State of the City Highlights

[Allan]

State of the City highlights

February 25, 2004

Key features of Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's State of the City address:

• The city has reached an agreement with the owner of the Michigan Central Train Depot to turn the hulking shell into the new headquarters for the Detroit Police Department. The city will announce details next Wednesday.

• The city's Redevelopment Authority has approved 64 projects totaling $1.4 billion in private investment. When completed, they are expected to create 8,000 jobs and 1,600 housing units. The crowning achievement is the I-94 Industrial Park, on Van Dyke at Huber. The first tenant -- a supplier to DaimlerChrysler -- will take over 30 acres, invest $26 million and bring 300 jobs.

• City workers have resurfaced 160 miles of streets and hope to pave another 180 miles in the next two years.

• Effective immediately, membership to city recreation centers is free. In addition, the city will upgrade 10 parks this year with new facilities and play equipment. The parks include Dad Butler, Martz, Stockton and Tolan.

By Marisol Bello