt and John Motloch, who believed in the importance of this project from its conception, and continued to challenge me to bring it to new heights over the past year.

To my studio mates, I would not be who I am today without your extraordinary knowlege, constant encouragement, and believing in me even when I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you for the years of love, laughter and for making college the absolute best time of my life.

And finally, to my incredible father who single-handedly got me through the past five years of college, and more importantly, the trials and tribulations of everyday life. You are my inspiration, my confidant, and my very best friend. Thank you for your unconditional love, your endless support and for understanding and accepting me for exactly who I am. This project is for you, Dad. Thank you.

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INTRODUCTION............................................................10

REVIEW OF LITERATURE................................................18

DEFINTIONS, DELIMITATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS......16

SIGNIFICANCE AND GOALS

VACANCY AND CONSOLIDATION CONCEPT..........26

SITE INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS..................................36

PROBLEM STATEMENT

PRELIMINARY DESIGN IDEAS.......................................38

MASTER PLANNING......................................................40

CONCLUSION...............................................................60

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

REFERENCES.................................................................62

PROJECT LOCATION

SUB-PROBLEMS

USER PROFILE

PROJECT VISION

SITE LOCATION AND VALUE

CURRENT SITE CONDITIONS

STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS

INCREASING DENSITY IN CORKTOWN

FOCUS AREA #1: MIXED USE VILLAGE.......................44

FOCUS AREA #2: MAKERS HUB...................................50

FOCUS AREA #3: CORKTOWN EXTENTION................56

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P R O B L E M S T A T E M E N TThe intent of this research project is to explore potential opportunities for urban infill and the economic, environmental, and quality of life benefits of infill stragegies in the city Detroit. The design will then further focus on designing a vibrant mixed-use village typology within Corktown that will create a lively, compact and walkable urban environment for residents of Detroit.

S U B - P R O B L E M S•How can the best practices of urban infill be utilized to help communities achieve or sustain population density and to increase the availability of affordable housing?

•How can a multi-modal transportation network and mixed-use project design improve economic opportunity for impoverished neighborhoods in Detroit?

•How can the development of historic neighborhoods in Detroit lead to an enhanced urban fabric?

I N T R O D U C T I O N

After the economic crisis of 2007, Detroit struggled to bounce back as quickly as other cities across the country. Between 2000 and 2010, Detroit lost 25% of its residents and in 2010 the unemployment rate was close to 50%. There are currently close to 13,000 foreclosed homes and 33,000 acres of empty lots within the city limits. Although these statistics may make Detroit sound like an unattractive place to live and work, it wasn’t always that way. With an incredible culture, industry, history, sports teams and hard-working people, Detroit still has the potential to be one of the premier cities of the Mid-West.

There are many physical and economic drivers that have led Detroit to its current state. The existing development patterns are unsustainable, especially with the overwhelming loss of jobs and migration of people from the city. In order to be successful, this project must address not only how to stop producing sprawl, but also figure out how to trigger behaviors which will transform the sprawl of the past into the efficiency of the future. With the implementation of culturally rich mixed-use villages and a strong multi-modal transit system, Detroit can begin to improve

economic opportunities and attract residents and tourists back to the city. Redesigning Detroit requires attention to urban sprawl, gentrification, and the rust-belt history of the city, but with careful consideration for the residents and future visitors of Detroit, many improvements can be made to restore Detroit to its former glory.

Courtesy of Detroit Future City Neighborhood Plan

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Detroit’s population breakdown, shown above, creates an interesting lens through which to consider influential urban design decisions. Almsost half of Detroit’s population is made up for families, children and seniors. Conversely, a substantial 18% of Detroit is made up of young adults, and that number is on the rise. It is crucial to consider the needs and priorities of these two groups. Although their vision for the future of Detroit may be conflicting, it is critical to find a way to synthesize these priorities in order to create a safe, fun and enjoyable city for the di-verse population of Detroit.

Diversify the economy of Detroit through the education and training of young and/or transitioning professionals -Utilize automotive industry skills to employ Detroiters in a variety of fields -Create a hub of creative and innovative work in Corktown

Design a modular urban village in the old Tiger Stadium corridor -Create a framework for urban village redevelopments -Provide common, public, private and natural open space within the designated site -Utilize infill and adaptive reuse strategies to increase density in new forms

Design to encourage strong social and cultural connectivity to the existing context -Construct a development plan that is transit-ready -Recognize and build off of existing development patterns -Utilize the location of Corktown to enhance connections to ajacent neighborhoods

Consolidate the area of Detroit to eliminate inefficient use of utilities and services and to encourage an increase of density within a focused city area -Propose a specific area of Detroit to be abandoned -Gain an understanding of both current density and proposed density

G O A L S A N D O B J E C T I V E S

U S E R P R O F I L E

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P R O J E C T L O C A T I O N

This project creates a template for destitute cities needing an urban restoration. The model city for this template is Detroit, located in southwest Detroit. Detroit is a sprawling city with many dynamic neighborhoods and valuable components. The vibrant downtown area appears to function more efficiently than other areas of the city that are less developed and therefore offers potential to spur growth and development in the adjacent neighborhoods. The scenic waterfront and views to Windsor will also be considered along with some of Detroit’s assets including Belle Isle, Grosse Isle, Greektown, and the Riverwalk area.

When looking at the expansive area of the city of Detroit the large in area but small in population areas of Detroit’s East Side and West Side communities are currently one of the biggest problems Detroit is facing. The expanses of open land, abandoned properties and the lack of valuable resources and services makes Detroit a prime example of the problems associated with out migration and urban sprawl. The financial cost of running utilities and services so far out from the city center in order to benefit so few people is not sustainable or best for the needs of the city. By increasing the population density of the core of the city, resources will finally be efficiently utilized. Detroiters will be brought back to the vibrant culture of their city, and, more importantly, they will be reconnected to each other.

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LOCATION DESIGN GOALS

Midtown, Downtown, Eastern Market, Corktown and

Southwest Detroit

-Urban Planning and Design

-Consider the extents of the urban fabric of Detroit

-Discover physical and spatial connections

Corktown

-Site Design (Mixed Use Village and Makers Hub)

-Specific cultural history

-Detailed design decisions

Areas of Corktown

-Creation and utilization of resources within village

-Housing, commercial and retail breakdown

-Promote local investment culturally and economically

This study will consider the redesign of five core districts of Detroit, Michigan including Midtown, Downtown, Eastern Market, the historic Corktown neighborhood and the impoverished areas of Southwest Detroit. This area is important to consider because it is a relatively dense area of the city and therefore will benefit from the investment of a redesign and will be reconfigured to accommodate higher density infrastructure as well as a higher population of Detroiters.

The neighborhood scale redesign will be focused on Detroit’s oldest neighborhood, Corktown, with its rich history and much potential to become a destination within Detroit. The Corktown neighborhood boundaries are as follows; Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the north, John C Lodge Freeway to the East, the Riverfront to the south and I-96 to the west.

D E S I G N I N G A T A V A R I E T Y O F S C A L E S

C U R R E N T P R O B L E M S I N T H E C I T Y O F D E T R O I T

PHYSICAL CONDITION

RECREATION

MOBILITY

HOUSING

ENVIRONMENT

Courtesy of Detroit Future City Neighborhood Plan

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Although there are many issues plaguing Detroit, there are a few specific isues that can be improved throughout the city that will work to increase the density of the city, utilize existing resources and overall these strategies will improve the urban fabric of the city and transform Detroit into a premier mid-west city.

