(WWJ Photo - George Jackson, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and City Councilwoman Barbara Rose Collins)
Posted: Thursday, 24 July 2008 5:05PM
The Return of Paradise Valley
Detroit (WWJ) -- Detroit is reviving Paradise Valley, the famed neighborhood known decades ago for fabulous jazz music. WWJ Newsradio 950's Pat Sweeting reports that it will be built at what is currently Harmonie Park.
Thursday’s groundbreaking (photo, above) marked the beginning of Phase One, which boasts streetscape improvements within the district to ensure an attractive, pedestrian friendly environment for visitors and future developers.
The downtown district will pay homage to the entertainment and ethnic spirit of the former Paradise Valley, while creating a destination zone for Detroiters and visitors. The upcoming entertainment district will include restaurants and retailers.
Detroit Councilwoman Barbara Rose Collins was present at the groundbreaking, reflecting about the destruction of the original Paradise Valley.
“That’s when the state put a freeway down Hastings Street, and destroyed a whole community which included Paradise Valley,” Collins said.
“First of all we didn’t have the power to stop the state from destroying African American neighborhoods for the soul purpose of allowing suburbanites easy access to downtown.”
Collins added that now they have the power to stop this from reoccurring.
The Detroit Economic Growth Corperation and the Downtown Development Authority are collaborating on the project. The first public presentation of the plans was unveiled last year at the Harmonie Club.
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