Description

Including final designs for Virginia Street and the Truckee River Banks.

"As leaders of a multi-disciplinary team, Carr, Lynch Associates prepared an urban design plan for the redevelopment of two and one-half miles of Detroit's Near East Riverfront. This plan sought to identify and then show how to accommodate the development plans of large public and private owners in the area, whose ideas and interests were sometimes in conflict. The client group included the City of Detroit, the Detroit Renaissance Foundation, and major corporations such as the Ford Motor Land Development Company, American Natural Resources, Stroh's Brewery, and Uniroyal.

"The City of Detroit and the other interested parties hoped that a redeveloped waterfront would be a key to reviving the declining downtown and the city as a whole, as Boston’s waterfront redevelopment had done. We noted that twelve Boston waterfronts would fit in this vast, mostly decrepit, industrial area. The City would need to make major investments in street, utility, and transport improvements, riverfront parks in key locations, a riverwalk/bikeway to help knit the area together, and a proposed recreational center to draw people to the River. These public investments would provide the infrastructure for development, which was expected to be episodic, as the market allowed. The two plans on this page show the 'Roads to the River' urban design concept and the hoped-for build-out of the plan, based on input from the potential development entities and the market at the time of the plan.

"However, given the continuing decline of Detroit’s economic base and its middle-class population, funding was not available for all the proposed public improvements. Nevertheless, $100 million was invested, and three new parks were built in planned locations, together with most of the riverwalk. A central recreational facility, 'The Aretha Franklin Amphitheater,' and a marina were built where we had proposed them in our 'River Place' concept. The American Natural Resources Company built a large new housing development on their parcel of land. A striking new College of Business and Design was built between Stroh’s Brewery and the new housing. Other hoped-for development sites, such as the large parcel owned by Uniroyal, still stand vacant."

River Place: "The Carr, Lynch Associates plan for the Detroit riverfront included a concept for 'River Place,' the City's first comprehensive urban recreational park. It was designed to help open the riverfront to everyone. Open spaces and existing buildings, including a relocated industrial shed, were combined with new structures to provide space for a variety of indoor and outdoor recreational and cultural activities aimed at attracting Detroiters of all ages and incomes, as well as tourists. Space was also planned for a small public marina."

Chene Street Housing: "As part of its Riverfront development plan, CLA prepared a conceptual plan for mixed-income family housing along Chene Street. A complete residential neighborhood of approximately 650 units was planned, with a mix of high-rise towers, townhouses, and mid-rise apartment buildings. The new community would be connected to nearby shopping and service facilities, as well as to the planned riverfront park areas."

Conservation and Renewal: "Some of the old industrial areas still had life, especially on Franklin and Jos Campau Streets, including existing restaurants and bars that featured live music, often in historic buildings. Our plan proposed early investments in streetscape with assistance to potential new small industries and other businesses to enhance and expand the daytime and nighttime life of the district."