Meeting Presenters
Ecoworks/ Eco-D Program, Jacob Corvidae jacob@ecoworksdetroit.org
East Ferry and I-75 Development, Julio Bateau discovereastferry@gmail.com
Building Safety Engineering and Environmental Department, LaReina Wheeler Wheelerla@detroitmi.gov
Attendance
Ashlee Arder, Creative Many
Margret Weber, ZWD
Kathryn Underwood, CPC/LPD
Lareina Wheeler, BSEED
Peter Beuz, Friends of the Detroit River
Kimberly Simmons, Detroit River Project
Erma Leaphart, Sierra Club
Tom Wojwode, CFSEM
Cathleen Francois, GreeningDetroit.com
Aimie LaLonde-Noman, Friends of the Rouge
Ahmina Maxey, Zero Waste Detroit
Tim Springer, The Greenway Guy
Ray Pitts, Greenfield
Patrick Smithbauer, Ford Land/USGBC
Sal Stabile, Resident
Presentations
Jacob Corvidae, Executive Director of EcoWorks Detroit (formerly known as Detroit Warm Center) presented for his organization, highlighting:
NOTES FROM JACOB
Jacob Corvidae of EcoWorks presented on the new Eco-D project. Eco-D is a collaboration between Detroit Future City, Community Development Advocates of Detroit, Greening of Detroit, Vista Vantage and EcoWorks. It is building partnerships with neighborhoods that want to pursue green development to help them achieve that vision. Applications for the first round of Eco-D neighborhoods are underway and due January 20.
The program focuses on meeting basic needs in the neighborhoods with sustainable solutions that serve economic, environmental and social benefits. Eco-D is also strongly supporting community-driven development, by only supporting projects with a democratic process in place for the community’s support of the plan.
More information is available at http://www.ecoworksdetroit.org/eco-d
The Detroit Youth Energy Award
Grant to make sure that all children understand energy efficiency
Policy meeting with Obama was awarded in the past for student
SW Reg. Energy office to create change in energy issues in local government; creates platform for modeling state policy.
Every Detroit Neighborhood Becoming Green consulting program – exploring the use of energy dollars to tackle water issues
Eco
Reclaim Detroit – Deconstruction initiative
Advocacy through Green Task Force…
Concerns about the possibility of Detroit being irrelevant again in forty years if we don’t use community and sustainability together with projects utilizing the idea of triple bottom line.
Water issues and blackouts
Eco D
Neighborhood scale project development – more comprehensive and in alignment with Future City and working with K. Cockrel Jr. and staff
Building Model that is going different ways for different cities
Approach doesn’t have one model; process is unique for each area and circumstance
Mission to help every neighborhood in Detroit become an eco-district.
Basic criteria is needed for second steps; willing to help with first steps.
A neighborhood whose residents and building owners are committed to making annual progress toward sustainability with projects that meet basic needs.
Eco social
Criteria:
Community driven – 2/3 participation. What does this look like? Unsure.
Support?
Identified sources of funds; nothing evident yet
Number of sustainability leaders through the states are supportive; national and local investors; this model may make claim as a role model in the future
Documented Process approving of a Green Plan
Willing to work at different scales
Size could be from one block to as large as 80 blocks
Transit, bus stops, and other transportation ideas
Service partners ready to start making sure they are on board
WHERE?
Phil – How do you articulate the outcomes and allow citizens of the neighborhoods to realize these benefits?
Start with education and with neighborhoods that are motivated. Many are on board; some neighborhoods already have projects started. Plans in a year to have 6-8 projects underway
Sue – What is the value of community as creative force and idea as opposed to what people are doing individually?
2 things; commitments from service partners and criteria that set a bar that creates motivation from other neighborhoods, i.e. ones that will create a ‘brand’.
Time and effort goes into deploying what they want if the neighborhood requests it.
Tom – What does this look like in areas already operating out of the state??
Unique but with common threads. Trying programs like Target Cities; technical expertise being brought in, sharing advisors with the necessary knowledge,
Nationally things are all over the board from huge systems set up around campuses, to residents clearing streetscapes, bike shares, etc. Extremely varied manifestations but with common missions
Katheryn – 2 comments –
People are engaged but don’t call it sustainability, they call it “survival ingenuity”.
They are relevant whether they use the same words or not. This is not about vocabulary as much as it is engaging the communities that need action and listening to their communal voices.
Applauds the idea of bringing in the community so that they are not skeptical.
Applications available at: ecoworksdetroit.org/ecod
Informal meetings
Tightening down with core group creating more connections
Has spoken with 20/30 district, but that is designed for commercial buildings, although this is complimentary.
Scott – How can I do this as a Council Person?
Send information and prompt emails to:
NAILAH COMMONS
JULIO BATEAU
MIDTOWN DETROIT, INC.
DEVELOPMENTS
Arts center district
58 units being built, starting March or April
Video presented by Nailah, LLC available online:
http://www.nailahllc.com/ferry.html
– Walking to Wayne State University, DIA
– available Winter 2015
313-874-3545
The construction of 8 new townhome apartment buildings totaling 58 units of rental housing, of which 20% will be affordable for households earning 60% AMI, along E Ferry Street, Chrysler Service Road, and E Kirby Street (the “Project”). Construction will begin in the spring of 2015
These units will incorporate a classic townhouse style, featuring modern amenities combined with historic architectural elements. The exteriors are of a classic colonial character with tall windows and an ample amount of brick giving the buildings visual strength. Details such as window heads, decorative deck railings and wood doors will provide a historical context which complements the surrounding neighborhood.
