R E S I D E N T- I N D U S T RY Conner Creek Industrial Area
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Harbortown / UAW-GM Center GM Renaissance Center
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Trenton Channel Industrial Area
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Are the Motor Companies still driving the urbanization patterns of the Detroit Riverside communities? Michael Werkmeister URP 551/Arch 509: The Fluid Commons, Fall 2020
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Riverfront Residents Detroit
The automotive industry turned the Great Lakes Region into an industrial powerhouse, and the Detroit River enabled the connection of the Midwest with markets across the Globe. Industry attracted workers from distant geographies, and as industries colonized the shorelands, workers’ housing grew in close proximity. As the regional economies continue to diversify, the Detroit Riverside communities are transforming, slowly reclaiming their waterfronts from past industrial uses. The inventory of residential development types illustrates the diverse living conditions at the shoreland, from cooperatives and large exclusive enclaves to singlefamily homes, towers, and trailer parks. While recent riverfront developments seek to capitalize on the revitalization of the Detroit River and its incremental ecological recovery, this project renders visible a new layer of fragmentation. The desire for exclusive living along the river is marking the progressive privatization of the riverfront, putting into conflict the desire for more general public access and the display of private wealth. But who lives in these developments? What does the architectural expression of these residential areas tell us about the socio-economic composition of their inhabitants?
River Rouge
Encorse
Lincoln Park
Wyandotte
Riverview
Trenton Grosse Ile
Gibraltar
3
Mangoonian Mansion - Detroit : Dwight St
4
River House Co-op : Marina Dr
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The Whittier : Burns Dr
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Show Me Detroit Towers : E Jefferson Ave
7
River Terrace Apartments : Baldwin St
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Harbortown : Harbortown Dr
9
Roberts Riverwalk Urban Restort Hotel : Talon Centre Dr
10
11. Orleans Landing : Orleans St
11
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center : Rannaissance Dr W
12
Riverfront Towers : Riverfront Dr
13
Biddle Ave
14
Chestnut St
15
Van Slystyne St
16
Islandview and Riverside Condominiums : Riverside Dr
17
Trenton Towers Co-op Apartments : St Joseph St
18
Riverside Dr
19
Parkview Estates S : Parkview Estates S
20
Swan Island : Swan Island Dr
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Meso Island : East River Rd
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Horse Island : Island Dr
23
X
0 0.5 1
2
3
4
Miles
Detroit
Morgan Waterfront Estates : Sand Bar Ln
Wyandotte
2
Trenton
Shorepoint Village Condo Assoc. : Keelson Dr
Grosse Ile
1
Gibraltar
Harbor Island St
1
2
3
7
8
9
13
14
15
19
20
21
4
5
6
10
11
12
16
17
18
Waterfront Houses 22
23
Enclave / Complex Mansions Towers Hotel Trailer Park Gated Houses
Industrial Focus Among all the industries driving the transformation of the region, the impact of the Big Three Automotive companies is unmatched. Direct access to the Detroit River and the Great Lakes provided the perfect opportunity for assembly and distribution for General Motors (GM), Ford, and Fiat Chrysler (FCA). The significant number of jobs these companies brought to the area helped establish entire cities in Wayne County. After decades of economic transformations and loss of global competitiveness, what is their influence today? What is the role of the specific auto companies in the production of industrial-residential spaces? The industrial inventory reflects the location of property owned by these companies, specifically GM and FCA (the large Dearborn Ford Plant abuts the Rouge River instead). Fiat Chrysler owns two large industrial plants still operating in Conner Creek, Detroit, and Trenton. The two plants have received continued investment and updated their installations recently. The riverfront presence of GM is also relevant. Both in Detroit, the Renaissance Center corporate headquarters, and the workers’ union building for General Motors back right up to the water. The loss of some riverfront industrial sites allows for the residential inhabitation of the water, but this does not diminish the power of the motor companies.
Detroit
River Rouge
Lincoln Park
Wyandotte
Riverview
Trenton
Gibraltar
Encorse
3
UAW-GM Center for Human Resources Harbortown : Harbortown Dr
9
GM Renaissance Center Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center : Rannaissance Dr W
12
Trenton Engine Plant / DTE Energy Trenton Channel Power Plant Parkview Estates S : Parkview Estates S
20
2
3
4
Miles
Gibraltar
X
0 0.5 1
Grosse Ile
Trenton
Wyandotte
Detroit
Conner Creek Industrial Area Morgan Waterfront Estates : Sand Bar Ln
FCA Conner-Creek Industrial-Area and Morgan Waterfront Estates
Fiat Chrysler Assembly Plant
Conners Creek Power Plant
Conners Creek Power Plant - Demolished
1999 2004 2009 2014 2019
FCA Conner-Creek Industrial-Area Initially, the Conner Creek industrial area had quite a large Fiat Chrystler assembly plant as well as the DTE Conners Creek Power Plant. Built in 1915, this power plant played an important role in the development of eastern Detroit. Since its decommission of power production in 1988 and demolition of the “Seven Sisters” smokestacks in 1996, only parts of the land have been used for various smaller purposes. Plans to reuse the abandoned space and preserve the historic site have been proposed. However, in mid-2019, DTE Energy decided to swap 40-acres of the unused land with FCA so they could further expand the new Jeep assembly plant. What had the potential to be a community revitalizing historic site will now be used as riverfront vehicle storage for the FCA assembly plant. For the residents of the adjacent Morgan Waterfront Estates, this can be problematic. With construction beginning in 2007, this development had no interest in being located right next to an active industrial site. Rather, they lost the pleasure of the potential reuse and are forced to deal with the ramifications of industrial demolition.
