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Detroit - Removal of I-375

Started by JREwing78, November 24, 2013, 11:25:14 PM

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afguy

Kresge grant aims to explore neighborhood restoration in contentious I-375 redevelopment

QuoteThe Kresge Foundation is stepping into a controversial plan to bring Interstate 375 in Detroit up to grade with grants aimed at the spirit of restoring neighborhoods that the expressway's construction destroyed decades ago.
The foundation's aim is to ensure the project goes beyond engineering and includes a reparative approach, incorporating some type of reparations for the harm done to Black residents and businesses cleared to make way for the freeway. The Kresge Foundation has made a $1.85 million planning grant to the Downtown Detroit Partnership that will support further engagement of residents and businesses and create a holistic vision for the project.

It's the first of several grants Kresge plans to make to the effort and comes amid community pushback on the early design proposed to convert the stretch of below-grade highway in downtown Detroit to a street-level boulevard. "History has shown us time and time again that the investment goals of major infrastructure projects more often prioritize traffic flows, cost and speed of completion over residents, pedestrians and environmentally sustainable built environment concerns," said Wendy Lewis Jackson, managing director, Detroit program for the foundation.

"Detroit now has one shot to begin to reverse the decimation caused by the original I-375 urban renewal project. Getting it right means that affected residents and businesses are fully engaged in planning and feel that their concerns have been considered in MDOT's final engineering plans."
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/nonprofits-philanthropy/grant-aims-explore-restoring-black-bottom-amid-i-375-rebuild



















The Ghostbuster

As I stated in a previous comment, I don't expect any land vacated by the deconstruction of Interstate 375 to be redeveloped for a long time. Detroit has a huge amount of vacant lots where houses used to be but were demolished. I don't see new houses going up on those vacant lots anytime soon, so I think it will be the same for the 375 corridor. Again, I use the length of time it took to redevelop the land vacated by the deconstruction of Milwaukee's Park East Freeway as evidence of my claim.

KelleyCook

#327
Quote from: afguy on December 18, 2023, 04:50:03 PM
Quote from: Kresge Foundation flunkie
Detroit now has one shot to begin to reverse the decimation caused by the original I-375 urban renewal project.

23skidoo

Quote from: The Ghostbuster on December 18, 2023, 07:13:44 PM
As I stated in a previous comment, I don't expect any land vacated by the deconstruction of Interstate 375 to be redeveloped for a long time. Detroit has a huge amount of vacant lots where houses used to be but were demolished. I don't see new houses going up on those vacant lots anytime soon, so I think it will be the same for the 375 corridor. Again, I use the length of time it took to redevelop the land vacated by the deconstruction of Milwaukee's Park East Freeway as evidence of my claim.

I get that there is a lot of blight in Detroit, but the 375 corridor is desirable real estate. It's very close to Ford Field and the Greektown casino. I'd expect that the area will be quickly redeveloped once the freeway is removed.

GaryV

Quote from: 23skidoo on January 01, 2024, 01:59:42 PM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on December 18, 2023, 07:13:44 PM
As I stated in a previous comment, I don't expect any land vacated by the deconstruction of Interstate 375 to be redeveloped for a long time. Detroit has a huge amount of vacant lots where houses used to be but were demolished. I don't see new houses going up on those vacant lots anytime soon, so I think it will be the same for the 375 corridor. Again, I use the length of time it took to redevelop the land vacated by the deconstruction of Milwaukee's Park East Freeway as evidence of my claim.

I get that there is a lot of blight in Detroit, but the 375 corridor is desirable real estate. It's very close to Ford Field and the Greektown casino. I'd expect that the area will be quickly redeveloped once the freeway is removed.

I don't know. It's taken the Ilitch family empire and others a long, long time to develop what they promised around LCA; they're still working on it. If there's no market for anything new, there's no profit in developing it.

Flint1979

Quote from: The Ghostbuster on December 18, 2023, 07:13:44 PM
As I stated in a previous comment, I don't expect any land vacated by the deconstruction of Interstate 375 to be redeveloped for a long time. Detroit has a huge amount of vacant lots where houses used to be but were demolished. I don't see new houses going up on those vacant lots anytime soon, so I think it will be the same for the 375 corridor. Again, I use the length of time it took to redevelop the land vacated by the deconstruction of Milwaukee's Park East Freeway as evidence of my claim.
Downtown Detroit is booming and has been doing very well the last ten years or so. I can most certainly see them redeveloping the land that I-375 stood on.

thenetwork

Quote from: Flint1979 on January 02, 2024, 12:06:18 PM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on December 18, 2023, 07:13:44 PM
As I stated in a previous comment, I don't expect any land vacated by the deconstruction of Interstate 375 to be redeveloped for a long time. Detroit has a huge amount of vacant lots where houses used to be but were demolished. I don't see new houses going up on those vacant lots anytime soon, so I think it will be the same for the 375 corridor. Again, I use the length of time it took to redevelop the land vacated by the deconstruction of Milwaukee's Park East Freeway as evidence of my claim.
Downtown Detroit is booming and has been doing very well the last ten years or so. I can most certainly see them redeveloping the land that I-375 stood on.

