Moving McNichols

ROSS PIPER Year III Term I 2011Prof. VIRGINIA STANARDLivernois? Liver-Yes!UDM SOA

DETROITDETROITDETROITDETROITDETROITDETROIT


PALMER PARK, DETROIT MI

DETROITTable of Contents

Livernois? liver-Yes!Neighborhood Typologies

SWOT/STEEP Analysis

Narrative

Site Strategy

Focus Area- Moving McNichols

DETROIT

Collaboration The Detroit Works Project- For Detroit to work we need action today and we need to start planning for tomorrow. Since its inception the project has gathered critical data that can help do both. In order to help address the needs you face every day, Mayor Bing introduced the Short Term Actions in July of 2011, which employs the incredible depth of research and market data thats been gathered so far. All this, while the long-term planning moves forward. Each informs the other, with our day-to-day made better, not only because there’s work being done now, but because that very same work can help show the way toward what can, and needs to be done tomorrow!

University Commons- The Mission of the organization is to improve the physical and economic character of the Livernois/McNichols corridors, support planning and development activities consistent with the Restore Program operated by the City of Detroit Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood and Commercial Revitalization, enhance communication among concerned stakeholders and public entities and other wise promote the quality of life within the area.

Project Meerkat- A team of Master’s of Community Development students that look to transform a nearby struggling Detroit neighborhood and re-invent neighborhood watch programs, creating interest in the neighborhood to stand strong.

Project MeerkatCommunity Walkshop

Livernois? Liver-Yes!

Wyom

ing

Livernois

This Detroit Collaborative Design Center sponsored studio is rooted in the mission of the office which is to provide quality design services through community-based design. Through this lens, the studio will consider physical strategies for the Livernois Avenue corridor, and the neighborhoods in proximity to it. Students will develop a multi-layered strategy for the site, both urban and architectural, by turning research, mapping, and analysis into the driving forces of design.

The studio consists of overlapping activities of research, mapping and analysis, collaboration, and design. The first half of the studio consists of structured research, conducted in teams, investigating the site and its neighborhood typologies, as well as the development of an urban strategy. The studio will also incorporate readings and discussion, and guest lectures. This component will utilize the students skills in structuring and communicating their research into a critical and coherent whole, both visually and verbally. The second half of the studio will involve the development of individual design strategies for Livernois Avenue and its nearby neighborhoods by drawing on the students research and analysis in consideration of site, circumstance, and program.

Methodology

Objective

Wyom

ing

Livernois

Woodw

ard8 Mile

7 Mile

McNichols

John C. Lodge Fwy

UDMMarygrove

Palmer Park

UD Jesuit

Project Site

N

The overall site is grounded by Livernois Avenue and is bounded between Wyoming and Woodward from 8 mile to the John C. Lodge Freeway. The site encompasses The University of Detroit Mercy, Marygrove College, many grade schools including University of Detroit Jesuit Academy, Palmer Park, a cemetery and two golf courses.

Neighborhood Typologies

Detroit Works Project Livernois Demonstration AreaArea: 6 sq mi or 4.2% of Detroit Population: 66,200 or 9.5% of Detroit

MVA & RPCA OVERLAP & INTEGRATION

Integrated Citywide Map

Steady

Distressed

Transitional

Varied

steady I transitional I distressed

livernois neighborhood typologies

UDM

Neighborhood TypologiesThe Detroit Works Project divided Detroit into separate typologies including steady, transitional, distressed and varied. Our site has all four located in its boundaries.

Steady

Transitional

Distressed

Varied

VS

These photos were all taken in the same neighborhood... How do these interact with each other?

VSSteadyTransitional DistressedVaried

Steady

Distressed

Transitional

Taking a piece of wood from the site that had old faded out white paint and nails protruding out divided into sections reminded me of our site and the relation that one section has with the other. By taping off parts and painting them white with straight lines representing the houseowners that maintain their property even though others (represented by the faded out white paint) in their community do not care or do not have the means to keep up their property. The natural weathered wood represents the homes that the earth is reclaiming.

DistressedSteady

S T E E PW

OT

A STEEP analysis looks at the external factors and broad trends a�ecting a site or project in terms of Sociocultural, Technological, Ecological, Economic, and Political Factors.

