  Detroitman Member Username: Detroitman Post Number: 928 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 216.78.42.225 |
Agency aims to have plan for West Riverfront by October By Robert Ankeny • March 13, 2006 The Detroit Economic Growth Corp. wants a comprehensive economic development and land use plan for the city’s West Riverfront district — between the Detroit River and Fort Street, from Joe Louis Arena west to Riverside Park at West Grand Boulevard. George Jackson, DEGC president, said the West Riverfront district is significantly underdeveloped. “We are going to start by planning a framework for the city, private property owners and public space planners to stimulate the district’s redevelopment,” he said. The planning effort is also to include the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, which recently announced that $29 million in federal transportation money is earmarked for development of riverfront public space in the district. The West Riverfront district, approximately 280 acres, includes the Riverfront Towers, the now-shuttered Detroit Free Press printing plant and the Ambassador Bridge, but a large portion of it is an unused railway yard. The Detroit Economic Development Corp., which is staffed by the DEGC, will solicit proposals from consultants in March and expects the district plan to be completed by October. Several city departments will oversee planning, which also will incorporate input from the primary stakeholders in the district, Jackson said. Information regarding the request for qualifications and proposals for the West Riverfront is available from DEGC project manager Will Tamminga at wa tamminga@degc.org. “We expect the plan to define economic-development strategies,” Jackson said. Issues to be resolved include: How much focus to put on residential, commercial, retail or light industrial; what character the areas should have; the amount and location of public space; and where to put the best pedestrian and vehicular connections throughout the district. The study also must assess the condition of infrastructure in the area, Jackson said. Revitalization of the West Riverfront is likely to follow a process similar to the redevelopment effort being managed by the EDC in the East Riverfront District, he said. There, the city’s development team created the East Riverfront plan, solicited and negotiated development agreements with qualified developers, and rebuilt infrastructure with available funds. Large portions of the district were already city-owned, including parcels acquired for the riverfront casino district that was never developed. The city also controlled the large site near Belle Isle where the Uniroyal plant formerly stood. The EDC acquired additional property where needed to create attractive parcels for development and public spaces, Jackson said. “We have completed a lot of the heavy lifting along the East Riverfront, now that the cement silos are almost demolished and we have developers lined up for those sites and other key parcels in the area, ” he said. This has cleared the way for construction of the $80 million RiverWalk, a $3.3 million riverfront to Eastern Market bike-and-hike path in the Dequindre Cut and the $30 million Tricentennial State Park. Key private development projects in the East Riverfront include: A 2,000-unit residential complex planned on the 40-acre former Uniroyal site by Bettis/Betters Development L.L.C., a partnership of Pittsburgh businessman C.J. Betters and retired Pittsburgh Steeler Jerome Bettis. Work is expected to start later this year. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is reviewing an environmental remediation plan submitted by the developer. The $41 million riverfront housing and retail development being built by Spingarn Development L.L.C. on the 2.5 acre site of the former Cemex Corp. cement silo. Spingarn is a group being headed by former Detroit Piston Dave Bing, who hopes to recruit other former Detroit athletes to be part of the deal. The $25 million riverfront housing development to be built by Bettis/Betters on the 1.7 acre site of the former Holnan Inc. cement silo. General Motors Corp. also announced recently the selection of Detroit River East Partners L.L.C., a partnership of Mesirow Stein Real Estate Inc. and Morningside Equities Group, both of Chicago, as the developers for its mixed-use River East complex. http://www.crainsdetroit.com/c gi-bin/article.pl?articleId=28 930 | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 400 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 68.2.191.57 |
http://www.degc.org/ | ||
Broken_main Member Username: Broken_main Post Number: 945 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.222.11.226 |
Well, it's about time someone did something. I hope the west end is as ambitious as the east. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3322 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
The west will have to have a different concept considering it is laid out differently than than the east. It's good sign they are tackling this aggresively, and so soon. | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 570 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.231.189.137 |
"The Detroit Economic Development Corp., which is staffed by the DEGC" umm....duh?!?! | ||
Wilus1mj Member Username: Wilus1mj Post Number: 49 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 67.149.62.53 |
Any pictures of the east riverfront | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3324 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
Wilus1mj, http://www.detroitriverfront.o rg/index.asp?item=623&name=Pho to+Gallery&site=5 | ||
Ltrain Member Username: Ltrain Post Number: 75 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.229.247.89 |
the second shot of the sunset would be perfect if the actual state bird of Michigan (the construction barrel) wasn't elbowing it's way in. |
