Downtown

Downtown tends to refer to the 1.4 square mile region bordered by M-10 (Lodge Freeway) to the west, Interstate 75 (I-75, Fisher Freeway) to the north, I-375 (Chrysler Freeway) to the east, and the Detroit River to the south. Although, it may also refer to the Greater Downtown area, a 7.2 square mile region that includes surrounding neighborhoods such as Midtown, Corktown, Rivertown, and Woodbridge.

The city's main thoroughfare M-1 (Woodward Avenue) links Downtown to Midtown, New Center, and the North End.

Downtown contains much historic architecture, including prominent skyscrapers, ranging from the Renaissance Center, the Penobscot Building, One Detroit Center, and the Guardian Building. Historic churches, theatres, and commercial buildings anchor the various downtown districts. Downtown has a number of parks including those linked by a promenade along the International Riverfront. Its central square is Campus Martius Park. Following the Detroit fire of 1805, the design for the downtown area was left open to a new vision. Augustus B. Woodward proposed a radial design for the post-fire city, where major streets such as Woodward, Washington, and Madison Avenue would spiral off Grand Circus Park. The downtown streets still loosely follow Woodward's original design. Business in Detroit boomed along with its growing automobile industry, leading to an increase in downtown's population and wealth. Much of the downtown area's architecture was built during this boom, in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and still attracts the attention of architects. Several buildings were built by the famous Minoru Yamasaki (most well known for designing the twin towers in New York City), including the McGregor Memorial Conference Center and Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Detroit Branch Building.

The area where I-375 is lies on the historic site of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley. Black Bottom was one of the city's major African American communities, historically named by French colonial settlers for its rich soil. Paradise Valley was the business and entertainment district of Black Bottom, best known for its Paradise Theatre and Hotel Gotham, where prominent jazz figures such as Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Louis Armstrong performed and stayed respectively. Both neighborhoods were demolished to build I-375, and have since been replaced with Lafayette Park.

Downtown was once notorious for its abandonment, vacant buildings, and disinvestment. However, in recent years, the downtown area has seen tremendous growth and redevelopment.

Since 2000 a number of major construction projects have been completed including the new Compuware Headquarters at Campus Martius Park and two new stadiums: Comerica Park and Ford Field. General Motors moved their headquarters into the Renaissance Center, and the Detroit Lions have relocated from Pontiac to Downtown Detroit. High-profile events like the 2005 MLB All-Star Game, Super Bowl XL, and the 2006 and 2012 World Series have taken place in downtown, generating income for local businesses and spurring more growth. As a result, new residents are moving into Detroit in the assortment of new lofts that are opening. An example of these trends is the Westin Book-Cadillac Hotel. In 2006, the Cleveland-based Ferchill Group began the $180 million redevelopment of the historic Book Cadlliac Hotel at the corner of Washington Blvd. and Michigan Avenue. The project, which has been hailed by preservationists houses a 455-room Westin Hotel, 67 high-end condominiums, and two to three restaurants, and some miscellaneous retail serving hotel and conference center guests. DTE Energy Headquarters features an urban oasis of parks, walkways, and a reflecting pool.

In 2007, Downtown Detroit was named among the best big city neighborhoods in which to retire by CNN Money Magazine editors. Downtown contains popular destinations including, the International Riverfront, the MGM Grand Detroit, Greektown Casino Hotel, and many sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

A tourist attraction and landmark of Detroit, Michigan, extending from the Ambassador Bridge in the west to Belle Isle in the east, for a total of 5.5 miles (8.8 kilometers). The International Riverfront encompasses a cruise ship passenger terminal and dock, a marina, a multitude of parks, restaurants, retail shops, skyscrapers, and high rise residential areas along with TCF Center. The Marriott at the Renaissance Center and the Robert's Riverwalk Hotel are also situated along the International Riverfront. Private companies and foundations together with the city, state, and federal government have contributed several hundred million dollars toward the riverfront development. Key public spaces in the International Riverfront, such as the RiverWalk (It was selected a second time as the best riverwalk in the U.S. in 202 by USA Today), Dequindre Cut Greenway and Trail, William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, and a cruise ship passenger terminal and dock at Hart Plaza complement the architecture of the area. The area provides a venue for a variety of annual events and festivals including the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, Detroit Free Press International Marathon, the Detroit International Jazz Festival, Motor City Pride, the North American International Auto Show, River Days and Detroit China Festival. In February 2021, the Detroit International Riverfront was voted best riverwalk in the United States by USA Today readers. It was selected a second time as the best riverwalk in the U.S. in 2022. Home to the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater, Belle Isle Park, Dequindre cut greenway trail, GM Plaza and promenade, Hart Plaza, Dock of Detroit, and Detroit Riverwalk, the riverfront is a never-ending resource for life in the “D”. Detroit River Days, a five-day festival on the International Riverfront, marked the 2007 opening of the riverfront promenade along the east river leading up to the Detroit-Windsor International Freedom Festival fireworks. Detroit and Windsor jointly celebrate the multi-day festival the last week of June which draws about 3.5 million visitors during the week in order to commemorate each country's respective National holiday - (US Independence Day on July 4 and Canada Day on July 1). The festival began in 1959. It is organized by the Parade Company, a well sponsored not-for-profit organization governed by the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation.