Davis Aerospace Technical High School
Fiat Chrysler Assembly Plant
Morgan Waterfront Estates
GLWA Waterworks Park
Marina District
X
Miles 0
1
Census Demographic Data Household Income:
$81,481
Median Age:
43.7 years
Race: Black - White - Asian - Hispanic - American Indian -
93.54% 1.45% 0.40% 0.26% 1.32%
Morgan Waterfront Estates The Morgan Waterfront Estates employ spatial tactics typical of private development and gated communities. The front entrance gate is the only entry pointis enclosed by the water. The perimeter enclosure is negotiated by water and a fence thickened by a dense coniferous tree line that visually blocks the old DTE Power Plant location. Each of the very large homes in this enclave has use landscape to further build their presence to the street and to accompany their private lot and garage. After the FCA expansion last Spring 2020, the former DTE property that was considered for recreational use is now back to industrial.
Real Estate Houses: $700K-2.2M
Detroit River
Large Individual Houses
Individual Driveways
Central Cul de sak
Entrance Gate
Bridge to Industrial Site
Separation from former DTE Plant
Dense Tree Line
Former UAW-GM-Center and Harbortown
UAW-GM Design Rendering
UAW-GM Training Center
1999 2004 2009 2014 2019
UAW-GM-Center The UAW-GM Center for Human Resources was the headquarters location for the combined efforts between the United Auto Workers union and General Motors until its sale last November 2020. This facility’s primary function was for union member training as well as providing administration space. In recent years, the joint facility underwent federal investigation for union corruption. According to Hannah Lutz, “Funds that were meant for union workers instead ended up in the pockets of some officials a the union and the automakers.” Interestingly enough, it happens to be located next to the most exclusive riverfront developmen, Harbortown. Turning the tides of the location’s functions, the jointly owned riverfront property is being forced to sell and relocate in hopes to restructure and decrease corrupt practices. The 420,000-square-foot building on 18 acres was sold to the joint interest of two developers who aspire to transform the campus to anything from housing and major businesses to government or university functions. Being constructed in the early 2000s, the UAW-GM Center did not form the area, but it did help shape the development in recent years. This shift away from the politics of the automotive industry provides an opportunity to deprivatize the waterfront.
Mt Elliott Cemetery
MacArthur Bridge
Mt Elliott Park
UAW-GM Center
Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre
Belle Isle
X
Miles 0
1
Census Demographic Data Household Income:
$55,372
Median Age:
40.6 years
Race: Black - White - Asian - Hispanic - American Indian -
75.42% 15.87% 1.54% 2.56% 0.51%
Harbortown The Harbortown development is held within a large fenced-in area that is only accessible through the tollboothlike gate along East Jefferson Ave or select gated side roads. Built in phases starting in 1985, this waterfront development includes a mix of townhomes, high-rise condominiums and apartment buildings, a marina and the Harbortown Plaza Shopping Center on East Jefferson. With central ponds located mere feet away from a river marina, a pool, and a tennis court, the Detroit Riverwalk manages to squeeze between the development and the Detroit River, enabling the continuity of the public access along the river. Real Estate Houses: $160K-420K
Detroit Riverwalk
East Jeffersion Marina
Central Ponds
Tennis Courts
Uncovered Parking
Moderate Landscaping / Trees
Complex Pool
Duke Investments and Assoc
Covered Parking
Entrance Gate
Waters Edge Apartments
Entrance Gate
Great Lakes Tower Condos
Housing Complex Buildings
Harbortown Market
GM Renaissance Center and Marriot Hotel
Renaissance Center - GM Sign
Renaissance Center
1999 2004 2009
The General Motors Renaissance Center is unlike the other selected sites of the motor industry. Completed in 1977, it was built to revive downtown Detroit and create a place where people would drive to work, eat, shop, and stay. This shifted the city’s revitalization plans. Today, it is integrated into an urban fabric of the waterfront that operates like a “fortress”” and houses the General Motors global headquarters. In opposition to the deliberate separation of residential and industrial in the other sites, the Renaissance Center as the GM headquarters chooses to embrace the livelihood of the people within and separate itself from the rest of the city. A Marriott hotel is stacked on top of the corporate and retail spaces rather than building barriers to create an enclave of production or living. Instead, it created a closedoff minicity within Detroit that was established by large concrete berms separating it from the street. Recent renovations have opened the entrance to the street and promise to take part in the public activity downtown.