The sooner a company or investment group makes public a larger-scale plan to re-develop a section of the decommissioned I-375 corridor -- even if the final boulevard design is still up in the air, that could be the spark the area needs.

Things will take time.  For example, how many years ago did Ford first talk about bringing the old Train Station property back from out of the dead and their plans for turning it back into a vital office campus?

Flint1979

Quote from: thenetwork on January 02, 2024, 12:24:02 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 02, 2024, 12:06:18 PM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on December 18, 2023, 07:13:44 PM
As I stated in a previous comment, I don't expect any land vacated by the deconstruction of Interstate 375 to be redeveloped for a long time. Detroit has a huge amount of vacant lots where houses used to be but were demolished. I don't see new houses going up on those vacant lots anytime soon, so I think it will be the same for the 375 corridor. Again, I use the length of time it took to redevelop the land vacated by the deconstruction of Milwaukee's Park East Freeway as evidence of my claim.
Downtown Detroit is booming and has been doing very well the last ten years or so. I can most certainly see them redeveloping the land that I-375 stood on.

The sooner a company or investment group makes public a larger-scale plan to re-develop a section of the decommissioned I-375 corridor -- even if the final boulevard design is still up in the air, that could be the spark the area needs.

Things will take time.  For example, how many years ago did Ford first talk about bringing the old Train Station property back from out of the dead and their plans for turning it back into a vital office campus?
Ford had to buy the train station first which happened in 2018. I'd say they talked about it for a year to a couple of years before it happened so probably 2016 or so.

mgk920

Quote from: Flint1979 on January 03, 2024, 07:48:32 AM
Quote from: thenetwork on January 02, 2024, 12:24:02 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 02, 2024, 12:06:18 PM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on December 18, 2023, 07:13:44 PM
As I stated in a previous comment, I don't expect any land vacated by the deconstruction of Interstate 375 to be redeveloped for a long time. Detroit has a huge amount of vacant lots where houses used to be but were demolished. I don't see new houses going up on those vacant lots anytime soon, so I think it will be the same for the 375 corridor. Again, I use the length of time it took to redevelop the land vacated by the deconstruction of Milwaukee's Park East Freeway as evidence of my claim.
Downtown Detroit is booming and has been doing very well the last ten years or so. I can most certainly see them redeveloping the land that I-375 stood on.

The sooner a company or investment group makes public a larger-scale plan to re-develop a section of the decommissioned I-375 corridor -- even if the final boulevard design is still up in the air, that could be the spark the area needs.

Things will take time.  For example, how many years ago did Ford first talk about bringing the old Train Station property back from out of the dead and their plans for turning it back into a vital office campus?
Ford had to buy the train station first which happened in 2018. I'd say they talked about it for a year to a couple of years before it happened so probably 2016 or so.

Also, there has been recent chatter of restoring passenger rail service to it, late last year some Canadian proposals have VIA service being extended westward from Toronto (Windsor) to Chicago.

Mike

michiganguy123

#334
I don't understand how demolishing this freeway (that was repaved a year or two ago) is going to help pedestrians, old freeway had multiple bridges, don't see why crossing the 6 lane road would be any safer... What a waste of taxpayer dollars that could be used to actually fix roads. Atleast wait until the freeway is crumbling into pieces before tearing it apart...

Why did they repave the highway when they're gonna demolish it soon?


The Ghostbuster

I agree that it shouldn't be demolished. I would rather it be reconstructed as a freeway. However, the plan to raze the freeway, and replace it with a boulevard is set in stone, with construction starting next year and being completed in 2028.

JREwing78

Quote from: michiganguy123 on March 06, 2024, 06:18:23 PM
I don't understand how demolishing this freeway (that was repaved a year or two ago) is going to help pedestrians
Slower traffic. Shorter walking distance to cross. No bridges to fall/jump off of. No freeway traffic to jump in front of.

Quote from: michiganguy123 on March 06, 2024, 06:18:23 PMold freeway had multiple bridges
New roadway has fewer bridges. Cheaper to build/maintain.

Quote from: michiganguy123 on March 06, 2024, 06:18:23 PMdon't see why crossing the 6 lane road would be any safer...
Slower traffic. Traffic expecting to stop. No bridges to fall/jump off of. No long expanses of bridge for "the criminal element" to ambush you on.

Quote from: michiganguy123 on March 06, 2024, 06:18:23 PMWhat a waste of taxpayer dollars that could be used to actually fix roads.
Replacing an expensive and unnecessary freeway with a cheaper roadway is a waste?

Taking up less taxable land is a waste?

Last I checked, MDOT is getting special funding from the feds for replacing I-375 with a surface roadway. Should MDOT not take federal funding when it has the opportunity? It won't get this funding to rebuild I-375.

