MAYOR KILPATRICK ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF WORK PLANS FOR SIX NEXT DETROIT NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE COMMUNITIES

5/16/2007
Press Release

Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick’s NEXT Detroit Neighborhood Initiative (NDNI) was launched today with the razing of a dilapidated structure in Brightmoor and ended in the Osborn neighborhood where hundreds of youth cheered at the announcement of a new recreation strategy for their community.

NDNI is a 5-year strategy designed to improve basic quality of life issues such as cleanliness, safety and beautification by utilizing growth and development strategies in six city neighborhoods.  Mayor Kilpatrick and high-ranking members of his administration unveiled the details of their plans to transform Detroit neighborhoods during community rallies in each of the six neighborhoods being targeted for the first phase of the initiative.

“I’m here to report to you that your call has been heard,” Mayor Kilpatrick told the residents of the 7 Mile Livernois community.  “Together we have set the agenda for the NEXT Detroit with the launch of this aggressive neighborhood initiative.”

Over the past 15-months more than 21 meetings were held with business, ecumenical and community leaders and the demographic and socioeconomic data of each area was examined to prepare the work plans for each neighborhood. 

In addition to the house razing and new recreation strategy, residents learned of plans to jumpstart economic development in the Grand River-Greenfield area, a new beautification strategy for the Northend community; plans to make the 7 Mile Livernois community a “neighborhood of choice”; and a new crime reduction strategy for East English Village.

Mayor Kilpatrick told residents he was confident that the initiative would be a success if they continued to be involved.

“Without your hard work and commitment to this initiative, and the generous commitments made by our corporate, non-profit, and foundation partners, there would not be a NEXT Detroit Neighborhood Initiative,” Mayor Kilpatrick told residents.  “If we continue to work together as we have over the past 15-months, for the next five years, we will begin to experience the most revolutionary transformation our city has ever seen.” 

The long-term goal of NDNI is to preserve and enhance every Detroit neighborhood, but the Kilpatrick administration has determined the most effective way to make significant change is one neighborhood at a time.  The cost of implementing the initiative will be $225 million over the next five-years.  The city will spend $125 million of its own money and seek another $100 million from corporate, non-profit and foundation partners.           

Christine Beatty, Mayor Kilpatrick’s Chief of Staff and Anika Goss-Foster, Director of Philanthropic Affairs for the Mayor’s Office lead the day-to-day operations of NDNI.

David Bing, owner and president of the Bing Group and Walter Watkins, the City’s former Chief Development Officer are Co-Chairs for the Initiative.