West Riverwalk
Lafayette Park
I-375
Adjacent Parking
Courtyard by Marriott
2019
2014
GM-Renaissance -Center-
TFC Convention Center
X
Miles 0
1
Census Demographic Data Household Income:
$62,500
Median Age:
45.3 years
Race: Black - White - Asian - Hispanic - American Indian -
52.23% 30.35% 10.78% 3.35% 0.92%
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center Authred by architect and developer John C Portman Jr, the Renaissance Center opened in 1977. A polemical construction since its inception, it performs as a gated, fortress-like setting along the riverfront. The central cylindrical glass tower houses the 73-storey Detroit Marriott hotel, surrounded by four glass office towers, and sitting on a three-storey cement podium. Surrounded by a sea of parking and connected to downtown by the People Mover, it signals yet another take by the motor companies to mark their imprint in the city.
Room Rental: $230 - 460 / night
Detroit Riverfront
Paved Pedestrian Space
Green Roof
Parking Garage
Main Entrance
Pedestrian Bridge / People Mover
Landscape Features
Atrium to Riverwalk
Hotel Tower
Trenton Channel Industrial Area and Parkview Estates
Trenton Engine Plant
DTE Energy Trenton Channel Power Plant
1999 2004
Trenton Channel Industrial-Area The Trenton Channel encompasses a Chrystler assembly plant and an existing DTE Energy power plant within its direct vicinity. The adjacent modest, working-class neighborhood benefits from the job market it creates. Since its establishment in 1952, the Trenton North Engine Plant has brought countless jobs to the area, including a 300 position expansion in 2013.
Elizabeth Park
The DTE Energy Trenton Channel Power Plant was completed in 1924, but now in anticipation to reduce carbon emissions, the plant will close its doors in 2022. The closing of this coal-fired power plant is a result of a decadeold lawsuit brought forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that instructs DTE to reduce emissions by 80 percent and cease coal operations by 2040. This begins to challenge some of the questions about the “working river.” Economically, what will come of the citizens of Trenton? Will the failed industrial reuse of Conner Creek work in Trenton, or will FCA attempt to expand to a vacant power plant once more? In opposition to Conner Creek, this industrial area has remained stable and there has been steady investment by FCA in recent years.
Parkview Estates
FCA Engine Plant
2019
2014
2009
Trenton High School
DTE Trenton Channel Power Plant
X
Miles 0
1
Census Demographic Data Household Income: Median Age:
$44,435 51.2 years
Race: Black - White - Asian - Hispanic - American Indian -
Parkview Estates (North and South Sections) Located less than half a mile from the Trenton Channel on the East, and the railway and the FCA Trenton Engine Plant, Parkview Estates is a trailer park that provides affordable living for seniors. Built in 1977, the community contains some 60 homes in the South section and 58 in the North section. Parkview Estates is also an enclave Located close to Elizabeth Park and Grosse Ile island, the opportunities for recreation and access to the Detroit River are unmatched Trailer Rental: $375 / month
0.77% 92.78% 4.15% 2.30%
Entrance Parkview Estates South
Single Wide Trailers
Individual Driveways
Separating Cul de sak
Dense Tree Line
Rail Line
FCA Plant
Entrance Parkview Estates North
Elizabeth Park
Trenton Channel
Precedent Study
IBA Emscher Park Development Dates: 1989-1999 The International Building Exhibition (IBA) Emscher Park was organized by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in 1988 to address the great decline of one of the largest industrial areas in Europe. IBA’s goal was to initiate independent development projects across the region that were to be connected by a network of pedestrian and bike paths to create a new identity for the locals. Working in 17 cities, 117 projects, and 200 hectares, these simultaneous, sideby-side developments were able to address and revive the urban, social, cultural, and ecological issues of the area.
Lunen Lakeside Park
What: Museums, Sculptures, Cultural Centers, Bike Trails, Landscape Interventions, New Pedestrian Bridges, Exhibition Halls, Leisure Harbors 6 CENTRAL TOPICS: - Working in the park - New buildings - Modernizing housing estates - Ecological renewal of the Emscher system - Promotion of urban development and social stimuli for urban development - The establishment of a regional park structure FUNDING: - North Rhine-Wesphalia state funds - Federal funding - European Union funding - More than 40 existing subsidy programs were regrouped in an effort to fund the development
Erin Park
Mont-Cenis District Park West Park Bochum
Haus Ripshorst
The Tetrahedron