After discussing elements of neighborhood safety and ways to increase participation in community meetings, residents request more media coverage of Brightmoor.
Hey Detroit! 🌷I’ll be live-tweeting the Brightmoor Framework Plan: Creating Safe Spaces meeting today at 6:00 p.m. for #DETdocumenters
@BridgeDet313
@PlanetDetroit
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@wdet
@metrotimes
@chalkbeatDET
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03:43 PM Apr 5, 2023 CDT
For information on how to join this meeting virtually, check out the project’s website: https://detroitmi.gov/departments/planning-and-development-department/neighborhood-plans/west-design-region/brightmoor-framework-plan
What is the Brightmoor Framework Plan?
A multi-year planning initiative aimed at improving the Brightmoor neighborhood, with the goal of involving residents in the process.
Here are a couple slides from previous presentations: https://t.co/ogzWGHHfOZ
The main priorities that have been identified so far are:
•Vacancy
•Water & Land (managing flooding)
•Parks
•Parks
•Housing
•Streetscapes
Where is Brighmoor?
Brightmoor is a neighborhood in Northwest Detroit, in District 1. Here is the current map of the neighborhood boundaries, and the overall city map to show its scale (bright green square in the top left) https://t.co/IjMrRVQ6ti
Having listened to recordings of previous meetings from last August 2022, it strikes me that the planning team does want to hear from residents, and there is often some warranted pushback from the community.
One point of contention was the proposed boundary map.
Here is a side-by-side of the first proposed boundary map and the current version.
The original left off areas to the north and east of the neighborhood, and residents were adamant that these be included. The issue was raised and changes implemented by the next meeting. https://t.co/1SaoyapWoh
Rev. Larry L. Simmons Sr. advocated strongly for these corrections, citing a website that has been used for zoning in other studies, which seemed like an oversight for the planning team. https://www.brightmooralliance.org/resources/brightmoor-data
Several community members spoke passionately about their neighborhood in these 2022 meetings. They were not placated by easy answers, or long timelines (although the entirety of this project will take years, looking into 2025, 2026).
Although Brightmoor faces serious challenges, such as a very large percentage of vacant land, there is still a strong sense of community and pride among its residents. https://t.co/H3D9wl5On4
It would also be great if Detroit wasn’t used as a go-to backdrop for horror movies (Barbarian, Don’t Breathe, and It Follows), or a metaphor for the entire Rust Belt.
Community engagement and planning are hopefully steps towards combating that stigma. https://collider.com/barbarian-detroit-housing-crisis/
If you find anything inaccurate in my reporting, please email documenters@outliermedia.org with the subject “Correction Request”
But enough of my yakking - see you at 6pm!
It looks like the last meeting was held on 2/27/23, and there is a nice info-graphic summary below.
There were 64 attendees, and lots of comments about diverse affordable housing, creating a downtown, and other ways to build community.
Part of this initiative was hiring a consultant - who in a previous meeting was described as a ‘human computer’ as opposed to a decision maker. Wondering if the consultant is responsible for the nice graphics and data organization.
Lots of activity in the chat - the prompt was to name your favorite place in the neighborhood.
Some responses: Eliza Howell, Prayer Park, John OBrien, Scottys, Love and Hope Outreach, and “wherever neighbors are gathered.”
Dominique Boyer, project manager in District 1 Planning and Development Department, kicks off meeting at 6:05 asking for thumbs up in th chat.
Introductions - folks from the city are here - including Antoine Bryant, Director of Planning and Development for City of Detroit.
Consultants are introduced as well, Planner consultants Jill Dixon, Kymberly Ware, and urban planner Devendra Dugad.
Some early slides including tonight’s agenda - focusing on Environmental Safety.
Coming up are some breakout rooms to discuss where folks typically go in the neighborhood. https://t.co/2iRFxQ62zZ
Jill Dixon goes over some feedback from the previous meeting.
Some love was expressed for existing parks and trails, including Eliza Howell park. https://t.co/a7RXhg09HA
Moving on to a discussion about Environmental Safety - drawing a distinction between this type of safety and Public Safety. https://t.co/3CqUQEMYan
They are giving us a poll to find out our top three of the following options: https://t.co/IbOr25t228
Question from the chat asking how community care is defined - which is: Community care is how do community members work together to create safe spaces.
