Greektown in downtown Detroit has been awarded $20 million by the Michigan legislature to complete a redesign of Monroe Street that runs through the entertainment district.
The Michigan Infrastructure Grant for the Monroe Street redevelopment is included in the FY 2023- 2024 Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity budget, which the legislature passed on Wednesday. The budget awaits Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s approval.
The renewed Monroe Street streetscape is designed to prioritize pedestrians, increase safety, provide maximum program flexibility, and celebrate the rich cultural and historic heritage of Greektown.
It will be the first shared streetscape in downtown Detroit of its scale with the ability to be completely pedestrianized. The new design also could help assist in reducing shootings, drunken brawls, curfew violations, and illegal weapon possession, which the Detroit Police and other safety officials have been successfully addressing in recent weeks following several incidents in the early spring.
Providing an array of entertainment venues and eateries, the traditional center of Detroit’s Greek community offers Victorian architecture, a walkable commercial corridor, cultural events, and churches. The area was originally developed by German immigrants before they moved further north to build what today is Paradise Valley (formerly Harmonie Park).
The redesign in Greektown encompasses four blocks of Monroe Street from Randolph Street to the I-375 Service Drive.
Working with stakeholders, visitors, the city of Detroit, the Greektown Neighborhood Partnership and its design team, SmithGroup in Detroit, a schematic design for the Monroe Street Streetscape redevelopment emerged in 2022.
The curbless streetscape redesign will transform Monroe Street into a pedestrian-first, walkable street. By eliminating curbs and leveling the road, the project will make it easier for pedestrians to move about the area safely and comfortably.
The plan will allow the street to quickly accommodate festivals, larger pedestrian crowds, and outdoor cafés, while also providing for loading, parking, and vehicular traffic. The new configuration includes one centered driving lane when open to vehicular traffic, an expanded pedestrian walk, and added room for outdoor cafes for the entire length of Monroe Street.
New bollards, trees, planters, and street furniture will reinforce the edge of the pedestrian zone for drivers traveling the corridor. When the street is closed to vehicular traffic, it becomes a pedestrian only plaza, allowing more outdoor dining, flexible programming, and easier pedestrian movement.
“The pedestrian-first redesign of Monroe Street will create a broad palette of experiences through the heart of Greektown and reinforce the district’s role as the gateway to Detroit,” says Melanie Markowicz, executive director of the Greektown Neighborhood Partnership.
“Monroe Street sees some of the highest pedestrian traffic of any place in the City and our public engagement through the design process overwhelmingly indicated support for closures to vehicles that are both planned and programmed.”
The forthcoming improvements include:
- Prioritizing pedestrians and outdoor cafés by creating wide sidewalks and ensuring accessibility.
- Providing a flexible curb-less road that can be quickly and easily shut down to vehicular traffic.
- Promoting safety, slow traffic speeds, and reduce reckless driving with reduced driving lanes.
- Reallocating parking, loading and pick-up/drop-off zones along Monroe Street and its side streets.
- Creating gateways into the community that can be seen from Campus Martius and from the east.
- Utilizing a consistent and durable set of attractive amenities and premium paving materials.
- Supporting a diverse set of users and family friendly programming.
- Improving light distribution along the corridor.
- Significantly expanding the tree canopy.
- Promoting hospitality in all aspects of the design.
- Celebrating culture, heritage, and art.
For more information about Greektown and to access the Monroe Street Streetscape Redesign report, visit greektowndetroit.org.