Traditionally, several days of events were planned, ending with one of the world's largest fireworks displays, sponsored by Target. In prior years, the fireworks display has been billed as the world's largest. On the Windsor side, there is a midway consisting of carnival rides and concessions during the festival. The Midway operates as stand-alone attraction at the end of June, beginning of July.

The Detroit Electronic Music Festival (DEMF) is an electronic dance music showcase held in Hart Plaza each Memorial Day weekend since 2000. In subsequent years, the similarly themed festivals Movement (2003–2004), Fuse-In (2005) and currently, Movement: Detroit's Electronic Music Festival (2006–present) continue the DEMF's traditions, with each name change reflecting shifts in festival management. All of these festivals featured performances by musicians and DJs, and emphasized the progressive qualities of the culture surrounding electronic music.

The International Riverfront is host to part of the Detroit International Jazz Festival held in Hart Plaza each Labor Day weekend. Hart Plaza is also the traditional location of rallies to celebrate championships won by Detroit's major sports teams. Both Detroit and Windsor have hosted the Red Bull Air Race World Championship on the International Riverfront.

 

As the day ends and night falls on Detroit, the city comes to life. The orange hues of the highrises dance off of the Detroit River like stars, and the speeding comet of the People Mover flashes across the water and deeper into the city. In the center of Downtown Detroit, Bricktown is the city’s central business district and residential area. Bordered by freeways and the Detroit River, it lies between the Renaissance Center and Greektown.

The Bricktown Historic District is home to Detroit’s on-going urban revival initiative. Popular nightspots, trendy boutiques and hit restaurants dot between historic sites, like the St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, constructed in 1844, and Jacoby’s German Biergarten, built over 100 years ago. Known for its nightlife, Bricktown has a thriving community filled with open mics, live music venues and a whole lot of dancing.

 

A district with a vibrant architectural past, residents can enjoy the large terracotta buildings that are a staple of this historic neighborhood. All built between 1896 and 1926, these commercial buildings make up Broadway Avenue. This neighborhood has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2004. The Broadway Avenue Historic District is known for its architecture, commercial history and its ethnic heritage.

Residents can enjoy looking over Downtown Detroit in highrises that stretch far above the rest of the city and give everyone a bird’s eye view. Mingling in between historic buildings and newer boutiques and restaurants, the Broadway Avenue Historic District is vibrant and welcoming. There’s a number of beautiful public spaces that support a great walking experience and cultivate a vibrant retail and restaurant community. With up-and-coming restaurants, new hotels, scenic and social parks, public transit, bike lanes and a do-it-yourself attitude, residents of Broadway Avenue are excited to have fun and make history in the neighborhood.

 

 

A historic district located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It is roughly bounded by Grand River, Woodward and Michigan Avenues, and Washington Boulevard. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. Capitol Park itself is a triangular plot of land (now a public park) bounded by Shelby Street, Griswold Street, and State Street. The plot is an artifact of Augustus Woodward's 1805 plan for the city of Detroit. The Historic District includes the park and seventeen surrounding buildings for a block in each direction. Buildings within the district include the Farwell Building, the Griswold Building, the David Stott Building, the Detroit Savings Bank Building and the Industrial Building. In 1823, the population of Detroit had increased to the point that the US Congress transferred governance of what was then the Territory of Michigan to the governor and legislative council. To house the new government, a courthouse was built in Capitol Park in 1823–28. When Michigan became a state in 1837, the building became the state capitol, and functioned so until 1847 when the governmental seat was moved to Lansing. The building was then used as a public high school until 1893, when it was destroyed by fire. The land was then converted to a park, and it has remained a public space up to the present.

The buildings within the Historic District surrounding the park were built primarily during the first three decades of the 20th century for commercial and business purposes. Several famous architects, including Albert Kahn and Gordon W. Lloyd, contributed buildings in a range of styles, from Victorian to Beaux-Arts to Art Deco. The buildings demonstrate the transformation of Detroit from a prospering 19th century commercial center to a modern city.

