'Bold, new, and more democratic' vision unveiled for East Riverfront

Planning & Development Department's plans for East Riverfront are released. More public park space added as reported by the Freep's John Gallagher...

"The vision reverses a long-held presumption that the riverfront running east from the Renaissance Center would fill up with pricey residences and shops to boost the city's population and tax base. Instead, this new vision boldly accepts that the value of public access to the riverfront outweighs the value of a few more condos and shops.

“The riverfront belongs to all Detroiters,” Maurice Cox, director of the City of Detroit Planning & Development Department, said of the new vision. “Thanks to the involvement of hundreds of residents, we have principles that frame an international riverfront that can be accessed and enjoyed by all.”

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"Three sites south of Atwater Street – which had been slated for private development – will become public park space instead. This will add nearly 8 acres of additional park space to the district.

The planned Jos. Campau Greenway, which runs from Vernor down to the river, will receive new lighting, furnishings, paving and landscaping. The Beltline Greenway, to be located between Belleview and Beaufait, will connect from Kercheval to the Detroit River. Along with the Dequindre Cut, these greenways will connect the riverfront for thousands of residents living throughout several east-side neighborhoods.

The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy also will break ground on an extension of the RiverWalk from Mt. Elliott Park to the Belle Isle Bridge along the former Uniroyal site. The RiverWalk extension will also connect to Gabriel Richard Park.

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http://www.freep.com/story/money/bus...46c718fecddbf8

Also from the article, "Detroit Economic Growth Corp. will issue a Request for Proposals this week for a renovation of the Stone Soap building at 1490 Franklin." That's the building on the left. The rubble ruins of the legendary Rhinoceros Club can be seen on the right in this Google streetview.
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https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3334...8i6656!6m1!1e1

Looks good. Run canals deep inside the city for boat access. Get rid of those freeways..

Love that they want to fully connect the Riverwalk to Belle Isle. Very forward-thinking proposal here.

Wow. I think we all just assumed that most of that area would be filled in with condos and apts. This amount of planning and the vision to return the riverfront to the people rather than private developers tells me that we have competent people at the helm, finally. It may take some time for all of this to come to fruition, but it's great to see they are finally going to connect the Riverwalk to Belle Isle via the old Uniroyal site. That basically gives us a continuous path bridge to bridge minus the Riverfront Condos.

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Originally Posted by Lowell

The rubble ruins of the legendary Rhinoceros Club can be seen on the right in this Google streetview.
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https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3334...8i6656!6m1!1e1

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Ok, not to hijack the thread but what the hell happened to the Rhinoceros Club? I'm looking through the Freep archives and it seems to be a pretty hip place as late as 1998, but within 10 years its closed and hollowed out and then demolished? Did it suffer a fire? Did the failed casino district make it leave? Cool building too...

I hope that these reclaimed areas will have a planned purpose. Just to be open space that is open to the public will do nothing to improve the area. For example, the area nearest Rivard Plaza has been fenced in. Ok, private developers can't build fancy high rises that most Detroiters can't afford, but what are Detroiters gonna do with land that's fenced in. Now, I assume that this area won't continue to be fenced in but what will go in its place? Will basketball or tennis courts go in the place? Will a skate park end up on one of these properties? That's planning. Leaving it untouched so that nature can take over these parcels would be a waste.

Also, where will the "beach" area go? Why has that not been revealed? Sounds nice if it's going to be an actual beach. Get rid of the "hill" area that's an eyesore in my view and create the beach there with real sand and access to the water.

Finally, I find it interesting that planning director Maurice Cox says that "the riverfront belongs to all Detroiters" yet the Orleans Landing development's starting prices are around $1300/month. How many Detroiters can afford that? So, these three parcels or 8 acres are now available to the public and not rich people. How many acres of the remaining riverfront are currently available? I'm not rich but it bothers me when people in Detroit want to keep rich people out of the city. New York City has thousands of millionaires who live in million dollar penthouses. Do the rest of New Yorkers fight to keep rich people out of their city? Only in Detroit do Detroiters not want rich people living in this city. It is this attitude that keeps Detroit from becoming a world class city in my view. And if one thinks that there is a racial tone to this, and there is, then consider that each of the three parcels taken away from the high-priced, high-rise developers were taken away from three black developers; one being Dave Bing and the other being Jerome Bettis.

I used to see that Stone Soap building every day when I worked nearby. It can't be redeveloped fast enough. But who owns the property with all the open rubble? I remember that as well. Is that city-owned? Horrible..

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Originally Posted by Hypestyles

But who owns the property with all the open rubble? I remember that as well. Is that city-owned? Horrible..

