The neighborhood just north of downtown has remnants of once-stately Gilded Age homes. (Photo above by Jamie Betts, jamiebettsphoto.com)
As more people hunt for places to live downtown and in Midtown, the time seems ripe for a rebirth of a conveniently located neighborhood.
Development beat writer John Gallagher sketches the possibilities in a Free Press front-page centerpiece.
Detroit’s historic but largely vacant Brush Park district might finally come in for redevelopment under a new request for proposals issued by the City of Detroit.
The city owns most of the vacant area in the district and is asking developers to submit ideas to build new market-rate housing with a historic architectural theme on almost nine acres of land, enough space for at least several dozen units or more of townhouse-style residences. The project also would include redeveloping a handful of the historic 19th-Century mansions still standing but vacant.
Virginia-based photographer Jamie Betts visited the Brush Park area last fall. (jamiebetts.com)
The neighborhood, speckled with remnants of once-stately Gilded Age homes, is bounded by Mack on the North, Woodward on the west, Beaubien on the east and the Fisher Freeway at its southern end.
Brush Park fits the three real estate essentials ("location, location, location"), as Gallagher illustrates by noting it's "within walking distance of attractions such as Comerica Park, Ford Field, the Fox Theatre and the Detroit RiverWalk, as well as the planned location of a new Detroit Red Wings arena and entertainment district. The area to be redeveloped is only a block off the planned M-1 Rail transit line scheduled to start construction this year."
He quotes Jim Marusich of the city’s Planning & Development Department:
“I think it’s probably one of the most desirable places to live in Detroit.”
Developers have until Feb. 5 to submit proposals to the city. A decision will be made that month.
Two main parcels are involved, according to the Free Press:
- 7.5 acres in an area bounded roughly by John R, Brush, Edmund and both sides of Alfred. It has 36 empty lots and four historic homes.
- 1 acre east of Brush between Alfred and Division.
Free Press gallery: Gallagher's report is accompanied by 82 photos photos by Brush Park resident Diane Weiss, the paper's picture editor.
-- Alan Stamm
