Downtown Detroit: Resurrection

DOWNTOWN DETROITRESURRECTION

By Mark Dorman

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

Table of Contents

Abstract

Car Problems

Precedents

Parking Problems

Site

Solutions

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

Detroit, once a thriving city at the turn of the twentieth cen-tury has now become a city that is controlled by the automobile. Nicknamed the ‘Motor City’, Detroit is the birthplace of the American automobile. With the Big 3 motor companies (GM, Ford and Chrys-ler) stationed in Detroit, the city’s economy thrived with the success of the automobile after World War II. With the ease of owning an automobile, many city residents moved to the suburbs for driving to work become easy as the infrastructure for the automobile such as roads and highways became more accessible. But as import cars became more popular, the American automobile industry suffered major setbacks in sales, and Detroit suffered many job losses due to the Big 3 downsizing in business. This with other events caused a drastic decline in population by more than half since the 1950’s. With the downfall of the economy, Downtown Detroit lost many businesses; the land that used to be for commercial use has turned into parking lots. The amount of land used for parking lots in Downtown Detroit is more than what is needed. Over the years certain parts of Downtown have gotten worse with the amount of parking lots growing and the amount of infra-structure made for the automobile over-running the city. Could these areas become used as parks? Making parks creates an environment that people want to be in. Could urban farming be the answer? Making the land sustainable where people farm their own food and feed the city could help the economy. Could the existing parking become land for commercial real estate? Creating commer-cial buildings could influence companies to open up businesses in Downtown and therefore create jobs. While creating jobs, people need somewhere to live so would housing play a major role in reviv-ing the city? Downtown Detroit is a city that has dwindled by the impacts of the automobile. The infrastructure of the automobile has created racial divide amongst communities as roads divide these commu-nities and set up borders. The economic value of the American automobile has suffered major losses therefore directly impacting the economy of Downtown Detroit. Downtown needs to find a way to not rely on the automobile and focus on creating a sustainable and efficient city.

DOWNTOWN DETROIT RESURRECTION

Abstract

ABSTRACT

CAR PROBLEMS

Ford Motor Company Established

1904

1950

POPULATION:285,704

1905

2,000 automobiles in Detroit

POPULATION:1,849,568


DOWNTOWN DETROIT

2010POPULATION:910,920

Most people working in Downtown Detroit drive to

work

130,000 automobiles travel

through Detroit daily

Car Problem

s

CAR PROBLEMS

1973POPULATION:1,514,063


Men returning from war purchase cars and move tosurburbs

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

TRANPORTATION USE

82% of people working in Detroit drive to work

PEOPLE DRIVING PERSONAL VEHICLES TO WORK

(IN MILLIONS)

PEOPLE USING MASS TRANSIT TO WORK

(IN THOUSANDS)

The numbers just keep on falling

The numbers just keep on rising

Car Problem

s

CAR PROBLEMS

Currently 130,000 automobiles travel into Downtown Detroit daily

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

Detroit is ranked as the ninth most polluted city in the United States

8 MILE ROAD

CAUCASION

AFRICAN AMERICAN

ROADS CREATE RACIAL DIVIDE AMONGST COMMUNITIES

8 Mile is the dividing point between the city of Detroit and its northern suburbs

Car Problem

s

CAR PROBLEMS

PRECEDENTS

Copenhagen

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

The development of Copenhagen’s “Walking Streets”

NO2 levels have dropped 20% since the introduc6on of the

walking streets

Precedents

PRECEDENTS

Broadway, NYC

NYC has closed off parts of Broadway and converted the streets into outdoor pavilions for people sit at and congregate

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

Masdar, Abu Dhabi

The Gulf City is the world’s first zero-‐carbon

city

Precedents

PRECEDENTS

PARKING PROBLEMS

In Downtown Detroit there is an overload of space made for parking

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

27% of land in Downtown Detroit is occupied by parking

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

Figure 1.1 Shows the comparison of parking lots (blue) to park space

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

FIG. 1.1

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

RATING DOWNTOWN DETROIT PARKING

EFFICIENCY

100% Sprawled Parking

How efficient is the parking lot? Is it spread out (less efficient) or is it a parking garage (more efficient)?

75% Sprawled Parking

50/50

75% Parking Garage

100% Parking Garage

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

PROXIMITYHow close is the parking lot to where people that use it need to go?

Four+ Blocks Away

Three Blocks Away

Two Blocks Away

One Block Away

At Destination

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

1

676,582 SQ. FT.OF PARKING

RatingEfficiency

Proximity

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

2

992,734 SQ. FT. OF PARKING

RatingEfficiency

Proximity

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

3


RatingEfficiency

Proximity

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

4

1,299,444 SQ. FT.OF PARKING

RatingEfficiency

Proximity

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

5


RatingEfficiency

Proximity

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

6


RatingEfficiency

Proximity

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

7


RatingEfficiency

Proximity

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

8


RatingEfficiency

Proximity

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

9


RatingEfficiency

Proximity

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

10


RatingEfficiency

Proximity

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

1970

William Wheeler Bunge, Jr.

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

2010

MADEFOR THE

CAR

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

AREA 1

AREA 2

AREA 3

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

PROBLEM AREAS

The indicated problem areas will be areas of oppurtunity

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

AREA1

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

AREA2

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

AREA3

Parking Problems

PARKING PROBLEMS

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

MOST CRITICAL AREA OF WORK

AREA 1

Site

SITE

2,613,873 sq. ft. of parking

Innefficient parking: Most of the area is spawled parking

Used as parking for stadiums: Only used 95 days out of the year

OPPORTUNITIES FOR AREA 1

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

PROBLEMS FORAREA 1

OPPORTUNITIES FOR AREA 1

Efficient parking

Housing

Urban farming

Parks and recreation

Connection to attractions

PROBLEMS FORAREA 1

Site

SITE

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

WHATS INAREA 1

Church

Bars

Restaurant/bar

Fox Theatre

Office Buidling

The FillmoreDetroit

Apartments

Site

SITE

Restaurant/bar

Co-America Park

Ford Field

Apartments

Athletic Center

Court House Industrial Building

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

CURRENTLY HAPPENING AROUND THE SITE

John Kantz has put millions of dollars into turning vacant lots into urban

farming lots

Currently in Area 1 many abandoned buildings are being renovated for new

apartments

Site

SITE

Currently in Area 1 many abandoned buildings are being renovated for new

apartments

SOLUTIONS

APARTMENTS

Create housing to bring people back to Downtown

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

PARKING

People who live here are going to need somewhere to park their cars in a more efficient way

Solutions

SOLUTIONS

FARMING

People will be able to grow their own food and therefore generate sustainable living

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

COMMERCIAL RETAIL

SOLUTIONS

Having retail will create shops that aren’t avavilable near the site and doesn’t require driving for the shops will be in the building

Solutions

PARKS

Creating a place where people can keep active and congregate with others creates a healthy environment

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

RESTAURANTS

SOLUTIONS

Residents who grow their own crops will be able to share their culture in the public restaurants as they can cook their cultures food

Solutions

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

PIECING IT TOGETHER

SOLUTIONS

Solutions

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

SOLUTIONS

SolutionsTUNNEL DRIVING

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

COMMUNITY FARMING

SOLUTIONS

Solutions

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

HIDDEN CITY

SOLUTIONS

Solutions

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

CAR-LESS COMMUNITY

SOLUTIONS

Solutions

DOWNTOWN DETROIT

SOLUTIONS

SolutionsHIGH RISE

Downtown Detroit: Resurrection

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