Safety-focused Michigan Avenue makeover plans roil Corktown
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A rendering of a potential Michigan Avenue redesign in Corktown at Trumbull Street. Courtesy of MDOT
A potential redesign could reduce the number of driving lanes and add pedestrian safety features to Michigan Avenue, sowing division within Corktown.
Why it matters: Residents supporting the changes fear that the "Save the Bricks" opposition campaign, with lawn signs and a petition drive, will hinder progress toward building a safer Michigan Avenue.
What they're saying: "We just play Frogger constantly," Corktown resident Nikki Rittenour tells Axios Detroit about crossing Michigan Avenue.
- "You pretty much have to run or you have to stop in the middle of the street, which is terrifying."
State of play: Anticipation for Thursday's public meeting with project updates is high.
- MDOT and the city are hosting the meeting from 4:30-7pm at the Gaelic League of Detroit, 2068 Michigan Ave. To raise awareness, they've mailed flyers and distributed them door to door.
- The presentation begins at 5:30pm.
The big picture: Michigan Avenue is one of the city's most historically significant and frequently traveled roadways. It serves as the main artery of Corktown's popular business district. The recent renovation of Michigan Central Station and plans for a new Detroit City Football Club soccer stadium nearby are expected to further growth in the area.
- New residential projects are sprouting throughout the neighborhood, which already contains some of the city's most expensive real estate.
Between the lines: The project has stirred tensions among residents and business owners concerned about the future of "Detroit's Oldest Neighborhood."
- "I think we're going to see that play out on Thursday night," Corktown resident Danielle Manley, who supports the project, tells Axios Detroit of Thursday's public meeting.
Zoom in: The redesign focuses on a 2-mile stretch of Michigan Avenue from Campus Martius to I-96.
- There are four vehicle lanes, two in each direction, as well as a center turn lane.
- On-street parking and bike lanes exist within that stretch, but there are few dedicated crossing areas.
The intrigue: One potential redesign would reduce vehicle lanes to one in each direction, with expanded sidewalks, new bike lanes to Campus Martius and a center lane for transit vehicles.
The other side: Some business owners worry the construction project could hurt their bottom lines as they recover from the pandemic.
- The Corktown Business Association opposes the redesign with its "Save the Bricks" campaign. The effort aims to preserve Michigan Avenue's unique red bricks, although planners have considered incorporating some bricks to protect the road's historic character.
- "We very much look forward to any type of information ... that's going to convince me that it's not going to put people out of business," McShane's Irish Pub owner Bob Roberts, who's also president of the business association, told WXYZ about Thursday's public meeting.