Reclaiming Motor City: Creating Equitable Infrastructure in Post-Urban Renewal Detroit
Open Access
- Author:
- Scanlon, Luke
- Area of Honors:
- Architecture
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Architecture
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Darla V Lindberg, Thesis Supervisor
Orsolya Gaspar, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- architecture
urban planning
urban renewal - Abstract:
- Detroit’s Black Bottom was a historically black neighborhood that was demolished and replaced with modern housing projects and the I-375 Freeway as part of Detroit’s urban renewal between 1945 and 1965. Urban renewal is a significant part of the legacy of Modern architecture, and its effects are still felt today in the layout of cities and the lived experience of residents. The City of Detroit is developing a proposal to transform the lowered freeway into a boulevard at the same elevation as the rest of the downtown area, but community organizations have argued that this step does not adequately repair the damage historically done to the community. Plans for redevelopment today often take on a large-scale approach, but lack a level of thoughtfulness at a personal, local level. This research aims to first detail the history of the Black Bottom neighborhood of Detroit and its development over time. Then, to document and model the act of erasure in the built environment through the case study of Black Bottom. Finally, it will propose a design solution that focuses on the direct interventions for individuals at a local level and offers opportunities for ownership for the past residents of Black Bottom and their descendants. The goal is to demonstrate the necessity for public redevelopment based on the voices and the needs of communities and locals that will be directly impacted. Many cities have legacies of displacement and urban renewal and will likely be developing plans to unravel some of harm they have caused. I hope to offer an alternative model to the plan proposed by the Department of Transportation that prioritizes local voices and demands.