2017 ANNUAL REPORT ABOUT DDP AFFILIATES 04 26 DOWNTOWN DETROIT M o G o PARTNERSHIP MAP 28 The Downtown Detroit Partnership 05 DETROIT EXPERIENCE INSIDE DDP FACTORY advances Detroit by driving engagement, development and 06 30 programs that benefit businesses, LETTERS FROM THE CEO BUILD INSTITUTE AND BOARD CHAIR residents and visitors throughout 32 the Downtown’s urban core. 08 LIVE DETROIT STRATEGIC DIRECTION We strengthen and support COMMUNITY 10 Downtown Detroit through DATA SNAPSHOT 34 EVENTS strategic initiatives that evolve DDP INITIATIVES with the changing needs of the 36 community. 14 PARTNERSHIPS DOWNTOWN DETROIT BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ZONE PEOPLE We also convene business, 18 38 philanthropic and government DOWNTOWN PARKS MEMBERS, STRATEGIC partners to ensure that our mutual AND PUBLIC SPACES PARTNERS, FUNDERS AND FINANCIALS efforts are balanced and that all 22 perspectives are considered. PLANNING 40 DDP BOARD AND BIZ BOARD 24 SAFETY 42 DDP TEAM MACK MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. N I-75 BRUSH GRAND RIVER Little Caesars DOWNTOWN Arena DETROIT BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ZONE (BIZ) Parks and public FISHER FWY spaces maintenance I-75 DOWNTOWN PARKS AND CASS Safety Fox PUBLIC SPACES Theatre WOODWARD Comerica Infrastructure CLIFFORD Park and planning Cadillac Square The Fillmore Ford 3RD Field Hospitality Campus Martius Park MGM Grand PLANNING Casino ADAMS Supplemental Beacon Park SAFETY GRAND CIRCUS PARK lighting Development support BEACON PARK Detroit Spirit of Detroit Plaza Awareness and Opera Landscaping Infrastructure education MADISON House Woodward Esplanade planning Community and Public and private GRATIOT BAGLEY BROADWAY business outreach Capitol Park Market studies partnerships WOODWARD WASHINGTON Data and reporting Grand Circus Park Community outreach Project Lighthouse MICHIGAN AVE. I-375 Greektown CAPITOL PARK Casino Hotel 3RD STATE GRATIOT 1ST Westin BRUSH Greektown Casino M-10 MONROE LAFAYETTE BEAUBIEN W LAFAYETTE CAMPUS MARTIUS PARK DDP INITIATIVES W FORT CADILLAC SQUARE DDP AFFILIATES CONGRESS THE WOODWARD ESPLANADE RANDOLPH W CONGRESS LARNED W LARNED JEFFERSON SPIRIT OF JEFFERSON DETROIT PLAZA Cobo Center HART Renaissance MoGo DETROIT BUILD LIVE PLAZA Center EXPERIENCE INSTITUTE DETROIT Launched FACTORY spring 2017 Business and Rental listings Custom tours project planning Increased classes Detroit home mobility options Public tours buying resources in 10 Detroit Pop-up neighborhoods Welcome Center marketplace Neighborhood Downtown Detroit Business The District Detroit MoGo Station profiles Improvement Zone (BIZ) Area Flexible, convenient Information and Educational and and affordable resources professional City living transportation development information Public spaces programmed, managed option Event ambassadors workshops and resources maintained and/or supported by DDP Bike Lane QLINE Community ambassador program 4 5 DOWNTOWN DETROIT PARTNERSHIP MAP INSIDE DDP LETTER FROM THE LETTER FROM BOARD CHAIR THE CEO Detroit’s story, especially and Detroiters. Shared People like to say that Listening is what helps in recent years, is one of spaces like Downtown we are our stories. It us protect a balanced triumph over adversity parks make for an reminds us that we are narrative. One that and of hope amidst exchange of ideas and individual collections of celebrates the layers of change. The Downtown experiences, which experiences, thoughts people and experiences Detroit Partnership (DDP) can only enrich the and feelings that are that make up the city of is proud to be a part of participants. meant to be shared Detroit. One that values that. But we know there’s still with others. honesty and variety. One that plenty of work to do. We must always have our spurs us toward creative solutions view on what we do in My father was known to say, and hopeful action. That’s what gets us up in the Downtown to support the “characteristics that I look for in morning and drives us forward: Detroit neighborhoods, too. people include integrity, self- At a time when the Detroit this firm belief that we have all Remembering, we are no more confidence, and diversity of conversation is getting louder, the the tools we need to contribute or less important than any other thought, ideas, and experience,” need to be receptive listeners is to a brighter future for all of neighborhood in our city. and I’ve found that, at DDP, we’re greater. And as we look ahead in Detroit’s people. My family put often looking for similar things 2018, we at DDP are committed down roots in Detroit in 1911, Last year, our efforts continued in our efforts to understand such to not only listening but also to and I have lived here since 1986. to help build Downtown Detroit stories and respond effectively. convening and fostering and Strategic Staffing Solutions was into an increasingly vibrant welcoming everyone in the founded here in 1990 and has and resilient urban core. We