A SWOT analysis looks at speci�c factors a�ecting the site or project in terms of its Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

Strength: Community

Taking a piece of wood from the site that had old faded out white paint and nails protruding out divided into sections reminded me of our site and the relation that one section has with the other. By taping off parts and painting them white with straight lines representing the houseowners that maintain their property even though others (represented by the faded out white paint) in their community do not care or do not have the means to keep up their property. The natural weathered wood represents the homes that the earth is reclaiming.

HANTZ FarmsCommunity Development Advocates of Detroit

Greening of DetroitS T E E PWOT

2

Detroit Area Agency on Aging

Brightmoor AlliancePeopleʼs Movement Assembly

Trans 4 M

Skillman Foundation Good Neighborhoods Initiative

Good Neighborhoods Initiative

DETROITSustainable Communities Program

Detroit Mower Gang

Warm Training Detroit

Sustainable Detroit

Kresge Foundation

LISC

Data Driven Detroit

Detroit Community Initiative

Detroit 20/20

Strength: Community

5 Mins10 Mins15 Mins

“Walking Distance”

How Do We Attract to Livernois?

Mcnichols Rd.

Seven Mile

Eight Mile

Woodward Light Rail StopsW

oodward

Lodge Fwy.

Livernois

Detroit Mercy

Mikes Market

Bakers Jazz CLub

Marygrove

Secretary Of State

Weakness:Transit

Opportunity:Transportation


Mcnichols Rd.

Seven Mile

Eight Mile

Woodw

ard

Lodge Fwy.

Livernois

40 Mins.

Marygrove


Mcnichols Rd.

Seven Mile

Eight Mile

Woodw

ard

Lodge Fwy.

Livernois

21 Mins.

Detroit Mercy

With the diagrams and research done there is a great need for a secondary transit system?

Opportunity:Transportation

Challenging Detroit’s dependency of the car

by making non-motorized mobility

more accessible

Urban Connections

Meet Tom

Tom is a bicycle commuter who lives in the University District

Every morning he struggles with his commute to work.

Cars and traffic, Safety and accessibility

What if there werebike lanes?

The PerfectPrecedentSo close,Yet so far away...

Corktown Bike Path

m-bike.org

Not too far away is a system of bike paths in Corktown, Detroit. These Paths have influenced secondary transportation and have helped this part of the city become more forward thinking, green friendly and also,great set of paths that have become a destination for people all around Southeast Michigan. This is a great example for what could be done in the University District with the roots of this bike system already in place,we just need to grow off of them.

Car Dominated LIVErnois Now...

Bike FriendlyLIVErnois

Bike Path

Sidewalk Thru Lanes Thru Lanes Bike Path

Sidewalk

“The future connection with the city”

Woodward LightRail


McNichols Rd.

Seven Mile

Eight Mile

Woodw

ard

Lodge Fwy.

Livernois

Tom’s

Woodward LightRailCycling Distance

McNichols-2 Miles

Woodward-1 mile

Livernois-3 Miles

Palmer Park Trl.

Woodward LightRailCycling Distance

With the proposed bicycle lanesand the Woodward Light Rail

My morning commute was a breeze!

After taking the bike path to the McNichols stop of the WLR

Putting his bike on the train bike rack, Tom is ready to go

Downtown.

GroupSiteStrategy

Joe Louis Park Woodlawn Cemetary

Emma Stark Hampton Middle School

Destination/Asset

Palmer Park

Windmill Farmer’s Market

UDM

Marygrove College

Mike’s Market

1917 Bistro

Baker’s Lounge

UofD Jesuit

Bus Routes/Stops

53

32

54

45

Seven Mile

23

29

17

39

Seven Mile

8 Mile

Puritan

McNichols

Woodward

sion

revi

L

gni

moy

W

Major Entry-point

Minor Entry-point

Pedestrian BridgeVehicular Bridge

Old Redford

RosedaleGrandmontRosedale Park

SuburbsWest Detroit

Royal OakEast DetroitHarper Woods

Conant GardensGrixdale

Dequindre CutGratiotMohicanRegent Park

DowntownTech TownMidtownGreektownLight Rail Route

Claytown GreenwaysCorktown, Mexicantown

Barton-McFarlandAviation Subdivision

Ferndale

Downtown

Woodward Light Rail

GatheringSpace

Site Strategy KeySite Strategy

For our group site strategy we focused on identifying gathering spaces which we defined as areas with frequent activity. We also layered different forms of transportation including bus routes and bus stops. When all the layers were combined, certain areas where mutliple

layers interacted, began to show on the map as target areas.

