After two years of work, hundreds of meetings, and 70,000 survey responses and comments from participants, Detroit will today release the strategic framework plan that will guide the city's long-term recovery, reports Leonard N. Fleming.
The plan, which began in 2010 under the auspices of the Detroit Works project, and is now being called Detroit Future City, is oriented around five key elements - economic growth, land use, city systems, neighborhoods and land and building assets. According to Fleming, it "involves everything from creatively reusing large swaths of empty land and expanded public transportation to supporting local businesses and finding ways to help foster economic growth."
One of the primary challenges for the authors of the plan was how to reconcile a shrinking population of about 700,000 with an infrastructure and environment built to support a population that reached nearly 2 million in 1950.
"Organizers said parts of the plan could take up to 50 years to implement, but other changes intended to stabilize neighborhoods could happen sooner. Residents living in less densely populated areas, for example, would not be required to leave but could expect natural areas and hiking trails built around them in years to come. And in some areas where services are more prevalent, rezoning efforts could lead to business growth in areas that are now considered residential." As Fleming notes, the city would also provide incentives to encourage residents to move into more populated areas.
"Organizers said they wanted to build a "framework for decision-making" with specific goals in the first five years to stabilize the city through more reliable services, improve the city through 2020 with economic growth, sustain Detroit through 2030 with a more stabilized population and an increase in jobs, and by 2050, transform it into a premier city."
FULL STORY: Long-term Detroit neighborhood stabilization plan to be unveiled

America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.

Conspiracy Theorists Discover the 15-Minute City
USA Today debunks the false claim that the United Nations’ call for enabling 15-minute cities is a coded plan to institute ‘climate change lockdowns.’

Massachusetts Zoning Reform Law Reaches First Deadline
Cities and towns had until January 31 to submit their draft plans for rezoning areas near transit stations to comply with a new state law.

Washington Could Legalize Single-Staircase Buildings
Supporters of ‘point access blocks,’ which are common in Europe and other parts of the world, say the design maximizes living space and lowers the cost of construction.

San Francisco Housing Plan Gets State Approval
The city cleared a major hurdle as its housing plan, which paves the way for 82,000 new homes by 2030, is certified by the state.

Rail Transit Plans Would Connect L.A.’s South Bay to the Regional Rail System
Two new transit extensions promise several new routes for South Bay residents to access the Los Angeles region’s transit system.
City of Grand Prairie
City of Grand Prairie
West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Hercules
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
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.