The East Jefferson Development Corp. and Jefferson East Inc. have completed improvement plans for the East Jefferson Corridor in Detroit, which includes the five neighborhoods along the Detroit River near Belle Isle.
The organizations will debut their Jefferson-Chalmers Mainstreet Master Plan for the East Jefferson Corridor during a virtual presentation at 6 p.m. on Thursday. The plan will guide development of the commercial corridor, including services, infrastructure improvements, public spaces, businesses, mixed-use commercial development, and more.
The corridor includes Lafayette Park/Elmwood Park, Rivertown, The Villages of Detroit, The Marina District, and Jefferson-Chalmers.
“As development continues to move into Detroit neighborhoods, it is critical that Detroiters have a voice in the process, from ideation all the way to implementation to ensure that development happens in an inclusive way that doesn’t displace existing residents and businesses,” says Derric Scott, CEO of East Jefferson Development Corp. “We have spent the last year working closely with the Jefferson-Chalmers community to develop a plan that reflects their vision for their neighborhood, and we are excited to unveil the final project.”
In August 2019, the nonprofit organization, with support from Houseal Lavigne Associates and inFORM, launched Building Jefferson-Chalmers Together, a Jefferson-Chalmers Mainstreet Master Plan. The weeklong process engaged residents, stakeholders, and business owners including ongoing monthly feedback sessions, community workshops, surveys, and focus groups.
The unveiling will show how input will inform the vision of the area over the next several years. Scott, Josh Elling, CEO of Jefferson East Inc., and members of the community plan to speak at the unveiling. There will be time at the end for questions.
“Nobody knows and loves their neighborhoods more than Detroiters,” Elling says. “Engaging the community on this process is about more than just giving a voice to those who live and work here; it’s about ensuring inclusive and equitable development, starting with the community and continuing all the way to development.”
Registration for the virtual event is available here.
Jefferson East Inc. is a place-based neighborhood improvement nonprofit that works to create inclusive neighborhoods along the East Jefferson Corridor.
