Public Presentation on Train Station Development Set for June 20

This article was posted by Daniel Lai. It was written and reported on by the city of Dearborn.

The public is invited to the final presentation of conceptual designs for future potential development in the area around the new Intermodal Passenger Rail Station in west Dearborn.

The presentation will take place at 6 p.m. on June 20 at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave.

This is the final in a series of interactive public presentations to tap into the community’s vision for the west Dearborn area, which will be anchored by the new train station set to open in 2014.

The conceptual designs follow fundamentals of Transit Oriented Development (TOD), which uses transportation hubs as launching points for re-inventing existing areas, creating a unique sense of place, and driving economic activity.

At the June 20 meeting, the process to date will be explained and the final concept plan with images and implementation recommendations will be presented.

These public meetings have been ongoing since December 2012, with community visioning activities also in January and April.

Dearborn was chosen as one of only five cities to receive planning and design assistance from the MIPlace Partnership. 

The MIPlace Partnership is a collaborative effort of the Michigan Municipal League (MML), Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and Michigan State University (MSU).

Michigan is one of several states that is on the forefront of “placemaking” as an economic development tool.

The idea is based on the understanding that thriving communities and successful regions are places that are attractive to employees, places where connections can happen, where productivity and creativity increase and where professional networks foster collaboration and innovation.

In order to achieve successful outcomes, it is important to foster an environment in which individuals, businesses, organizations and government work together collaboratively.

The members of the MIPlace Team have extensive experience in assisting other communities, such as Traverse City, in implementing successful placemaking projects.