Detroit's physical restoration would create jobs for Ann Arbor region
Detroit has been an economic disaster for so long that Michigan has — for all intents and purposes — forgotten what it’s like to have a strong, economically thriving major city at its core.
An Ann Arbor architectural firm will help renovate parts of the dilapidated Michigan Central Depot in Detroit.
Photo via MLive.com
The Ann Arbor area is filled with companies that have strong ties to Detroit — and there would be huge opportunities for neighborhood reconstruction, demolition of abandoned buildings and renovation of neglected facilities.
One Ann Arbor firm, Quinn Evans Architects, recently won a contract with the Detroit International Bridge Co. to design restoration plans for parts of the dilapidated Michigan Central Depot in Detroit.
Ann Arbor has role to play in Detroit's revitalization
- Why Detroit's revitalization is important to Ann Arbor (and how Ann Arbor can help)
- Detroit's physical restoration would create jobs for Ann Arbor region
- Ann Arbor nonprofits, universities, businesses can help reinvent Detroit public school system
- Public-private partnerships offer collaborative opportunities for Ann Arbor, Detroit
- A vibrant Detroit would make it easier for Ann Arbor companies to attract talented young professionals
And local companies like entrepreneur Stewart Beal’s construction trade firm Beal Inc. are capitalizing on emerging construction opportunities in Detroit, which is in the early stages of considering ways to shrink its borders.
Beal’s firm has already demolished 76 abandoned homes in the city of Detroit and is completing a renovation project at the Detroit Athletic Club, installing new roofs and solar panels on buildings owned by Detroit’s Downtown Development Authority and renovating entrance lanes and office areas at the Detroit-to-Windsor tunnel.
“Since Detroit is Michigan’s biggest city, to some degree how well Detroit is doing will be how well Michigan is doing,” Beal said. “While Ann Arbor is doing well, the majority of the jobs in the area are in the Detroit area. There are an incredible amount of people who live in Ann Arbor and commute to Detroit every day. I just think that both communities are tied together for various different economic reasons.”
Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.
Comments
WhyCan'tWeBeFriends
Mon, May 30, 2011 : 7:29 a.m.
If you took the Michigan Central Depot and converted it to condos on the upper levels and retail/offices on the lower levels, this building would be unstoppable in any other urban area. Why are so few people aware of the beauty of these buildings? They really don't build them like this anymore. Many single family homes in Detroit neighborhoods are similarly beautiful, whether small or large. Decades ago I lived in Philadelphia and for years commuted to downtown past a very large row of gorgeous Frank Furness - style row/townhouses - opposite a gorgeous park with historical buildings on the other side of the park. I wondered why they were abandoned and ugly when they were so obviously sound and beautifully situated. There was a live performance outdoor theater, very well-attended, within an easy walking distance too. One year the renovations began. These units were very large so were broken into more modern-era-sized accommodations and once completed, immediately had occupants. I cannot say how pleased I was at the transformations and the evidence of life once again in these empty shells. The neighborhood behind received a boost too due to increased demands for services. Small steps; great rewards.