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I don't think the rubble is there anymore...if you look at more recent views it's just an empty lot.

I believe that, back in 2015, the Downtown Development group sought proposes to renovate the Stone Soap Building. I am glad to see that plans are still coming along.

Good to see. I really wanted to attend this meeting but could not. The Detroit river area has some of the best parts of the city. Really good energy down on the riverfront.

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Originally Posted by EGrant

Love that they want to fully connect the Riverwalk to Belle Isle. Very forward-thinking proposal here.

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Yes, this would be HUGE. Expanding access into the neighborhoods will also really help make those neighborhoods desirable. It even makes bike commuting to downtown jobs much more possible.

I'm a big fan of it.

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Originally Posted by renf

I believe that, back in 2015, the Downtown Development group sought proposes to renovate the Stone Soap Building. I am glad to see that plans are still coming along.

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You would think now that McCormack Baron Salazar would want to do something with this building, considering all or the Orleans Landing apartments on Riopelle are facing it. Also, the phase 2 they had planned was supposed to be on that block.

It's alluded to on the map, but I've seen nothing in print...can anyone verify that the Conservancy will be building bridges across the cutoff parts of the Riverwalk so people don't have to backtrack to Atwater?

The map key appears to suggest that new links will be built in Milliken State Park, across the St Aubin Marina opening, in front of Chene Park and at Atwater Beach to connect to the Riverwalk that picks back up at Stroh RiverPlace.

I've been wanting those connections for years, especially in front of Chene Park. That connection would need to be built so access can be shut off during paid concerts. Better yet, they can use that space for premium up-close standing room for those concerts.

Nice looking plan, some new green space and more pedestrian friendly is a bonus.

The reality is there is plenty of empty space there to be able to do all kinds of things public and private.

The design is so, so good. Makes me confident in the people in charge. Cut Jefferson down to a manageable street rather than highway, explicitly transit-oriented, and then a stepdown of development approaching public space along the river. Integrate historic structures where possible. So basic in so many cities, but often lacking in Detroit.

Now boulevard-ize 375 and swing QLine phase 2 out to Belle Isle, and you've really got something stretching from midtown to Belle Isle. This entire arc should and can be the beautiful, connected, thriving, riverfront-oriented core of Detroit.

Edit: I also love the additional greenways. Makes the riverfront into an amenity for anyone in neighborhoods in range of these paths.

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Originally Posted by middetres

It's alluded to on the map, but I've seen nothing in print...can anyone verify that the Conservancy will be building bridges across the cutoff parts of the Riverwalk so people don't have to backtrack to Atwater?

The map key appears to suggest that new links will be built in Milliken State Park, across the St Aubin Marina opening, in front of Chene Park and at Atwater Beach to connect to the Riverwalk that picks back up at Stroh RiverPlace.

I've been wanting those connections for years, especially in front of Chene Park. That connection would need to be built so access can be shut off during paid concerts. Better yet, they can use that space for premium up-close standing room for those concerts.

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Couldn't agree more.

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Originally Posted by Colombian Dan

Looks good. Run canals deep inside the city for boat access. Get rid of those freeways..

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The plan has always been to build across the Uniroyal property once it has been remediated.

The best change to me are the plans to put Jefferson on a diet.


http://www.dailydetroit.com/2017/03/...et-bike-lanes/

I see that Daily Detroit found out where the beach will go. http://dailydetroit.com.

If someone really wants to connect people to the river, make the "Campau Connector" a real street with car, bike, and pedestrian access. It would eliminate the superblock that currently exists. It could start at Macomb Street and be a one-way heading south to Jefferson.

Oh, and while we're talking about improving Jefferson and the riverfront, let's get rid of Larned Street altogether, from Rivard to Mt. Elliot, and use it as an alley an parking lots for buildingw along Jefferson, freeing up surface parking lots that could be developed for mixed-use developments.

Hopefully whatever gets built on the surface lots east of the ren cen will also open up the river walk a bit more. With the white collar lunch crowd, bikers, runners and summer tourists it gets squeezed at times...it is an amazing amenity to have

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Originally Posted by royce

I hope that these reclaimed areas will have a planned purpose. Just to be open space that is open to the public will do nothing to improve the area. For example, the area nearest Rivard Plaza has been fenced in. Ok, private developers can't build fancy high rises that most Detroiters can't afford, but what are Detroiters gonna do with land that's fenced in. Now, I assume that this area won't continue to be fenced in but what will go in its place? Will basketball or tennis courts go in the place? Will a skate park end up on one of these properties? That's planning. Leaving it untouched so that nature can take over these parcels would be a waste.

