The District Detroit 2024 Annual Update Meeting — IN-PERSON ONLY

Detroit Planning and Development Department
Development

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024
6:00 p.m. EST

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2277 Woodward Ave Detroit, MI 48201 (Directions)

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In 2022, Olympia Development of Michigan and The Related Companies proposed the renovation or construction of 10 new buildings in Downtown Detroit - consisting of mixed-income residential, commercial office, hotels, and public green space. This new phase of the District Detroit development was deemed a Tier 1 project under the City of Detroit’s Community Benefits Ordinance (CBO). The developer and the Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) participated in the CBO process to determine impacts of the development on the community and to agree on appropriate community benefits to address those impacts. Join us at The District Detroit Annual Update Meeting to hear the latest updates on the development from the developers, Olympia Development of Michigan and The Related Companies, as well as the implementation of the community benefits agreement.

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team

Note-taking by Tamia Davis

District Detroit reported only seven of the 100 community benefits agreements have been completed; 37 are on-track and 56 have yet to be started.

View notes
Live reporting by Perry Sylvester

District Detroit reported only seven of the 100 community benefits agreements have been completed; 37 are on-track and 56 have yet to be started.

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6
Hey Detroit! Today 11/19 at 6 PM I live tweet District Detroit 2024 Annual Update Meeting for #DETdocumenters @DetDocumenters & media partners @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @MichiganPublic @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit

