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Planning & Development Services
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Project Development & Facilitation |
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 New
Center Council and the City of Detroit’s Planning & Development
Department and work hand in hand with developers and financial
organizations to develop feasible economic development projects intended
to enhance the overall quality of life for New Center residents. From
predevelopment to construction, the Planning & Development arm of the
organization facilitates projects and supports investment consistent
with New Center’s Economic Development Plan. New Center’s Planning &
Development activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Update, and assist in
enforcing, zoning and land use laws to promote desired new development
and discourage nuisance properties
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Establish specialized
Districts for economic development tax breaks
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Apply for grants and loans
to subsidize predevelopment, construction, and other eligible costs in
property development
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Conduct inter-departmental
City and stakeholder meetings to work through project issues
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Work with municipal
agencies and lenders to develop new programs to address specific
issues relating to New Center development
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Manage information and
document flow between developers, consultants, and municipal
departments
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Provide developers with
technical information relating to housing reports, real estate
transactions, application and approval procedures, program
restrictions, land use laws, etc.
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Seek out suitable private
developers for specific desired projects
In addition to the
day-to-day activities, meetings with developers and real estate brokers,
and proposal reviews, the Council’s Planning & Development staff is
spearheading two major Economic Development initiatives:
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Advocacy Program |
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The Planning & Development
Division of New Center Council (NCC) represents New Center on important
local and regional issues, such as transportation improvements,
development incentives, zoning challenges, and the allocation of public
services. The Council also strives to inform, educate, and build
relationships with decision makers throughout Southeast Michigan to
ensure the development of New Center as a vibrant, diverse and
economically healthy district.
STATE LEGISLATION
The Council works closely with
State and local officials to create, and support new legislation
intended to strengthen economic development initiatives in New Center,
and the Greater Downtown Detroit area. For example, NCC was
instrumental in lobbying the State to pass the Business Improvement
District (BID) Legislation that allows for BID’s in the City of Detroit.
REGULATED USES/PUBLIC
HEARINGS
 NCC
is notified of all public hearing held by the City of Detroit. Where
appropriate, New Center Council will attend a hearing in support for, or
disapproval of, a proposal. The Council recently attended a public
hearing to oppose an adult entertainment nightclub to open near East
Grand Boulevard. NCC worked closely with Vanguard CDC (see “Planning
Partnerships”) to organize and coordinate local business owners in
opposition of this development. The strategy proved effective, as the
Board of Zoning Appeals denied the approval of this use.
NCC feels it is equally
important to attend public hearings in support of positive
initiatives. Recently the Detroit City Council held a Public Hearing
to discuss Vanguard’s proposal to amend the City of Detroit’s Master
Plan. The Council was present to support the proposed changes and
Vanguard’s economic development program. The plan change was approved
in June 2003.
In addition to Public
Hearings regarding the use of land or structures, New Center will attend
public hearings to comment on urban design issues, such as site layout,
materials, or building elevations. For example, NCC attended a City
Council hearing in support of Wayne State University’s new parking
structure located across from Orchestra Hall, since this structure is a
significant example of urban design. Alternatively, if a proposed New
Center project falls short of NCC’s Design Standards (See Appendices),
staff will work with the developer and various City Officials to ensure
that the end product meets the design requirements and the needs of the
project. If the project falls short of the design standards, the
Council may express opposition at the public hearing to grant project
approval.
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Planning Partnerships |
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 The
Planning & Development staff of New Center Council continues to reach
out to corporations, business owners, shopkeepers, residents, City
Officials, and neighboring associations in an effort to create planning
partnerships to enhance the quality of life in New Center and its
surrounding communities. These partnerships are essential to the
success of New Center Council’s and the New Center Council Development
Corporation’s core initiatives (please refer to Section 5 of this
document for a further explanation of NCCDC’s Core Projects). Listed
below are a few of Planning & Development’s teambuilding initiatives:
SEWARD BLOCK CLUB
Over the years, NCC received
several complaints regarding Seward Avenue, most recently during the
Gramont Manor Condo renovation when several incidents (theft, public
disturbances, etc.) delayed construction and sales of these new market
rate condos. Individual residents and local business owners have
expressed concerns over increased loitering, solicitation, and drug
trafficking. The activity on the street overshadows the unique
qualities of this community and continues to hinder additional economic
investment in the area. NCC joined forces with the Seward Block Club in
order to build the support network necessary to improve the vitality of
Seward Avenue. Through this program, NCC provides administrative staff
to the Seward Block Club, attending monthly meetings to take and
distribute meeting minutes, sending out meeting notices, and managing
the master contact and attendance list.
