Abstract:
Regrowing Detroit was an urban revitalization project located in the Middle East Neighborhood northeast of downtown. With a focus upon urban food production, two levels of design were pursued to bring healthy and nutritious food to the residents of this area. Overall, this project was used to educate and empower individuals who are living in poor, urban conditions, to grow their own food and exercise control over their surroundings.
Since the late 1950’s the City of Detroit has been in a constant state of decline, losing both citizens and business ventures every year. This exodus from the city has created various levels of urban blight and decay which has trapped families that do not have the economic ability to escape. The Middle East Neighborhood is one such area suffering from unemployment, lack of available food, and extreme vacancy.
The solution presented within this project began with a framework revitalization plan which returned the neighborhood to the target population of 30,000 people. This target was determined by the amount of food able to be grown on site through urban agriculture, and residential space needed for each person. This framework plan was then used to determine the focal point for the site-specific design, which was that of an community park. Through this community park, citizens of the surrounding areas could learn a variety of urban growth methods, the history of urban farming in America, and utilize recreational facilities.
Overall, Regrowing Detroit took a multi-scale approach to ensure true solutions could be implemented at all levels of the community. From communal street orchards to backyard gardens, every citizen, regardless of wealth, background, or culture was given the tools to grow healthy food and enact change upon their surroundings.
