Riverwalk

[Veloise]

This is just really cool. Makes me want to come visit from Grand Rapids.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...RES01/706070422

[former Detroit planning staffer]

[statedude3]

I walked over to Rivard Plaza yesterday to check things out. I had planned to stay for 30 minutes or so...3 hours later I returned home. The conservancy really did their homework and came up with an A+ design. I hope the rest of the project is as great as this portion!

[rbdetsport]

Got any pics, Chris?

[Michi]

I'll have pics hopefully this weekend. You should come over Veloise. This weekend is the Detroit Festival of the Arts!

[statedude3]

Got any pics, Chris?

[TheDetroitCity99]

This is one of the main assets that can really make detroit shine again and it's great that this is happening! CAN'T WAIT FOR RIVER DAYS! I like how they call it Detroit INTERNATIONAL river days instead of just detroit river days

[Michi]

Le pics:

There is a large stone map of Detroit and the surrounding communities as part of the plaza.

The "Great Divide".

Also included is a glass wall of the St. Lawrence Seaway system.

And the main attraction, a carousel featuring river creatures...and a Mermaid.

The Ren Cen provides a nice, westerly backdrop. Hopefully, in the near future, there will be a few other towers and some nice residential/mixed use low and mid rises in this area.

The pavillions on the East Riverfront have a tent theme as seen here.

I think the sculpture in the background is also a planter and water feature that hasn't been fully completed yet.

[Michi]

What is going on this land east of Rivard Plaza you ask?

CLICK HERE TO SEE: http://atwaterlofts.com/

Nice, new views of Canada.

Moving down the riverfront on the new prominade. This photo was taken in Tricentennial State Park and St. Aubin Marina.

This view is from the Talon Center (Parke Davis) complex.

You have to exit the path at this point because it ends just before Chene Park in the distance.

A brand new image to be forever added to the Detroit cityscape scene.

The Talon Center (left) and Detroit Omni Riverfront Hotel (distance).

The GM UAU Training Center (whatever that means).

This is the breakwater at the Mt. Elliott Park US Coast Guard Station.

A lot of people have questioned how the prominade traverses though Harbortown. It abuts the private marina and is fenced off from both the marina and the Harbortown complex itself. Like this:

The Mt. Elliott ship inlet.

Giant buoys.

Iron Street Lofts.

Approaching Belle Isle and the eastern terminus.

This is the old, contaminated Uniroyal Site. It appears to be cleared right up abutting the Belle Isle Bridge. Hmmm...

[Michi]

The Douglas McArthur, aka: Belle Isle Bridge, aka: Grand Boulevard.

The old, abandoned Detroit Boat Club on north shore of Belle Isle.

The end of the line is at the plaza at the Belle Isle Bridge: Gabrielle Richard Park.

The buildings in the background were once part of Detroit's "Gold Coast".

[RustTown]

What an interesting bathroom in Gabriel Richard.

Michi, I love it! Seriously, these types of developments are probably some of the most meaningful in the city. I like how this is drawing the region, together. Whether it's just a positive consquence of it was designed as such, I don't know, but whatever it is, it's working.

[wolverine]

Great photos Michi! The Riverfront looks amazing! A lot more than I expected. I'm going to take a drive and check it out either Wednesday or Thursday.

[Jasoncw]

It looks great! Yeah, definitely more than I expected!

It'll be even better once the developments in that area are done.

Thanks for the pics!

[WALD0123]

Excellent photo tour Michi. This is really going to be an incredible development when it's finished.

The addition of the riverfront condo projects will also help to enhance the views, add users of the walk and provide additional congruence to the project.

[Michi]

Yep, critical mass in order to maximize usage of the public infrastructure. That's also my argument for adding substantial density at the Jefferson/Grand Blvd node in order to put a lot of people right in the middle of comfortable access to Belle Isle. Up-ing the usage would really improve the demand for more and better amenity on the island making it more accessible and useful to everybody, everywhere.

Aside from that node, I'm sure most of the East Riverfront will develop market rate and above. I sure hope some good urban planning can come of this.

[hudkina]

I know that the land directly adjacent to the river is reserved for low and midrises, but I'd like to see at least a couple of 30+ story towers built right on the river. Sure the rest should go closer to Jefferson and in Lafayette Park, but one or two directly on the river isn't that bad.

[detwaa84]

Harbortown has one or two proposed buildings that might be close to that height, I think.

[Veloise]

I'll have pics hopefully this weekend. You should come over Veloise. This weekend is the Detroit Festival of the Arts!

[Michi]

Hmmm...I don't think tall ships, but starting this Friday is the River Days Festival in which one of the nights is going to be "The Parade of Lights" where boats light themselves up (think Christmas lights) and traverse between the skylines. Should be pretty cool!

[blindside]

Only Detroit would put a freeway map on a sidewalk. I'm very impressed by what Detroit has been accomplishing recently: the Riverwalk, Campus Martius, Book-Cadillac, ...

[Veloise]

Only Detroit would put a freeway map on a sidewalk. ...

[Michi]

Detroit changed the face of Earth. Isn't it appropriate?

[Veloise]

Detroit changed the face of Earth. Isn't it appropriate?

[dnast]

Looking great! I'm so glad this is being done. I can't wait to see it in person sometime this summer.

[Michi]

I didn't say it was good...just that Detroit changed the world. Besides, Detroit didn't create sprawl. That was a collective decision. We still have New York, San Fran, Chicago, Portland, Boston and the like.

Here's some new pictures:

[ZachariahDaMan]

I may be going to the International River Days tomorrow, if anyone wants to join me then let me know.