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Ilitch
organization
unveils
world-class
sports
and
entertainment
district
in
Detroit
DETROIT,
MI -
Olympia
Development
of
Michigan
today
announced
plans
for a
sweeping
transformation
of
dozens
of
underutilized
blocks
between
downtown
and
midtown
Detroit
into a
world-class
Sports
and
Entertainment
District.
The
project
will
connect
existing
and new
development
efforts
in
downtown
and
midtown
Detroit
along
Woodward
Avenue
with
five
walkable,
livable
mixed-use
District
neighborhoods.
“It’s
always
been my
dream to
see a
vibrant
and
energized
downtown
Detroit,”
said
Mike
Ilitch,
chairman,
Ilitch
Holdings,
Inc. “I
want
people
to look
at
Detroit’s
new
sports
and
entertainment
district
and see
what I
see: the
potential
for
something
very
special.
I
couldn’t
be more
excited
and
proud to
bring
this
vision
to
life.”
Ilitch
organization
accelerates
private
investment
of at
least
$200M
for new,
mixed-use
development
to now
occur
concurrently
with
arena
construction
and
transform
dozens
of
blighted
blocks
into
five new
neighborhoods
The
District
will
encompass
dozens
of
blocks
along
and near
Woodward
Avenue.
Development
in the
District
will be
integrated
with
existing
sports
and
entertainment
venues
in or
adjacent
to the
space,
including
the Fox
Theatre,
Comerica
Park,
MotorCity
Casino
Hotel,
Ford
Field,
the
Detroit
Opera
House,
the
Fillmore
Detroit
and
more.
“We’ve
done
business
in
Detroit
for
nearly
50
years,
and this
is our
most
significant
and
ambitious
project
here
yet,”
said
Christopher
Ilitch,
president
and CEO
of
Ilitch
Holdings,
Inc.
“Our
great
city is
home to
some of
the
world’s
most
legendary
people,
teams
and
venues
in
sports
and
entertainment.
Detroit
deserves
no less
than the
best – a
world-class
sports
and
entertainment
district
we can
all be
proud
of. And
that’s
exactly
what we
will
build.”
Ilitch
organization
expands
its
investment
to
include
tens of
millions
of
dollars
in
public
infrastructure
improvements
to occur
concurrently
with
arena
construction
The
Ilitch
organization
has
expanded
its
planned
investment
in the
District
to now
include
tens of
millions
of
dollars
in new
neighborhood
public
infrastructure
improvements
such as
lighting,
sidewalks,
green
spaces
and
streets.
These
investments
will
occur
concurrently
with the
development
of the
new
District
neighborhoods
and
arena.
Ilitch
organization
accelerates
private
investment
of at
least
$200M in
new,
mixed-use
development
to now
occur
concurrently
with
arena
construction
Columbia
Park – A
fresh,
modern
neighborhood
anchored
by a new
public
green
space.
Development
of new,
mixed-use
neighborhoods
in the
District
will
occur
concurrently
with
construction
of the
new
Detroit
arena.
Groundbreaking
is
slated
for fall
of 2014.
Accelerating
this
investment
to the
first
full
year of
the
project
will
jump-start
mixed-use
development.
“By
accelerating
our
investments
in
important
neighborhood
infrastructure
and new
mixed-use
development,
we will
stabilize
and
develop
dozens
of
underutilized
blocks,
create
more
jobs
more
quickly
and
allow
the city
to spend
public
funds on
other
priorities,”
said
Christopher
Ilitch.
The
neighborhoods
are
inspired
by
historical
roots,
beloved
places
or
geographical
highlights
in each
area.
Each
neighborhood
has its
own
distinct
personality,
expressed
by the
following
working
names:
Columbia
Street –
A
neighborhood
near the
Fox
Theatre
and the
Fillmore
Detroit
that
offers
entertainment
and
dining
at its
finest.
Wildcat
Corner –
this
neighborhood,
anchored
by
Comerica
Park and
Ford
Field,
offers
energetic,
athletic
experiences
at their
best.
Working
name to
be
determined
– The
bustling
home of
the new
Detroit
arena.
Cass
Park
Village
– An
energized,
eclectic
and
primarily
residential
neighborhood.
Columbia
Park – A
fresh,
modern
neighborhood
anchored
by a new
public
green
space.
Project
to
generate
at least
$1.8B in
total
economic
impact,
8,300
construction
and
construction-related
jobs and
1,100
permanent
jobs
The
construction
of the
District,
including
the
arena,
is
expected
to
create
approximately
8,300
construction-related
jobs and
1,100
permanent
jobs in
Detroit.
Dozens
of
community
meetings
relating
to jobs
have
taken
place
already,
with
many
more
planned
as
groundbreaking
occurs
in the
fall and
full
construction
begins
next
year.
The
project
will
spur at
least
$1.8
billion
in
economic
impact
for the
city,
region
and
state.
“The
expanded
vision
for this
important
project
will
immediately
begin
building
on the
success
of other
investments
along
Woodward
Avenue,”
said
Governor
Rick
Snyder.
“This is
a
powerful
example
of how
public-private
partnerships
have
multiplier
effects
that
benefit
the
city,
the
region
and the
state.”
New,
world-class
arena to
open
summer
of 2017
and
feature
innovative,
neighborhood-friendly
and
Detroit-fueled
design
The new,
world-class
arena
built
concurrently
with the
District
will be
a model
of
innovation
for such
a
facility
in a
downtown
setting.
It will
serve
not only
as a
powerful,
continual
generator
of
activity,
but also
as a
good
urban
neighbor.
The
revolutionary
design
will
focus
the
arena on
its most
fundamental
elements,
while
concurrently
building
and
integrating
a new,
mixed-use
neighborhood
surrounding
it. As
the
design
is
scaled
and
planned
to fit
with
both new
and
existing
development,
it will
also
offer a
dynamic
urban
environment
that is
uniquely
Detroit.
“Our
vision
for the
new
arena is
for a
one-of-a-kind
facility
that
fits in
with its
neighborhood,
that is
authentic
to our
Detroit
roots
and
offers
an
unmatched
fan
experience,”
said
Christopher
Ilitch.
“We will
build a
revolutionary
venue
for
hockey,
music,
entertainment
and
community
events,
and at
the same
time, a
vibrant
mixed-use
neighborhood
surrounding
it.”
Community
Connect
In
addition
to its
significant
investment
in
infrastructure;
accelerated
new,
mixed-use
development;
and the
arena
itself,
the
Ilitch
organization
today
announced
a number
of plans
through
its
Community
Connect
program.
These
efforts
will
ensure
this
transformational
initiative
benefits
the
community
in many
different
ways.
Additional,
evolving
plans
include
an
internship
program
with
Detroit
Cass
Technical
High
School;
lending
city
officials
and
others
urban
planning
and
related
expertise
to
benefit
central
business
district
“Main
Street”
redevelopment
throughout
various
Detroit
neighborhoods;
dedicated
support
of
minority
entrepreneurship
in the
District;
dedicated
support
of
innovation
space in
the
District
and
more.
Community
Connect
is an
integral
part of
the
District’s
success,
and it
will
continue
to
evolve
as the
project
evolves.
Ongoing
Communications
The
Ilitch
organization
plans to
keep the
community
informed
throughout
this
project.
Regular
announcements,
as well
as
meetings
with
city
officials,
the
Neighborhood
Advisory
Committee
and
other
stakeholders
will be
ongoing
as the
District
comes to
life.
Subject
matter
experts
will be
available
on
Monday,
July 21,
by
appointment
only to
discuss
this
initiative.
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