Rendering of the new public dock and terminal under construction along the Riverwalk
Tuesday, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy (DRC) hosted a public forum on the Riverwalk and Dequindre Cut. This is the first in a series of public meetings.
Some of the highlights —
The Dequindre Cut grand opening is scheduled for May 2009. However, the construction is expected to be completed by mid-November. At that time, the DRC will take over management of the trail. It may officially open for use in December.
The Dequindre Trail is the 3 block trail which connects the Dequindre Cut to Tricentennial State Park and the Riverwalk. It is being built by the City of Detroit and the DEGC. The design is currently under review. Construction should begin in Spring 2009 and completed in the Summer 2009.
In the meantime, many of the roads in the East Riverfront area will be reconstructed and bike lanes added.
Phase II of Tricentennial State Park is under construction as noted earlier. Construction should be completed by Fall of 2009.
Further north, plans are underway to improve the pedestrian connection between the Dequindre Cut and Eastern Market. The sidewalks along Gratiot and Russell will be improved as will the lighting. Construction is expected to begin in the spring and completed during the summer.
And heading even further north, conceptual plans should be completed this week suggesting how the Dequindre Cut will extend north from Gratiot to Mack. The plans contain ramps at Wilkins and Division. These will provide better access to Eastern Market — especially for cyclists.
Back along the river, we received the following update from the DRC:
Construction has begun on the new Port Authority Dock & Terminal, planned for the East Riverfront between Hart Plaza and the GM Renaissance Center. Planned by the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority, the project includes a 21,000 square foot Public Dock & Terminal, which, once complete, will be able to accommodate all types of vessels wishing to call on the City of Detroit, including cruise ships, ferries, water taxis, tall ships, dinner boats and navy vessels. The two story terminal will house a processing area for tourists, ticket counters, the authority’s headquarters and a public plaza.
Due to the construction, East RiverWalk will be temporarily closed to the public, from the eastern end of Hart Plaza to the western end of the GM Renaissance Center and GM Plaza. An alternate route will be provided around the construction site for those enjoying the RiverWalk. The RiverWalk closure will begin on Monday, October 27 and is planned to be reopened in Summer 2009
The DRC has plans to upgrade Mt. Elliot Park. It will receive a new pavilion, concessions, and a playscape for children. No time line was given.
Also, it’s estimated that the Riverwalk had nearly 2 million visitors this year.
Here are some of the questions and answers from the public session:
Q. Are the Red Bull races coming back?
A. They hope so but it depends on getting sponsorship dollars and times are tight.
Q. Are there plans to build an aquarium on the Riverwalk?
A. No, but some developers have proposed one. The problem is they are tough to make economical.
Q. What are the plans for the tops of the bridge abutments along the Dequindre Cut?
A. Original plans had them as community gardens, but their use really depends on the feedback from the community.
Q. Are the Dequindre Cut ramps accessible?
A. Yes, all of the ramps are under 5% slope and meet the ADA requirements.
Q. Can we make the music less noticeable and distracting?
A. The music levels at Gabriel Richard were set too loudly. That has been corrected. The DRC has a varied program mix of music and quiet time. However, General Motors controls the music along their Promenade.
Q. Will the Riverwalk go through the Watermark development?
A. Yes. The DRC owns an easement along the river’s edge. The Riverwalk will be extended from Tri-Centennial State Park to Chene Park when the Watermark is built.
Q. Can security and emergency personnel reach those in the Dequindre Cut?
A. Yes, there are three entrances where motorized vehicles can reach those in need. The entrances have removable bollards for that purpose.
