City and state officials hope the proposal to turn part of I-375 into a walkable boulevard will help bring back businesses and economic vitality to the area.
A one-mile stretch of Interstate 375 in Detroit could become a "livable, walkable, rideable" boulevard that accommodates pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users. Eli Newman reports on a plan being formed by the state and the city to reconnect the neighborhood that the interstate sliced through decades ago.
"Construction on I-375 started in 1959, displacing African-American businesses and residential life in Black Bottom and Paradise Valley. [Michigan Governor Gretchen] Whitmer says there is 'a sad history' behind the construction of the freeway, which had 'devastating impacts.' The boulevard project could unify the surrounding areas today." The article points out that "According to the Detroit Historical Society, there were more than 300 Black-owned businesses in the district during the 1920s, when many African American migrants from the South came to the near east neighborhoods."
Transforming the freeway to a boulevard could "improve walkability and re-establish business along the corridor," according to Detroit mayor Mike Duggan. "Duggan says the I-375 project could resemble recent streetscape restoration in Detroit like the “Avenue of Fashion” section of Livernois. He says there would need to be a combined city and state authority that oversees the development."
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) anticipates construction could begin in 2027 and last three years, notes Newman. "The state is holding community meetings to discuss design plans following initial approval from the federal government."
FULL STORY: Plans to turn I-375 in downtown Detroit into a boulevard move forward
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In Michigan, the state's Department of Transportation is looking for ways to mitigate the damage caused by decades of urban renewal policies and reconnect neighborhoods cut off from amenities and opportunities by highway projects.
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An excerpt from the latest book on zoning argues for four approaches to reform that can immediately improve land use regulation in the United States.
San Francisco Just Ended Single-Family Zoning
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to Tuesday to eliminate single-family zoning, but pro-development advocates say additional changes are needed to unleash a wave of construction.
Land Banking to Prevent Transit-Oriented Displacement in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will implement a new land banking program to mitigate gentrification and displacement around future transit lines.
Washington Metro Faces Budget Deficit, Safety Issues
The capital’s public transit system, the country’s third-largest, has been plagued by a series of problems ranging from a looming fiscal deficit to train crashes and track fires.
San Francisco to Reconsider Inclusionary Zoning as Development Slows to a Crawl
Critics of inclusionary zoning frequently point to San Francisco as an example of what not to do. A sluggish year of development has some local politicians ready to reconsider the city’s program.
California Senate Committee Kills Freeway Expansion Bill
The proposed legislation would have prohibited new construction in historically underserved areas that often bear the burnt of the negative impacts of freeways.
City of Bothell
Town of San Anselmo
Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency (TPA)
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard Graduate School of Design Executive Education
Harvard Graduate School of Design Executive Education
City of Apache Junction
City of Helena
Gallatin County, Montana
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
