Detroit Seeking a New Vision for its East Riverfront

The city of Detroit will review the presentations of seven finalists tasked with creating a new vision for the east riverfront—a part of Detroit poised for redevelopment momentum.

1 minute read

January 25, 2016, 11:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


According to an article by John Gallagher, "a new city [of Detroit] panel this week will hear from seven teams of experts that hope to win a commission to fashion a new vision for the east riverfront." Gallagher describes the east riverfront—connecting downtown to Belle Isle—as ripe for new development.

Once selected, the winning team will finalize a presentation to be made this summer. Gallagher describes the scope of the planning exercise:

Among the issues the winning team must grapple with are how to overcome parking shortages in the district as more people visit the RiverWalk; how to make it easier for residents north of Jefferson Avenue to cross the nine-lane roadway to get down to the waterfront; how to include greenways and bicycle paths in the district; and figuring out the proper mix of residential units, retail, and commercial space.

Gallagher also reports that several of the seven finalists represent local architecture and planning firms, including Hamilton-Anderson Associates, McIntosh Poris, the Detroit office of Gensler, and the engineering firm Giffels Webster. Also on the list of finalists are national firms like Skidmore Owings & Merrill. Maurice Cox, Detroit's planning director, and Mark Wallace, CEO of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy are included on the committee that selects the winning team.

Saturday, January 23, 2016 in Detroit Free Press

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