[MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> i three seventy-five the highway that the strait of thriving epicenter of black life and the tree is going to be filled in and replaced by six lean street level boulevard with bike lanes and wide sidewalks.

once filled in approximately thirty acres of prime real estate will open up last year.

the city began hosting monthly meetings with stakeholders and community members about the process.

federal and state officials say the boulevard will reconnect the community destroyed by the highway nba repaired of process of various community members.

have concerns bring in from the physical design to if the process will really be repaired.

>> i think we've all kind of its weight around with the idea of getting rid of three seventy-five for a long time.

the fact that this is a that it's that it's happening in a way now, i think is exciting.

but also it makes me a little anxious because i do.

i don't know that all the things have aligned here to make this project, this transformational as it should be.

>> and a february meeting, more than fifty residents and stakeholders share their thoughts on the project.

some already feel like it isn't properly centering equity and justice.

>> as urban planning practitioners, you're not required to have a social justice background are critical consciousness about race.

so should be no surprise that when we get to projects like this, you know, there's a whole, you know, there's a whole line of thinking that isn't included because those people aren't trained with that.

is that their fall?

i don't know where the problem needs to be a it is.

it's a recurring theme, especially in cities like detroit where our community development in urban planning.

it is our so deeply intertwined with like race and justice.

>> an analysis was done of the intergenerational wealth lost when a highway similar lee displaced a black community in saint paul, minnesota.

at the same time, detroit highway one, the analysis found that at least two hundred and seventy million of intergenerational wealth was lost.

so >> given that and the history, do you think that it's possible that this >> project could actually be repaired of?

it can be, again, because i feel like those technicians that are leading this charge are open to receiving different kinds of ideas.

i think you have to make a data-driven queso.

i used to think, you know, and racial justice work.

you could appeal to people's moral compass, their empathy that hang on to anything you need to make a data-driven case for those folks to to behave differently.

and i think it's i think it's possible.

>> others have critiques of the physical design of the boulevard that the state is prioritizing traffic over connectivity, pedestrians and safety with nine liens at some points.

it's wide and replicates effect of the highway.

>> so can you touch on?

i do think that it will lessen the divide that the highway currently creates between the neighborhoods.

>> in some ways, yes, another way we we do have some concerns as one of the biggest benefit is going to have is the reconnection of downtown houston market because right now i think that if you're in downtown is going to ask for directions the market.

>> bye, bye or walking is basically no one really knows.

according to todd scott of the detroit greenways coalition, there will be a nice connection from ford field to easter market in during off peak traffic hours.

it should be more pedestrian and biking friendly.

>> so what do you think of the current design of the of the redesign of the highway right now and what would you want it to look like?

>> i want to look very different.

so i would say it's not a design.

that's not a smart design.

and it's not an urban design that really lends itself to any level of lake vibrance, urban vitality, density >> and lot of ways.

the new the road design that they present, it would be more dangerous for pedestrians.

then the current configuration is a freeway.

>> paul jones, the third freelance urban planner, remain skeptical of transportation leaders pointing to the woodward avenue q one project that left many detroiters disappointed.

>> what are some of the things that are like realistic to come out of this project that could be repaired us?

>> i've heard, you know, folks talking land trust.

i think that could be interesting.

so they're supposed to be a thirty-one acres of developable land are a result of the highway resurfacing.

it would be great if we could figure out how like to writers to financially benefit from that.

people are also talking about, you know, that we have a black business corridor now in honor of the black businesses that were just in like i don't care to ali.

that's a thing i really would like to hear what i is citizens have.

i think planners like to talk to a nurse.

i want to hear what people, you know, the differently oriented have to say on here with artists.

you know, we just need some.

so mark to think they're solid as possible.

[MUSIC] >> i think the most important thing is that you have building where you can bike or walk without a lot of the way.

and when that have been created by the ability and walkability, you can go much further than the panama up on.

we all want to do.

you have a military that lock.

but the bottom that wait a minute, if you get fentanyl going to continue on and it's going to take a long time to get anywhere.

so i mean, on paper, those both plans look like you're connecting things, but you name out of the way they can interview people walking and biking are really not that important.

>> the highway is expected to be removed by twenty twenty-seven.

until then.

state officials are hosting monthly meetings with community members and stakeholders to get input on the design and the process.

despite stakeholder request to reduce the width of the boulevard at every step of the project, state officials have noted that they will not do so.

one major decision that is still up in the air about who gets the thirty acres of land that will open up valued at fifteen million dollars.

this decision and more will shape of the project can really address the harm caused by the highway.