Greater Corktown

The area has always been rich in its diversity of businesses and residents as well as offering a strong artistic and entrepreneurial spirit. These characteristics have made Corktown an attractive place to live, work, and play.

On June 19, 2018, Ford Motor Company announced the acquisition of Michigan Central Station as the centerpiece of a new destination that will bring together thousands of entrepreneurs, innovators, designers, technologists and employees to re-imagine and create the future of mobility.

Ford chose to be a part of Corktown’s future due to its unique historical character and diversity.

In order to prepare for an investment of this magnitude, the City of Detroit, State of Michigan, and Ford must work together to ensure that the neighborhood is central to the planning of its future.

The City is currently developing a Comprehensive Neighborhood Framework Plan for the Greater Corktown area, which consists of the historic Corktown neighborhood, North Corktown, and adjacent communities, particularly Hubbard Richard.

The objective of this project is to engage existing residents to create a unified planning framework that recognizes the great potential for inclusive growth of Detroit’s oldest established neighborhood, while preserving the community’s unique character, cultural heritage and integrity. The framework will identify the challenges and opportunities around key planning strategies of Urban Design & Development (Zoning and Landscape), Streetscape and Connectivity, Historic Preservation, and Housing Development and Rehabilitation.

Particular attention will be paid to understanding the impact that Ford’s development will have on Greater Corktown as a neighborhood, and the opportunities and challenges that are associated with this investment.

Three additional efforts are underway in the area:

• Ford is completing its master planning efforts for its development. Anchored around Michigan Central Station, Ford will build a destination that offers a range of mixed-use spaces for work, retail, entertainment, food and hospitality and a place where new mobility solutions and innovations are created.

  As part of their community benefits agreement (CBA) with the Greater Corktown neighborhood, Ford, will launch the City:One Michigan Central Station Challenge, a community program to identify mobility challenges and potential solutions. The Challenge will provide up to $250,000 for the testing of promising ideas through a pilot program.

• The Michigan Department of Transportation is conducting a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study for the Michigan Avenue Corridor between Campus Martius and Interstate 96. The purpose of this study is to develop a long-term vision for the corridor.

All of these efforts will help inform the Neighborhood Framework Plan. All of the project teams meet together on a regular basis and engagement with residents will be coordinated to ensure a seamless effort.

This page will be updated as the Greater Corktown Neighborhood Framework Plan is developed throughout 2019 and 2020.

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