What is now three miles of underutilized and neglected waterfront property is envisioned as a vibrant new mixed-use community, with a dramatic ribbon of riverfront parks and walkways that are intertwined with small neighborhoods and upland connections. A new open space system was conceived and given form as a critical component of the vision plan in which Thomas Balsley Associates participated with Cooper Robertson Partners, the city’s stakeholders, and Detroit’s Economic Development Corporation.
The 240-acre park experience ranges from broad, sweeping greenswards and state parks along a naturalized shoreline to large, interpretive grassland parks. Smaller social and active spaces for play, gatherings, and events enrich the park experience. All have been conceived of as common grounds for a new and diverse community, with river heritage narratives woven throughout in the language and culture of 21st century recreation. When completed, these parks will finally link Hart Plaza at the city’s downtown center to pastoral Belle Isle, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, and in doing so, reintroduce the citizens to their river and the world to a new image of Detroit.
Gateway Mall Master Plan
The Gateway Mall runs 18 blocks through the center of downtown St. Louis, terminating at the famous Eero Saarinen Arch, and provides a green spine in which the downtown’s workers, residents, and visitors can relax and celebrate urban living.
The mall never fully lived up to the potential envisioned by the civic leaders at the time of its inception. Thom...
Downtown Flushing Framework
The development framework for Downtown Flushing seizes on the unique and significant attributes of the area and connects them into a cohesive whole, implementing improvements to the public realm and incentivizing high-quality private development. The framework builds upon the rich history and cultural diversity of Downtown Flushing; the study area currently e...
Rijskaya District Master Plan
Guiyang CBD
In the heart of Guizhou province lies China’s Forest City: Guiyang. Nestled on the banks of the Nanming River, today’s Guiyang is a vibrant metropolis poised to play a significant role in the rapid development of inland China. The Nanming Riverfront Cultural Central Business District Master Plan, led by SOM, leverages this potential and proposes Guiyang as the...