Results of the poll!
In the chat, traffic control and transportation was also mentioned. https://t.co/0nw4mlE31p
Next topic is: Comfort by Cohort and how this can vary by age groups. Here is a demographic breakdown of Brightmoor. https://t.co/cbqpCqIB5Z
The first Cohort they are discussing is Youth (could be toddlers, school age, teens) - who value playfulness, walkability, safety.
Lots of interactivity in this meeting! They are giving us some time to type feedback about the topic of youth public safety. https://t.co/mi5JZz97Ar
In the chat someone mentioned having safe spaces for mothers and children, including breastfeeding spaces that are free of judgment.
Right now there are 42 total participants in the meeting including about 10 city officials.
Question from the chat: why is gender included in this question?
Answer: experiences of boys and girls are different, and safety concerns are very different.
Compared to the meetings I listened to from last August, this meeting is very contained, controlled, and sticking to a tight agenda. In the meetings I listened to, there was a lot more open discussion about what the purpose of this initiative was.
Boyer clarifies that this meeting is a jumping off point for digging in deeper with specific populations (such as teens, etc) in future focus groups. The goal is more general fact finding meeting to help guide future discussions.
Kathleen Hurd - speaking up because her typed answers got deleted. Following up on mother and infant comments before, breastfeeding is unfortunately still taboo. Requesting stations for mothers and infants to go to feel safe while breastfeeding.
Comment from Cher Conor - there should be more involvement with DPD, training on what to do if there is an active shooter.
Next topic, is the Adults and Caregivers cohort who value Safety, Convenience, and Accessibility.
Also, a question if these poll questions can be available on the website for people who couldn’t attend the meeting (this sounds possible to them). https://t.co/pnixTiYQ7M
Comments about how safety wasn’t as much as an issue when they were younger, more concerns about gun violence.
Lots of concerns about safe streets - dangerous driving, speeding, dangerous tress.
Desire for DPD presence in the community, to live and walk among them more often.
A suggestion from the chat: “Maybe we can do something similar to a college campus where there are safety stations at certain spots in the neighborhoods that have 24/7 access for help.”
Dave Walker asks if there is a neighborhood radio patrol.
There used to be but there were challenges - too many stipulations on putting it together, not enough active people.
Karla Williamson recommends re-starting that conversation, if you know anyone interested.
Verbal comment: Safety to me means legacy Detroiters not being priced out of the neighborhood.
Comment from resident Cher Conor: Seniors at food pantries, due to high cost of groceries, in the winter months they are standing in the cold.
Can they get food delivered to their homes in the winter months?
Yvonne Gilead, comments that there are senior programs that people just don’t know about. Many people would take advantage if they knew it existed, if transportation was provided. Also shuttles to Meijer would be nice.
Rev. Larry L. Simmons Sr., slumlords are out there who do not maintain properties, exploiting the poor, contributing to lack of environmental safety for all age groups.
Breakout rooms are starting - the topic is about routes that we take to feel safest https://t.co/TVufeJRNmE
The goal is that each breakout room creates maps for each age group: Youth, Adults, and Seniors. Some discussion on the logistics, the breakout rooms will last for about 20 minutes. As a documenter, I don’t think I should participate but I will continue taking notes.
In a breakout room with 13 participants, including 2 people from the project team (Dominique Boyer and Devendra Dugad).
Further comment from Dawn about how important legacy Detroiters staying in their homes is, and asking how we get more participation in these meetings.
Resident Louella Pizzuti shares that she did not get a notification for this meeting.
Boyer is going to fix it.
Discussion:
Q: Where do you go the most, what gets you out of the house?
A: Work, school, church, errands.
Q: Do you feel safe on the road?
A: Not really - the quality of the roads, the police, Detroit drivers.
Speed bumps are not effective, too large, do damage to cars, drivers can still speed after driving over them. sometimes people drive over peoples lawn around them, potholes develop around them.
Other routes mentioned: gym, doctor appointments (outside of Brightmoor).
