The Fluid Commons: Resident-Industry

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

5

The Whittier : Burns Dr

6

Show Me Detroit Towers : E Jefferson Ave

7

River Terrace Apartments : Baldwin St

8

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

21

Meso Island : East River Rd

22

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

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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