Excerpts from the article:
In a move that signifies that Detroit's revival momentum won't end with the Super Bowl, the Ford Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation plan to announce grants today of $7 million and $10 million, respectively.
The idea is to launch projects that attract private investors to build housing or retail shops and pay for improvements in public safety or transportation in low- and moderate-income areas north of Jefferson, so nearby residents will share the benefits of the riverfront makeover.
"When I visited Detroit in 2003, I was intrigued by the ambition of it," Ford Foundation President Susan Berresford said of the bold plan to transform Detroit's shabby industrial riverfront into vibrant public space with the $140-million RiverWalk, new housing, port facilities and a state park. "This is one of the largest urban revitalization programs in America right now."
It's not known yet exactly how many projects the grants will fund. But look for five or six major projects rather than 20 or 30 smaller ones.
The specific ideas will be chosen after six to nine months of research and community meetings. The money will be spent within 3 years, most likely in an 8-square-mile area between Jefferson Avenue and I-94, stretching from Woodward Avenue to Belle Isle.
To read more click here
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.