Design Center creates design plan for Paradise Valley

This area, bounded by Randolph, Centre, and East Grand River, and centered around Harmonie Park, is slated to become a small-scaled culture, music, and entertainment district, mirroring Detroit's larger entertainment district.

Primarily, the district should promote economic development and synergy among the businesses, and be a year-round entertainment destination.

The Detroit Collaborative Design Center conducted workshops last summer to seek stakeholder ideas and recommendations and integrated them into its final plan.  The team presented the Paradise Valley Cultural and Entertainment District plan late last year at the Harmonie Club Building. This included recommendations for land use, open space design, and redevelopment strategies, as well as cultural and artistic elements. Further, the plan will be a catalyst for a series of events being planned for the new district.

While landscaping has begun, building has not. Project Manager Virginia Stanard says, "As it stands now, the design work has been completed, and the DDA is seeking additional funding for the project." $10 million has been committed to the project, but the DDA is still seeking nearly $7 million more for renovations and upgrades. Electrical repairs in the district will begin this summer. The timeline for the rest of the project and beginning of construction is contingent on funding.

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The University of Detroit Mercy is Michigan's largest private Catholic University, offering approximately 100 majors and programs in 60 academic fields. Sponsored by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the University has three campuses located in downtown and northwest Detroit.

UDM was ranked among the top tier of Midwestern master's universities in U.S.News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" – 2009 edition.  UDM was also rated one of the top 15 institutions in the "Great Schools, Great Prices" category.

Publish date: June 08, 2008