Also, where will the "beach" area go? Why has that not been revealed? Sounds nice if it's going to be an actual beach. Get rid of the "hill" area that's an eyesore in my view and create the beach there with real sand and access to the water.

Finally, I find it interesting that planning director Maurice Cox says that "the riverfront belongs to all Detroiters" yet the Orleans Landing development's starting prices are around $1300/month. How many Detroiters can afford that? So, these three parcels or 8 acres are now available to the public and not rich people. How many acres of the remaining riverfront are currently available? I'm not rich but it bothers me when people in Detroit want to keep rich people out of the city. New York City has thousands of millionaires who live in million dollar penthouses. Do the rest of New Yorkers fight to keep rich people out of their city? Only in Detroit do Detroiters not want rich people living in this city. It is this attitude that keeps Detroit from becoming a world class city in my view. And if one thinks that there is a racial tone to this, and there is, then consider that each of the three parcels taken away from the high-priced, high-rise developers were taken away from three black developers; one being Dave Bing and the other being Jerome Bettis.

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The average New Yorker has asess to mAny of the same amenities in the city as the millionaires have but I'm Detroit the amenities would be privatized by and only for the rich. Look at how downtown is turning out to be. All of the restaurants that had opened are expensive to the average person daily taste

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Originally Posted by royce

If someone really wants to connect people to the river, make the "Campau Connector" a real street with car, bike, and pedestrian access. It would eliminate the superblock that currently exists. It could start at Macomb Street and be a one-way heading south to Jefferson.

Oh, and while we're talking about improving Jefferson and the riverfront, let's get rid of Larned Street altogether, from Rivard to Mt. Elliot, and use it as an alley an parking lots for buildingw along Jefferson, freeing up surface parking lots that could be developed for mixed-use developments.

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Not sure I agree with removing Larned street, but certainly making it more accessible/narrower would be nice.

Those near-east side superblocks have really stifled that part of town. It's so bland and desolate over there. I'm really hoping the city has plans to remove this district and restore the street grid that existed in that area before Elmwood Park was developed. It's a huge area, I'm surprised it ever happened in the first place. But replacing the city with apartments did nothing to improve that area. It would be much better served with through-streets, corner stores/markets/commercial buildings mixed in. While I welcome the Campau Greenway, I agree with royce that it would be much better as an actual through-street.

For your reference, the plan PDF is posted at:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/k0t8hqir00...FINAL.pdf?dl=0

and they have a website at:
http://www.yourdetroiteastriverfront.org

The PDF has a good number of slides and maps of locations and visions behind specific places. Here are some selections:

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This looks excellent. Really pretty much all I was hoping for. Making the riverfront all open to public access should make that whole area much more lively, and therefore more valuable to residential and commercial developers. And rehabbing the Stone Soap building is another step in the direction of preservation and productive reuse of the older industrial buildings down there, which should be a major focus of the redevelopment efforts. This could all be a major win for the east side, and the city as a whole.

To finally see some plans for cutting the Riverwalk through the Uniroyal site, and thus connecting it to Belle Isle, is great. But the rendering makes it look like it's going through a forest [[and that site is certainly currently the opposite of forested). Any idea what, if anything, is now being planned for the rest of that site?

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Originally Posted by Gsgeorge

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Thanks for the additional links. That last rendering is beautiful - Detroit's own little Grant Park. Would love to see it come to fruition.

I notice we didn't get any update on transit which was part of the initial RFQ... wonder if we'll hear more later? Bus improvements and M-1 extension had both been mentioned back in 2015.

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Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

Ok, not to hijack the thread but what the hell happened to the Rhinoceros Club? I'm looking through the Freep archives and it seems to be a pretty hip place as late as 1998, but within 10 years its closed and hollowed out and then demolished? Did it suffer a fire? Did the failed casino district make it leave? Cool building too...

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The building was up for sale at some point after the casino-debacle. It caught on fire at some point before it was sold. It was torn down by the city I presume. However, they left the ruins on the site for several months. At one point, a group of bar owners took the name and renamed a bar in Paradise Valley/Harmonie Park with the Rhinoceros name. That bar now has another name.

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Originally Posted by Gsgeorge

Not sure I agree with removing Larned street, but certainly making it more accessible/narrower would be nice.