Community Benefits:
1) Site Improvements include environmental remediation, erosion and sedimentation control, landscaping, storm drain labels.
2) Increases Density of the Area
3) Promotes Walkable Communities
This project is a collaboration of Nailah LLC, The City of Detroit and Midtown Inc.
Begin objective to open to the arts center area
– Used to be old Hastings Street district
– Phase one historical site research done
– Phase two; subsurface investigations for impact to clear liability for environmental issues
– Site cleaned from old commercial contamination
– Wayne County, Port Authority, DEQ, City of Detroit
– started 2006 with assessments and grants, along with port authority
Including ground penetrating radar that showed gas station tanks below.
– City came in and followed with money for additional clean up
70 grand to remove tanks and soil
They met with DEQ to complete the cleanup. State is currently selecting consultants for the remedial and full clean up
Success story is they will be able to start 9 million dollar project this spring.
Looking for city funds to create 20% affordability financing.
Comment:
Helaniuos Phillips;
Has the project been approved?
100% Brick buildings. Property was purchased because of the safety of the children at school across the street. The large issue with the bridge is that the truck traffic is an issue, though the law is that they are not supposed to drive on surface streets.
Todd will meet Julio to discuss the issue.
Occupancy slated for April 2015
SUB COMMITTEE UPDATES
Blue Green Infrastructure – meeting Jan. 20, no updates, inviting 3 organizations people to talk of green mapping, data driven Detroit coming,
Sierra Club office Block at Cass Park Building, (Kresge Headquarters), 1-3p.m.
Good of the order; conversation in November
– Paying point for tax abatements for larger polluters
Agenda; notice for approval for tax credits for large corp. polluters / tax credits go to these companies without being asked for proof
City gets notice when these applications come in and are approved, but no one has asked for proof of situation being fixed.
Talked to assessors’ office to have the Task Force look into the documentation
Green Water Initiative
Talking about MOU; meeting in February to go forward on documents being signed
Catherine – Submitted 3 ideas
ASK FOR WHAT
Hers is one being looked at
Detroit submitted 20% of the proposals, 20% being asked in Detroit
– Uber local food system house
– Interested in saving buildings and food, use vacant land or abandoned buildings to grow food, including fish.
Full Proposals due by February 1st
– Charles Cross, Detroit collaborative design is on team,
– Jay Richardson from sustainable water works,
– Netherlands people on board to teach on inside growing,
– Renee Wallace, Keep Growing Detroit person…
Pete, Friends of Detroit River
Exhibits available
Feb. 7 – Shiver on the River event at casino and entire island, including facilities like:
– Coast Guard Station – open for tours
– Yacht club and Boat club open for tours
– All other buildings on island will be open
Casino has exhibitors,
***including UN Assoc. of Greater Detroit, taking chapters sphere of interest into the environment.
First time on Belle Isle:
– Stonefly Hunt at friends of Detroit Blue Lagoon. FER Turtle Peninsula – walkable bridge made into a turtle sunning area
– Susan Thompson will be there to sample and show kids what is there; bug sorting
Report on State of the Island that day.
Fundraiser for the Aquarium; kids jump in the river to raise funds is uncertain due to requirements. Will be done next year if not this year.
The River is being designated a World Heritage Site, working with the UN becomes an international submission.
Charles Cross, Marygrove College and Wayne State University
Martin Luther King Day Event:
“Conversation with Dr. Richard Jackson”, at Henry Ford
Ms. Weiler
Grant of 200,000 was awarded
Currently adding Det. Environmental Employment Program to ….
Met with contractors at Det. Authority meeting about placement, getting several commitments from them for hiring. Advisory board to support modifications in training to assure educational needs. Looking for applicants and employers. These programs need a percentage of the graduates to be city residents.
Feb 19 next meeting
Councilman, Scott Benson
Andrew Sokoly
Ashlee Arder, Creative Many ashlee@creativemany.org
Margaret Walker, ZWD, mmgweber@gmail.com
Katherine Underwood, CPC/LPD, katherynl@detrotmi.gov
LeReina Wheeler, BSEED, wheelerla@detroitmi.gov
Peter Beuz, Friends of Detroit River, peterbeuz.com
Kimberly Simmons, Detroit River Project, detroitriverproject@gmail.com
Erma Leaphart, Sierra Club, erma.leaphart@sierraclub.org
Aimie LaLonde-Norman, Friends of the Rouge, aimeeln@therouge.org
Ahmina Maxey, Zero Waste Detroit, ahmina@zerowastedetroit.org
Tim Springer, The Greenway Guy, tim@thegreenwayguy.com
Ray Pitts, Greenfield, pitts.renard@gmail.com
Patrick Smithbale, Ford Laud/ USGBC psmithba@ford.com
Phil Hadley, Ford Laud/42 pg., phil@42pg.com
Todd Scott, DGC
Sal Stabile, Resident, salstabile25@gmail.com