Quote from: michiganguy123 on March 06, 2024, 06:18:23 PMAtleast wait until the freeway is crumbling into pieces before tearing it apart...
Per MDOT, it's failing. That's why they're having this discussion. Otherwise, they'd repave and kick the can down the road further.

Rebuilding a road takes time, planning, and money. They can't wait until the last minute, particularly if the goal is to not throw good money after bad.

Quote from: michiganguy123 on March 06, 2024, 06:18:23 PMWhy did they repave the highway when they're gonna demolish it soon?
Would you prefer car-destroying potholes instead?

triplemultiplex

Worth it to get a more functional interchange where I-75 turns 90 degrees.
"That's just like... your opinion, man."

KelleyCook

Quote from: triplemultiplex on March 07, 2024, 11:20:49 AM
Worth it to get a more functional interchange where I-75 turns 90 degrees.

100% agreement.

The requirement on Northbound I-75 to use a 25mph ramps within a never completed spiral interchange to stay on the mainline should have been corrected 40 years ago.

boilerup25

Quote from: KelleyCook on March 07, 2024, 07:52:42 PM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on March 07, 2024, 11:20:49 AM
Worth it to get a more functional interchange where I-75 turns 90 degrees.

100% agreement.

The requirement on Northbound I-75 to use a 25mph ramps within a never completed spiral interchange to stay on the mainline should have been corrected 40 years ago.

Definitely. If removing I-375 is what it takes to smoothen the 90 degree turn on I-75, then so be it. Especially because I-375 is right in downtown Detroit, one of the areas of Detroit experiencing considerable redevelopment, and its removal would make a lot more sense because I-375 seems to function as one giant ramp to the waterfront (when other roads that connect I-75 to downtown exist, too).

Flint1979

Quote from: boilerup25 on March 07, 2024, 11:02:38 PM
Quote from: KelleyCook on March 07, 2024, 07:52:42 PM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on March 07, 2024, 11:20:49 AM
Worth it to get a more functional interchange where I-75 turns 90 degrees.

100% agreement.

The requirement on Northbound I-75 to use a 25mph ramps within a never completed spiral interchange to stay on the mainline should have been corrected 40 years ago.

Definitely. If removing I-375 is what it takes to smoothen the 90 degree turn on I-75, then so be it. Especially because I-375 is right in downtown Detroit, one of the areas of Detroit experiencing considerable redevelopment, and its removal would make a lot more sense because I-375 seems to function as one giant ramp to the waterfront (when other roads that connect I-75 to downtown exist, too).
It functions more as a ramp to Jefferson, there is also the Madison exit and Lafayette exit that are used quite a bit. The northern part of the freeway has much more traffic than the southern part.

silverback1065

I would argue 375 never served a purpose and never should have been built in the first place.

Flint1979

Quote from: silverback1065 on March 09, 2024, 07:56:08 PM
I would argue 375 never served a purpose and never should have been built in the first place.
I-75 was originally suppose to follow the river but was re-routed to it's current routing and it had been built up to Jefferson at that point so I-375 stuck around but yeah it never really did serve a purpose.

silverback1065

Quote from: Flint1979 on March 09, 2024, 09:22:04 PM
Quote from: silverback1065 on March 09, 2024, 07:56:08 PM
I would argue 375 never served a purpose and never should have been built in the first place.
I-75 was originally suppose to follow the river but was re-routed to it's current routing and it had been built up to Jefferson at that point so I-375 stuck around but yeah it never really did serve a purpose.

that is very interesting, I didn't know that.

roadman65

To me a country that wants to go green wants to add more stoplights to create idling for the queues created by it would add more carbon monoxide to the already polluted atmosphere. Therefore people in Lansing and Washington would push to keep the freeway and brand the boulevard as a Trump move.


At least the TOTSO on I-75 at I-375 and M-3 Connector will get removed and I-75 will have a free flow through that exchange once completed.  Right now those curves and through exit moves are a bit of a pain considering the through lanes NB to M-3 are less traveled than the I-75 NB exit ramp and I-75 SB to I-375 it less used than straight through TOTSO I-75 SB.
Every day is a winding road, you just got to get used to it.

Sheryl Crowe

Henry

Quote from: roadman65 on March 14, 2024, 01:21:53 PM
To me a country that wants to go green wants to add more stoplights to create idling for the queues created by it would add more carbon monoxide to the already polluted atmosphere. Therefore people in Lansing and Washington would push to keep the freeway and brand the boulevard as a Trump move.


At least the TOTSO on I-75 at I-375 and M-3 Connector will get removed and I-75 will have a free flow through that exchange once completed.  Right now those curves and through exit moves are a bit of a pain considering the through lanes NB to M-3 are less traveled than the I-75 NB exit ramp and I-75 SB to I-375 it less used than straight through TOTSO I-75 SB.
So I take it the interchange will get the Springfield treatment? That was a marvelous engineering feat in itself!
Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go! Hey Chicago, what do you say? The Cubs are gonna win today!



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