Marina District Riverfront Access Plan

Abstract

Detroit’s Marina District covers nearly 1200 acres along the Detroit River five miles east of downtown. The district’s unique mix of land uses — including commercial, residential, industrial, and recreational — give it a distinct character, yet presents several challenges. Thousands of vehicles traverse the district daily along East Jefferson Avenue while historic assets such as the Conner Creek Power Plant and the river itself remain hidden. Local residents and business leaders, along with the nonprofit economic development umbrella group Jefferson East Inc. (JEI), seek a more cohesive identity for the district, as well as increased connectivity to/from the district.

This Marina District Riverfront Access Plan follows up on JEI’s 2013 Marina District Vision document by presenting strategies aimed at achieving two goals: first, to enliven the public experience of the Marina District; and second, to enhance transportation connections in the Marina District, especially through intermodal linkages. This new plan is produced by “Access Blue,” a team of urban planning graduate students from the University of Michigan. Team members from Access Blue reviewed several previous plans and initiatives, in addition to the Marina District Vision, to inform this plan. The team then engaged area residents and business leaders through focus group meetings and individual stakeholder interviews. The resulting recommendations, based on input and feedback from community stakeholders, support each of the plan’s two goals.