Detroit Reboots Revitalization Plans for Brush Park

Signaling a shift in fortunes for Detroit’s residential market, the city is seeking investors for Brush Park, a historic, but largely vacant, residential neighborhood adjacent to downtown.

1 minute read

January 9, 2014, 6:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The city of Detroit has released an RFP for developers interested in redeveloping 9 acres of city-owned parcels in Brush Park, a neighborhood within walking distance of “Comerica Park, Ford Field, the Fox Theatre and the Detroit RiverWalk, as well as the planned location of a new Detroit Red Wings arena.” The city has attempted similar revitalization efforts for the neighborhood in the past, spending $39 million over the past 13 years on “infrastructure, demolition, acquisition and historic rehabilitation.”

Despite Detroit’s ongoing fiscal problems and previous failures to revitalize the largely vacant neighborhood, the current effort “takes place in a time of rising demand for residential space in the downtown and Midtown districts,” reports John Gallagher.

The RFP asks developers “to build new market-rate housing with a historic architectural theme on almost 9 acres of land, enough space for at least several dozen units or more of townhouse-style residences” and “[redevelop] a handful of the historic 19th-Century mansions still standing but vacant.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014 in Detroit Free Press

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

April 30 - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

April 30 - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

April 30 - Next City