This allowed for our group to identify focus areas of interest.

MovingMcNichols

FOCUS Area

Corner of McNichols and 3rdStudent Housing Site

UDM

Bus RoutesStops

doo

wniL

University of Detroit Mercy

Seven Mile

8 Mile

Puritan

McNichols

Woodward

sion

revi

L

gni

moy

W

Legend

NETWORK StrategyLet’s Move

N

Woodward Light Rail

DetroitNon-MotorizedPlan

Destination

GatheringSpace




Mike’s Market

1917 Bistro

Baker’s Lounge

UofD Jesuit

UDMMarygrove College

Palmer Park

Student interaction in the community is very low and there is a great need for new student housing off campus. This proposed student housing, creates opportunities for new transportation around McNichols.

Solution:With the new student housing developed on McNichols there opens a east-west connection from Marygrove College to Woodward that utilizes secondary transportation and allows for new stops at nodes along McNichols.

Thesis:This project aims to bridge the gap between students and locals through retail, Transportation and Housing while also providing new opportunities for students to spend money locally.

DesignProblem:

Woodward

McNichols

Pontchartrain

Merrill Plaisance St.

2nd St.

Alwyne Ln.

Manderson Rd.

3rd Ave.

Merton Rd.

Covington Dr.

Whitmore Rd.

Palmer Park TrailsLake FrancisFountainLighthouseBaseball FieldsTennis CourtsHistoric Log CabinDetroit Mounted PoliceGreen Space

13 Miles of trails to hike or bike

Apartment District Land UseParkingVacantMulti-Level ApartmentSingle familyChurchEntertainmentService

Looking at the Historic District in Palmer Park and researching the history and vacant multi-purpose buildings which led to the perfect location for the Multi-use Student Housing.

Corner of McNichols and 3rdStudent Housing Site

TransitWith the student housing rooted in the Historic District of Palmer Park there becomes an even greater need for transportation along McNichols. These statistics were Driving Forces for a shuttle bus along the east-west connection of McNichols.

Connection Card

Support your local Businesses with this Discount Card and receive special offers Shuttle Bus admission- FREE

Monday through Friday

A Driving Force and inspiration was the Livernois V.I.P card, which offered discounts for local restaunts and shops in the University District. This card would be transformed into the Connection Card also offering discounts for local retail and restaurants and new retail long the E-W connection of McNichols. The card would also be multi-purposed into a swipe-able identification card which would allow you access to the shuttle. The new card would be introduced and included in the Freshman orientation package and for sale on campus and in the community where the profit goes back into the community to fund new improvements.

Woodward

McNichols

Pontchartrain

Merrill Plaisance St.

2nd St.

Alwyne Ln.

Manderson Rd.

3rd Ave.

Merton Rd.

Covington Dr.

Whitmore Rd.

Palmer Park TrailsLake FrancisFountainLighthouseBaseball FieldsTennis CourtsHistoric Log CabinDetroit Mounted PoliceGreen Space

13 Miles of trails to hike or bike

Apartment District Land UseParkingVacantMulti-Level ApartmentSingle familyChurchEntertainmentService

Moving McNichols

Design Problem:Student interaction in the community is very low and there is a great need for new student housing off campus. this proposed student housing, creates opportunities for new transportation around McNichols.



How Do We Attract to Livernois?

Mcnichols Rd.

Seven Mile

Eight Mile

Woodward Light Rail Stops

Woodw

ard

Lodge Fwy.

Livernois

Detroit Mercy

Mikes Market

Bakers Jazz CLub

Marygrove

Secretary Of State


Mcnichols Rd.

Seven Mile

Eight Mile

Woodw

ard

Lodge Fwy.

Livernois

40 Mins.

Marygrove


Mcnichols Rd.

Seven Mile

Eight Mile

Woodw

ard

Lodge Fwy.

Livernois

21 Mins.

Detroit Mercy

University of Detroit Mercy School of ArchitectureArch 2300 Section 3, Vertical Design Studio

Instructor Virginia StanardFall 2011Ross Piper

Design Solution:With the new student housing developed on McNichols there opens a east-west connection from Marygrove College to Woodward that utilizes secondary transportation and allows for new stops at nodes along McNichols.

