In an effort to build community, Jerry Belanger has quietly redeveloped two bars along Detroit's burgeoning Park Street bar district.
"'For me Detroit is more than the building. It's a concept of community,; Belanger says. 'When I built this I wanted the community integrated into the brick and mortar so people could see it built into the building. This really has Detroit written all over it because it was born out of the concepts and creativity of the artisans who worked on it.'"
"There is definitely a method to Belanger's madness. He built The Park Bar as a refuge for city residents. Many of the bars in the Grand Circus Park area cater to the suburban crowds patronizing the theater district and sports stadium, so 'it's almost like when locals come to Grand Circus Park – it's like they're aliens,' he says."
"Even though a handful of 42-inch flat-screen TVs surround the central column that serves as the bar's axis, they are usually turned off. Belanger keeps them off because patrons are more likely to mingle without the distraction. He also designed the round bar so patrons look at each other and start conversations."
FULL STORY: Model D-troiter: Jerry Belanger

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie