I hope this pans out, the city is focusing on urban agriculture for this area.
This area of Detroit is up next in the city's redevelopment plan


The framework plan typically incorporates six to 10 neighborhoods at a time. In Brightmoor's planning area, the city is focusing on developments for Eliza Howell, Castle Rouge, Schoolcraft Improvement Association, Westwood Park, Rosedale Park, Minock Park, Miller Grove, McNichols-Evergreen, Riverdale and South of Six. Combined the impact area has a population of 60,000. The areas are all connected to Rouge Park and are dealing with vacant land. There are around 1,000 total vacant structures and 832 non-parkland vacant acres in the planning study area. There are 519 properties slated for demolition under Proposal N, the city's $250 million bond-funded initiative to address 16,000 vacant homes. It's unknown how many have already been torn down, but officials say District 1 has not had the same amount of attention as other districts."There's an overall feeling that you're in one of the annexed areas of Detroit that's still in an urban area but within nature and I think that's the connecting piece for all of these neighborhoods," Walker said.
The goal is to work with the community and each city department to implement projects together. In the Livernois-McNichols area, residents advocated for a new park, streetscape, housing initiatives and demolitions during their framework plan.
In Brightmoor, the work starts from beneath the surface.
The Water and Sewerage Department has plans to implement green stormwater infrastructure to alleviate the burden on the city's combined sewage overflow system because the area is flood-prone.
After that, project manager Dominique Boyer said they want to focus on vacant land, how to make it beautiful and what to do with it in the future. From there, they'll pivot to issues surrounding housing, economic development and park connectivity.
The plan is still in the preliminary phases, and over the next 12 to 18 months, the city will hold a series of meetings with the entire community and small focus groups to determine what they're going to do over the next two to five years. The first meeting has not been scheduled yet but Boyer is aiming for mid-February.
"It will take that long in order to give love to Brightmoor and really elevate it to the place where the residents have already determined that their neighborhood deserves," said Boyer, who joined the city in March. "The first community meeting will really determine the trajectory of the planning study. The unique thing about this area is how involved the residents are and want it to be a hands-on process, and we are going to give them the opportunity to do that. We are really just here to help bring their vision to fruition."

For inspiration, Walker said, they are looking at New Orleans and Atlanta for greenway and stormwater initiatives, and Portland's 20-minute neighborhoods, which focus on walkable access to commercial services and amenities.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...n/69775230007/