A team analysis of the I-96 Employment District in Detroit, MI. Our team was tasked with finding ways to improve the district and connect businesses with the Brightmoor community. A group of WSU's urban planning and public policy grad students presented a recommendation for an industrial business improvement district to area stakeholders and Detroit Future City members.

1. Urban Live-Work Linkage
Wayne State University’s Graduate Course in State, Regional & Local Economic Development
Prepared for: Detroit Future City, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, SWOT City

2. I-96 Area with Maps
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3. WSU Gateway I-96 Employment District
Presentation

4. Team Members
TJ Auer
James Courtney
Ricardo Kisner
Justin Lyons
Robert Pearson
Sean Sims
Jeri Stroupe
Giles Tucker
Xiao Zhuo
4

5. Agenda
Background
Research Methodology
Recommendations
Best Practices
Key Takeaways
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6. Project Background
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7. DFC: Secondary Employment Districts
Five secondary employment districts
targeted by DFC
Not part of the core 7 employment districts,
but still seen as a “valuable provider” of
industrial jobs
Project focus on I-96 district
Near active rail, highways and airport
Manufacturers, distributors and suppliers
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8. Media Coverage
“How Detroit Manufacturing Systems hired hundreds of
workers in the city” By Lester Graham of Michigan Radio
Hired 729 new employees, 2/3 live in the City of Detroit
President Barack Obama highlighted the success of DMS in the
2014 State of Union
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation helped staff DMS
Pre-employment training in manufacturing for potential employees
of DMS
“Tech Town trying to revitalize Detroit's neighborhood
businesses” By Katherine Yung Detroit Free Press Business
Tech Town business incubator program has reached out to the
Brightmoor Business community
Opened a field office on Lasher Road in the community in Brightmoor
to assist entrepreneurs
Received additional funding from the Marjorie Fisher Foundation to
work with the Brightmoor small business community
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9. Research Methodology
Defining the I-96 Industrial District
Interviews with business and civic leaders
Survey of business owners
Analysis of best practices / comparatives
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10. Project research
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11. I-96 Area with Maps
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12. Current Zoning
Mostly heavy industrial
Some industrial buffer “zonin
Directly adjacent to residenti
zones
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13. Zoning Opportunities
North South
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14. DEGC Meeting – March 19, 2014
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Capital investments in
infrastructure
Safety / Security
Beautification / Green
Space
Rezoning adjacent
property
Strengthen district
business cooperation

15. Survey Instrument
Survey questions focused on demographics of
workers, commuting habits and employment need
N=10
*Contacted 3815

16. Survey Insights
Entry level positions have minimal education
barrier
Acquiring high skilled labor consistent
challenge for businesses
Many use temp and professional services
for hiring
Employers have limited relationship with
workforce development/ community colleges
Most employees commute from outside the
city limits
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17. Profile of Key Employers
DETROIT
MANUFACTURING
SYSTEMS
KOLENE
CORPORATION
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18. Recommendations
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19. 19
We recommend I-96 Employment District businesses
form an Industrial Business Improvement District

20. IBIDS Within DFC
IBID creation is one of DFC’s “Place-Based
Strategies For Growth”
I-96 Secondary District would be the pilot IBID for
Detroit
Strong existing leadership with DMS
Accessible to rail, highways and airport
Room for growth with I-96 Gateway and Farmer Jack
Distribution Center
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21. Increased Powers Granted by IBID
Acquire / Construct / Modify, land, sidewalks, curbs
and lighting
Economic Development Activities
Business attraction
Control of safety
Secondary Police Employment
Funding
Assessments
Grants
Zoning
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22. Benefits of I-96 IBID
I-96
IBID
Safety
Beautification
Marketability
Grants and
incentives
Tenant
satisfaction
Community
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23. I-96 IBID Action Plan
Determine parcel owners and stakeholders
Inventory of property vacancy and define size
Petition City
Development of governance board
Outline of project types and finances
Plan to implement open meetings
Vote
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24. Best BID practices
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25. BID Example: Fulton Industrial Boulevard
Largest industrial and
business complex in Atlanta
region
Location near airports,
downtown Atlanta, railways
and major highways (I-20
and I-285)
Covers nearly 4,800 acres
46.1 million square feet of
industrial inventory
553 industrial buildings
included
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26. BID Example: Fulton Industrial Boulevard
Fulton Industrial Community Improvement District
created in mid-late 2000’s
Employers include warehousing, manufacturing,
wholesaling, and contractors in auto parts, beverages,
office furniture, machinery, etc.
Master Plan (2013) includes:
Goals:
Public Safety, Landscaping and Beautification,
Infrastructure Improvement and Economic Development
Wayfinding plan, branding, travel center, flex
industrial, eco-industrial sites
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27. Southwest Detroit BID
Secondary Policing
BID contracted over 1,000 additional police man hours
Clean Team
Cleared 36,000 gallons of litter and cleaned 644 miles of
streets and sidewalks
Maintains 81 Litter baskets
Cleared more than 20 illegal dumping sites
Graffiti Removal
1,200 tags from 500 buildings
Landscaping
Mowed and maintained weekly
Fundraising
Has raised $6.4M to keep street lights on in business district
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28. Secondary recommendations
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29. Workforce Incentives
Fidelity bonding
 Business Insurance to protect employers from loss of
money or property for hiring high-risk employees
Tax credits for hiring veterans and disabled
Hiring Incentives
On the job training programs
Salary reimbursement
Human Resource Services
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30. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
“The proper design and effective use of the built
environment, leading to a reduction in the fear and
incidence of crime and disorder. This in turn leads to an
improvement in the overall quality of life of a building,
space, or area.”
Broken Window Theory - George Kelling and James Wilson,
1982, criminologists – disorder ( i.e. broken windows, graffiti,
loitering) left unaddressed can result in more serious forms of
crime (i.e. theft, assault, arson)
Defensible Space - Oscar Newman, 1972, architect – restructure
physical layout so residents and business owners can control
space surrounding their property
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31. Key Takeaways
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32. Key Takeaways
Empower business and property owners to improve
their situation
Enhance ability to fund projects of interest safety or
beautification, etc.
Foster more coordination among business / property
owners
Increase ability to cooperate with neighbors
Employ available resources, like programs to hire
qualified and at risk people
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Empower Enhance Coordinate Cooperate Employ

33. Sources
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DEGC I-96 Meeting, DEGC Business Development Team. March 19, 2014.
Detroit Future City, Second Edition. May 2013.
Fulton Industrial BID Master Plan, The Boulevard Improvement District. Jacobs and
Bleakly Advisory Group. October 2013.
“Fulton Industrial Corridor Bouncing Back.” Martin Sinderman. Atlanta Business
Chronicle. July 26, 2013.
Getty Images, 2014.
“How Detroit Manufacturing Systems Hired Hundreds of Workers in the City.” Lester
Graham. Michigan Radio. February 3, 2014.
Interview. Gil Prado, Executive Director, Fulton Industrial BID. April 2014.
Interview. James Tate, Detroit City Council, District 1. March 27, 2014.
“TechTown Trying To Revitalize Detroit’s Neighborhood Businesses.” Katherine Yung,
Detroit Free Press. November 19, 2012.
Zoning Maps, City of Detroit.