Cass Corridor To Become The Alley District?

**jw101** · October-10-13, 08:03 PM

http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/dailydally1013.aspx why haven't we thought of this before! This is absolutely genius urban planning. In all cities, especially Detroit, alleys are used for trash and bums. What if one day, "Dally In The Alley" was daily? Imagine walking through green alley ways, full of food and fun. This is great! And an entire district? Detroit would be a trend-setter, after Italy, of course.

**sumas** · October-10-13, 08:58 PM

Sweet thoughts! Wrote a grant, cleaned up our paved alley last year. Still looks like shit. I have dreams too but ....

**stasu1213** · October-10-13, 10:32 PM

gratoit and russell is great for this idea for it is a brick alley with great potential.

**stasu1213** · October-10-13, 10:38 PM

most of the remaining alleys in the city could be transformed into pedestrial/biking trailways. My friends and I used to walk the alleys from Gratiot to Jefferson back in the early 70s. It was a lot a fun

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · October-10-13, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by stasu1213

most of the remaining alleys in the city could be transformed into pedestrial/biking trailways. My friends and I used to walk the alleys from Gratiot to Jefferson back in the early 70s. It was a lot a fun

Love this idea with one caveat: every new "public space" should come with a designation as to who will maintain cleanliness and upkeep. The last thing we need is a network of dilapidated public spaces, like most of the existing city parks. Whether it's neighboring businesses or residents, or a non-profit, etc, we need to know who's going to walk and feed the puppy before we adopt it.

**sumas** · October-11-13, 01:44 AM

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

Love this idea with one caveat: every new "public space" should come with a designation as to who will maintain cleanliness and upkeep. The last thing we need is a network of dilapidated public spaces, like most of the existing city parks. Whether it's neighboring businesses or residents, or a non-profit, etc, we need to know who's going to walk and feed the puppy before we adopt it.

Well spoken! As a community we maintain many vacant lots. Last year we adopted our alley for clean up. You would never believe that multiple people, a roll off bin and a days effort happened. Still looks like shit. Depressing!

We don't give up though. A major clean up is planned again for next spring.

My personal favorite is the nursing homes on the Blvd that use the alley for deliveries and refuse to participate in its maintenance. Got escorted out by security at all of them when I asked for their support on a clean up.

**Django** · October-11-13, 04:09 AM

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

Love this idea with one caveat: every new "public space" should come with a designation as to who will maintain cleanliness and upkeep. The last thing we need is a network of dilapidated public spaces, like most of the existing city parks. Whether it's neighboring businesses or residents, or a non-profit, etc, we need to know who's going to walk and feed the puppy before we adopt it.

I can only speak on the one alley behind Motor City Brew. The brewery has redone the back door, and completely redone the ally with brick pavers and garden space. The whole concept I believe is to not just use the front entrance to the buildings but the back entrance as well. If you check out Motor Citys alley you will understand what Im talking about, its absolutely beautiful. I think if more businesses thought this way the alleys could become a place where peoplejust dont think of a place to put your trash cans. It would be really hard to make work in a residential setting like Sumas has but in a commercial area totally doable as John from MCB has proven. The Cass Corridor is a perfect place to do it to.

I love this plan.

**motz** · October-11-13, 10:30 AM

MCBW alley is totally awesome. I would absolutely love to see that all over midtown/Woodbridge.

**A2Mike** · October-13-13, 06:58 AM

I can see some clever promoter even calling the nicer ones "mews", evoking Greenwich Village or London's West End. Who knows, maybe a "Woodward Mews", might even get Woodward itself renamed "Great Woodward Street". That would be real gentrification!