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SITE ANALYSIS
History
The area along the West Riverfront is the site of significant commercial/
industrial activity. Traditionally a center for transportation and
industry, the West Riverfront and surrounding southwest Detroit
region are known as "the neighborhood that built the car"
for the many auto plants that it housed and as "the arsenal
of democracy" for its role in parts production in World War
II. Over the years, activities such as power generation, coke production,
copper and brass manufacturing, warehousing, shipping and boating,
cement production, and rail transportation have all made their marks
on the West Riverfront landscape. Interspersed between these industrial
sites are small parks where people can fish, enjoy the water, and
watch the boats pass by. With the decline of Detroit's manufacturing
base, many of the former industrial facilities are now vacant or
underutilized.
Surrounding Conditions
The West Riverfront runs approximately two miles from Cobo Hall,
at the foot of the Lodge Expressway, downriver (west-southwest)
to Riverside Park just beyond the Ambassador Bridge to Windsor,
Ontario, Canada. At the far end of the West Riverfront (relative
to Downtown Detroit) is Riverside Park. This 22 acre city park sits
at the intersection of several communities. The park runs along
the Detroit River in Southwest Detroit off of I-75, and just southwest
of the Ambassador Bridge. The park is slightly over 1 mile from
Fort Wayne and less than 1 mile from the commercial and residential
center of Mexicantown in Southwest Detroit. The park is also located
near the thriving residential community of Corktown and is near
Detroit's Central Business District.
Moving east, much of the area along the riverfront has been developed
for industrial land use. Immediately east of the Ambassador Bridge
is the 57-acre CSX rails site (which is currently up for sale).
This site marks the beginning of an active rail yard that extends
to the northeast. Further upriver to the east is the Detroit News
Warehouse and beyond the warehouse are the Nicholson and Detroit
Marine Terminals. Southwest of Clark Street, the area around Fort
Street is flanked by railroad shipping/ docking facilities, metals
factories, a Ford distribution center, and other various industrial
properties. The area along West Jefferson Ave. near Riverside Park
is in deplorable condition and views of the river are obstructed
by the railroad formerly used to load trucks. Many of the parcels
along the West Riverfront are currently owned by the City of Detroit
or are up for sale, increasing the potential for a riverwalk connecting
all of the West Riverfront areas.
Riverside Park and the West Riverfront fall on the border of two
different neighborhoods (classified as Cluster 4 and 5 of the Detroit
Community Reinvestment Strategy Plan.) The park and riverfront are
most closely identified with the Corktown and Central Business District
neighborhoods, which fall into Cluster 4. As in many sections of
Detroit, this neighborhood is poor. Almost half (42.6%) of the residents
live below the poverty level, and the population is overwhelmingly
older than both the city and region average. While the neighborhood
is poor in terms of its residential status, Cluster 4 has a strong,
thriving day population related to its business and cultural centers
along the Riverfront and in the Wayne State and Cultural Center
areas.
Physical Characteristics
The West Riverfront extends approximately 1.8 miles. Since many
of the prior uses were industrial, significant environmental/ brownfield
issues exist. There are at least 17 contaminated sites in the West
Riverfront area. Some sites are vacant, while others would require
demolition and decontamination. Riverside Park, at the west end
of the area, covers 22 acres and is one of the city's most frequently
used recreation areas. The city recently created a seawall and a
walkway along the river with benches. Most of Riverside Park's visitors
come to fish or sit or walk by the water. There are very few buildings
on the site. The majority of the site is sodded or paved; however,
even the small bit of green is a welcome site in this highly industrial
area.
CURRENT USES
Riverside Park is where southwest Detroiters have historically
gone to enjoy the waterfront. With 1,500 feet of waterfront and
the river at its narrowest point, the park offers one of the prime
settings in the state to admire the impressive freighter and shipping
traffic serving the Great Lakes. Riverside Park houses the Detroit
Fire Department's Fire Boat, the J.W. Westcott Company - better
known as the "mail boat" - and a large public boat launch.
Many fishermen enjoy the sporting opportunities provided off the
park's new sea wall.
As for the rest of the West Riverfront, a lack of access points
means that few people utilize the property. A number of organizations
have considered or are considering proposals to create a greenway
or river walk that connects Riverside Park and places further downriver
with the extensive East Riverfront development already under way.
These include, for example, the City of Detroit Recreation Department
Greenways Initiative, Wayne County Ways of Life Greenway, Rails
to Trails Greenway Initiative, River Rouge Gateway Project, the
Kresge Foundation Greenways Initiative, and the Community Foundation
of Southeastern Michigan Greenways Initiative. Each of these initiatives
would require extensive land acquisition, clean-up, and improvement
efforts.
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
PLAN AND SERVICES
Riverside Park would be the anchor - both literally and figuratively
- of a West Riverfront Metropark. The proposed development would
proceed in three stages. First, initial improvements to existing
Riverside Park facilities will include construction of a pedestrian
promenade, restoration of the seawall, creation of dedicated fishing
areas, repavement of parking areas, and installation of a permanent
restroom/ comfort station. Currently, the east portion of Riverside
Park is isolated from the main part of the park. A trail is planned
to connect the various portions of the park. A second phase would
involve intensive development on currently underutilized sections
of the park. The focus of this development is to create opportunities
for more active recreation, including a seasonal climbing wall,
basketball courts, a small skate park, and a facility for bike and
skate rentals. The third phase would involve construction of a river
walk connecting Riverside Park with the East Riverfront RiverWalk
some two miles upriver. When completed, this walk would allow pedestrians,
bikes, and skaters to travel the full 5 miles from Riverside Park
to the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle. The improvements would target
20 to 30 year-olds. The new development would be a catalyst for
attracting this group to a new Riverfront neighborhood, by leveraging
its connection with the business and downtown area.
Shared Management and Maintenance: The City of Detroit currently
owns and maintains Riverside Park, and owns title on a number of
properties along the river. Given the significant land acquisition
and environmental clean-up costs associated with the proposed Metropark,
HCMA would most likely enter into a partnership with the city and
one or more nonprofit organizations to develop, manage, and maintain
the complete West Riverfront/ Riverside Park project described above.
The funding HCMA can be expected to dedicate to a Detroit Metropark
would cover the phase one and two planned improvements and some
of the phase three improvements. Partnerships with the City and
other organizations, plus funding available from state and federal
brownfields/environmental programs, would provide ongoing maintenance
support, land acquisition, and clean-up funds.
Collectively, these improvements will capitalize on one of the
best views of downtown Detroit's skyline, fronted by the Detroit
River and framed by the Ambassador Bridge. They would create a critical
link between the City's southwest neighborhoods and downtown, and
will connect this community to their greatest natural and cultural
resource, the Detroit River.
RESOURCES
1. Map: Location of Riverside Park (in region)
2. Pictures of Riverside Park
3. Detroit Community Reinvestment Strategy: Cluster 4
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Site
Analysis
Current
Uses
Proposed
Development
Plan
and Services
Resources
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