The
Jefferson East Business Association (JEBA) and
Creekside Community Development Corporation recently received a grant from Michigan’s
Cool Cities Initiative to develop a wayfinding system for
the neighborhoods, which are located on Detroit’s lower eastside. Coupled with
money from the
Local Initiative Support Corporation, this grant
will fund the placement of a large neighborhood information kiosk at
the Jefferson/Chalmers intersection as well as four wayfinding signs.
"The goal of this project is to highlight all of the wonderful
amenities on Detroit’s lower eastside," says Joshua Elling, Executive Director of JEBA. "People often forget that
this corner of the city is truly Detroit’s Green Coast with over 164
acres of riverfront parks, a robust Marina District, wonderful historic
homes, newly
built waterfront housing and the Historic East Jefferson Business
District."
JEBA and Creekside spent the summer working with four Wayne State University interns to develop a neighborhood amenity
map and on August 15, the interns led a design charette
and marketing focus group with over 17 neighborhood residents. "It allowed us to hear from residents as to how they
want to
market their neighborhood and provided us with some great ideas in
terms of
gateway sign designs," says Elling. "One idea
that came up was to explore the possibility of marketing this corner under the
old French name for the area -- Grand Marais -- in order to highlight its
connection to the water and the riverfront parks."
JEBA and Creekside are looking to finalize the signage
design this fall, with installation in early 2010. They will also
be convening more focus groups to develop a comprehensive marketing strategy.
Source: Joshua Elling, JEBA
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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