Four Cool Cities Grants Awarded to Detroit Neighborhoods

Cool Cities Grants were announced today and four exciting projects located in Detroit were among the winners.

One of the recipients, the Woodbridge Neighborhood Development Corporation, plans to develop an arts-focused incubator which includes live-work housing, retail space and examples of public art. Their mission aims at providing an anchor for the Woodbridge neighborhood, supporting and promoting self-sustaining artists and preserving architectural history. The three art-focused incubators will provide space for micro-enterprise virtual companies in fashion, film and furniture design. The 4731 project is located on Grand River Avenue, immediately north of Corktown. Nine building facade improvements, some of the buildings historic, are also included.

New Center Council, Inc. was awarded a grant for their New Center Council Facilities Project. Located across from the Fisher Building at Southwest Grand and Second Avenue, the project will provide a new cultural amenity and community meeting place for the emerging residential core. Along with cultural programming, improvements include; a permanent stage canopy that converts to a movie screen, a new sound system and a three season concession. Also planned are restrooms, perimeter fencing and a security system.

Another exciting project awarded funding is the Greater Corktown Development Corporation's Workers Row House Experience. Located in southwest Detroit just south of the old Tiger Stadium, the 1850's three unit row houses will be restored to their original appearance. Marking the history of nineteenth-century worker's history, one unit will used as a museum and the other units will be satellite offices for the Greater Corktown Development Corporation so that they can continue neighborhood outreach efforts. The house will serve as the staging area for the Annual Corktown Home and Garden Tour, as well as, a place to learn more about this historic neighborhood.

The fourth project to receive a Cool Cities Grant is the Woodward Willis Mixed-Use Development in Midtown. This mixed-use, mixed-income development is the vision of the University Cultural Center Association. Three currently vacant parcels of land on the northeast corner of Woodward Avenue and West Willis is the future home of industrial warehouses reminiscent of designs by Albert Kahn. This development will include commercial space on the first floor and high quality loft-style condominiums on the floors above. Two of the condominiums will be priced for lower income individuals or families.