In addition to the present buildings, Capitol Park has a historic connection to the Underground Railroad. In 1850, Seymour Finney purchased a plot of land near the park and erected a tavern with a large barn. Finney was strongly sympathetic to the abolitionist cause, and used his barn to hide escaping slaves before their final trek across the river into Canada. A State of Michigan historical marker has been erected in the park to commemorate Finney's Barn. The park has also served as a major downtown transit center. Two years after the destruction of the state capitol by fire, multiple streetcar lines were looped around the new park with large boarding platforms constructed on Griswold and Shelby streets, transforming it into a major transfer station. In 1955, the Department of Street Railways (DSR) constructed the $280,000 Capitol Park Bus Terminal at the north end of the park which facilitated the moving of Stevens T. Mason's tomb to the south end of the park. The new facility was constructed using steel and reinforced concrete, with plastic skylights throughout the concrete canopy. Not long after the restructuring of the DSR as the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT), the station was demolished in 1979, though the area around the park continued to be used as a major bus terminal.

In 2001, the area was named as the Capitol Park Transit Center, and was used as a temporary terminal until the completion of the Rosa Parks Transit Center. The opening of the Rosa Parks Transit Center in downtown Detroit in July 2009 marked the end of Capitol Park's use as a transportation center. A $1.1 million renovation project started in September 2009 by the city's Downtown Development Authority redeveloped the public space in an effort to draw new businesses to the area.

 

The Detroit Financial District is a United States historic district in downtown Detroit, Michigan. The district was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on December 14, 2009, and was announced as the featured listing in the National Park Service's weekly list of December 24, 2009.

 

It includes 33 buildings, two sites, and one other object that are deemed to be contributing to the historic character of the district, aasalso three non-contributing buildings. The American Institute of Architects describes Detroit's Financial District as "one of the city's highest concentrations of quality commercial architecture". According to the National Park Service:

 

From the 1850s to the 1970s the Financial District in downtown Detroit was the financial and office heart of the city, and it still retains an important banking and office presence today. Banks began to locate along Jefferson Avenue in the Griswold and Shelby streets area in the 1830s. Substantial office buildings, often containing banks in their street levels, began to line Griswold in the 1850s. Detroit's massive early twentieth-century auto industry-related growth and economic boom resulted in large-scale redevelopment of the area between 1900 and 1930, and another wave of development took place in the 1950s and early 1960s. The Financial District continues today to be an important financial and office district in Detroit.

 

In the new millennium, the 47-story Penobscot Building stands at the center of the district as a state of the art class-A office tower and serves as a hub for the city's wireless Internet zone and fiber-optic communication network. Other major class-A office renovations include the Chrysler House and the Guardian Building, a National Historic Landmark. The Financial District is served by the Detroit People Mover and QLine light rail. Viewed from the International Riverfront, the district is bordered on the left by the 150 West Jefferson skyscraper which replaced the Detroit Stock Exchange Building and on the right by the One Woodward Avenue skyscraper.

 

Established in 1850 after the Great Fire, this district pays homage to its historic roots with its brilliant architecture. The Grand Circus Park Historic District is located along Woodward Avenue. The neighborhood is firmly in Downtown Detroit’s entertainment district, with many of the city’s favorite attractions and venues surrounding the park. These include Comerica Park, The Fox Theater, the Detroit Opera House, Ford Field and more.

 

A growing residential district, the area has notable, historic buildings planned for renovation as high-rise residential condominiums. The Grand Circus Park includes antique statues and old-fashioned fountains and provides a resting point for busy workers and residents in the area. Served by the People Mover, residents can enjoy easy access to the rest of Downtown Detroit. Recently upgraded, the park has new seating and guest areas, gardens, and a dog park. Residents can also enjoy free special events of live theater, opera, music, literary readings, and street performances.

 

Combining old-world charm and must-try restaurants with gaming, nightlife, and entertainment, the Greektown neighborhood’s constant evolution keeps visitors coming back for more. Named for the Greek immigrant community of the early 20th century, this area is notable for its history. The Greektown district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and has historic buildings such as the St. Mary Roman Catholic Church and the Atheneum Suite Hotel. The streets are lined with Greek-themed restaurants and murals that cover the walls.

 

Greektown is growing into having a sprawling residential life as well as a thriving nightlife. New condominiums sprawl high above Downtown, with clean energy and most designed for affordable housing. This district is a celebrated entertainment and cultural district, serving residents and visitors from around the world all year round.

 

The road that is now East Jefferson Avenue existed from the earliest days of Detroit. Then known as the "River Road," it paralleled the Detroit River east of Detroit, connecting the French ribbon farms to Ste. Anne Street in the heart of Detroit. After the disastrous fire of 1805, Judge Augustus Woodward platted out a new design for the city, widening Ste. Anne St. and renaming it (and the connecting River Road) "Jefferson Avenue" in honor of Thomas Jefferson.

