4 large sites present challenge to Downtown redevelopment

Four large parcels – the site of the former Hudson’s building, the land once intended for the Greektown Casino at Gratiot and I-375, Grand Circus Park frontage where the Tuller and Statler were located and multiple parcels behind the Fox Theatre – remain undeveloped downtown. While officials look for “home run” developments, preservation advocates and urban planners contemplate a string of smaller scale projects.

Excerpt:

The difficulty with the four sites leads some urban professionals to
suggest a contrary thought: dividing the parcels and accepting that
smaller, coordinated uses might be better than one large one.

“You try to hit as many singles and doubles as you can, and at least
you have movement and you’re going in the right direction,” said Mark
Nickita, a downtown architect who specializes in urban planning
projects.

“Obviously, it’s easier to get smaller projects done, and they all do add up to a lot.”

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