DETROIT — A new report titled “7.2 SQ MI” was prepared and issued by the Hudson-Webber Foundation, along with partner organizations, to tell the data story of greater downtown Detroit. The focus of the data is on current information about residing, working, employing, visiting, living, playing, and investing in greater downtown.
The report covers a 7.2 square mile collection of neighborhoods: Downtown, Midtown, New Center, Woodbridge, Eastern Market, Lafayette Park, Rivertown, and Corktown. As a point of reference, Downtown/Central Business District is approximately one square mile.
“This is the first time there has been centralized, reliable, and agreed-upon data for greater downtown Detroit,” Katy Locker, programs vice president of the Hudson-Webber Foundation, said. “7.2 SQ MI is a snapshot in time and will serve as a great tool for potential investors of all sizes.”
In order to build this comprehensive picture of greater downtown, the foundation partnered with Downtown Detroit Partnership, Invest Detroit, Detroit Economic Growth Corp., Midtown Detroit Inc., D:hive, and Data Driven Detroit, to research, share, and combine key data across all parties.
“There’s added benefits of smarter and increased investment across our districts when all of our organizations can come together to coordinate, and share this vital data,” David Blaszkiewicz, president & CEO of Downtown Detroit Partnership and president of Invest Detroit, said.
“We are getting interest from across the country for investment opportunities,” George Jackson, president & CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. said. “This information is exactly what developers need to have confidence in their decisions to invest here.”
The data in 7.2 SQ MI will be used as a baseline for measurement and the partners plan to continue to revisit and update the report to better understand progress and inform future investment. The website, detroitsevenpointtwo.com, will serve as a hub for the report and data. It’s anticipated that 7.2 SQ MI will be updated regularly for select data points and comprehensively re-released every 2-3 years.
“As the attention on Midtown increases, this report will help us to tell the story of Midtown in the context of greater downtown Detroit,” Sue Mosey, president of Midtown Detroit Inc., said.
7.2 SQ MI was compiled, authored and designed by a group of young professionals that represent the next generation of Detroit leadership, including several Detroit Revitalization Fellows.
“With Hudson-Webber’s recent focus and emphasis on attracting young talent to greater downtown Detroit, it made perfect sense for us to engage Detroit’s future leaders in this project and to tell the story,” Locker said.
