The City of Detroit is focused on improving the quality of life for residents, businesses, and stakeholders with a new energy and enthusiasm. In June of 2016 the Congress for the New Urbanism, CNU24, took place in Detroit and added the voice of planners from across the country to the city-wide conversation about the future.

As part of the Congress, CNU has organized and led Legacy Charrettes that matched national experts with municipalities, community organizations, and non-profit organizations  in four Detroit-area communities. National firms collaborated with local Michigan-based firms to provide pro-bono guidance on placemaking and design issues. The 2016 CNU Legacy Charrette communities included the City of Hazel Park, the City of Pontiac, and two communities within the City of Detroit (Grandmont Rosedale and Vernor Crossing).

Dover, Kohl & Partners teamed with Hall Planning and Engineering, DesignTeam+, Urban Advantage, and the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation (GRDC) to redesign Grand River Avenue to better match the variety and vibrancy of the corridor to surrounding neighborhoods.

The team worked onsite in Detroit from April 14-17, 2016 holding a three-day design workshop hosted by the GRDC. The design team became familiar with the study area, and worked to understand the needs of the host community. A Hands-on Design Workshop followed, in which members of the community were invited to provide their input. The team spent the rest of the weekend working in an open design studio, preparing plans, renderings and visualizations that were based on what they heard.