Slated for the site of the late Hudson's department store, Dan Gilbert's mixed-use mecca and its glassy 734-foot tower would symbolize Detroit's rebirth, in downtown at least.
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John Gallagher covers what might become a stunning new addition to Detroit's skyline, outdoing even the decades-old Renaissance Center. "Businessman Dan Gilbert hired [Joe] Guziewicz a year ago to build his stunningly ambitious project on the Hudson's block downtown — a 1.5-million-square-foot mixed-use array of residential, retail, office, entertainment and civic space."
Gilbert's bold vision for downtown has seen success over the past several years. "Guziewicz is looking for vacant lots and empty buildings nearby where contractors can stage their efforts. That's getting harder by the day as downtown fills up with new employees and residents who have occupied many of the once-empty buildings."
But Detroit as a whole is hardly booming, and Gilbert is looking to the state of Michigan to help the project forward. "He's hoping that state lawmakers will approve a package of significant new tax incentives to fill the gap between what a major new project costs to build and what the owners can get back in the form of rent in a weaker market like Detroit."
If those incentives don't materialize, Gallagher writes, the project may need to scale down.
FULL STORY: How Detroit's tallest skyscraper would be built at former Hudson's site
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Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
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A Troubling Trend of Backlash to Bike Lanes
Some cities are going so far as to rip out protected bike infrastructure that took years of advocacy to build.
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USDOT Revokes Approval for NYC Congestion Pricing
Despite the administration’s stated concern for the “working class,” 85 percent of Manhattan commuters use public transit to enter the city.
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Parks for All: LA Looks to Residents to Help Shape Park Equity and Access
Los Angeles is launching a citywide park needs assessment to gather resident input on improving its park system, addressing inequities in access, and making the case for increased funding and long-term investments.
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Trump Administration Takes Aim at Transportation Research
Researchers warn of a “chilling environment” as studies examining road safety and other topics are killed off and layoffs hit federal agencies.
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LA’s Trees Absorb More Carbon Than Expected, But Can’t Do It Alone
A USC study finds that Los Angeles’ urban trees absorb more carbon than expected, but while they provide crucial environmental benefits, they cannot replace the urgent need for systemic emissions reductions.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Roaring Fork Transportation Authority
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research