On Friday, November 1, Mayor Mike Duggan joined Matt Moroun of the Detroit International Bridge Company (DIBC) and community and City and State leaders to celebrate the reopening of 16th St. connecting the residential street to the Fort St. thoroughfare.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorated a groundbreaking community agreement announced earlier this year and signifies the opening of 16th Street to the Hubbard Richard community.
The DIBC’s community agreement includes donating 11 properties to the Hubbard Richard neighborhood, donating property to the City to be incorporated into the Roberto Clemente Recreation Center and giving an additional $20,000 per property to the community.
DIBC has also committed to demolishing the former Greyhound Building (already completed), splitting the property and donating the larger parcel to Hubbard Richard for redevelopment.
The agreement also enables the Ambassador Bridge to expand its plaza, install a decorative brick wall, and includes other landscape and streetscape improvements to benefit the surrounding neighborhood.
In his opening remarks, Mayor Mike Duggan made note of the long years of fighting between the Moroun family and groups in Southwest Detroit. But, he gave credit to the Morouns and the Hubbard Richard community for finally coming together to discuss their respective long term needs. The result was the historic community agreement.
Sam Butler, president of the Hubbard Richard Residents Association took note of the significance of the occasion.
“We are here today to celebrate not only the opening of a new road, but really the opening of a new relationship between us and the bridge company. And, like all relationships, it’s made of bricks of trust mortared by a little bit of optimism,” Butter added. “We are optimistic and excited to continue to work with the bridge company in making Hubbard Richard the vibrant, walkable, healthy residential neighborhood that we know it can be. “