First of all, vacant or degraded buildings create eyesores along the streetscape and give visitors to the city a feeling of danger or uncertainty. A survey of usable vacant structures should be taken in order to understand where space is available for businesses to move into. This will also work to increase the density of the city.

Empty lots and streetcorners litter the city and add no value to urban condition of Detroit. These spaces become easy places for illegal activity to take place or for garbage to pile up. Empty lots have plenty of potential, and should be further analyzed for the best use of the space depending on the location.

Detroit has always been a city centered around vehicles. Because of this, almost all of the roads in the city are much wider than they need to be and have very few, if any, street trees planted along them. This makes Detroit unsafe for pedestrians. Working in phases, the roads in the worst condition should be redesgined first until all problem areas have been addressed.

OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED CITY IMPROVEMENTS

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In order to recover from these current conditions in Detroit, some general steps can be taken to increase density and improve the quality of the overall urban fabric.

Vacant buildings can be adapted and reused for different purposes. New businesses, restaurants, retail or residences can refurbish existing buildings instead of demolishing and rebuilding. The incrase of businesses in the city will spur even more growth and economic improvements.

Empty lots provide an array of options for redesign as they can serve as pocket parks and useable outdoor spaces, or as developable plots of land.

Depending on the zoning and density of particular locations across the city, developing new buildings to increase density would fit with the goal of urban infill. It should be considered, however, that Detroit is lacking quality green space and if there is opportunity for park space to be implemented, this would be the preferred choice.

With the proposal of streetscape improvements (see page 40), the entire city has the potential to become much safer and more walkable. The addition of street trees will improve the aesthetic of the city as well as improving the air quality and safety of pedestrians along busy urban streets.

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A S S U M P T I O N S

This project was created with the following assumptions in mind.

The city of Detroit will look into solving the problem of uninhabited housing and unused infrastructure across the city, especially in the East Side and West Side communities.

The city of Detroit will abandon utilities and services to portions of the expansive and sparsely populated East Side and West Side communities and reinvest in the central neighborhoods being designed in this proposal. The city of Detroit will relocate individuals living in this very low density area to the higher density downtown corridor of Detroit.

Brownfield remediation will be done by others. The designed area is assumed to be safe, healthy and ready to build on. Strong retail and commercial development trends along Woodward Avenue and throughout Midtown will continue as they have for the past five years. The Urban Mixed-Use Development, residential and commercial infill, and recreational and aesthetic landscape improvements will be a catalyst for more investment within the city of Detroit. Increased investment in the city will allow for these changes to be sustained and will continue to move Detroit toward economic and social stability.

The city of Detroit will be able to maintain the built structures and landscape elements proposed within in the final design.

D E L I M I T A T I O N S

This study will be limited to the neighborhoods located nearest to the downtown district of Detroit including Midtown, Downtown, Eastern Market, Corktown and Southwest Detroit.

This project will not include sources of funding for the subsequent design.

This study will be limited to urban mixed-use design and recreational spaces and will not include the scientific aspects of Brownfield remediation techniques for the abandoned urban sites.

This design will work to create the climate and mix of land uses for businesses to move into the area but will not work to develop policies or quantify economic benefits.Recommendations for abandoned land

include: Urban Farming, Urban Forestry, Energy Production, Water Capture and Water Treatment Facilities

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D E F I N I T I O N O F T E R M S

Abandoned Industrial Corridor: an adjacent composite of abandoned properties, likely including brownfields, empty land and old and extremely worn down structures

Complete Streets: streets that are designed to ensure safe access for all users, especially pedestrians and bicyclists, while also providing space for motorists and transit riders with a variety of needs

Culture: the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group; the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another; the creation of art, music, cuisine, tradition or infrastructure by a particular group of like-minded people

Landscape Urbanism: a theory of urban planning arguing that the best way to organize cities is through the design of the city's landscape, rather than the design of its buildings

Mixed-Use Development: any urban structure or any combination of structures that blends a combination of residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or industrial uses, where those functions are physically and functionally integrated, and that provides pedestrian connections

Multi-modal Transit System: refers to planning an urban transportation system that considers various transit modes (walking, cycling, automobile, public transit, etc.) and connections among modes

Neighborhood: a smaller geographic area within a larger city which has strong social and cultural bonds

Transit Oriented Development (TOD): a community that is designed around a central transit node; the development is pedestrian oriented but also includes public modes of vehicular transportation

Urban Infill: the process of developing vacant or under-used parcels within an existing urban area; the planned conversion of empty lots, underused or rundown buildings, and other available space in densely built-up urban and suburban areas for use as sites for commercial buildings, retail and/or housing

Urban Sprawl: the unplanned, uncontrolled spread of urban development into lower density neighboring regions

Urban Revitalization: the process of a city or neighborhood improving, after being undesirable; the process where an urban neighborhood or area is improved and rehabilitated, which may include demolishing old or run-down buildings, constructing new, up-to-date housing, or adding in new features. Urban revitalization is usually undergone for the purposes attracting new residents to an area

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Introduction and Vision

Although the bankruptcy of Detroit is commonly blamed on de-industrialization and the collapse of the automotive industry associated with the economic crisis of 2007, there are a few very important physical and political problems that attributed to the state of Detroit today. Urban Sprawl is not an uncommon phenomenon across the United States, but it is a problematic one. According to Paul Krugman “what brought Detroit to this low point, more than the loss of factory jobs, was decades of unsustainable development patterns.” Twenty years ago Detroit and Pittsburg were in similar economic situations but Pittsburgh has been able to bounce back more easily due to the strength of the central city. In order to regain stability, Detroit will need to work towards reversing sprawl and facilitating the emergence of a completely new pattern of developing city centers. Through the process of implementing an efficient and affordable public transit system and mixed use development, the city will become more interconnected and accessible, which will lead to creation and access to jobs and an improved economic situation. It has been shown that urban sprawl can be associated with an increase of driving and less public transit use, especially because people live further from work places and other urban supports. By making Detroit a city that is accessible by public transit and where people live closer to work and cultural amenities, individuals will be able to access city services, important infrastructure, employment opportunities and most importantly, each other.

This review of related literature will explain and critique relevant written works that address how to reverse urban sprawl, utilize mixed-use urban and residential infill techniques, create a successful multi-modal transit systems, etc. It is important to consider

and discuss, compare, contrast and take a position on how the implementation of all three will create linkages between existing neighborhoods and strengthen the core of Detroit economically and culturally to transform it into destination for residents, businesses and visitors alike.

Current Conditions in the City of Detroit

In the past, Detroit was a city full of culture, innovation and hard working people. In 1896 Henry Ford test drove his first automobile on the streets of Detroit and by 1925, the ‘Big Three’ automotive companies had set up shop and Detroit became known as the “motor city”. Music has always been a large part of Detroit’s culture with Motown Records being located at 2648 West Grand Boulevard, many noteworthy artists like Supremes, the Temptations, Martha and the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and the Jackson 5 got their start here. Detroit was the country’s 5th largest city in 1950 when its population hit 1.8 million (Weber). So how did such a thriving, influential city fall so hard in a matter of 50 years? Available literature seems to agree that there are a few important factors that lead to Detroit’s downfall: Urban Sprawl, industrial collapse and sensitive racial and social factors.

