In 2020, the City of Detroit completed a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plan promoting inclusive and equitable growth in Detroit’s oldest established neighborhood, Corktown. Like much of Detroit, Corktown has weathered population loss, widespread demolition, and disinvestment. The neighborhood’s revitalization has already begun, thanks to small businesses and the Ford Motor Company’s $740 million redevelopment of the long vacant 650,000-square-foot Michigan Central Train Station into a global mobility hub. Additionally, in 2021, the City of Detroit, led by the Housing and Revitalization (HRD) and Planning & Development Department (PDD) were awarded a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant to carry out the Greater Corktown neighborhood revitalization strategy.

The strategy uses the redevelopment of Clement Kern Gardens and the new housing sites as catalysts for transformative, neighborhood-wide change. In addition to the hundreds of new, mixed-income housing units funded through CNI, the City will facilitate several physical, community, and economic activities using Choice grant dollars designated for Critical Community Improvements (CCI). The CCI project connected to this project is the creation of the new 10th St. Greenway. The greenway will be a traffic-calmed pedestrian and bike route that will directly connect residents to the new Centennial Park on the riverfront. The greenway itself will fulfill the community objectives to create new and improved public spaces, ensure safe and healthy streets and increase access to community amenities.

Please see commission document for full project information and application instructions.