As Detroit continues to evolve conversation. We are committed remained in Detroit through thick brought people together to work and grow, the Downtown Detroit to understanding Detroit’s stories, and thin. We know that our city cooperatively for our common Partnership’s role in listening past and present, so that we is a complex community built by goals. As part of these efforts, we to those stories remains vitally might be even more responsible a multitude of different people, made sure to take time and listen important. Tremendous growth in our stewardship of Downtown each contributing an essential — to our residents, businesses can be exciting, but it also in the future. element to the story of Detroit. and visitors — and to appreciate adds many new voices to a There is tremendous value in their the individual viewpoints that conversation that ultimately can After all, Detroit should tell its stories. shape their contributions. only benefit the city if everyone own story — not let the world can be heard. tell it for us. DDP’s work with We strive to develop a workforce This year, DDP is working to its board members, partners, that is truly representative of strengthen the solid framework DDP is uniquely positioned to members and individuals like the people of Detroit: their for equitable and sustainable hear both new and long-standing each of you will help Detroit and drive, their talent and their growth that we have built for so stories. Downtown to do just that. And ingenuity. As we do so, we long. Our partners — businesses, DDP will be there at every turn – can develop programs that organizations and individuals So much of our work is thoughtfully considering each and evolve with the changing — are crucial to DDP’s role as foundational to the Downtown every story. needs of our community. We steward of Downtown Detroit. We experience — from meaningful want to understand the unique are listening to your stories, and activations in our public spaces All my best, perspectives of all of the people we pledge to continue listening. to the day-to-day work of we serve Downtown and maintaining city streets and throughout the city. assisting the people who populate them. That work DDP’s initiatives, like the Business puts us in the thick of what’s Improvement Zone (BIZ), parks happening Downtown and in the and placemaking, and safety, Cindy Pasky all share the common goal of Chair, Downtown Detroit broader community. It allows us Eric B. Larson to engage with stakeholders of Chief Executive Officer long-term improvement for Partnership all kinds, visitors of all ages and Downtown Detroit Partnership residents and businesses. They CEO and Founder, Strategic backgrounds, and voices from all also help drive engagement Staffing Solutions sides of an issue. between residents, businesses 6 7 LETTER FROM THE CEO LETTER FROM THE BOARD CHAIR STRATEGIC DIRECTION The work of DDP is guided by three pillars that frame the strategic plan for the organization. 1 2 3 ENHANCE DDP’S ENHANCE ENHANCE DDP’S ROLE ROLE AS CONVENER DDP’S ROLE AS AS PROMOTER OF AND BALANCED VOICE STEWARD OF PLACE EQUITY AND INCLUSION WHY IT MATTERS WHY IT MATTERS WHY IT MATTERS Downtown Detroit is changing, and Downtown Detroit is a resource for Downtown Detroit is both business as it welcomes the new, it must everyone — from the resident who’s district and neighborhood, and also acknowledge and celebrate lived here for years to the out- its strength as an urban core its history. The need for context is of-towner interested in the latest impacts the whole city, as well as increasingly important as corporate Detroit buzz. And we want to be the region. But it will not succeed investment and development sure that, as more and more people without equitable neighborhood continue to impact the community. take the time to get to know this mobility and programs and services part of the city, they feel welcome that support interconnectedness HOW WE APPROACH IT and appreciate what the locals have throughout the city. DDP is made up of dedicated known all along: Downtown Detroit staff and stakeholders, each with is full of gems. HOW WE APPROACH IT unique perspectives. Whether it’s Throughout all areas of practice and a formal event inviting community HOW WE APPROACH IT programming, DDP seeks to create members to share their opinions With a long history of managing policies and best practices that about upcoming projects or a casual Downtown Detroit’s parks and public include all citizens, cultures, income conversation with a local business spaces, we know what it takes to levels and backgrounds as people owner or resident, we do our best to create and maintain award-winning engage in the Detroit experience – listen to all input. Because our ability public spaces, and we continue both Downtown and citywide. We to serve as a balanced voice requires to look for ways to innovate our recognize that for much of our work, that we first hear the voices of those programming each year.