Although the area of Detroit makes it one of the largest cities in the Midwest, the U.S. Census Bureau tells us that the recent decline in population (57% since 1970) means that the sprawling 143 square miles may no longer be necessary for the current population of Detroit. The problem is that there are too few people across too much land which makes for an inefficient and unsustainable city layout. Jennifer Reut addresses her demographics research in Landscape Architecture Magazine (2014) and explains that in Detroit there are currently over 80,000 vacant properties scattered across city limits (Reut).

R E V I E W O F L I T E R A T U R E

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John Gallagher argues that these lots can be the starting points of recovery, or they can infect the city and lead to an overwhelming feeling of instability and danger. Gallagher states that the most important thing Detroit can do to revitalize the city is to find a use for these vacant lots. Fortunately, this is a well-known and well-understood problem that many designers and economists have been studying in order to improve derelict cities across the country.

1.1 Impacts of Urban Sprawl

In the American Planning Association academic journal Planning, Emily Talen gives a focused look at urban sprawl and smart growth. She states that “the 19th century was the century of rapid city growth and the 20th century was marked by rapid suburban growth (Talen).” In the past, rapid expansion was felt to be necessary in order to accommodate changes in the economy and industry of U.S. cities. Unfortunately, lack of future planning led to unmanageable and unsustainable development patterns and it is now time to correct the mistakes of the past and instead of retrofitting our cities to reflect the lifestyle of the 21st century, a completely new development model needs to be created in order to plan for the highest quality of life for future citydwellers. Sprawl repair is an important part of this project because although the downtown district of Detroit is fairly compact, the city is sprawling and currently contains mostly urban prairie and the remnants of old homes and businesses. Creating walkable, mixed use, sustainable neighborhoods is not a new concept for planners, but what is different now is the severity of the problem (Talen). One of the largest problems was created when we began designing for complete car dependency; spatially separated land uses, wide roadways, expansive parking lots and a lack of pedestrian friendly urban spaces. Emily Talen discusses the need to fix these problems by reusing existing infrastructure to provide denser, more walkable housing options in response to

demographic change. This is a challenging idea to implement in Detroit because there is currently not enough people to be able to utilize the expansive abandoned infrastructure. It will be important to use this design philosophy in the denser core districts of the city, but it is not a blanket solution for the unique problems happening in different parts of the city.

In 1998, Robert Burchell was considering a different aspect of sprawl when he explained that sprawl often occurs due to local governments encouraging this form of development. If they create zoning and subdivision ordinances that appeal to the masses because it

· “Dilutes congestion while accommodating unlimited use of the automobile;· Distances new development from the fiscal and social problems of older core areas;· Provides a heterogeneous economic mix;· Fosters neighborhoods in which schools provide both education and appropriate socialization for youth; and· Requires lower property taxes to pay for local and school district operating than locations closer in” (Burchell 2)

Another reason sprawl seems to occur is not because these locations for new development are justifiable, but instead because they are large, untouched sites that are inexpensive and easy to amass (Burchell 3). Although these ideas associated with sprawl sound convenient and rational, there are many problems associated with sprawl that clearly make this kind of development unethical and not sustainable. Even with the desirable qualities of sprawling development, the general consensus seems to be that we can no longer afford the extensive infrastructure necessary to develop further and further from city centers.

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Although I think this is part of the problem, it seems that the issue might even be bigger than this. Even without future sprawl, we cannot seem to sustain the existing system that is in place now. The development pattern itself is not sustainable, but managing what has already been developed is also proving to be a big dilemma. It seems that this is surely the case in Detroit as the inner core of the city is vibrant and self-sustaining while the large middle ring of the city has been abandoned and therefore lacks funding to maintain it, leading it to become increasingly unattractive and so on. It is becoming clear that sprawl is expensive, and Robert Burchell discusses exactly how expensive this development model can be. There are two different ways the cost of sprawl is analyzed- Engineering-per capita analyses which “examine the costs of different types of development by applying such factors as cost per linear foot of roadway, expense per gallon of treated sewage and police expenditures per resident”. There is also Alternative Growth Analyses which “are broader-scale analyses that employ a series of land use, transportation, and infrastructure models to examine the effects of two differing growth scenarios on development costs. These models begin with per capita averages but extend them to capture the effects of variable that affect costs.” (Burchell 45) It was astounding to see the dollar amounts associated with sprawl as compared to compact development. When comparing the implementation of facilities, roads were 60% more expensive and utilities were 40% more costly when a Florida Growth Pattern Study was completed in 1990 (Burchell 48). This source seems to include valuable data about the issues associated with sprawl and how to prevent future sprawl. It seems though, that there could have been more of a focus on how to deal with the sprawl that has already occurred. There does not seem to be a solution presented in this source about the existing sprawl problems, which would have been most helpful for this project. Burchell does though, present retrofitted from existing infrastructure.

data is a crucial argument against urban sprawl and only strengthens the design idea of creating dense urban villages in Detroit, especially if these villages could be retrofitted from existing infrastructure.

1.2 Sprawl Repair

Sprawl Repair, a design theory that Emily Talen put forth in her article in 2010, is described as a response to “failing malls, widespread housing foreclosures, and the need to stimulate new forms of investment” (Talen). It is important here to discuss how we begin reversing the damage we have done and transitioning into a denser, more walkable and sustainable development and living model. This transition will clearly require a large change in how we utilize our existing infrastructure, development patterns and political ideas, but it will require a lot from the users of these developments as well. The success of sprawl repair depends on a substantial behavior change and may include “accepting the loss of automotive freedom and making walking the main mode of travel, being willing to live more compactly, and tolerating far more social diversity and varied land uses” (Talen 33). The need for these social and behavioral changes are undeniable for the sake of our economy, our environment and our culture and society. Designing a dense urban mixed use village that includes housing opportunities along with retail and commercial development will allow for the convenience of living in a suburb but will allow for the elimination of automotive dependency and social and cultural segregation.

When looking at the Sprawl Repair Manual by sustainable planning and urban redevelopment expert Galina Tachieva, her thought process is certainly in line with Emily Talen’s definition of urban sprawl and sprawl repair. In her book she states that “sprawl repair transforms failing or potentially failing, single-use, and car-dominated developments into complete communities

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that have better economic, social, and environmental performance” (Tachieva). The Sprawl Repair Manual goes into much detail about challenges, opportunities and techniques for sprawl repair.

One of her main ideas is that sprawl repair should begin in areas where the crisis is most extreme and “where traffic congestion, falling real estate values, outdated infrastructure, and lack of public amenities become unbearable – as well as the places with regional importance and manageable ownership patterns” in which case Detroit falls into both categories.

Tachieva outlines six important challenges associated with sprawl repair including transportation constraints, open space management, parking requirements, land-development regulations, municipal ordinances and homeowners associations and absence of a diverse and compact neighborhood structure. Talen also writes about the complexities behind transitioning from sprawl development to more sustainable development. Both authors discuss the behavioral and ideological changes which must occur for a city to embrace a changing urban fabric. At this point, Detroit is in such desperate need of an intervention that I believe the city will be willing to change their existing beliefs about the landscape of their city and embrace a positive change in the form of urban infill development and relocating the density to the core of the city.

1.3 Mixed-Use Urban Infill as an Antidote to Urban Sprawl and Catalyst for Economic Revitalization

In Tachieva’s book, it is clear that urban sprawl is unsustainable economically, socially and environmentally, so the challenge now is deciding on the best use for these vacant urban spaces, and implementing a development plan that reflects the elements Detroit needs most.

