Although it's a favorite tool of urbanists all over the country—Detroit has taken to adaptive reuse with singular aplomb.
Jeffrey Spivak surveys the effects of adaptive reuse in the city of Detroit, describing the city as a leader in the adaptive reuse of commercial buildings: "It is not just the redevelopment of former Class B or C office spaces into residential lofts, as has happened in so many cities. What is really flourishing in Detroit are innovative and even exotic reuses of long-vacant or historic structures."
After listing some prominent examples and also mentioning the trends reach into other nearby cities, Spivak writes that adaptive reuse is flourishing in Detroit thanks to the city's unique history of population loss and the more recent history of renewed demand for walkability and urban amenities.
Spivak goes on to describe some of the public and private initiatives that kickstarted Detroit's adaptive reuse investment environment, including the work of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and Quicken Loans chairman Dan Gilbert. The article includes a lot more detail about the city's adaptive reuse projects, as well as the many effects of such projects on the market and the communities they call home.
FULL STORY: Adaptive Use Is Reinventing Detroit
Ford Planning Residential Units in its Detroit Train Station Adaptive Reuse
Ford will treat the Michigan Central Depot to a mixed-use adaptation.
The Massive Significance of Ford's Move into Detroit's Abandoned Michigan Central Depot
Ford has confirmed its plan to move into the Michigan Central Depot in Detroit.
Ford Motor Company Considering Big Move to Historic Detroit
If Ford Motor Co. goes through with a plan to move into the old Michigan Central Depot, it would mark a new phase of the rebirth of Detroit's urban core.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Trump Approves Futuristic Automated Texas-Mexico Cargo Corridor
The project could remove tens of thousands of commercial trucks from roadways.
Austin's First Single Stair Apartment Building is Officially Underway
Eliminating the requirement for two staircases in multi-story residential buildings lets developers use smaller lots and more flexible designs to create denser housing.
Atlanta Bus System Redesign Will Nearly Triple Access
MARTA's Next Gen Bus Network will retool over 100 bus routes, expand frequent service.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)