As a result of NCC’s
involvement, this initiative has received recognition and assistance
from the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, the Detroit Police
Department’s 13th Precinct, the City of Detroit’s Buildings & Safety
Engineering Department, and the Mayor’s Office. This support has given
NCC and the Seward Block Club the leverage necessary to institute
change. Building owners on Seward have been given the option to upgrade
their operations with the assistance of NCC, or be penalized through
municipal programs for their infractions. Of the 8 buildings on the
street, 6 building owners have attended these meetings to discuss their
immediate plans to improve the appearance and safety of their
structures.
VANGUARD CDC
Founded in 1994 by Reverend Edgar L. Vann, Jr., Vanguard Community
Development Corporation is the non-profit outreach arm of Second
Ebenezer Church. The mission of this faith-based organization is to
facilitate the revitalization of the physical, social, and economic
fabric of the Northend Neighborhood (located just east of New Center
bounded by Caniff, I-94, I-75, and Woodward). NCC works closely with the
Executive Director of Vanguard, Donna Williams, on various planning
initiatives to organize and promote commercial revitalization,
beautification, strategic planning and the general welfare of the
businesses in the New Center East area. As a member of New Center East
Business Association, NCC works to facilitate and coordinate
redevelopment activities along the East Grand Boulevard Corridor. More
recently, NCC and Vanguard have come together to analyze the disposition
and renovation of the State’s Labor Building (see 2. High Density
Housing: Planned).
UNIVERSITY
CULTURAL CENTER ASSOCIATION (UCCA)
UCCA serves the area in Detroit known as Midtown, bounded by the Ford,
Chrysler, Fisher, and Lodge Freeways. The area is approximately two
miles north of Detroit’s Central Business District and just south of New
Center. Realizing the importance of a cohesive, fluid transition from
New Center to Midtown, NCC has established a strong planning
relationship with UCCA to coordinate improvement activities, especially
those related to pedestrian/vehicular circulation which includes
existing or proposed signage. For example, NCC was able to coordinate
with UCCA on the street treatments to be installed in the Woodward
Gateway and New Amsterdam Streetscape Improvement Projects and expects
to partner with the organization to plan the Greenways link from WSU to
New Center.
WOODWARD AVENUE
ACTION ASSOCIATION (WA3)
WA3 is a joint endeavor of Oakland and Wayne Counties to promote the
Woodward Corridor as a premier arts, cultural, historic, and
entertainment destination in collaboration with local governments,
including Detroit, Royal Oak, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Birmingham and
Pontiac. Moreover, WA3 plays a vital role in a complex, politically
sensitive, regional planning of the 26-mile Historic Woodward Heritage
Route designated by the National Scenic Byways Association (Woodward
Avenue is the only Urban Scenic Byway established under this National
Program). As a WA3 Board Member, NCC provides historic, cultural and
recreational resources for future preservation and enhancement in and
near the Woodward Corridor, coordinates preservation and enhancement
efforts along the Corridor (such as the TEA 21 Gateway and Woodward
Gateway Revitalization Projects), and represents the interests of WA3 in
State and Federal planning efforts, such as the Automobile National
Heritage Area.
CITY AND STATE
AGENCIES
Any initiative taken on by NCC requires government support and
assistance. NCC reaches out to City and State agencies for assistance
with all of our planning partnership activities, knowing the success of
the initiative is dependant upon their support. Because of our close
relationship, NCC is often contacted by the City of Detroit and the
State of Michigan to represent the New Center community at various
hearings and reviews. The City of Detroit frequently calls upon NCC
to review new planning initiatives, such as proposed Master Plan
Changes. MDOT also works closely with NCC to provide roadway,
pedestrian, transit and signage improvements for better access to and
circulation within New Center, including the planned Detroit Intermodal
Transit Station and the proposed I-94 Freeway expansion.
