Award
2018 Honor Award
Site
Detroit, MI
Client
City of Detroit
Category
Planning and Analysis
Landscape Architects
Project Details
Detroit is undergoing a significant transformation. Since the 1950’s, the city has been in decline, losing more than 60% of its population. A restructured city government and an emboldened private sector have created new momentum, bringing a renaissance to the downtown. Acknowledging the great strengths residing outside of downtown, the City is planning for strategic investments in its neighborhoods. The Grand River Northwest Detroit Neighborhood Framework Plan collaborates with City officials and residents to address two pressing City challenges–large swaths of vacant land and flooding from large rain events. This plan gives residents a voice in transforming surplus lands into assets to manage stormwater and build vibrant, memorable places that provide new community amenities. This plan tackles disinvestment through a process that prioritizes community engagement and develops a comprehensive strategy to manage more than 500 million gallons of runoff generated from a 100-year storm and combat flooding, combined sewer overflows and basement backups. Near-term concepts ensure that strategies can be implemented within a short time frame to provide immediate support and revitalize the neighborhood.