According to the Sprawl Repair Manual, “complete communities consist of corridors, districts and neighborhoods. These elements have defined edges and connect to form balanced urban and rural systems” (Tachieva). In the past, Detroit had a complex urban fabric which included a series of strong and diverse neighborhoods. With Tachieva’s detailed outline of Infill at the regional scale, community scale and the block scale, the proposed design will create a systematic pattern for future infill development.

The Detroit Future City Framework Plan was also referenced in order to get a better look at Detroit’s vision for itself and to ensure the consideration the goals set forth by Detroiters themselves (DFC). Detroit Future City is an independent nonprofit organization that, since 2010, has been working in collaboration with the City of Detroit to implement the DFC framework plan across the city. Below are the five main goals of this organization.

· Employ More Detroiters· Fulfill Regulatory Reform· Renew City Systems Strategically and Innovatively· Stabilize Neighborhoods· Transform Vacant Land into an Innovative Open Space Network (DFC)

These detailed framework plans employ many similar ideas to that of Tachieva in that it is designed at a variety of scales and plans to interconnect new and existing assets across the city to create an integrated whole. The Detroit Future City ‘Land Use’ and ‘Neighborhoods’ frameworks clearly outline many goals and strategies for making the most of the available land within the city and how interconnecting these nodes will enhance the richness of the city and provide new opportunities for citizens of these neighborhoods. The Land Use framework will be useful in understanding how development is moving forward in

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Detroit and the Neighborhoods framework points out important assets of the landscape as well as aspects of quality of life that will inform the infill design concept for these areas.

1.4 Conclusion

After the fall of the automotive industry and the loss of many blue collar jobs, Detroit has been abandoned by many and left as “a clutter of high-rises surrounded by empty housing plots” (Robinson). The vastly depopulated city was voted the most dangerous city in the nation for four years in a row (2008-2012) and consists of vast open spaces spattered with crumbling industrial buildings and dismantled Victorian houses. The urban sprawl development pattern has made the situation in Detroit incomprehensible and largely unsustainable due to the expansive footprint of the city. There is such a large area where these problems are occurring that the city looks and feels irreparable.

Sprawl repair and urban infill are two possible solutions set forth by this project to reverse the problems associated with Detroit’s desolate landscape. One of the ways this will work will be through the consolidation of the city and the relocation of residents from the lowest density neighborhoods into the urban core. Unfortunately, the urban core of Detroit still includes abandoned infrastructure and vacant lots, which will be where urban infill techniques will be the most beneficial for the city and its residents. The above research and further future research will aid in developing a plan for the best uses for Detroit’s vast open spaces and how to create productive, exciting places back to these important neighborhoods. Designing at a variety of scales and ensuring the interconnectedness of the city will create a rich, unique and holistic design to attract individuals back to this premier midwest city to live, work and play.

As discussed in the last section, urban sprawl is one of the main issues plaguing many midwest cities, especially Detroit. Our dependence on automobiles has caused adverse effects in many aspects of our lives, but for this project, we are concerned with poor land use planning and sprawling development. One of the ways to reverse this trend is to increase the density of our cities and offer alternative options for navigating these cities on a daily basis.

Neighborhood Redevelopment

Peter Neal reiterates Emily Talen’s thoughts in his book Urban Villages and the Making of Communities (2003) where he explains that “the latter half of the twentieth century was marked by a significant decline in the quality and vitality of many of our urban centres” (Neal). It has been discussed how urban infill and multi-modal transit will positively improve the physical, social and economic function of the city of Detroit, and we must move forward with this newfound vision whilst respecting the culture and history of this important midwestern metropolis.

In March of 2013, Project For Public Spaces, the premier resource on placemaking, presented many of Detroit’s projected plans for a strong promenade of districts along Woodward Avenue from Adams Street to the riverfront. The plan involves ten distinct districts and places and a focus on “creating great public destinations with residents rather than building trophy buildings or designing spaces as showpieces without involving the people who will use them” (PPS). Many of these places are evolving and growing to become destinations within the city. These projected designs will surely improve the overall fabric of the city and will create a vibrant connection through the center of Detroit and will be especially important to consider when moving forward with the design of this project.

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2.1 The Influence of Culture and History Urban villages have become a popular component of urban planning as they provide a mixture of uses for a variety of people while maintaining a degree of self-sufficiency. There is no question about the fundamental role that neighborhoods play in our cities, but there are a variety of design techniques that can work to achieve these rich environments including determining a neighborhood design model, deciding on density, setting out a framework sequence and planning for connectivity and movement (Neal). It is imperative that the design of new urban villages in Detroit respect the individuality of the place of implementation. The diverse pockets of the city of Detroit each have a unique and vibrant cultural heritage that should be considered during the redesign process to “ensure to enhance the existing fabric and spirit of the place” (Neal). Prema Gupta and Kathryn Terzano of the Urban land Institute make many of the same points in their book Creating Great Town Centers and Urban Villages. Some of the main design principles outlined here are retrofitting existing infrastructure as well as moving away from car-oriented retail and developing for flexibility of future use and most importantly, incorporating the existing fabric (Gupta, Terzano). This source also discussed in depth the importance of transportation, connectivity and multi-modal streets which has been a main theme in the research of this topic. Another valuable portion of this publication is the series of case studies towards the end of the book. The study of SouthSide Works in Pittsburgh explains the reasons for the impressive success of this $300 Million Urban Village on a Redevelopment Site that opened in 2002. This information will prove useful when ultimately designing urban villages within the city of Detroit.

David Walters, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at UNC Charlotte writes about the importance of place in his book

Design First (2004). He explains that “the physical settings that support and enrich our daily lives matter to the extent they are functional, beautiful and special to us” (Walters and Brown). Walters then goes on to discuss how to relate the history of the site to key physical characteristics like centers, edges and streets to redesign the dilapidated neighborhood into a revived village that respects and holds onto the historic character of the place. All three of these literatures agree that the inclusion of historic elements into the design will enrich the design for visitors and make the neighborhood more meaningful for residents. Walters’ book will be valuable in that its outline of this neighborhood design process will directly correlate with the redesign of urban villages in Detroit. 2.2 Placemaking

Considering the role of ‘Placemaking’ in an Urban Redesign of Detroit will help to ensure the inclusion of public spaces as the heart of every community (PPS). Currently, Detroiters are lacking access to safe and attractive public spaces where social, cultural and commercial activities can take place to improve the quality of life for these residents. The Project for Public Spaces (PPS) refers to placemaking as“a collaborative process by which we can shape our public realm in order to maximize shared value”(PPS). The “Eleven Principles for Creating Great Community Places” clearly outlines intangible analytical steps as well as tangible physical design steps that can be taken to create effective and self-sustaining public spaces. One of the most important suggestions on this list is that “The Community is the Expert”. It will be important to understand and implement the needs of these individual communities so that these important public spaces can be designed to accommodate these needs.

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The literature in this section provides a starting point for understanding how to incorporate placemaking into the design of urban villages across the city. The main goal of this project is to create a template for dense urban villages through the redesign of the Corktown neighborhood. The historic and cultural differences within these important areas must be considered when making design decisions about individual uses, aesthetics, program elements, and functions of these unique places. There is not going to be one uniform design that will be applicable to all of these neighborhoods and although each unique design should be connected to the other portions of the city, the history, culture and individual needs of each space should inform the designs for these five distinct neighborhoods.

