Jefferson-Chalmers Neighborhood Framework Plan

An historic, waterfront neighborhood plagued by flooding and high vacancy rates is poised for ecological, economic, and community renewal, thanks to a plan that embraces economic redevelopment, land stewardship, and green infrastructure.

Located along the Detroit River on the east side of Detroit, the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood boasts 160 acres of waterfront parkland and abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. Once a vibrant and raucous habitat teaming with migratory birds and aquatic species, the neighborhood now boasts 100-year-old brick streets and the city’s only remaining canal system. Over the last several decades, this historic neighborhood has experienced increasing vacancy rates and flooding challenges.

In an effort to strengthen neighborhood vibrancy, resilience, and economic development, the City of Detroit sought to create a neighborhood development and implementation plan for Jefferson Chalmers. Given the neighborhood’s location and history, the City called for a plan with a specific focus on land stewardship and green stormwater infrastructure, commercial corridor improvements, historic preservation, and rehabilitation development. As part of a team led by W Architecture, Biohabitats worked with the City and the community to craft a plan that provides an actionable “road map” for transforming vacant landscapes into productive, sustainable, and beautiful community spaces, preserving and strengthening neighborhood assets, and improving economic opportunities, social vitality, housing, and mobility.

After assessing the neighborhood’s past and current ecological and hyrdrologic conditions, Biohabitats identified opportunities to integrate green infrastructure while making use of the canal system and vacant land to improve the neighborhood’s water quality, beauty, ecology, and long-term resilience. Recommended strategies included living shorelines, green bulkheads, wildlife alley corridors, streetscape BMPs, blue and green roofs, and bioretention and native plantings in community gathering spaces.