When you close your eyes and think of an alley, what do you see?
Trash? Junky cars? A place where danger lurks?
Or do you see a place where people might stroll? Perhaps car-free? Certainly cleaned up.
That's what Sue Mosey sees.
She's president of Midtown Detroit, Inc., a nonprofit community-development group that is working to transform gritty urban alleys in Midtown Detroit into something that is green, something you would want to walk through, and something that helps with urban revitalization.
Mosey said the alleys in Midtown Detroit were in very bad condition, some even collapsing. Mosey said the group worked with the Department of Public works to help with underground repairs.
“Since we are going to have to redo them anyway, we figured why not make them green and sustainable and beautiful,” Mosey said.
They repave, rebuild, and add lighting to the alleys, as well as other projects to make them more attractive and safe for the city.
“It’s an opportunity to reuse something that is usually seen more as a negative and create something unexpected and really positive and people really respond to that,” Mosey said.
*Listen to full interview above.