Concluding Thoughts

Although previously a hub of activity, innovation, knowledge and development, Detroit is currently struggling with many issues associated with rust-belt cities. Deindustrialization, loss of jobs, sprawling abandoned spaces and high crime rates have turned Detroit into an unattractive and widely unsafe wasteland. The aim of this project is to take steps towards restoring Detroit to its former prestige. With access to beautiful waterways, vibrant cultural districts and plenty of open land, Detroit has the potential to become a future premier midwest city.

In order to effectively solve Detroit’s current problems, it will be important to consider the previously discussed research, but it seems that the solution to this intricate problem may be something new entirely. This project will attempt to formulate and facilitate the emergence of a new way of thinking about the development of our cities. Not only do we need to halt the design of sprawl and reverse the damage we have done, we need to work to transform the existing sprawl into an efficient form of development that involves retrofitting our infrastructure to

accommodate higher density, an increase in employment opportunities, accessible and navigable resources and a strong connection to our cities residents and culture.

The implementation of urban villages will accomplish these goals and lead us to a new mindset when it comes to what a healthy city might look like. The allure of the village design is that it will utilize existing land and structures to create interesting, culturally-rich, multi-faceted places that offer housing opportunities, retail and commercial development, job creation, entrepreneurship, local investment, and access to education and culture. From maker’s spaces to food hubs, local artisans, business owners, innovative thinkers and a strong sense of community, urban villages will create a place for like-minded individuals to live together and redefine the city they live and work in.

There are endless components that, when united, create a successful, dynamic city, and creating an urban framework and design plan will help to move Detroit in that direction. Through consolidating the urban core of Detroit and utilizing urban infill techniques to increase density, the urban fabric of Detroit can begin to repair itself and create a strong physical, economic and social foundation that is prepared for modernization and future growth. With the addition of an efficient public multi-modal transit system, Detroiters will receive the mobility they have been lacking and individuals will be able to access people, jobs and services safely and inexpensively.

One of the most important parts of this design project will be to consider the best elements and functions for the people living and working here. In her book ‘The Death and Life of Great American Cities’, Jane Jacobs explains,

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“...the best way to plan for downtown is to see how people use it today; to look for its strengths and to exploit and reinforce them. There is no logic that can be superimposed on the city; people make it, and it is to them, not buildings, that we must fit our plans. This does not mean accepting the present; downtown does need an overhaul, it is dirty, it is congested. But there are things that are right about it too, and by simple old-fashioned observation we can see what they are. We can see what people like.”

Through the compilation of these three major elements, the urban redevelopment of downtown Detroit will create a dense, navigable city for residents and visitors alike.

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V A C A N C Y A N D C O N S O L I D A T I O N C O N C E P T

This map largely impacted the concpet for this project. The map illustrates vacancy in the city by population. Much of the outer ring of the city has extremely high vacancy rates and therefore the city of Detroit cannot afford to send services and utilities so far from the city’s center for so few people.

The concept here is to relocate the remaining people in these low-density areas back to the core of the city and increase the density there. This will create not only a more dense and diverse city, but will also concentrate Detroit’s resources on a smaller area that will positively impact more people.

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With the radical proposal of abandoning half of the city of Detroit, it was especially important to ensure that the proposed boundaries of Detroit did not impact the important cultural and educational assets that exist here currently.

These maps show how the new boundary of Detroit would still include all major cultural and educational assets including major institutions, universities, sports facilities, music venues, and park space.

E X I S T I N G A S S E T S

INSTITUTIONS SCHOOLS

SPORTS FACILITIES PARK SPACE

MUSIC VENUES

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Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood has been selected as the site for more detailed exploration and analysis. This neighborhood works well as a case study for urban infill techniques because it is located within the proposed boundaries of Detroit and is adjacet to many culturally rich neighborhoods that can add to the value of Corktown itself. As the oldest neighborhood in Detroit, special attention will need to be paid to historic sites and structures. Both the master plan and focus area designs proposed in this project are meant to work as examples, or templates for other urban infill projects that may benefit from similar improvements as Corktown.

What is being proposed?

1. Consolidation Plan for the extents of the city that redraws the outline of the city of Detroit

2. Neighborhood Master Plan that addresses the needs of a complete neighborhood for the historic neighbor hood of Corktown

3. Site Plans for Makers Hub and Mixed Use Village and neighborhood park focus areas

This project will work at three scales

city scale neighborhood scale site design scale

to examine the complexity of city master planning and will work to understand how city systems work to create a lively, diverse and resilient city structure.

Current city of Detroit

143 sq miles

Proposed condensed city 65 sq miles

Corktownneighborhood 500 acres

P R O J E C T V I S I O N

Consolidation Plan

NeighborhoodPlan Site Plan

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M I D T O W N is an up-and-coming neighborhood in Detroit. Lots of young people are moving to the area and opening businesses, especially restaurants and cafes. Active night life and entertainment venues make midtown an exciting place to live, work and visit.

E A S T E R N M A R K E T is the country’s largest historic market. It is a 4.5 acre market dedicated to providing the freshest fruits, vegetables, specialty foods, fresh flowers and local art. Eastern market provides a place for Michigan farmers to sell their produce and a place for Detroiters to purchase healthy, local foods.

D O W N T O W N D E T R O I T is the city’s bustling business district. Home to the automotive industry, hundreds of successful corporations, four professional sports facilites and countless music venues, downtown Detroit is the dense urban core that ties the city together.

S I T E L O C A T I O N A N D V A L U E

C O R K T O W N is Detroit’s oldest neighborhood. Dating back over 100 years, immigrants from Cork, Ireland settled in Corktown. Currently, the neighborhood is comprised of many single family homes but has many pockets of vacancy, especially where Tiger Stadim used to be located. This will be the focus area for modular urban infill design.

M E X I C A N T O W N is a neighborhood in southwest Detroit known as being one of Detroit’s most vibrant and culturally rich communities. This neighborhood hosts many mexican-american families along with many restaurants, churches and businesses.

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C U R R E N T S I T E C O N D I T I O N S

BELOW:

The historic Tiger Stadium site currently sits vacant and abandoned. The flat 12 acre site sits at the northern end of Corktown and, if developed, has the potential to spur much growth and activity within the Corktown neighborhood.

ABOVE:

The existing east-west Michigan Avenue corridor has much potential to be a strong gateway within Corktown and connection to adjacent neighborhoods. Many pockets along this road are currently underutilized or vacant all together. This is a perfect place for the implementation of urban infill techniques.

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SUMMARY:

Corktown is a great example of a Detroit neighborhood that has fallen into disrepair. Although there are valuable pockets within Corktown, there is also much potential for improvement. Building off of the beautiful historic neighborhoods and existing ammenities will create a rich, diverse and dynamic place to live and work.

ABOVE:

The large parking area adjacent to the Tiger Stadium site is similar to the stadium site iteslf- large, flat and completely abandoned. These two plots of land, once redeveloped, will create a strong urban village destination that will anchor the north end of Corktown.

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R E S I D E N T I A L C H A R A C T E R

LEFT:

As the oldest neighborhood in Detroit, many of the kept-up homes in Corktown encapsulate the beautiful residential character of the neighborhood. Many of these historic homes have been well-maintained and create an interesting and colorful streetscape. These are the types of structures that should be saved and should serve as inspiration for new development.RIGHT:

Even more of the historic character of Corktown is still intact through interesting signage, landmarks and the magnificent Michigan Central Station. Although it is no longer in use as a passenger train station, adaptive reuse techniques could be employed to transform this monumental building into a useful space for Detroiters today.

