Detroit Works project to begin revealing urban planning drafts on election day

Khalil AlHajal|MLive

DETROIT, MI — As voters head to the polls and pick their candidates Tuesday, a group of urban planners is hoping residents will also weigh in on a set of long-term draft strategies to be revealed at the Detroit Works project HomeBase, 2929 Russell Street in the Eastern Market from 1-7 p.m.

The open-house event will be the first of five weekly events designed to gather input before the group finalizes its long-term plans in October, according to a news release from organizers.

Economic growth will be the focus of the Tuesday gathering, followed by sessions in the coming weeks on neighborhoods; city systems, infrastructure and environment; land use, zoning and urban design; and public land and facilities.

Mayor Dave Bing announced the Detroit Works project in 2010 and later split the initiative into two parts with long- and short-term goals.

The long-term economic growth drafts to be discussed Tuesday focus on four job opportunity areas: education and medicine; new economy; local entrepreneurship and industrial.

The group has identified seven parts of the city in which to potentially leverage land and infrastructure:

• Mt. Elliot focused on traditional industry
• McNichols Corridor focused on education and medicine
• Southwest focused on  global trade and logistics
• Eastern Market focused on food and beverage processing
• Downtown focused on IT and creative
• Midtown focused on  education and medicine
• Corktown focused on creative and light industry

“Detroit has some natural employment centers that can serve targeted industries,” said Teresa Lynch, a project consultant from the Initiative for Competitive Inner Cities. “This will create more dense pockets of economic activity, create stronger relationships between Detroit firms, and allow for targeted and efficient transportation and other infrastructure investments.”

Visit www.DetroitLongTerm.com or call 313-259-4407 for more information.

Original Article