History of Southfield becoming the commercial and business hub of Metro Detroit?

[48009]

Southfield's growth into a business and commercial center in the Detroit area is relatively easy to explain. To begin with, it was along the first expressway built out to the north of Detroit [[which was itself built along the route of an already major highway - Northwestern/James Couzens).

That's what I was looking for. I didn't know 10/Lodge/Northwestern Hwy was the first expressway. So decision makers were moving to the NW suburbs and wanted to relocate operations out of the city, but wanted a convenient business and commercial center that wasn't actually in their enclave, Southfield it is.

Was there something that really sparked Troy? What about Auburn Hills? Southfield is still a hub, is it not, or have businesses been fleeing?

[Hermod]

That's what I was looking for. I didn't know 10/Lodge/Northwestern Hwy was the first expressway. So decision makers were moving to the NW suburbs and wanted to relocate operations out of the city, but wanted a convenient business and commercial center that wasn't actually in their enclave, Southfield it is.

Was there something that really sparked Troy? What about Auburn Hills? Southfield is still a hub, is it not, or have businesses been fleeing?

When I worked for the city of Troy [[1959), it was newly incorporated and just starting to lay public water and sewer [[most were on septic tanks and wells). There were quite a few subdivisions going in, but commercial development was pretty much restricted to the "mile road" intersections.

Th major strip mall development came when population density reached a level to support it. Office development [[especially along Big Beaver) was a function of the arrival of I-75.

In 1959, the alignment of I-75 through Troy was still only in a very general "concept" stage. Heck, in 1961, the alignment of the Chrysler [[I-75) north of the Ford [[I-94) interchange complex was still not into detail design.

[Kathleen]

Was there something that really sparked Troy?

What role did Stephenson Highway have in the development of Troy? After all, it was a highway that led from Detroit out to Big Beaver Rd.

[Hermod]

What role did Stephenson Highway have in the development of Troy? After all, it was a highway that led from Detroit out to Big Beaver Rd.

Stephenson ended just north of 15 mile and had factory development on both sides. North of 15 mile, Stephenson merged into the then two lane Rochester Road. Stephenson was there long before Troy began to develop.

[EastsideAl]

Stephenson ended just north of 15 mile and had factory development on both sides. North of 15 mile, Stephenson merged into the then two lane Rochester Road. Stephenson was there long before Troy began to develop.

Stephenson Hwy. was originally built as a right-of-way for a streetcar line from Detroit to Royal Oak, which is why development along there was somewhat older and more industrial. But, given the industrial development through that corridor, and the need to move workers in/out of the area, aligning I-75 on or near Stephenson was a natural idea.

[Hermod]

Stephenson Hwy. was originally built as a right-of-way for a streetcar line from Detroit to Royal Oak, which is why development along there was somewhat older and more industrial. But, given the industrial development through that corridor, and the need to move workers in/out of the area, aligning I-75 on or near Stephenson was a natural idea.

You have the Chrysler alignment coming north out of the city and the I-75 alignment coming south out of Flint and Pontiac. The two got merged through Troy by the cheapest [[in terms of condemnation compensation) routes through the city.

[48009]

When I worked for the city of Troy [[1959), it was newly incorporated and just starting to lay public water and sewer [[most were on septic tanks and wells). There were quite a few subdivisions going in, but commercial development was pretty much restricted to the "mile road" intersections.

Th major strip mall development came when population density reached a level to support it. Office development [[especially along Big Beaver) was a function of the arrival of I-75.

In 1959, the alignment of I-75 through Troy was still only in a very general "concept" stage. Heck, in 1961, the alignment of the Chrysler [[I-75) north of the Ford [[I-94) interchange complex was still not into detail design.

I had no idea the Chrysler was that "new". Can you detail the build out going north of Detroit [[Chrysler)? The Wiki page for I-75 doesn't do a very thorough job. It sounds like I-75 from Flint to Pontiac was completed long before the Detroit to Pontiac was? I'd assume this was due to GM's influence? Even Saginaw and Flint were connected before those?

[Hermod]

I had no idea the Chrysler was that "new". Can you detail the build out going north of Detroit [[Chrysler)? The Wiki page for I-75 doesn't do a very thorough job. It sounds like I-75 from Flint to Pontiac was completed long before the Detroit to Pontiac was? I'd assume this was due to GM's influence? Even Saginaw and Flint were connected before those?

In 1961, the Chrysler ended at the Ford with a temporary ramp. The Ford ended at Gratiot. The Lodge went out to Northwestern Highway. The Fisher and Jeffries were pipedreams. Holbrook was as far north as detailed planning went for the Chrysler. Gratiot was bumper to bumper morning and evening with two and three cycles necessary to get through the Harper and Connor lights.

[marshamusic]

In 1961, the Chrysler ended at the Ford with a temporary ramp. The Ford ended at Gratiot. The Lodge went out to Northwestern Highway. The Fisher and Jeffries were pipedreams. Holbrook was as far north as detailed planning went for the Chrysler. Gratiot was bumper to bumper morning and evening with two and three cycles necessary to get through the Harper and Connor lights.

I love these discussions about freeways. They tell so much about the development of the region. Thanks.

[Detroitnerd]

That's what I was looking for. I didn't know 10/Lodge/Northwestern Hwy was the first expressway.

In the 1980s, writer Joel Garreau popularized the term "Edge City," which is basically the first stage of commercial flight from central cities. It's basically a place where a road out from a city meets other roads that go around cities. He says the first was our New Center of the 1920s.

Of course, he made it sound very grand, and poked fun of people who still thought maybe we should have businesses in central core cities.