 

Jefferson quickly became the commercial nexus of Detroit; by 1820 over half the businesses on the city were located on the avenue. Additionally, many prominent Detroit residents of the time lived along Jefferson, including Charles Christopher Trowbridge, William Hull, Solomon Sibley, John R. Williams, Antoine Dequindre, Joseph Campau, Oliver Newberry, and Oliver Miller. As Detroit grew and city services expanded, Jefferson was one of the first streets to obtain new installations, getting iron water pipes in 1838, a horse-drawn bus line in 1847, horse-drawn rail in 1863, electric arc lighting in 1883, and asphalt pavement in 1892.

After the Civil War, many newly prosperous Detroit citizens built prestigious homes along Jefferson in a variety of popular architectural styles, including Gothic Revival, Richardsonian Romanesque, Queen Anne, and Italianate.

 

This district is reviving their historic buildings into new residential homes. Known also as Monroe Block, this historic district originally contained only 13 buildings that were constructed between 1852 and 1911. The commercial buildings housed numerous tenants over the years including a barber shop, shoe store, grocers, confectioners, saloons, jewelers, pawn shops, and tailors. However, this district is most famous as the first center for movie theaters in Detroit during the early 20th century. However, by early 1990, most of the aging buildings had been leveled, leaving only the 800-seat National Theater as the sole surviving structure from the original district.

New high-rise office towers take over the space that was once the group of historic buildings. Incorporating the facade of the National Theater into the new district, this site has plenty of historic charm with its arched windows. Easy walking paths crisscross the district and the Monroe Avenue Commercial Buildings are only a short walk away from the bustling activity of Downtown Detroit. Residents can enjoy everything from local businesses and restaurants to free events and performances at Grand Circus Park.

 

Known as the midwest’s version of New York City’s Fifth Avenue, the Park Avenue Historic District is a significant historic region in Detroit. Park Avenue became famous during the automotive boom of the 1920s when commercial development in the city began to move up Park Avenue from Grand Circus Park. The Park Avenue Association, formed in 1923, developed a plan for the street to concentrate its commercial and office space at the south end, while constructing prestigious residences at the north end.

 

Some of the more significant buildings in the district include the Women’s City Club Building, the Detroit Building, the Detroit Life Building, and the Park Avenue House. Other buildings in this district include a mixture of offices, apartments, hotels, social clubs, stores, and restaurants. Residents in this district can also enjoy the close proximity to the Fox Theatre and Comerica Park. A lively, unique district, residents can enjoy the mix of residential and commercial in Park Avenue.

 

A historic district located in Downtown Detroit, Michigan, which includes six buildings along Randolph Street between Monroe and Macomb streets (1208–1244 Randolph Street). The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The collection of buildings are a rare surviving set of Detroit Victorian-era commercial structures. The Randolph Street Commercial Building Historic District joins the Broadway Avenue Historic District downtown. Buildings along this section of Randolph Street have been used for retail since the area was first built up in the 1840s. The building at 1236–1244 Randolph was built during the period of original construction, and is a rare survivor from the 1840s. The Victorian-styled Odd Fellows Building (1874) is located at the corner of Randolph and Monroe.

 

As the city grew, larger commercial buildings were required and the other structures on Randolph were constructed. The area remained a shopping district into the twentieth century.

Over the years, the street-level facades of the buildings in the district were altered numerous times, two structures had new top stories added, and a cornice removal program in the 1950s resulted in the loss of all the fine bracketed entablatures. However, the buildings still have their Victorian brickwork and metal window hoods.

 

Since construction of the buildings, structures in the district have housed numerous commercial enterprises, ranging from legal offices, to tailors to sculptors. In the early 1900s, the district was home primarily to dry goods and clothing.

 

The sun peeks between the large high-rises, casting long, stretching shadows over the street and catching the light of the historic buildings that make up the Washington Boulevard Historic District. This district is one of Detroit’s main boulevards and was part of the main design of the city after the Great Fire of 1805. Some of the most significant buildings in the historic district include the Westin Book-Cadillac Hotel, the Book Tower, the Industrial-Stevens Apartments, and Detroit City Club Apartments. The initial construction of the buildings in this district began in 1901 with the Himelhoch Apartments, and continued until 1930, with most buildings being erected during the 1920s.

 

Refurbished to try to rival New York City’s Fifth Avenue and bolster Detroit’s reputation as the “Paris of the Midwest,” the district was redesigned in the late 1970s during the City Beautiful campaign. Illustrating an important era in Detroit’s development in the 20th century, the district received new plantings of trees and flowers, new brick and granite paving, concrete planters, a continuous, and a linear metal truss sculptural element to contribute to the street’s new urban pedestrian mall motif. Residents can also enjoy an urban pedestrian mall, an amphitheater and historic sculptures that line the street.