Detroit Businesses Sign-Up for Project Lighthouse

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DETROIT – The Detroit Police Department on Monday announced Project Lighthouse, an innovative neighborhood watch program designed to keep residents, employees and visitors safer in Detroit, now includes more than 30 businesses in the Central Business District.

The businesses, who have joined hands to enhance the safety and security of downtown Detroit, display logos and banners on their buildings identifying them as a safe haven to assist those in need, said Detroit Police Chief Ralph L. Godbee, Jr.

Each Lighthouse location has security personnel available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Another 20-plus partners and providers play an active role in the program. With a simple phone call to 313-471-6490, help will be provided to anyone who is lost, separated from friends, having vehicle trouble or experiencing other safety concerns.  Project Lighthouse augments calling the police. Those who have serious safety concerns should call 9-1-1 first for assistance.

“Project Lighthouse is a terrific collaborative effort that will help stimulate economic development and continue to advance the quality of life we need in Downtown Detroit to attract new residents, businesses and visitors,” said David Blaszkiewicz, president and CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership, which helped coordinate the project.

The collaboration between the Detroit Police Department, other law enforcement agencies and the business community allows Project Lighthouse to run at no cost to the city of Detroit. The Lighthouse businesses are funding the project. Wayne State University is also contributing, providing crime mapping and analysis for the program.

The program is in the Central Business District, spanning from I-375 to the Lodge freeway and from the Detroit Medical Center to the Detroit River.

“Programs such as Project Lighthouse show our businesses are invested and vested in the city of Detroit,” said Chief Godbee. “We are thankful to have the strong support from some of our key stakeholders, and community partners.  Project Lighthouse is a great example of how police and businesses can partner to promote and build a safer Detroit for all who visit, work, and live here.”

The first Lighthouse business locations to display banners are Blue Cross Blue Shield, Detroit Police Department 20 Atwater, Detroit Police Department HQ, Ilitch Holdings, Inc./Fox Theatre, Marriott Renaissance Center and the Rock Ventures and Quicken Loans family of companies in the Chase, Dime and First National Buildings.

Banners will soon be up on several other buildings including the Boll Family YMCA, Book Cadillac Hotel, COBO Center, Comerica Park, Compuware, Courtyard Marriott, Detroit Athletic Club, Detroit Opera House, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy/Rivard Plaza, DTE Energy, Ford Field, Greektown Casino, Joe Louis Arena, McNamara Building, MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino Hotel, Quicken Loans, Renaissance Center, Stay Inn and Suites and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

A Lighthouse website, which includes a map of participating locations, is housed on the Downtown Detroit Partnership website. For more information go to www.downtowndetroit.org/lighthouse.

The initial Project Lighthouse program was developed by Mike Bruggeman, senior vice president of Rock Ventures, and Rick Fenton, vice president of security of Ilitch Holdings, Inc., in August 2011.