"The primary objective of the project was to establish an all-in-one community to breathe new life into Detroit’s East Riverfront, which has been historically underutilized and abandoned stretch of the city. At its core, the development is a community-driven response to affordability, walkabilty and accessibility. The project introdues a blend of residential and retail spaces to cultivate belonging and local vibrancy. The site is anchored by an eight-story apartment building that offers affordable housing units which are strategically positioned to maximize density without overwhelming the neighborhood scale. Streetside rowhomes along Rivard Street create an intimate, uman scale edge, bridging the urban fabric with residential warmth.
A key feature of Union Place is its retail sector, centered around a full-service grocery store, which is a critical community amenity in a known food desert. This not only provides practical value but serves as a communal hub, reinforcing the project's commitment to neighborhood wellness. Architecturally, Union Place balances contemporary design with contextual sensitivity. Materials, massing, and public realm design all reference Detroit’s industrial and residential heritage, while integrating sustainable strategies like photo-voltaic produced energy and shared outdoor spaces. The main focus of materiality is the use of mass timber which each building utilizes structurally."