{"id":67353,"date":"2015-12-15T22:11:20","date_gmt":"2015-12-16T03:11:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=67353"},"modified":"2015-12-15T22:11:20","modified_gmt":"2015-12-16T03:11:20","slug":"beyond-detroits-resurgent-downtown-avenue-of-fashion-recognizes-past-as-it-builds-new-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2015\/12\/15\/beyond-detroits-resurgent-downtown-avenue-of-fashion-recognizes-past-as-it-builds-new-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond Detroit\u2019s resurgent downtown, Avenue of Fashion recognizes past as it builds new future"},"content":{"rendered":"
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DETROIT \u2013 When it comes to Detroit, much of the attention and investment has gone to downtown, Midtown, Corktown and even Mexicantown.<\/p>\n

But one area coming back on its own terms and with a little less fanfare belongs to part of \u201cUptown,\u201d specifically, a stretch of Livernois Avenue called the \u201cAvenue of Fashion.\u201d<\/p>\n

The commercial district running along Livernois on the city\u2019s northwest side became known by that elegant moniker from the 1950s to the \u201870s, when the street was hopping with shoppers and destination retailers such as B. Siegel Co. and other high-end shops. The surrounding area remains one of Detroit\u2019s most stable, flanked by universities and historic, attractive neighbourhoods, but the avenue lost its flair as merchants closed or moved to suburbs and malls.<\/p>\n

While revitalization has been under way for several years, there\u2019s now a focused effort to capitalize on its past without duplicating it. The tree-lined boulevard seeks its own distinctive vibe through one-of-a-kind apparel shops, restaurants and three art galleries, within a broader revival of Uptown.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe spend an awful lot of time with downtown Detroit, we spend an awful lot of time with Midtown. I think it\u2019s time to spend some time with Uptown,\u201d Wayne County Executive Warren Evans said recently as he launched an effort to install 160 LED lights in front of and behind shops, alleys and parking lots along Livernois. The lights are paid for by an economic development grant and supplement light poles installed on the avenue.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been through some tough times in this city. It\u2019s time for neighbourhoods \u2013 healthy neighbourhoods like this one \u2013 to get some support and help,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Installing lighting to boost visibility and security might not warrant a big news conference elsewhere, but Detroit\u2019s public and private sectors struggled for a long time to make such improvements or even provide basic services. While much work remains, many things, including lighting, have improved since the city exited bankruptcy a year ago.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not lost on C. Grantston Bullard, whose business, CGB Design Studio, received the first exterior light. The owner of the luxury leather and fur shop said he met Evans at a business event and the political leader asked Bullard how he could help business.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said, \u2018Well, Mr. E., here it gets pitch black at night. We have no lighting whatsoever,\u2019\u201d Bullard recalled telling Evans. \u201cMy demographic is (women) 35 to 65, and they come with their kids… He said he was going to see what he could do about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bullard credits his decision to bring his studio and boutique to the Avenue of Fashion to Rufus Bartell, owner of a \u201clifestyle clothing store\u201d on the street called Simply Casual. Bartell estimates he\u2019s helped persuade nearly 20 businesses to open, relocate or expand on Livernois.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I came here 12 years ago… one of my goals was to get the bars off the windows, be able to drive traffic, drive value and recruit other businesses,\u201d Bartell said, adding he keeps business development going through a pop-up shop that allows entrepreneurs to test their products or services. \u201cThe history of the avenue is well-documented. However, I\u2019m more concerned with what\u2019s next.\u201d<\/p>\n

The current mix includes popular restaurants such as a Kuzzo\u2019s Chicken & Waffles, a Bartell family operation, and 1917 American Bistro \u2013 named for the year the surrounding Sherwood Forest neighbourhood was established.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis neighbourhood is actually the heartbeat of the city,\u201d said Don Studvent, 1917\u2019s chef and proprietor. \u201cWe have more black-owned businesses just in this part of the city \u2013 more than any other neighbourhood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lolita Haley, a real estate agent and program manager of the University Commons community development organization, said success can be sustained without the big names and big checks focused a few miles to the southeast \u2013 provided that businesses keep helping each other and surrounding residents support them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe always appreciate and welcome philanthropy, but I don\u2019t want that to be end goal because I know no white horse is getting ready to ride through here,\u201d Haley said. \u201cLook at the demise of the neighbourhood… if you don\u2019t do something yourself. You\u2019ve got to do what you can today.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DETROIT \u2013 When it comes to Detroit, much of the attention and investment has gone to downtown, Midtown, Corktown and …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":67354,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[1080],"class_list":["post-67353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fashion-and-beauty","tag-ap","mauthors-jeff-karoub","mauthors-the-associated-press"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67353"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67353\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}