A Till of Infrastructure

Abstract

These design methods propose a potential future for growing Detroit communities. Detroit exists in a very complex state of urbanity. The centrality on industry during the development of the automotive boom structured the cultural attitude and the physical infrastructure of the city. It is evident by its vastness of tangled highways and lack of intention toward public transportation. In this case, the highway infrastructure severs the fabric of a once connected community. This study examines the toll of the “top-down” urban development and responds with approaches of placemaking strategies for community amenities. This form of community development will attempt to re-establish placemaking in the context of the focus area. It is done by using placemaking as a tool to create an infrastructure of networks throughout urban blight and creating remediation for renewal of community development. There are several typologies which designers can use in these neighborhoods despite the limitations that are given. They act as ways to re-enforce existing communities’ groups in their neighborhoods as a response to the many policies that prevent community self-governance.