One resident is a bike rider - notices that dogs are loose and roaming (some have owners, some are stray), was chased by one today and generally does not feel safe. Lots of blight, unpleasant scenery.
Resident Celeste Turner mentions traveling down the same street during her route, a school has been closed 20 years, abandoned buildings, burned out houses.
“No one’s moving into a community without a school. No one’s moving into a community with one school.”
“I want that [street] to look like Woodward Avenue. I want it to look like downtown…I want to see house after house after house.” - Celeste Turner
Resident Samuel Scarber mentions the blight problem. There’s a block near his church with no homes on it. Large piles of trash are being dumped, something needs to be done. https://t.co/URkMknJJCF
Boyer - as a city we’re trying to figure out what to do. I know you don’t want to hear that because you want to live with it, but this is transparency. We don’t have the resources. 15k acres of vacant land in Brightmoor.
Here’s that vacant land graphic that I shared earlier: https://t.co/ftgCndeTVY
Rev. Simmons, because of the vacant land, the grass grows so high, very rarely gets mowed by the city. If a serial killer want to hide, they could. People dump trash as they please.
Challenges Boyer’s claim that the city can’t mow the grass more than it does.
Boyer, would a focus group with DPD be beneficial?
Resident Trena: DPD, the city, Waste Management, all of them should be there.
Although, DPD is short handed. We need to talk to the person who handles the funds.
Video and photo documentation hasn’t helped so far.
Street safety isn’t just an issue on the small streets - even on main streets like Fenkle, Lahser.
“I never go on [my bike] Fenkle or Lahser because I don’t have a death wish.” - Louella Pizzuti
Resident Hoston, People running red lights on main streets, too dangerous too drive. Down wires for over 2 months, DTE hasn’t come back to repair on Lambere and Keller.
This is way beyond the capacity of residents to manage these problems - Rev Larry Simmons
Has seen boats abandoned in the streets, huge piles of trash from inside abandoned houses.
Resident Douglass Dillard: A DPD Task Force could look at dumping, look at blight, speeding, pick one at a time and make a difference on one issue.
Simmons: someone needs to care enough to set up a program to stop it.
Scarber: send the media, get the word out.
Dawn - Waste management is a problem - they don’t pick up bulk, knock over trash cans, get smart with me.
Resident Louella thanks Dominique Boyer, thumbs up from Rev. Simmons. Dominique says she has a grandmother in the city and is always worried for her safety, this is a passion for her.
Boyer recaps our group: blight, dumping, stray dogs, speeding on Fenkell and Lahser.
Dave Walker’s group: kids don’t go to the same school anymore, take buses. Lots of seniors go to food pantries, church. Routs to get to highways are the most active.
Karla Williamson’s group: Residents choosing not to use side streets because of stray dogs.
Boyer is wrapping up meeting - the next focus group will be in person, April 19 at 6pm https://detroitmi.gov/events/brightmoor-framework-plan-urban-agriculture
Website: http://bit.ly/brightmoorfp
Contact email: Brightmoor@detroitmi.gov
Question from Dawn, challenging the project team to do better to get the word out, meet the people where they’re at, put out fliers.
Dave Walker: We can put a stack of fliers at Crowell Community Center, and at Meijer.
Question from Cher Coner: Will the in person meetings be recorded?
Will record meetings that have a large group, but not smaller focus groups. These are available on the website.
https://detroitmi.gov/events/brightmoor-framework-plan-urban-agriculture
Comment from Tommie Obioha: flooding is a huge issue.
We will have a specific meeting about storm water, issues with rain, flooding with the DWSD.
Devyn McNaughton, works for DWSD, wondering if non profit (Keep Growing Detroit) will be at the next meeting on Urban Agriculture.
Rev. Simmons says that flyering is the least effective way to build meetings.
Douglas Dillard, we need more youth, involve the youth.
Walker, we are collaborating with Brightmoor Makerspace, has access to many young people. Will be doing focus groups with them.
Dominique Boyer and Dave Walker end the meeting, thanking everyone, and saying this is just one of many more to come. Meeting adjourns at 7:45!
Thanks for following along!
In response to someone’s request for more Brightmoor media coverage, this is one small step?
For more coverage, check out http://documenters.org!