Downs Development Project Continues
With spring 2025 upon us, construction is underway in all areas of The Downs development.
First units of The Downs near completion
A grand opening is being planned for the first units of The Downs development project. On May 17, the attached single-family homes located on the Center Street, just north of Fairbrook Street, will be available for viewing. The four homes were constructed by Toll Brothers and are the first to be completed in the project. Additional homes are also under construction on the corner of Cady Street and Griswold, as well as on the corner of Center Street and 7-Mile Road.
River Park construction progressing
Construction continues in the River Park and the vision of daylighting the Rouge River from Beal Street to 7-Mile Road is being realized. The course of the new riverbed has been visible since grading was completed in the fall. Three of the seven stone riffles are installed midway along the river section and toe-wood and root-balls have been installed along the water’s edge to stabilize the riverbanks. The root-balls will be covered with soil and planted with live stakes to establish a riparian buffer. Landscape material has also begun to be delivered to site, for installation later this season.
This month, the River Park contractor BNV, will be conducting repairs to the Beal Street bridge abutments and installing the east abutments for the two pedestrian bridges.
Temporary access gate to be installed on River Street for construction of east side of River Park
A temporary access gate is planned to be installed on River Street to facilitate delivery of construction materials to the east side of River Park. There is currently no access to the east side of the new river channel without driving over the concrete box culvert currently enclosing the river. The box culvert is unstable and not able to support the weight of the delivery vehicles.
The gate will be located just south of Gardner Street and will only be opened for materials delivery. All access to the River Street gate is to come via 7-mile and vehicles using the River Street access gate are prohibited from traveling down the surrounding streets.
Griswold Street pedestrian walkway to see intermittent closures due to Beal Street bridge work
One of the infrastructure improvements integral to The Downs development and necessary to daylight the Rouge River is construction of wing-walls on the Beal Street bridge. Wing-walls will be installed on the south side of the bridge to direct the water flow so the river can be moved from its current box culvert enclosure to the open river channel. For pedestrian safety, the walkways along the east side of Griswold Street and north side of Beal Street will be closed Monday – Friday, 7 am to 6 pm, during the wing-wall construction. A pedestrian detour will be in effect during those times. The wing-wall construction is expected to take four weeks.
Installation of public utilities to begin on The Downs Phase 2 and 3
Water and sewer line installation is expected to begin on The Downs Phase 2 and 3 in May. Phases 2 and 3 are the main portions of The Downs development located east of Center Street, south of Beal Street and north of 7-mile Road. Stante Excavating began de-watering the site earlier this month to prepare for the sewer installation which is expected to take several months. Roadways will be constructed in the fall, once the public utilities are complete.