The Power of Water
The public meeting for the development of the West Riverfront (there is a good map on the Corktown site) was held from 6-8 last night at the Wayne County Community College. It was a great presentation that encouraged discussion and suggestions from attendees. Consulting has been undertaken by key stakeholders of the land in question, plus by the City of Detroit, as two of the largest landowners are considering selling. At the beginning of the presentation portions of other large cities were superimposed on the area in question. Among them was a portion of Downtown Toronto. I was born in the Toronto area and remember people telling me to go straight to Young Street to shop by daylight and come straight back home. Now one cannot step foot into the city without at least half a million. This is a city that refocused its attention on redeveloping the waterfront. Things progressed from there. I have seen that city grow before my eyes, and I think a lot of the same can happen in Detroit. Apparently in Seoul, Korea there was a highway built over a creek. The highway was then torn down and a manmade river was made and housing and retail exploded on its banks. Not everyone can live on the water, but waterfront retail, recreation, and access can be enjoyed by all. Water creates a perception of value which brings investors into the city. We have this resource; let us make the best of it.
agreed… i hardly ever go to the waterfront in TO though… is it really that nice???
The Docks nightclub is located in an industrial part of town, but near the water with the city lit up across the way. It is so amazing to be dancing right on the water – mind you this was four years ago, I’m sure that area is more developed now. The condos on lakeshore are gorgeous and there is a path for running and biking for most of the way. Toronto has a lake as opposed to a river and our river, being International, poses a few challenges. We cannot build an expanse of ornamental walking or driving bridges as they would all have to be manned.