Midtown Loop Presentation 110107

Introduction
This project’s purpose is to envision and design
an urban greenway known as Midtown Loop
for the Detroit Midtown area.
Midtown includes the region’s cultural core,
historic and new neighborhoods, Wayne
State University (WSU) and the Detroit
Medical Center (DMC).
The greenway is a non-motorized system that can
provide several important benefits to the
community, including health, recreation,
tourism, cultural interpretation, environmental
sustainability, and economic development.
Midtown Loop
Proposed Citywide Greenways Midtown Loop
The Midtown Loop is part of a greenway connection system
that will provide access from Midtown to the Detroit River.
Greenway Connections Midtown Loop
The Midtown Loop consists of a 1.8-mile main route that connects existing campuses and institutions.
Site plan Midtown Loop
The distance around the Midtown loop is
similar to these loops in the Metro Area:
Hart Plaza to Grand Circus
Park and back
Renaissance Center to
Harmonie Park and back
Detroit Zoo: The Entry to the “
Arctic Ring of Life” and back
Downtown Birmingham
Downtown Royal Oak
Downtown Ann Arbor
Overall plan Midtown Loop
Midtown Loop Precedents
Freedom Trail- Boston
Brooklyn-Queens Greenway- NYC
Chicago River Greenway- Chicago
Capital Crescent Trail- Washington D.C.
Miami River Greenway- Miami
The Embarcadero- San Francisco
Willamette River- Portland
Little Sugar Creek- Charlotte
Asheville Urban Trail- Asheville (N.C.)
Three Rivers Trail- Pittsburgh
University of Toledo- Toledo
Canal Walk- Indianapolis
Midtown Loop Precedents
Midtown Loop
Who will use the Midtown Loop?
Local Residents and Businesses
Institutions – Medical Center, Science
Center, Arts Institute etc for access
and fitness purposes
Metropolitan population for cultural
activities and pedestrian linkages to
restaurants, shopping and special
events.
Visitors, school groups and
convention-goers as a destination
while in the Detroit area.
Midtown Loop
What are the elements of Urban Greenways such as Midtown Loop?
Distinctive Paving Surfaces
Separation from Motorized Traffic
Attractive and Sustainable Landscapes
Unique Lighting and Wayfinding Icons
Cultural and Educational Displays
Public Art
Midtown Loop
Looking East
at Cass and
Kirby
Looking South at Kirby and
John R
Looking North at Farnsworth and
John R
Looking North at Warren
and John R
Midtown Loop Phase One Studies Midtown Loop
Looking Southeast
Looking East
Looking East
Looking East
Detroit Public Library Midtown Loop
Looking East
Looking West
Detroit Institute of Art Midtown Loop
Looking South
Looking Southeast
Looking South
Looking South
College for Creative Studies Midtown Loop
Looking Northeast
Looking Southwest
Looking Southeast
Looking Northeast
Looking Northeast
Barat House Midtown Loop
Looking North
Looking South
Looking South
Example Rendering looking South
Looking South
Detroit Science Center Midtown Loop
Looking South
Looking North
Looking South
Wayne State Parking Lot Midtown Loop
Looking South
Looking Southeast
Example Rendering Looking Southeast
Looking South
John D. Dingell Veteran’s Administration Hospital Center Midtown Loop
Along the Phase One section of the
Midtown Loop there are a few existing
Pocket Parks and a Sculpture Garden at
the College for Creative Studies
International Park
Josephine Ford Sculpture Garden
Hudson’s Art Park
Midtown Loop
The paving material selected for the Midtown Loop will be concrete using integral color and stain.
This selection will provide the opportunity for interesting color variation and pattern, while also
allowing for potential utility repairs. This material can be replaced and still blend in with the original
concrete work.
Example of Integral Concrete
Example of Concrete Stain
Example Pattern
Paving Midtown Loop
LED pedestrian light
This lighting system is a sustainable
system that will save money by
reducing electrical needs and the
light fixtures will only need to be
replaced every 8-10 years vs. every
2-3 years.
Lighting Midtown Loop
Bench
Bike Storage Locker
Light Wand
Bike Rack
Trash Receptacle
Site Furnishings Midtown Loop
Typical Dog Litter Station
ADA drinking fountain with dog fountain
Midtown Loop Prototype Dog Litter Station
Site Furnishings Midtown Loop
The Midtown Loop
Phase Two
Looking West
Looking East
At Whitney’s Edge
Looking East from
Woodward Ave
Canfield Midtown Loop
The Midtown Loop
Phase Two
Looking North
At Marwil
Bookstore
Warren Intersection
Twingo’s Cafe’
Cass Avenue Midtown Loop
In Phase Two signage systems will be implemented that will consolidate wayfinding,
complement the existing system, and tie in with the downtown mapping.
Existing Signage
Proposed Sign Tower
Existing Wayfinding
in Downtown Detroit that
will be repeated along the
Midtown Loop
Wayfinding Midtown Loop
Conclusion
This pedestrian friendly Midtown Loop of some 1.8 miles in length has the potential to tie
together the extraordinarily rich blending of people and places along its route.
Meeting the daily needs of multiple constituencies, and providing a welcoming gateway for
visitors, it will promote synergies and provide the focus for accelerated re-investment in
the Cultural Center.
Midtown Loop