BROWN
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Nonprofit Creates Model Green Streetscape
Design to Enhance Community
Sustainability Pilot Background
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EPA's Brownfields Sustainability Pilots provide technical assistance to assist
communities in achieving greener, more sustainable results when redeveloping
brownfields. These pilots also provide models for other communities across
the country.
EPA provided Focus: HOPE, a civil and human rights organization in Detroit,
Michigan, with technical assistance for the sustainable redevelopment of a half
block of Oakman Boulevard in Detroit's Central Woodward/North End area. The
area includes several brownfield sites and three adjacent properties. EPA provided
assistance to support the integration of sustainable streetscapes and site-specific
stormwater management approaches for the brownfield site and the adjacent
properties undergoing redevelopment.
Focus: HOPE Project Background
Focus: HOPE is working with local partners to redevelop several properties along Oakman Boulevard. These
properties were once used for industrial and commercial purposes including metal fabrication, warehouses and a
service station. Focus: HOPE'S plans for the area include the construction of a new residential building for affordable
housing and the conversion of an historic commercial high rise building into a mixed use building. A new pocket
park is also under construction at the corner of Oakman Boulevard and Woodrow Wilson Avenue, which will provide
needed open space for the neighborhood.
The Focus: HOPE Sustainability Pilot initially focused on identifying green building design elements for the
commercial high rise and new residential building. Focus: HOPE and its partners later determined a greater need to
incorporate sustainable approaches within the streetscape.
Project Highlights
EPA's technical assistance to Focus: HOPE included the development of the Green Streetscapes Study for
Oakman Boulevard, Detroit, Michigan. The study includes an introduction to green streetscape concepts, sample
specifications, and construction details to support implementation. The study provides developers, designers and
policy makers with essential components for achieving successful "green" streets.
Although many of the green streetscapes components outlined in the study may be applied to other properties, the
study focused on the specific properties being redeveloped along the half block area of Oakman Boulevard. The EPA
technical assistance team identified six green streetscape design objectives, including:
Improve Air Quality
Reduce Heat Island Effects
Improve Water Quality
Enhance the Urban Forest and Wildlife Habitat
Reduce Light Pollution
Mitigate/Rehabilitate Brownfield Conditions
The team identified green streetscape design guidelines and developed project concepts to meet the six objectives.
Design concepts include sustainable stormwater management practices, native landscaping, bike facilities, and
furniture and fixtures. To illustrate the feasibility of meeting the six green streetscape objectives and provide a roadmap for
implementation, the study provided a conceptual design for adjacent redevelopment sites along Oakman Boulevard.
Focus: HOPE shared the project study with City of Detroit staff and is working to secure support from city officials
for project implementation. Redevelopment on the four properties within the project scope is slowly progressing,
despite a difficult affordable housing market. As the properties redevelop, Focus: HOPE intends to implement
recommendations from the study for site stormwater management, native landscaping and green streetscapes
elements to the extent both financially and operationally possible.
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Challenges and Lessons Learned
Fully Integrate Sustainable Design
Professionals into an Ongoing
Development Team
EPA sustainable design support was brought into
an ongoing process where the development team
was already in place. Extra effort was needed to
fully integrate the short term technical support into
the ongoing project to help focus the project and
create synergies.
Include Local Expertise in the Project
Knowledge of local conditions, climate, community
challenges and city requirements is important to
bring focus to a project at inception.
Ensure Strong Project Coordination
Good coordination between the lead project team members is essential to meeting project objectives. The
Focus: HOPE project coordinator and EPA regional contact worked closely to coordinate and guide the technical
assistance to ensure that project goals were met.
Example of curb extension for Oakman Blvd.
Sources for Additional Information
For more information on this project, please see the full Focus: HOPE technical assistance study at:
www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/reports/Streetscapes_Final_7_31_09.pdf
Regional Contact Information
For more information on the Focus: HOPE Green Streetscapes project, please contact:
Aimee Storm
EPA Region 5
312-886-1972
storm.aimee@epa.gov
Nonprofit Creates Model
Green Streetscape Design
to Enhance Community
EPA-560-F-09-502
October 2009
www, epa.go v/bro wn fields
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