Those near-east side superblocks have really stifled that part of town. It's so bland and desolate over there. I'm really hoping the city has plans to remove this district and restore the street grid that existed in that area before Elmwood Park was developed. It's a huge area, I'm surprised it ever happened in the first place. But replacing the city with apartments did nothing to improve that area. It would be much better served with through-streets, corner stores/markets/commercial buildings mixed in. While I welcome the Campau Greenway, I agree with royce that it would be much better as an actual through-street.

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I would say it's one of the better areas of the city, positioned very close to Downtown. Improvements to the area can be made through remaking public spaces and pedestrian and bike paths, along with infill development to increase density. The "superblocks" don't really matter. Uninterrupted grids benefit mostly benefit cars. "Campau Greenway" doesn't need auto traffic. There's an over-abundance of "through streets" in Detroit. Cars can go the long way; prioritize pedestrians, bikes and public transport.

hopefully a community center will be part of the redevelopment plans.

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Originally Posted by casscorridor

I would say it's one of the better areas of the city, positioned very close to Downtown. Improvements to the area can be made through remaking public spaces and pedestrian and bike paths, along with infill development to increase density. The "superblocks" don't really matter. Uninterrupted grids benefit mostly benefit cars. "Campau Greenway" doesn't need auto traffic. There's an over-abundance of "through streets" in Detroit. Cars can go the long way; prioritize pedestrians, bikes and public transport.

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Strongly disagree - there's a severe lack of through streets in this part of Detroit, and forcing cars into only a few routes creates large, ugly, highway-roads like Jefferson that are hard to cross and use for pedestrians and cyclists. Uninterrupted grids also benefit pedestrians, transit users, and cyclists by putting the largest amount of places within the shortest distance. See the first image in this post - blue is the area a pedestrian can reach in about 5 mins [[1km walk). There are good reasons why many cities are actively breaking up superblocks from the 60s and 70s to recreate pedestrian-scale street grids.

You can see some visualizations of the extreme difference between the original street grid on the east side of downtown and the failed superblock grid we have today in this document.

The superblock argument doesn't really hold for the area north of Jefferson.

The superblocks are permeable by foot and bicycle.

And from a pedestrian point of view the roads that are there, like Chene, are heavily simplified boulevards, which are very easy for pedestrians to safely cross. There are barely any intersections or cut outs and there isn't two way traffic. It's very controlled and predictable. You just look to one side, if there are no cars then you walk to the median.

The roads inside of the developments are mostly low speed parking lots which are also good for pedestrians. Some of them are even low speed mixed car/pedestrian spaces which is as safe as you can get for pedestrians without outright removing the cars [[which all of the pedestrian paths do, btw).

The superblock problem does exist south of Jefferson though because they blocks are so wide.

imo one of the greatest things they could do would be to acquire the land to bisect the wide blocks.

So far all the plan really does is make the obvious choice to remove the private land south of Atwater and fix up the various assets that are already there. Those are good things for sure, but bisecting the big blocks would be very good for the longterm future.

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But replacing the city with apartments did nothing to improve that area. It would be much better served with through-streets, corner stores/markets/commercial buildings mixed in. While I welcome the Campau Greenway, I agree with royce that it would be much better as an actual through-street.

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That area is the largest and one of the few stable areas in Detroit, and it's one of the only places where you can go where there are minimal signs of physical blight. It has some of the best schools, a community center, parks, a variety of housing typologies for different types of people. It has a comparable density to the occupied parts of the city despite the large amount of park space. It's an affordable area with a range of incomes and it provides some of the highest quality of life in the city. While I agree that the quality of architecture is inconsistent [[not that very many places in the city actually have good design quality anyway), and that commercial should have been better integrated into it, it's hard to make the objective claim that that area is worse off than it would have been.

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Originally Posted by royce

The building was up for sale at some point after the casino-debacle. It caught on fire at some point before it was sold. It was torn down by the city I presume. However, they left the ruins on the site for several months. At one point, a group of bar owners took the name and renamed a bar in Paradise Valley/Harmonie Park with the Rhinoceros name. That bar now has another name.

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Larned Street could be a designated bike and pedestrian street

One area of the east riverfront that could stand improvement is the Stroh River Place surface parking lot. It's directly east of the proposed Atwater Beach. It is an eyesore and an inefficient use of space. Riverfront property for a parking lot! Really? There should be residential on that site. I know parking is needed, so why not build a parking structure on the northern half of the property? Better yet, work out an agreement with the owners of the St. Andrews Bar and owners of the large building just north of their parking lot and build a parking deck on Atwater. Some nice townhouses along the RiverWalk in that location would be ideal. However, please do not build anything like Orleans Landing. I am very disappointed in that development, and I'll comment on that thread once I find it. At any rate, my two cents.