On Thursday, March 22, Mayor James R. Fouts presented this year's State of the City address from the Andiamo Italia restaurant in Warren. It's there where he announced his proposal for fixing Warren's lack of a downtown area, a $125 million project that would transform the 16 acres surrounding Warren's city hall into a brand new downtown on the site of the Civic Center.
"Finally, I think we're going to have a downtown," Mayor Fouts said at the event.
The story of Warren's traditional downtown, complete with a walkable, urban center, is a long and winding road—or, rather, Main Street. Thanks to David Gifford for leading us to these facts, many of which are available on his blog, which is readable via the Medium platform.
1. Remember Beebe Corners? That's OK, it was before your time.
Warren started as a small village on the Red Run River in the 1830s, but was then known as Beebe Corners. The small outpost between Utica and Detroit included a tavern and distillery. It incorporated as the Village of Warren in 1893.
2. Before Mound Road became famous for potholes, it was famous for swallowing half of downtown Warren.
Warren's original downtown is located at the intersection of Mound and Chicago roads. While some of the older buildings remain, the entire west side of the business district was razed in favor of widening Mound Road.
3. What’s old is new. New downtown, old City Center.
A new City Center was built along Van Dyke Avenue in the mid-1960s, across from the General Motors Technical Center, between 12 and 13 Mile roads. The 'new downtown' promoted by Mayor Fouts in his most recent State of the City address would be built at the site of that then-new City Center.
4. What’s old is new. New downtown plan, (slightly older) downtown plan.
The plan proposed by Mayor Fouts is not the first downtown envisioned for the City Center site. A master plan for a new downtown was first developed in 2006, with renderings that reveal even more density—and less parking—than the mayor's 2018 plan.
5. Warren's original downtown is still alive. And has great beer and vinyl.
Warren's original downtown still exists today and includes some of the city's more recognizable small businesses, including Kuhnhenn Brewery & Winery and Village Vinyl.
Mayor Fouts and his new downtown plans include a centerpiece: An upscale 7- to 10-story hotel from a nationally-recognized brand that would feature a restaurant, rooftop bar, business center, ballroom, and more.
Also planned for the downtown are restaurants; bars, breweries, and pubs; a large grocery store; electronics and appliance stores; and shoe and jewelry stores. Developments will also include loft-style residential living.
Another component of the proposal is a climate-controlled pedestrian bridge that would connect the new downtown to the General Motors Technical Center, leading pedestrians safely across the busy lanes of Van Dyke Avenue.
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