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Recent
Commercial Investments |
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Completed/Underway
 DETROIT
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM -
Part of the Detroit Public Schools, this museum offers specialized
programs, exhibits, and lending services to enhance the education of
children from preschool to high school. The museum is open to the
public and offers a wonderful assortment of art, natural history, and
cultural programs, as well as maintaining over 200,000 artifacts,
specimens, models and pictures. The museum, which was housed in the
Cultural Center for 84 years, moved into a renovated turn of the century
Edison Sub-Station in the New Amsterdam Historic District in TechTown.
 UNIVERSITY
PREPARATORY ACADEMY – This technology focused charter school opened
in 2000 in TechTown. The five-building campus offers internship
programs, encouraging students to work with surrounding businesses in
the technology park. Each building will hold approximately 125
students, who are supervised by the building principle (one principle
per building). The students will learn in small classes of about 16
students per class. The fifth building houses a theater that is now
being used by Mosaic Youth Theater, a gym and facilities for choral,
dance and fitness. ($15 Million Investment)
TECHONE
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TechTown recently celebrated the grand opening of its first phase.
Housed in the former Chevy Creative Services Building at 440 Burroughs,
the building now offers office space for research and development
companies, as well as TechTown staff. This business incubation center
was made possible by the donation of the building by the General Motors
Company and funds made available through historic tax credit financing
earned through the New Amsterdam Historic District Designation. ($6.8
Million Investment)
NEXTENERGY
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NextEnergy will house a 40,000 square-foot facility on Second Avenue,
between York and Burroughs. The development will take advantage of the
State designated Smart Zone, a tax free zone to spur economic
development. The NextEnergy Center will offer educational programs in
power electronics, design and create alternative energy enabling
technologies including fuel cell technology and other related
disciplines, as well as, provide laboratory space and business incubator
space for alternative energy companies. With construction starting this
year, NextEnergy hopes to move into their new facility at the close of
2004. ($32 Million Investment)
 DETROIT
YOUTH FOUNDATION, YOUTHVILLE – Currently under construction,
YouthVille will soon be located on the southwest corner of Woodward and
Lothrop just north of Grand Boulevard in the former Allied Film and
Video building. The Detroit Youth Foundation is renovating the 71,000
sq ft facility into the most comprehensive neighborhood youth
development center in Detroit, targeting young people ages 11-19.
YouthVille is planned to be a multi-tenant center, housing 11 youth and
family service organizations under one roof. ($12 Million Investment)
TEA-21 STREETSCAPE
IMRPOVEMENTS (Under Construction)
– New Center Council
is moving forward with TEA-21 Enhancements for both the Woodward
Gateway and New Amsterdam Districts. Both projects involve the
installation of decorative sidewalk pavement, pedestrian lighting,
street trees, and street furnishings such as trash receptacles and
benches. ($3.7 Million Investment)
Committed
(Within 1 Year)
 WOODWARD
GATEWAY FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS -
Now the canopies are removed, building owners will be able to take
advantage of programs, coordinated by New Center Council, to improve the
appearance of their storefronts and building facades. The Community
Foundation of Southeastern Michigan has awarded New Center Council a
$50,000 matching grant to be used for this facade improvement program.
Grants, available to building owners, will be used for both
architectural design (by NCC approved architects) and actual physical
improvements. National City Bank, in cooperation with the Mayor’s
Office of Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization, recently announced a
low interest loan program to further the renovation of these
buildings. These programs, combined with NCC’s involvement with
brokers and building owners to attract tenants, will help transform the
Woodward Gateway District into the inviting and unique shopping
destination that it should be.
 LABOR
BUILDING
– Sky Group Grand, Inc. – a wholly owned subsidiary of Lakeshore
Engineering Services, Inc – has purchased the building and plans to
relocate over 100 employees from Michigan and out of state offices to
downtown Detroit. The firm plans to conduct significant renovations to
the building and lease space to the city of Detroit with the intention
of eventually securing additional tenants from the business community.
