Building Better Systems to Support Land Based Projects in Detroit

WITH THE CITY OF DETROIT

Process design to support community land use

In Detroit, land based projects like urban farms, gardens, green infrastructure, and community spaces have long been led by residents who transform vacant lots into neighborhood assets. But the process for purchasing, permitting, and maintaining these projects was often confusing, inconsistent, and hard to access. In 2019, the City of Detroit partnered with community organizations and technical experts, including The Work Department, to make the system clearer, more equitable, and easier to navigate.

Alongside partners, The Work Department helped the City identify where residents were facing roadblocks and visualize how the current process worked. We led the design of large-format journey maps that clearly showed each step in purchasing and permitting a land-based project. In a series of community engagements, growers, green space stewards, and local developers reviewed draft versions of these maps—marking them up, flagging barriers, and recommending changes. Their input directly shaped improvements to how the process works today.


We also led the design for a full set of public-facing materials. This included five printed and downloadable guides that explain zoning, combining parcels, site design, permitting, and maintenance. Using everyday language and step-by-step visuals, we designed each guide to be easy to read, share, and print at home.

COLLABORATORS

Asakura Robinson
Agency Landscape & Planning
Detroit Collaborative Design Center
Detroit Food Policy Council
Keep Growing Detroit

Guide titled 'Permit and maintain' with steps for land-based projects and an explanation of permits, their importance, and how projects can be good neighbors, including contact information for Detroit city website and phone number.
Informational flyer about purchasing land in Detroit, detailing steps, resources, and contact info for the land bank and city regulations.
Informational flyer about land-based projects, zoning, and owning property in Detroit, including steps for purchase, permits, and resources contact details.
Informational flyer on land-based projects in Detroit, covering the steps to purchase, permit, and design land. It includes details on when a permit is needed, costs, and timelines for different project types, with contact information and links for more resources.
A flyer titled 'Plot Plan and Site Design Guide' with text explaining what a plot plan is, its importance, steps to take, and how to use the site design guide, along with a sample site diagram showing requirements.
Hand-drawn landscape plan for a farm plot, including details like property lines, sidewalks, split rail fences, orchard setbacks, a tool shed, row crops, gathering space with benches, neighboring lots, and streets.