Redesigning Greektown: Inside Detroit's New People-First Streetscape For An Old Favorite

Greektown has been a staple of downtown Detroit for generations. I have so many great memories as a kid, and it's one of the most "city-feeling" areas of Detroit, and has a litany of great restaurants, bars, and more. Now, a major transformation has made Monroe Street more flexible, pedestrian-friendly, and vibrant for the future. Norris Howard and I sat down with Lori Singleton, landscape architect and design director at SmithGroup, to break down the vision behind the new Greektown streetscape. We dive into: The Shift to Pedestrian-First Design and why sacrificing some on-street parking allowed for expanded outdoor dining, curbless walkways, and flexible plaza spaces. How clever systems and underground engineering keep street trees healthy without destroying sidewalks or drowning roots. And how incremental public space improvements — from the Dequindre Cut, to Beacon Park, to Capitol Park, to Grand Circus Park — are reshaping how people experience downtown Detroit. There are more images in our newsletter going out tonight. Sign up here: https://www.dailydetroit.com/ Remember that our Summer Studio Open House is SATURDAY MORNING! It's free, but please RSVP on Eventbrite so we know how much coffee and donuts to get. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1995592904096?aff=oddtdtcreator Make sure to follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows. Thanks to our members on Patreon! We have our new $3.13 tier to keep local media alive in the 313.