By Richard C. Clement
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Conceptual Design from the Magic Plus Group |
Councilman Cushingberry supports the efforts of Mr. Beatty,
Mr. Ferguson and, Mr. Johnson to create jobs and revitalize Detroit through the
development of the State Fair Property. Community
Input Regarding the State Fair Project by the Magic Plus Group was taken on
June 26th, 2014 at the Northwest Activities Center. Suggestions from the community were collected
on cards for review by everyone involved to be incorporated into the final
plan. The Magic plus group has an Amtrak
station in the plans that will be a vast improvement over the current AMTRAK
station in Midtown Detroit. Currently, the AMTRAK station in Midtown has NO
parking available and is a total embarrassment to the City of Detroit.
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Preliminary Design Plan |
The meeting gave everyone time to present their ideas, like
preserving something that was the old State Fair like the Band Shell. The meeting allowed the leadership to decide
what type of housing will be placed there. The City of Detroit has lots of land and empty
homes right now that need to be redeveloped and rehabilitated. The REDICO/Magic Plus Group is responsible
for only 157 acres of the City.
There is no monetary commitment from Michigan Department of Transportation
and, the Regional Transportation Authority to enhance the current Transportation
situation. This attitude will change when the AMTRAK part of the property is re-designed.
This will force the enhancement and upgrade of the current bus and rail
situation at the Fairgrounds.
A monetary commitment from the US Department of Transportation
will foster the development of a regional transportation hub. A rail system similar to the City of Miami
Florida would tie in Amtrak, DDOT, SMART,
M1, M2, M8, M102, M3, and M5 on a regional rail system funded with
Transportation revenue from creating and growing alternative fuel energy. Solar Panels, Wind Turbines and, growing fuel
like Industrial Hemp and other plants will redefine the energy needs for a
region and a nation.
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The Obama Administration has two years left to serve and can
leave a lasting legacy at the old State Fair property with a construction
project to assist in the re-development. This is possible if the people vote at the
ballot box to re-direct the leadership this August and November 2014 in Lansing,
Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. The RTA is an organization with NO funding or public
financial support. The alternate
proposal by the
META Tech Expo Group is based on the area being bigger than the
size of Downtown Royal Oak Michigan.
Detroit is much larger than Royal Oak and, the size issue is a totally insignificant
fact. The need for regional rail is clearly demonstrated when you drive the
Lodge Northbound at 5:30pm Monday through Friday. This is an issue that has to be addressed at a
State and Federal level.
The next meeting regarding the State Fair Project will be
posted in the near future.