The Villages CDC’s opposition to the request to change the zoning of 7850 East Jefferson from [[R-6) high-rise residential to [[PD) Planned Development.
The Villages Community Development Corporation [[CDC) objects to the Detroit Retirement Systems’ request to change the land use of 7850 East Jefferson from [[R-6) high-rise residential to [[PD) Planned Development, and the proposal to build a small office building on that site.
The Villages CDC represents a unique collection of near east side communities including historic neighborhoods, high-rise condos, lofts and apartments, and affordable rental properties and new construction affordable single family homes. The Villages of Detroit includes Berry Subdivision, East Village, Indian Village, West Village, Island View Village and the Gold Coast towers on the riverfront. The Villages CDC is a partner organization in the recently formed East Jefferson Corridor Collaborative formed to support the revitalization of East Jefferson Avenue from I-375 to Alter Road.
Our first concern is that the proposed use is not the highest and best use of the parcel for our neighborhoods or the City of Detroit. The parcel could and should support a better use, one that would capitalize on Jefferson as a thoroughfare, increase density, encourage walkability, increase 24-hour safety and create positive benefit to the surrounding neighborhoods and residents. The parcel is one of the few remaining undeveloped, but developable riverfront parcels of property that are left in the city. The parcel presents an opportunity both to benefit the quality of life of the surrounding neighborhoods and the general public and its potential taxable value could significantly benefit the City of Detroit. The few properties near the 7850 East Jefferson listed as [[PD) zoning are grossly underutilized buildings, the most prominent example is the largely vacant St. John Riverview Hospital on the north side of Jefferson The UAW Solidarity House on the river, just East of 7850 Jefferson is also nonconforming R-6 use that has limited interaction or direct benefit to the neighborhood, reducing walkability, riverfront access/future Riverwalk extension and inhibiting a vibrant store-front business district that could service and benefit the surrounding residential community.
Our second concern is that this proposal will take jobs and occupancy from downtown where office space tenancy is needed the most. We need to keep our city center strong, weakening our city center by allowing employees to be moved to a residential neighborhood that does not and cannot accommodate a substantial workforce, fails to make sense.
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/awagner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.gif[/IMG]The Villages CDC would be willing to share their vision and resources to work with the Detroit Retirement Systems to develop an appropriate use for the 7850 East Jefferson property that would benefit The Retirement Systems as well the Villages Neighborhoods. Currently the plan neither benefits our neighborhood nor the city as a whole.