A Rejuvenation Plan for Detroit's Highland Park

Along with Hamtramck, Highland Park is one of two tiny cities entirely surrounded by the city of Detroit. Here's how its leaders want its center to develop over the next five to ten years.

1 minute read

May 16, 2017, 7:00 AM PDT

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Highland Park Fire Department

Dave Hogg / Flickr

It's not actually part of Detroit, giving Highland Park some local leeway in how it wants to handle redevelopment. Tasked to create plans for the next 2, 5, and 10 years by Mayor Hubert Yopp, "[Tax Increment Financing Authority] Board chair Theresa Johnson plans on focusing first on demonstrating that there is demand for development, through community-driven, targeted, short term wins in multi-modal infrastructure, activated public spaces, and pop-up experiences." 

MKSK Studios has put together plans incorporating those elements. Here, Robin Runyan gives us a look at this "bold vision" for the city. In context, Highland Park lies along what could be a key corridor for rejuvenation outside of downtown Detroit.  

"In it, we see opportunities for increased public space, adaptive reuse of historic buildings, an emphasis on pedestrian safety, increased retail opportunity, and taking advantage of the Inner Circle Greenway, connecting neighborhoods of Detroit with Highland Park, Hamtramck, and Dearborn in a non-motorized capacity."

Tuesday, May 2, 2017 in Curbed Detroit

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Mary G., Urban Planner

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