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H I S T O R I C S I T E C H A R A C T E R

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U R B A N B L I G H T

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U N S A F E A N D U N N A T T R A C T I V E R O A D W A Y S

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I N V E N T O R Y A N D A N A L Y S I S

In order to understand the potential needs in Corktown, the current assets and services featured in the neighborhood were surveyed. From this analysis, it was determined that there are many bars and restaurants, healthcare facilities and schools existing here. However, the following neighborhood amenities are currently missing from Corktown.

• Library• Post Office• Playground• Grocery Store• General Retail• Cafe or Coffee Shop• University or Vocational School • YMCA or Community Center• Parks, Gardens and space of

Recreational Activities

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BUSINESS & RETAIL

The first design scheme focused on transforming Corktown into a hub of retail and commercial activity. The idea here was to create space where Detroiter’s could open up businesses and begin to repair the current economic situation in the city. This scheme did not seem to create enough diversity or excitement which was why it was not chosen as the final master plan concept.

HOUSING & MANUFACTURING

This second concept would increase the density of Corktown, especially with increased residential options. Although the idea of adding more housing types into the neighborhood, there didn’t seem to be enough business, retail or commercial space that would really create a unique and dynamic place.

MAKERS HUB

The makers hub concept includes a wide variety of zones and uses within the neighborhood of Corktown. Increased housing options, a mixed-use village development, creative “makers hub” as well as commercial and industrial space will make for a neighborhood that attracts all kinds of people- artists, students, families and businessmen and women alike.

P R E L I M I N A R Y D E S I G N I D E A S

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P R E L I M I N A R Y M A S T E R P L A N

Although all three design schemes have the potential to improve the current conditions of Corktown, the makers hub scheme will bring a new richness and diversity to Corktown.

With a variety of unique and defined districts within the neighborhood, Corktown will become a hub of activity. This design scheme, more than the others, creates a diversity of uses to suit a wide variety of needs. From single family homes, townhomes and apartments to the dense mixed-use village and creative makers hub,

Detroiters will find everything they need in Corktown. Instead of focusing the entire neighborhood on housing or business, it became clear that a diverse neighborhood would be stronger and more valuable.

This design scheme also adds a new layer of culture to Corktown. With the addition of numerous community assets, a makers hub, multiple educational facilities and ample retail opportunities, Corktown will be buzzing with activity and residents will enjoy an improved quality of life.

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The final master plan increases the quality outdoor space available in the neighborhood. With the addition of so many residences, the makers hub, and mixed use village, it is important to consider the logistical aspects of the increased foot traffic that will accompany the population increase in the neighborhood. The addition of greenways along the streetscape allows for increased walking and biking. An expansion of the riverfront park opens up access to the Detroit River and the new neighborhood to the west engages the community residing there.

The three main roads within Corktown (Michigan Avenue, Rosa Parks Boulevard and Fort Street) are highlighted to show ideal locations for retail development. These roads currently attract ample vehicular and pedestrian traffic that would drive customers to newly available shopping, restaurants and other neighborhood amenities.

The intersections of these main roadways, circled on the diagram, have the potential to serve as hubs of activity. It is highly recommended that future development should acknowledge the importance of these intersection spaces.

The valuable culture history of Corktown forces the consideration of the National Register of Historic Places identification of historic sites within Corktown. Highlighted to the left are historically-valued single family homes that date back nearly one hundred years. The residential architectural styles seen in Corktown are Colonial Revival, Late Victorian and Federal. It is recommended that these residences are maintained in order to preserve the cultural integrity of this deeply historic neighborhood.

M A S T E R P L A N N I N G

GREEN SPACE

RETAIL CORRIDORS

HISTORIC SITES

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reduced lane widths | vegetated buffers | improved pedestrian travel

Wide roadways and lack of streetscape vegetation currently makes the city of Detroit a very uncomfortable and unsafe environment for pedestrian travel. The streetscape prototypes below illustrate how roadways across the city can be improved for both vehicles and pedestrians.

S T R E E T S C A P E I M P R O V E M E N T S

reduced lane widths | vegetated buffers | improved pedestrian travel | recreational greenway

reduced lane widths | vegetated buffers |vegetated medians | improved pedestrian travel | recreational greenway

NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS

THOROUGHFARE STREETS

RESIDENTIAL STREETS

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I N C R E A S I N G D E N S I T Y I N C O R K T O W N

There are many ways to increase the density of a city, a few of which are shown here. The medium rise- medium coverage is the best solution for urban infill in Corktown because it allows for a mix of uses and creates rich, dynamic city blocks.

• results in scale disparity

• does not enhance streetscape

• feels uncomfortable to pedestrians and drivers

• creates a redundant streetscape

• lacks a variety of housing options and building uses

• lacks access to important neighborhood ammenities and services

preferred infill strategy

Above is a study of successful building footprints that create useable outdoor space within the voids of the buildings. Many of these footprints were used in the detailed focus area designs.

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To fully understand the future potential of the Corktown neighborhood, three focus areas have been elaborated on: an urban mixed use village, makers hub, and neighborhood park.

Each of these unique areas has been designed and programmed to bring a new set of ammenities to Corktown. Each of these designs is also meant to be used as a template for other urban design projects that could benefit from similar infill and develpment strategies.

The mixed-use development is located in north Corktown and is meant to create an easily accessible destination for shopping, eating, living and working. The combination of streetscape improvements and functional public spaces integrate the many amenities and services including: offices, residences, hotels, restaurants, retail, conference space, fitness clubs, family enternatinment and structured parking - into a cohesive whole. This mixed-use village will become a trendy place to live, work and socialize within Corktown.

FOCUS AREA #1 : MIXED USE VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT

FOCUS AREA BREAKDOWN

1 - MIXED USE VILLAGE

2- MAKERS HUB

3- NEIGHBORHOOD PARK

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By keeping density highest in the middle of the village development, and stepping density down to the east and west, the development will blend nicely with its context and will feel comfortable for users entering and exiting the development.

This figure-ground diagram has been created in order for the geometries of the site to become clearly visible and accentuated. A balance of masses, voids and corridors creates a design that will be easily permeated by pedestrians and vehicles alike.

Pedestrian travel time was analyzed to ensure quick travel across and around the site. With a variety of accessible routes, pedestrians will enjoy biking or strolling around the village.

FOCUS AREA #1 : MIXED USE VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT

DENSITY

FIGURE-GROUND

PEDESTRIAN TRAVEL

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It was also important to consider sight lines across the mixed-use village development. In order for visitors and users of the site feel comfortable and well-oriented, it is crucial that sight lines provide quality views from every area of the village.

Movement across and throughout the site is one of the most intricate and important details of the mixed-use village design. With an outer vehicular ring and many interior pedestrian corridors, it is easy to access the village by car or by foot. The interior couryard spaces make pedestrian circulation especially interesting and enjoyable.

