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In a city lacking
quality retail offerings that are comparable to suburban shopping
centers, and small urban districts such as Royal Oak and Ferndale, New
Center stands alone as holding the largest retail center in the city.
The combined shops of New Center One and the Fisher Building provide a
variety of quality goods and services, entertainment and eating/drinking
establishments for the large employee and nighttime visitor base in the
district. One short block to the south of Grand Boulevard on Woodward,
however, the clustering of storefronts dating back to the 1920s has not
been as successful at maintaining a strong commercial presence.
Working with both
the owners and tenants, as well as outside consultants, New Center
Council has identified a viable strategy for the redevelopment of the
Woodward Gateway District that would achieve a recognizable image as a
shopping district known for its unique stores and entertainment in a
well located, growing neighborhood.
In August 2000, New
Center Council secured a TEA-21 (Transportation Enhancement Act for the
21st Century) grant for the Woodward Gateway District to remove the
sidewalk canopy and install landscaping, historic lighting, new pavers,
benches and trash receptacles. This work will create an open,
pedestrian friendly streetscape, while allowing the architectural
features of the many buildings to be highlighted. The streetscape
project started with the removal of the sidewalk canopies February 2005,
with streetscape improvements to commence Summer 2005, ending in the
Fall.
With the sidewalk
canopies 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.
PROGRAM BOUNDARIES
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The Woodward Gateway includes properties located on both the east and
west sides of Woodward Avenue, from Grand Boulevard on the north, to
Baltimore on the south. This “Main Street” district extends back to
the alley right-of-way behind each commercial block. Although four
blocks of commercial frontage (two on each side of Woodward) are
located within the district, only buildings occupy three of the four.
DISTRICT SPECIFICS
DISTRICT WEAKNESSES
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Current physical appearance (especially the canopy) and unsightly
roll-down security screens
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Inconsistent quality of merchants and merchandising
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Lack of dedicated parking with no City initiatives planned
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