Industrial Wasteland
At one time, Detroit was once the forth largest city in the U.S., but its decline over the last half of the 20th century has reduced its national standing. There are a myriad of reasons for its decline, but top on the list is the decline of the U.S. auto industry. The city itself, however, squandered one of its biggest assets and resources: its riverfront location. Instead of the boat docks and promenades that characterize the waterfront in other big cities, much of the Detroit River’s downtown coastline was devoted to industry and in recent years became an industrial wasteland.
Attempts at Redevelopment
The problem was recognized by past city administrations, but the scale of money required to transform the riverfront was simply overwhelming. Mayor Coleman Young approached riverfront renewal on a deal-by-deal basis with single projects, while Mayor Dennis Archer wanted to locate the city’s three permanent casinos on the riverfront, a plan that eventually dissolved into a bureaucratic nightmare.
Mayor's East Riverfront Study Group
When Mayor Kilpatrick took office, he commissioned a study, the Mayor’s East Riverfront Study Group. It was a 90-day process involving 34 members that was overseen by the Mayor’s office. The recommendations were unveiled at the end of 2002. The initial plan called for $300 million in commitments, including contributions from GM and the State of Michigan. The rest would be raised and utilized through a nonprofit established in 2003: The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. The Conservancy’s mission is to enhance the Detroit River through the creation of parks, greenways, etc. Its initial role was to raise the $140 million necessary for the project; but it was helped along in this regard by a $50 million Kresge grant.
The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
The Conservancy is the most viable vehicle for renewal because it involves collaboration and contribution from Michigan, Wayne County, the City of Detroit, local businesses and nonprofits, representatives of which make up the Conservancy’s board. Collaboration has in fact proven to be the driving force behind the redevelopment. For instance, Mayor Kilpatrick gave tax incentives to stimulate housing projects along the river, while U.S. Senator Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow worked to obtain federal funds.
RiverWalk
The ultimate goal of the conservancy is a 5 ½-mile-long RiverWalk, a vision that was ultimately divided into two projects. The east RiverWalk is a stretch of walkway connecting attractions between Joe Louis Arena and Belle Isle. The west RiverWalk would be, in effect, phase two and consists of a RiverWalk between Joe Louis and the Ambassador Bridge.
Timeline
2004:By the end of 2004, major work was completed toward the RiverWalk vision. The harbor was completed as part of the six-phase Tricentennial State Park & Harbor, Michigan’s first urban state park, as was the GM plaza and promenade. Construction was also begun on the Port Authority terminal and dock between the RenCen and Hart Plaza.
2005:In 2005, the branding for the RiverWalk project was complete, as were the final design for the east RiverWalk and the framework for the west RiverWalk. Designed by JJR, LLC, the east RiverWalk would include a 62-foot-wide concourse for walking, biking and skating. It would also include fountains, water features and concessions. A standing glass map of the St. Lawrence Seaway, an in-laid granite map of the Detroit River and a carousel depicting Michigan wildlife was planned for Rivard Plaza. A butterfly garden and labyrinth were planned for Gabriel Richard Plaza and a bicycle and skating concession for Chene Park. Beyond theory and design, 2005 also saw the demolition of industrial silos along the riverfront, as well as the beginning of construction on two of the plazas.
2007:The Rivard and Gabriel Richard Park Plazas would open, along with two-and-one-half miles of the RiverWalk, in June of 2007, representing about 75% of the planned east RiverWalk. The gaps in the east RiverWalk include the site of the former Uniroyal plant and a large portion of the Tricentennial State Park project. The Uniroyal site experienced delay because of concerns about environmental clean-up costs. The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, however, confirmed allocation of federal clean-up funds, clearing the way for the project to enter into the design/engineering phase in 2008. The site is schedule for completion in 2010. The Tricentennial State Park project consists of six phases and is well underway.
West RiverWalk
The west part of the RiverWalk will run from Joe Louis to the Ambassador Bridge. As the east section nears completion, the west section is being designed and the necessary land acquired. In fact, in December 2007, the Detroit Media Partnership sold its now defunct printing plant to the Conservancy. There is only one tract remaining for acquisition: the rail yard to the west of the printing plant.
Further Development
Of course the Conservancy’s RiverWalk project isn’t the only development along the riverfront. There are several housing developments, and Pangborn’s Asian Village (http://www.myasianvillage.com/index.php) is now complete, an 18,000 square foot complex east of the RenCen. There was even an attempt to put the Boblo-boat Columbia back into use, but a study found it to be too expensive.
Environmental Development
Beyond housing and business development, the river has also been the recipient of a Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, as well as greenway projects linking the RiverWalk to areas well beyond the downtown area. In fact, the greenways making up the RiverWalk will serve as just more links in a chain of greenways planned all along the Detroit River from Monroe County to the western suburbs along the Rouge River. For instance, a Corktown-Mexicantown Greenway will eventually link to the west riverfront.
Endowment
Ultimately, the last phase in the RiverWalk project involves establishing an endowment for clean-up crews, safety patrols and maintenance.