SIGHT LINES

MOVEMENT CORRIDORS

pedestrian traffic

vehicular traffic

service drive

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FOCUS AREA #1 : MIXED USE VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT

RESIDENTIAL ANDPROFESSIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Bike and Walking PathExercise ClubsYoga Studio

Baseball DiamondOutdoor Park SpacePocket Parks and Gardens

SOCIAL & SHOPPINGOPPORTUNITIES

General RetailSpa & SalonLive Theatre

Book StoreMovie TheaterBank & ATM

DININGOPTIONS

DinersPub/BreweryCoffee Shops

RestaurantsMarket and BakeryIce Cream Shop

ApartmentsTownhomesLive-Work Opportunities

Office SpaceConference CenterHotel

MIXED USE VILLAGE PROGRAM

The program elements in the mixed use village cohesively create a development for individuals and families to work, play, shop, exercise and enjoy their surroundings.

This area would be best suited for young professionals and young families who wish to have everything they need within walking distance. Apartments, townhomes, lofts and live-work opportunities offer a variety of living options to suit an assortment of needs.

During the day, this development will serve as a business district with plenty of office space, restaurants for lunch meetings, a confrence center and other business ammenities.

In the evenings, night life will keep the village lively and exciting. With bars, restaurants, shopping, theaters and active outdoor spaces, there will always be plenty for residents to do here.

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MIXED USE VILLAGE DEVELOPMENTPRECEDENT STUDY

City Centre Development | Houston TX

Designed by the Office of James Burnett

City Centre Houston is a thoughtfully designed 47-acre development that includes a variety of residences, shopping, office spaces, bars & restaurants, cafes, recreation centers, useable outdoor spaces.

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The makers hub development, located in the center of Corktown, will provide a unique asset for the neighborhood while also contributing to the richness of Detroit’s culture.

This district will provide a place for students, artists, crafters and other creative individuals to come together and create all different kinds of art. Creating a makers hub district will foster creativity and allow individuals to support themselves financially by selling their art. Whether they have lived in Detroit all of their lives, or are just moving to the city, artists and creators will move here for the atmosphere and ammentites and will, in turn, produce work that will contribute to the richness of this makers hub.

When visiting this district, guests can expect to enjoy a variety of ammenities such as educational opportunities, studios and galleries, art supply stores, diners, cafes and breweries. A variety of art forms will be highlighted including furniture design and construction, automotive restoration and custom paint jobs, wood and steel work, music and poetry performance as well as more traditional 2D and 3D artwork. This district will include some Detroit history as well with the addition of a Detroit Makers museum and the Shinola Watch factory and store.

FOCUS AREA #2 : MAKERS HUB

1 - MIXED USE VILLAGE

2- MAKERS HUB

3- NEIGHBORHOOD PARK

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FOCUS AREA #2 : MAKERS HUB

The makers hub district is divided up into three different usage zones- education, production and the residential, restaurants and retail zone. The layout of these zones allows users of the space easy access to the ammenities most applicable to them. The central zone attracts students and makers, but also becomes a place for both Detroiters and tourists to visit and enjoy shopping for local art, drink local beer and taking in the sites of the Corktown neighborhood.

The buildings that were existing in this area of Corktown have been preserved and are proposed as adaptive reuse buildings based on the programming described in the master plan above. The geometries of the proposed buildings are based off of the existing building footprints in order to create a series of outdoor pockets and interesting green corridors to move pedestrians comfortably from place to place across the makers hub district.

The success of this district depends on pedestrian accessibility. With a maximum of 20 minutes walking and 4 minutes biking, pedestrians find the makers hub easy and enjoyable to walk or bike through. Pedestrian paths line many of the roadways and pedestrian short-cuts can be found many places around the makers hub. An abundance of bike parking and outdoor gathering spaces will create a haven for pedestrians.

USAGE ZONES

FIGURE - GROUND

PEDESTRIAN TRAVEL

proposed buildingsexisting buildings

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Just like in the mixed-use village development, it is important to consider sight lines across the makers hub district. In order for visitors and users of the site feel comfortable and well-oriented, it is crucial that sight lines provide quality views from every area of the site. The river provides for quality views to the south and the College for Creative Studies and refurbished Michigan Central Station building create landmarks to the North.

The makers hub is slightly more vehicle-oriented than the mixed-use village, but allows for an exciting pedestrian experience that is simple to navigate. Almost all of the vehicular roadways are designed with a buffered pedestrian greenway (see streetscape prototypes on page 40) for safe and enjoyable walking and biking experiences. Studios, galleries, residences and educational buildings will be easy to access by car which may become especially important for the movement of materials and art installations.

SIGHT LINES

MOVEMENT CORRIDORS

pedestrian traffic

vehicular traffic

service drive

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Vocational Tech SchoolCCS CampusCulinary School

Fabrication Co-opAuto Repair ShopsMuseum (Detroit Makers/Car)

EDUCATIONALOPPORTUNITIES

ARTIST & MAKERSOPPORTUNITIES

GalleriesStudiosLive/Work Opportunities

Fabrication Co-opArt Supply StoreFurniture Gallery

SHOPPINGOPPORTUNITIES

GalleriesAuto Repair ShopsShinola Factory/Store

Art Supply StoreFurniture Gallery

DINING & SOCIALOPPORTUNITIES

DinersPub/BreweryCoffee Shops

Museum (Detroit Makers/Car)Culinary School

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MA

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ITYFOCUS AREA #2: MAKERS HUB

MAKERS HUB PROGRAM

The makers hub program is strategically formulated to ensure that this district will not only attract artists, students and makers, but to also provide an asset for all of Detroit that will attract visitors and tourism to the area.

Within the makers hub, visitors can find artwork in a wide variety of media including painting, ceramics, photography, jewelry, stained glass, woodwork, metal art, printmaking, and sculpture.

The artists are available to meet with visitors who can join them in their studios. This provides a personal educational

experience where visitors can learn about what inspires them, ask about the creative processes, and support local artists by purchasing work for their own collection.

The spirit and history of Detroit will be alive in the makers hub district where there will be a Detroit Makers Museum as well as local markets, restaurants, bars and coffee shops.

Students will enjoy life in the Makers Hub as its abundance of educational and professional opportunities, paired with neighborhood amenities will provide many social and cultural opportunities.

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MAKERS HUB PRECEDENT STUDY

Torpedo Factory Art Center | Alexandria, VA

Founded by Marian Van Landingham

The Torpedo Factory Art Center was once a naval armament factory that was converted to become an art center.

The art center includes studios, galleries, exhibitions, art classes, culinary classes and creates an opportunity for community events and partnerships.

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The third focus area addresses the land that lies within the ring of interstates surrounding corktown, yet is located outside of the offiicial Corktown neighborhood boundaries.

Corktown, and Detroit as a whole, are lacking quality outdoor space. It is clear that the west area is the ideal place to implement a community park that will become a very special asset for the community.

The park’s location will compliment the currently-existing residential neighborhood and will serve as a valuable asset for the community. The single family homes largely residing on the western edge will benefit from this shared neighborhood green space.

The park is easily accessible by foot or bike, but motor vehicle drivers will have easy access to parking, should they want to travel to this park.. With a variety of both programmed and flexible spaces, the park will suit the needs of the entire Corktown neighborhood.

FOCUS AREA #3 : CORKTOWN EXTENTION AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARK

1 - MIXED USE VILLAGE

2- MAKERS HUB

3- NEIGHBORHOOD PARK

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The neighborhood park provides a variety of recreational zones including active recreation, passive recreation and a long linear greenway along the western edge of the park. Active recreation zones may involve playing football, soccer or frisbee, or playing on the playground or in the community pool. Passive recreation on the other hand may include reading or picnicing on the lawn or observing the garden or socializing with friends. No matter what the occasion, there is space in the park for a whole range of activities.

