Livernois Community Storefront

The Livernois Community Storefront activated a formerly vacant retail space, providing a free community venue for local entrepreneurs and cultural events. The project filled a need for a community gathering space in the neighborhood and supported the ongoing revitalization of the historic “Avenue of Fashion” commercial corridor. The Storefront was open for 1.5 years, supporting aspiring entrepreneurs and local artist and bringing countless people to the Avenue. Recent energy on Livernois has led to more than 12 new businesses in the area. The Storefront represented an innovative implementation approach through collaborative partnerships and investments that contributed to a sense of community. Most importantly, the Storefront became a means for civic engagement and a catalyst for action, sparking residents to imagine possibilities for the space and the corridor that reflected their values, needs, and concerns. The Storefront contributed to a larger collaborative momentum toward revitalization along Detroit’s Livernois Avenue that is ongoing.

Detroit Collaborative Design Center, 2013-2014

Role: Project Manager & Designer

Partners: Revolve Detroit, University Commons, Challenge Detroit, Livernois Avenue business owners, Surdna Foundation