UDM

Bus RoutesStops

doo

wniL


Seven Mile

8 Mile

Puritan

McNichols

Woodward

sion

revi

L

gni

moy

W

Legend

NETWORK StrategyLet’s Move

N

Woodward Light Rail

DetroitNon-MotorizedPlan

Destination

GatheringSpace




Mike’s Market

1917 Bistro

Baker’s Lounge

UofD Jesuit

UDMMarygrove College

Palmer Park

Thesis:This project aims to bridge the gap between students and locals through retail, Transportation and Housing while also providing new opportunities for students to spend money locally

1.Woodward Connection

Woodward Light RailDowntown Detroit

Royal Oak

2.Student HousingCorner CafeLeos Tunes

The Spot Coffee

McNichols

Woodward

Liv

ernois

3.Casual Necessities

71’

15’ 15’ 5’9’4’ 4’ 7’7’ 5’

CafeBreweryRetail

4.University of Detroit Mercy

Fitness Center Track

Library

71’

15’ 15’ 5’9’4’ 4’ 7’7’ 5’

RetailStude nt H

ousing

O’ Kelly’s Brown Dog PubThe Endzone Grill

5.Entertainment

6.Marygrove CollegeTheatreSoccer fieldGym

Scale 1”:50’

Project ElementsGreen Infastructure

Transit

Streetscape

Information Distribution

Liberal Arts Building

Guard Shack

Marygrove Connection

Scale 1”:75’

McNichols

BusStop

CasualNecessities

Scale 1”:75’

McNichols

Woodward

Woodward L

ight R

ail

Scale 1”:75’

N

Bus

Sto

p

12345

6

Woodward ConnectionWoodward Light Rail

Downtown DetroitRoyal Oak

McNichols

Woodward

Woodward L

ight R

ail

Bus

Sto

p

Corner CafeLeos Tunes

The Spot Coffee

A Driving Force and inspiration was the Livernois V.I.P card, which offered discounts for local restaunts and shops in the University District. This card would be transformed into the Connection Card also offering discounts for local retail and restaurants and new retail long the E-W connection of McNichols. The card would also be multi-purposed into a swipe-able identification card which would allow you access to the shuttle. The new card would be introduced and included in the Freshman orientation package and for sale on campus and in the community where the profit goes back into the community to fund new improvements.

The first stop is the Woodward Connection which is the main junction of many different modes of transportation including the WLR, shuttle bus, and bike lanes.

Woodward Connection Student Housing

Corner CafeLeos Tunes

The Spot Coffee

71’

15’ 15’ 5’9’4’ 4’ 7’7’ 5’

RetailStudent H

ousing

When deciding where to place the student housing it was very challenging to pick a spot. When I started diagraming the Palmer Park apartment district I knew this was the perfect spot being the gateway between Palmer Park and Woodward. With the asset of Palmer Park being in your backyard and so close to a major connection the abandoned mixed use apartments were the perfect match.

Casual Necessities Cafe

BreweryRetail

McNichols

CasualNecessities

Scale 1”:75’

The first stop is the Woodward Connection which is the main junction of many different modes of transportation including the WLR, shuttle bus, and bike lanes.

The casual necessities connection offers a chance to eat, groom and shop, utilizing the Connection Card.

71’

15’ 15’ 5’9’4’ 4’ 7’7’ 5’


Fitness Center Track

Library

Scale 1”:50’

UDM connection allows a circulation of students to local businesses pushing them to experience life outside of the gates.

O’ Kelly’s Brown Dog PubThe Endzone Grill

Entertainment

Stop Five is the Entertainment Connection with many restaurants, Bars and clubs with something for everyone to enjoy. The lack of entertainment and restaurants in the area matched with a close distance to two universities is a winning combination.

Marygrove CollegeTheatreSoccer fieldGym

Liberal Arts Building

Guard Shack

Marygrove Connection

BusStop

The Marygrove Connection offers a gained experience between the two universities, bridging the gap between schools that are so close to each other, yet so far disconnected.


This area was once a great congregation of students who were involved in the community and spent time and money at the local businesses. With the proposed student housing, secondary transportation and the Connection Card, this area has the potential to be a great congregation of students into the community once again.


SpecialThanks

Virginia Stanard The Detroit Works Project

Project MeerkatUniversity Commons

Kim TandyDetroit Collaborative Design Center

Ian ArmstrongTim Piper

Sandy Testasecca

My Group:John Quaine

Ethan SimsMonica Groblewska

To my family for all their support.Without them, none of this would be possible.

Documents

Moving McNichols