In order to ensure that residents of the western Corktown neighborhood extention have easy access to the park, a 12 minute walk is as far as one would have to travel from one end of the park to the other. From the center of the residential area to the public library is only a 5 minute walk which will allow for families to visit frequently and without relying on a vehicle.

FOCUS AREA #3 : CORKTOWN EXTENTION AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARK

USAGE ZONES

PEDESTRIAN TRAVEL

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Just like in the previous focus areas, sight lines are considered in this design to ensure that visitors and users of the site feel comfortable and well-oriented. The sight lines in this design are laid out in a grid pattern that makes for easy and safe navigation.

The circulation throughout this focus area is mainly pedestrian routes with a vehicular grid through the residential blocks to the east. Pedestrians will en-joy buffered greenway paths along residential streets as well as over 100 additional street trees planted along St. Anne Street, Porter Street, Howard Street, and the smaller north-south streets connecting them.

SIGHT LINES

MOVEMENT CORRIDORS

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Although proposing to abandon half of a city may seem like a radical approach to urban planning and design, Detroit is in a fairly desper-ate situation both economically and socially. It is time to take big steps forward as opposed to making small, inefficient changes that attempt to cover up underlying issues associated with ur-ban sprawl, low density, lack of jobs and an inef-ficient use of space.

With the proposal to abandon half of the city of Detroit, it is important to think about productive ways that this space could potentially be used in the future. It may be necessary for the aban-doned land to stay abandoned for awhile, but in 50-100 years, some of these programs may be able to fill the abandoned space and improve the future city of Detroit.

Aquaculture & Great Lakes Cleanup

• utilizing the Great Lakes resource to grow seafood in an inland man made facility

• EPA cleanup of the Great Lakes be located there

• research facility for invasive species, healthy aquatic life and improved drinking water

Blue infrastructure

“Blue infrastructure” is the creation of rainwater retention basins, artificial wetlands, canals and other watery landscape

• keeps rainwater and snowmelt out of the city’s overburdened combined sewer overflow system.

• could save Detroit millions of dollars and improve health and safety of water resources

Urban forests

With its vast inventory of vacant land, Detroit could become the world’s premier site for urban reforestation.

• Detroit has far fewer trees today than it did 50 years ago

• Dutch elm disease • emerald ash borer • companies donating trees or

volunteering time to help plant them• future harvesting for profit

Urban agriculture

Detroit is known worldwide as a leader in the community-gardening movement. Detroiters have created more than 1,000 community farm plots in the past decade or so.

• currently remain nonprofit in nature, staffed by volunteers, with the food given away to soup kitchens and neighbors.

• farmers could sell their produce at Eastern Market

• improve the healthy food available to Detroiters

WHAT ABOUT THE VACANT SPACE?

Quality Open Space

Transforming some of Detroit’s vacant space into quality open space has enormous potential to improve the quality of life for Detroiters as well as improving the degrated environment. Green space is an amenity that

• cleans air and soil with vegetation• generates food, jobs, energy and

commerce• stabilizes neighborhoods through the

reduction of blight• connects adjacent neighborhoods

across the city physically and socially• provides recreational opportunities

and health benefits

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PROJECT SUMMARY

The many issues plaguing detroit cannot all be solved through a landscape architecture framework. However, the issues of resource distribution, city density, and community amenities can be addressed. If implemented, the strategies outlined in this proposal could improve the urban fabric of the city and the quality of life of those who call it home.

Within 50 years, busy professionals will find themselves strolling down Michigan Avenue, on their way to meetings and grab a midday coffee. Tourists explore the city, perusing local museums, surrounded by a booming business economy. Detroit is now known as an artistic hub as a diverse population of local artisans, musicians and innovators populates the Corktown makers hub.

Detroit’s economic growth has led to the restoration of the riverbank’s industrial infrastructure into a brilliant riverfront park showcasing the gorgeous Windsor skyline in the background. From the other side of the river, Canadians no longer see Detroit as an eyesore, and instead welcome their newly reborn and energized American neighbor city.

The revitalization of the Detroit landscape has been mirrored by a transformation of its residents. With the increase of lush gardens and green spaces, Detroit on its way to becoming one of the country’s greenest cities. Residents flock to Detroit’s neighborhoods, knowing they can safely travel as pedestrians to the many recreation opportunities nearby. The residents of Detroit are happier and healthier than ever before. Detroit has completely transformed since 2016; it is clear that the future is finally bright for Detroit.

FUTURE OF DETROIT

CONCLUSION

This project explores the effects of urban infill techniques, post-industrial development and the improvement of urban landscapes on a city that many believe has been hopelessly lost to urban sprawl, deindustrialization and crime. This proposal aims to serve as a completion of a graduation requirement, an exploration into the possibilities of Landscape Architecture, and an homage to a once great city that can be great again. Most of all, this project aims to be an call to action to those who have the power to enact true change in the forlorn rust-belt cities such as Detroit. With a new perspective and an emphasis on community, cities can be reborn.

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Works Cited

Austen, Ben. "The Post-Post-Apocalyptic Detroit." The New York Times. The New York Times, 12 July 2014. Web. 26 Sept. 2015.

Bekkering, Henco, and June Manning Thomas. "Mapping Detroit." VolumeOne. VolumeOne Design Studio, Fall 2012. Web. 26 Sept. 2015.

“Detroit Future City | The Starting Point for Advancing the Transformation of Detroit.” Detroit Future City | The Starting Point for Advancing the Transformation of Detroit. N.p., 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.

"Detroit Leads the Way on Place-Centered Revitalization - Project for Public Spaces." Project for Public Spaces. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2015.

Gallagher, John. Reimagining Detroit: Opportunities for Redefining an American City. Detroit, MI: Wayne State UP, 2010. Print.

Goodwin, Dario. "Through Bankruptcy and Boom: What's Really Happening in Detroit?" Arch Daily. N.p., 19 June 2015. Web. 26 Sept. 2015.

Hall, Kenneth B., Gerald A. Porterfield, and Gerald A. Porterfield. Community by Design: New Urbanism for Suburbs and Small Communities. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001. Print.

Owens, Keith. ""Is Midtown The New Detroit? A Turnaround May Be In The Works."" Planning 81.7 (2015): n. pag. Print.

"Pivotal Projects." Building Pittsburgh with URA. Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority, 2011. Web. 26 Sept. 2015.

Pyati, Archana. "The Quickening of a Reborn Detroit?" UrbanLand. The Urban Land Institute, 01 Dec. 2014. Web. 26 Sept. 2015.

Reut, Jennifer. "Detroit From The Ground Up." Landscape Architecture Magazine. LAM, 22 Dec. 2014. Web. 26 Sept. 2015.

Spivak, Jeffrey. "Adaptive Use Is Reinventing Detroit: Long-vacant and Historic Buildings Are Being Repurposed in the Motor City." Urban Land 74.7 (2015): n. pag. Print.

Sugrue, Thomas J. The Origins of the Urban Crisis: Race and Inequality in Postwar Detroit. Princeton, NJ: Princeton UP, 1996. Print.

Wineman, J. D., R. W. Marans, A. J. Schulz, D. L. Van Der Westhuizen, G. B. Mentz, and P. Max. "Designing Healthy Neighborhoods: Contributions of the Built Environment to Physical Activity in Detroit."Journal of Planning Education and Research 34.2 (2014): 180- 89. Avery Index. Web. 26 Sept. 2015.

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