Overview

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The McDougall-Hunt Neighborhood Sustainable Redevelopment Plan creates an actionable vision focused on developing equitable, sustainable and productive uses for the area’s vacant land to result in a blight-free neighborhood offering affordable housing options. The goal is to bring, social, environmental and economic justice to the local community.

The McDougall Hunt neighborhood was chosen because of its location—less than a mile from downtown Detroit, its historic relevance—adjacent to the 1950’s thriving community of Black Bottom, and its ample supply of vacant land.

The work behind the plan is structured on resident driven community engagement. The core driver behind implementation of the McDougall Hunt vision is partnership between The Alternative Foundation and three local nonprofits: Eastside Community Network, the McDougall-Hunt Neighborhood Association and Bailey Park Project. Collectively, they have formed a coalition of over 20 stakeholders that actively engage neighborhood groups, faith-based groups, and civic and development groups in the planning process.

Together they developed sustainable priorities in McDougall-Hunt, including the following:

  • Stabilize existing housing and open spaces to engage and energize the community.

  • Support new equitable and affordable housing, while avoiding displacement of current residents and providing opportunities for senior housing.

  • Incorporate green space throughout the neighborhood with a focus on Bailey Park.

  • Create quality of life supports for McDougall-Hunt residents, including educational opportunities, training in fiscal fluency and employment security.

When complete, the McDougall-Hunt Neighborhood Initiative will result in the framework and foundation for an equitable, thriving community, whose future is driven by its residents. A longer reaching goal is for success to serve as a blueprint for the redevelopment of other cohesive neighborhoods in urban areas.

The collaborative approach to planning the McDougall Hunt Sustainable Redevelopment Project is proven to be a successful and organized platform for implementation. Together, the team will make real, sustainable change in McDougall-Hunt, while offering guidance and hope for other communities embarking on similar journeys.