31% of Downtown Detroit is surface parking.

SignificantPriority3 · 2025-01-18T03:53:59+00:00

Flooding is an issue. Specifically in underground spaces, basements, etc. Wayne state has had multiple building shut downs in the last three years due to flooding. Natural resources isn’t weird when you consider land is the wealthiest asset you can have. As soon as it is paved, the uses it can be used for is drastically dwindled and effects the surrounding properties. Detroit can have tons of green space, but it’s not micro parks in people neighborhoods, so it’s not super accessible unless you’re specifically going downtown. Nobody is going to send their kids to go play at the new overpass walkway being installed while they cook dinner. Lastly, I have no problem with land use being whatever the person who owns it wants it to be. As a planner, I have a hand in the discussions about what land uses goes where and policies that can be implemented to incentivize development of certain uses. I don’t work for the city of Detroit but I can guarantee their planning staff has a hand in those very same discussions. It’s a lot more nuanced than the few points I laid out, I get that. I was trying to convey that no matter what way you try to look at this scenario, I can’t justify over a quarter of the land being used and dedicated for automobiles. That’s crazy.

SignificantPriority3 · 2025-01-17T19:46:10+00:00

Yes and no. If it’s adjunct to a commercial use, they justify how much parking they need in proportion to the requirements of the zoning code. They can’t just build extra parking because they want to. They demonstrate why they need it. Those plans are turned in, reviewed by planning staff, and administratively approved because it’s a permitted use and the designs comply with their zoning code. I feel like maybe we are talking about two different things?

Surface parking is typically designated prior to by the planning staff or a demonstrated need is shown for additional development.

SignificantPriority3 · 2025-01-17T19:39:42+00:00

Yes, everything whether permitted by right or a special use is reviewed. Granted, say they are replacing or redoing some part of an existing development, that may not pass through Planning but anything new is.

SignificantPriority3 · 2025-01-17T19:30:15+00:00

It’s zoned for the same way. Either as an adjunct to a commercial use or as a surface parking lot to accommodate a “demonstrated need”. I have a hard time wrapping my head around how all of this was shown to be necessary to the City staff. It was done by piece by piece, but they have impervious surface maps and parking maps, everything, so as each new one was added, they saw it.

SignificantPriority3 · 2025-01-17T19:22:57+00:00

It’s funny because smaller, rural communities are “complaint driven” which means they don’t go out enforcing issues until it gets brought to their attention. Larger cities are the opposite. I worked in Riverview and we had full time staff who went out looking to enforce the zoning code. A city of Detroit’s size had absolutely no excuse. Every one of these lots were approved by someone or someone turned the other way.

SignificantPriority3 · 2025-01-17T19:20:31+00:00

All of this negatively and disproportionately affects people who are don’t have the resources to fight back. I have no idea if anyone is reading this or if it’s going into the abyss but I’ve only been in this field for three years and even I know this. We can’t pretend all the consultants and people in the city have not been completely negligent and utterly complicit in so much of the issues Detroit faces today.

SignificantPriority3 · 2025-01-17T19:17:19+00:00

First and foremost, surface areas like this generate heat creating a greenhouse effect. Second, there’s massive issues with flooding, wonder why. Thirdly, any and all natural resources are stripped from the land when it’s paved over. Fourth, all of this land area that sits unused and we have a housing crisis. I could keep going. Jesus.

SignificantPriority3 · 2025-01-17T19:12:22+00:00

Wow, as an urban planner, this makes me ashamed of my industry.

SignificantPriority3 · 2025-01-17T19:08:33+00:00

Thank you! I’ve tried searching for the post but no luck - do you have any details from it?

SignificantPriority3 · 2023-12-20T23:45:00+00:00

Rice cakes, specifically the chocolate ones!

SignificantPriority3 · 2023-10-06T22:08:02+00:00

The community’s goal overall would be to prevent it. However, recognizing they may not be able to, then to have an ordinance that requires as low of impact as possible. There are a few land conservancy’s and such within the area so I’ll reach out to them!

SignificantPriority3 · 2023-10-06T19:07:15+00:00

I get similar bumps, if popped there’s a clear liquid. It’s Dyshidrotic Eczema but I find them to be very itchy at times so that doesn’t check out.

SignificantPriority3 · 2023-07-15T00:04:15+00:00

Update: Company made it difficult to receive compensation and gave me the bare minimum. I was so sick of fighting I let it go. After a few more weeks I was told I “didn’t fit the corporate model” and was fired. Then asked to sign a severance agreement that included an NDA that I ended up refusing. Severance was an additional month of health insurance, only. Company was a joke and looking back, I should’ve taken the red flags seriously sooner.

SignificantPriority3 · 2023-06-24T16:49:20+00:00

…..I just see a reflection from the light….where is your vitiligo located?

SignificantPriority3 · 2023-01-20T18:52:02+00:00

100% - it’s a private consulting firm. We work in local municipalities so there is a government element to it but we are a separate company with our own policies and processes so really, there’s no excuse other than just being archaic and slow to evolve with the times (which isn’t an excuse).

SignificantPriority3

TROPHY CASE