($4.1 Million Investment)
Planned (3+
Years)
 INTERMODAL
STATION -
This station, to be built just South of the existing Amtrak facility at
Baltimore and Grand Boulevard, has been fully designed in anticipation
of significantly increased ridership expected from reduced travel time
from Detroit to Chicago. The Michigan Department of Transportation is
currently negotiating with Amtrak to increase the number of trains
utilizing this station daily. The State has delayed construction until
Amtrak concludes its ongoing reorganization of schedules. In addition
to train service, this station will also handle buses, taxi cabs, and
could be the Northern terminus of a light-rail or speed-link bus service
from the riverfront to New Center along Woodward Avenue. ($15 Million
Investment)
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Recent
Housing Investments |
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Completed
 ARIEL
SQUARE -
Painia Development has completed construction on 12 condominiums,
approximately 2,200 square feet, with prices starting at $160,000. This
development represents the first new construction project to extend
beyond the boundary of the GM-led New Center revitalization. (TOTAL
SALES COST $1,920,000)
 GRAMONT
MANOR (120 Seward)
- 48 moderately-priced condominiums ($60K - $90K) in this historic
Albert Kahn building were renovated by the Farbman Group in 2000. All
of the units (except one basement unit which is still owned by Farbman)
have been sold by the developer and are now individually owned. Each
unit came with a 12 year NEZ zone tax break. There are currently
approximately 7 units up for resale ($66k - $90K). TOTAL SALES COST
$4,250,000
 UPTOWN
ROW - 47
townhomes have been developed by Crosswinds Communities near the New
Center CBD. Units are 1,500 square feet. All 47 of the units have been
sold at an average price of $169,000. (TOTAL SALES COST $7,500,000).
Under
Construction
 LOFTS
AT NEW CENTER - CROSSWINDS COMMUNITIES
–The first stage of the Crosswinds Communities 82 loft style condos is
complete and occupied. Units offering over 1,300 SF of living space are
selling between $139,000 to $169,000. Each unit is a two-story separate
entrance town-loft with an attached two-car garage. The second phase
lining Woodward Ave. is under construction is under construction and
continues to sell well with larger 2 bedroom condos priced between
$150,000 and $190,000. Construction of the second phase should be
completed by September, 2005. ESTIMATED TOTAL SALES COST $14,280,000
NEW AMSTERDAM
PROJECT (Four square block area in southern New Center bounded by the CN
Railroad tracks on the North, Woodward Avenue on the East, Burroughs
Avenue on the South, and Second Avenue on the West.) -
In late November
1998, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the
City of Detroit a $1.8 million Economic Development Initiative grant and
$9.7 million in Section 108 loan guarantees to partially finance key
components in this district. Also, a TEA-21 (Transportation Enhancement
Act for the 21st Century) grant was awarded in August 2000 to the New
Amsterdam District to install landscaping, historic lighting, new
pavers, benches and trash receptacles. The following components make up
the first phase of the New Amsterdam Project:
 CENTURY
FLORAL BUILDING (6200 Second Avenue)
- This 80,000 square foot building is directly south of the CN railroad
tracks. Jonna Construction has purchased this property and will
renovate it into 49 historic loft residential units. ESTIMATED
CONSTRUCTION COST $7,800,000
 BURROUGHS
LOFT (41-47 Burroughs)-
Jonna Construction
has purchased this 50,000 square foot building and will renovate it into
40 historic loft residential units. Construction is currently underway
(as of May 2005). ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST $6,270,000
Planned
 ARGONAUT
BUILDING -
With the exception of the Cadillac Place, this is the largest and
potentially most impactful property in New Center. Its architecture and
quality are widely recognized. This 750,000 square foot landmark
building with an adjacent 225,000 square foot parking structure was
recently acquired by Orton Development, Inc. who is currently in the
planning stages of a mixed-use project which will consist of loft-style
residential units, creative office space, and ground-floor retail. |
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