01:28 PM Nov 19, 2024 CST

Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 2/66
This meeting is held at 2277 Woodward...the District Detroit Opportunity Center 👇🔗 thedistrictdetroitoc.com
thedistrictdetroitoc.com
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 3/66
You can also attend remotely...'read all about it' and get the event flyer here 👇🔗 detroitmi.gov/events/2024-di…
detroitmi.gov/events/2024-di…
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 4/66
By way of background...'In 2022, Olympia Development of Michigan and The Related Companies proposed the renovation or construction of 10 new buildings in Downtown Detroit - consisting of mixed-income residential, commercial office, hotels, and public green space.'
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 5/66
Yeah, so what, you say? Welllll...'This new phase of the District Detroit development was deemed a Tier 1 project under the City of Detroit’s Community Benefits Ordinance (CBO).' Uh-oh...Tier 1 Status! Check this out👇📜🔗 detroitmi.gov/departments/pl…
detroitmi.gov/departments/pl…
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 6/66
This all led to this: 'The developer and the Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) participated in the CBO process to determine impacts of the development on the community and to agree on appropriate community benefits to address those impacts.'
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 7/66
So it is 5:49 and the show is getting ready to roll…pizza and salad flowing freely
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 8/66
For this meeting, we even get a booklet thingee
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 9/66
Hmmmm…wonder if this will follow the agenda…appears to be a little light on numbers & heavy on pictures 😏
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 10/66
We get the announcement to finish eating & networking because it’s time to goooo! (Or something to that effect)
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 11/66
Why do events like this always seem to have jazz fusion in the background?
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 12/66
#DETdocumentrs we are officially beginning…facilitator checks in with Zoom folks to make they can hear
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 13/66
Goes over agenda…lots of references o CBO, Community Benefits Ordinance (I have linked to relevant page on City website in previous tweet above)
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 14/66
Talks about CBO & Neighborhood Advisory process…hits on how they have actively reached out & held lots of meetings (I.e. ‘the people’ have been a part of the process)
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 15/66
✅All the documents will be posted on the City of Detroit website
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 16/66
Dang…missed the slide I wanted, but the gentleman from CRIO was explaining what kind of project/program gets ‘CBO treatment’…announces that the reports for District Detroit are—wait for it—not out yet!😲🙄
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 17/66
But they have a lot going on, and they release their reports all at once (about 6:15 in transcript). But…oh. Okay
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 18/66
They do have some data…showing that, um, a lot of stuff hasn’t started yet
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 19/66
We are now moving to the ooh-ahh part
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 20/66
Gives nod to the various players in the Neighborhood Advisory Council (which she refers to as ‘NACs’)
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 21/66
Here is the ‘building generational wealth’ focus…
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 22/66
…and here is the retail business focus
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 23/66
Discussion about small business support via Motor City Match program…but notes how this was funded via ARPA funds, which expire motorcitymatch.com
motorcitymatch.com
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 24/66
University of Michigan Innovation Center …commitment is, uh, committed…and moving forward!
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 25/66
So, this 👇🔗 detroit.umich.edu/umci/
detroit.umich.edu/umci/
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 26/66
Going through a host of goals…and the program starts 2027. They are looking for an (annual?) engagement of 30000 community members
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 27/66
Lots of opportunities, ranging from ‘Gateway Certificates’ to grad degrees, starting as early as age 14
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 28/66
And now to everyone’s favorite…what can we do for cars? And drivers?
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 29/66
Park park, baby🎶
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 30/66
Bus riders get a passing glance
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 31/66
And housing…current stock & developments to come…affordability even part of at least some of this with —check transcript around 6:37ish—some something at 30% of the (still distorted) AMI
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 32/66
6:44 in transcript—parking ‘caps’
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 33/66
Park renovations…with discussions ongoing
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 34/66
Here is the ‘…and more!’ part of list of benefits
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 35/66
Here is what we have waited for…construction updates. And it’s complicated 🧐…pre-construction.. construction. You know
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 36/66
Discussion of areas of focus…points to hotel renovations
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 37/66
3 projects in this section
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 38/66
Lots of work to date has been underground
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 39/66
Goes on to discuss other 2 parts…residential and incubator. It’s over before know it 😆about 6:55 if you want to hear the (little) that said. Clearly, stuff IS happening, but w are getting a very bare-bones level overview
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 40/66
On a different note, this update meeting seems well-attended—60+ present, the room pretty much at capacity
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 41/66
We are now at Q&A time…1st person from NACs states there is a lot to celebrated and appreciates communication. But…given economy wants to know if any impacts are expected that may cause a ‘pivot’ in construction plans
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 42/66
The answer seems to be confident (if guarded); notes that commercial office projects are challenging in new economy but points to academic/medical involvement as providing some protection
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 43/66
They are asking when CRIO report will be available…answer is next week
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 44/66
Some confusion about ARPA funds and motor City Match…it is explained that it was not expected that Motor City Match could expect continuation of funding from this program but that other funding sources exist and they expect success in accessing them
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 45/66
Lots of use of the term ‘pivoting’ regarding funding & commitments & timelines🧐
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 46/66
Question about the traffic/transit report…there were changes in the 2nd report, what were they? Seems to be no major changes, just clarification of language
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 47/66
Question about about financing and start of construction for residential structure…high level confidence in financing being secured, construction expected in 2027
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 48/66
Question from a NACs member about residential parking situation…check starting about 7:15 in transcript…a little confusing
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 49/66
We have a rep from MDOT! New signal at Woodward and Temple…whole new Woodward corridor plan in fact-finding stage
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 50/66
I believe this is what he is referring to👇🔗 michigan.gov/mdot/projects-…
michigan.gov/mdot/projects-…
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 51/66
NACs member seeking confirmation that she will be notified of all meetings when accessibility is to be discussed plus wants efforts made for use of AfricanAmerican-owned and local firms
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 52/66
The booklet is a ‘companion’ guide to the presentation 🤷🏼‍♂️
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 53/66
Same NACs member asks about role of WCCCD in this project…it seemed at first they were involved but doesn’t hear about it anymore?
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 54/66
Response is a little slippery…points to they are open to working with all the higher education institutions in Michigan
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 55/66
Finished with NACs Q&A…on to public comment at 7:41
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 56/66
About 4 people had their hand up & time is set
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 57/66
They try to take comment from Zoom…handle the typed comments but once person invited to unmute things go sideways. But don’t worry…your comments are recorded 😏
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 58/66
Next comment expresses concerns over pedestrian safety…she had witnessed a horrific accident in which pedestrian on the median was hit by vehicle. Traffic safety & urban development is right in this site’s wheelhouse 👇🔗 strongtowns.org/streets
strongtowns.org/streets
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 59/66
Trying to get another Zoom comment…eerie, weird echo 😲
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 60/66
Goodness…I know a sound engineer who could make good money helping the range of public meeting folks with their Zoom sound feed 😆
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 61/66
They are trying to wind down as it is close to 8 & they went a little over(?)
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 62/66
And they wrap up at 7:58….these are the websites where you can find the presentation
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 63/66
Well, they didn't lie...the meeting presentation is available online here 👇🔗📄 detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitm…
detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitm…
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 64/66
If you believe anything in this coverage is not accurate, email documenters@media_outlier.org with 'Correction Request' in the subject line.
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 65/66
For your post-meeting pleasure, the wonderful Dionne Warwick from the 1968 Ed Sullivan Show. Just thinkin' 'bout some stuff said, some stuff not said...
Perry Sylvester @PerrySylvester6 66/66
As always, more coverage on this and other topics available at documenters.org
documenters.org
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Agency Information

Detroit Planning and Development Department

detroitmi.gov

(313) 224-1339

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The City of Detroit’s Planning and Development Department (PDD) aims to build a city secure in its future, grounded in its roots and hopeful in its present state. The vision of PDD’s mission is a healthy and beautiful Detroit, built on inclusionary growth, economic opportunity, and an atmosphere of trust.

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