Envisioning the Commons

Abstract

Originally, Livernois was part of the French “ribbon farm” system that existed before the city of Detroit was formed. From an early time planners have considered it a significant commercial corridor running from the Detroit River up to Eight Mile Road as a result of the annexations of the city that ended in the 1920’s. At that point Livernois developed into what it is today , as the surrounding neighborhoods filled in as home to many of the who’s who of their time. As a result, the Seven mile area of Livernois, stretching from the northern edge of the city at Eight Mile running down to the University of Detroit to the south, became the spine of the community. Although it was never as dense as other commercial avenues, it played host to its share of department stores and smaller, locally owned shops, which remain as the defining characteristic after its initial boom period and rise through the middle half of the 20th century . Though the surrounding neighborhoods remain stable today, the commercial vitality faded on the avenue with the rise of the suburban shopping centers; thus mirroring the greater trend of urban decay seen in most major cities during the 1960’s and on. Detroit is a city built on the creation of the middle class. Therefore, in order to preserve the culture and heritage within the city these neighborhoods must be reinforced. Recent developments, such as the construction of a median and being selected as one of the areas for reinforcement by the mayor’s Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative, show signs of life for Livernois. This is one of few areas to be shown interest outside of the redevelopment focused on Detroit’s midtown and downtown. These actions have made it possible to con - sider the reinforcement and revitalization for the Seven Mile and Livernois area. To build on that, the scope of this project is to explore those possibilities of redevelopment by taking into account the historical and existing conditions on the various interwoven layers within community development characterized by the H.O.P.E. (Human, Organizational, Physi - cal, and Economic) model that make up the Livernois and Seven Mile ecosystem. The intent of the project is not to be prescriptive, but normative in its research methods and responsive to the voice of the community in order to give a vision for the future development of the spine of economic activity held on Livernois. Ultimately, the community will choose its identity and subsequent destiny with the aid of the visions put forth with this project. F inally, the goal is to lay the foundation for the growth of Livernois as the heart of the community and capitalize on its potential to serve the needs of the surrounding communities its own unique, sustainable way.