Addressing Flooding

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Addressing Flooding

Vannoy, Anthony

URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10429/2154

Date: 2021-04-29

Abstract:

This thesis proposes the use of a Neighborhood Improvement Authority which is a local government entity that is created to help fund the stainability and growth of residential neighborhoods. Using this entity, the neighborhood residents of Jefferson Chalmers and the City of Detroit would be able to put into action a development plan that takes the necessary steps needed to mitigate future flooding, improve infrastructure, and increase the health, safety, and well-being of all the residents in the neighborhood. The development plan will be outlined in the thesis and consists of a Neighborhood Storm-water Framework Plan with a focus on seawall restoration and transforming neighborhood blight and vacancy into a storm-water park, as well as outline additional recommendations that can be put forward as part of this development plan. It will also include additional recommendations to those living in the neighborhood on how they can help prevent flooding at a small resident sized scale. Finally, the project will look at financing options and grant opportunities from non-profit organizations, federal and state government organizations, as well as from local development groups.

Description:

Flooding affects hundreds of people in Detroit each year, most of them reside in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood on the city’s east side. The City of Detroit decided in 2018 to propose a framework plan for the neighborhood which outlines improvements to streetscapes throughout the neighborhood as well as investment along the commercial corridor. Although the city has come up with this framework plan through various community engagement activities the issue of flooding is still something the city is not addressing directly. In the spring of that same year the City of Detroit responded to complaints that Detroit river was breaking the seawalls along the Canals in the neighborhood and declared it an emergency. Through this declaration the city when in to install a Tiger Dam system which is a large water filled barrier to act as a temporary way to stop the flood water from flooding people houses and into city streets. Since its installment the city has still not been able to speak about next steps or what permanent solutions, they have to solve flooding in the neighborhood. This thesis will outline a plan and interventions that can be put into place to help eliminate flooding in the neighborhood. The three key components to the project are connecting to existing plans and developments in the neighborhood, analyzing the financial affordability of the project for stakeholders in the neighborhood, and lastly to provide a vision for the future of the neighborhood in which this project will be able to work along side the others efforts in the neighborhood and eventually eliminate flooding throughout the neighborhood, thus saving it from a watery grave. Post graduation I hope to continue my research and work with those living in the community to achieve the goal of eliminating the threat of flooding. Several community members are already starting to search for solutions outside of waiting for the city of Detroit to fix the issue. By already implementing some of the communities ideas within this thesis project it will make it easier going forward to provide support with any efforts either the city itself or the residents decide to move forward with.

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