Brightmoor, Detroit

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Coordinates: 42°23′47″N 83°14′43″W / 42.39639°N 83.24528°W / 42.39639; -83.24528
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Brightmoor
ZIP code(s)
48223[2]
Area code313

Brightmoor is a

census tracts
that includes some areas outside of the Alliance's boundaries, but does not include some areas within its boundaries.

History

In 1921, developer Burt Eddy Taylor bought 160 acres (0.65 km2) of land in

shantytowns awaiting the completion of their permanent houses.[6]

In a 40-year period until 2011, the number of residents in Brightmoor decreased. Crime appearing in the 1990s and 2000s caused additional residents to leave. In 2011 Suzette Hackney and Kristi Tanner of the

non-profit agencies aimed to assist the population of Brightmoor.[7] In the same year, urban gardens had been established in the neighborhood.[8]

In June 2013 the nonprofit organization Detroit Blight Authority began a cleanup effort of trash from a fourteen

lots are located in the area cleaned by the Detroit Blight Authority. The cleanup zone had about 70 vacant structures, with several houses that had received damages from burns and those ransacked by intruders.[9] The authority, with the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries and Mitch Albom Charities, organized the Blight Elimination—100 Houses Event in August 2013.[10]

Geography

A home in Brightmoor painted with a map of the neighborhood. A community "free library" can be seen in the yard.

Brightmoor is located in northwest Detroit, and generally bordered by Evergreen Road, Telegraph Road, Puritan Road, and Interstate 96.[6][11]

The Brightmoor Alliance under the City Connect Detroit organization define the boundary of Brightmoor as approximately 4 square miles (10 km2) in Detroit's northwest section.[

CSX railway to the south, Evergreen Road to the east, and Telegraph Road, Dacosta Street, and Outer Drive West to the west.[12]

The statistical definition for the neighborhood as defined in the city's

Redford Charter Township. However, Detroit properties along Telegraph Road
are generally not considered part of the Brightmoor neighborhood.

Cityscape

Rollo Romig of The New Yorker wrote "Much of Brightmoor matches what Detroit looks like in the popular imagination—an alarming amalgam of city dump, crime scene, and wild prairie".[11] As a result, the city's nickname is "Blight More".[11]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
199023,775—
200019,837−16.6%
201012,836−35.3%
202011,099−13.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 1990, the neighborhood had 23,775 people. At the time 12% of the population consisted of senior citizens.[2]

In 2000, the neighborhood had 19,837 residents, a 16.5% decrease from the 1990 figure. Of that, 37.2% of Brightmoor's population was under 18 years of age, and 5.3% was over the age of 64 years of age.[2]

In 2010, the neighborhood's population had fallen to 12,836, a drop of 35.3% over the previous decade. Of that, 29.9% of the population was under 18 years of age, and 12.7% was over 64 years of age.

Government and infrastructure

The Brightmoor Post Office of the United States Postal Service is located on Fenkell Avenue.[13]

Parks and recreation

Two area parks, the

Belle Isle or .25 square miles (0.65 km2). The Cheyne family gave 138 acres (56 ha) of that land to the City of Detroit in the 1930s. The 1936 deed restriction states that the city is required to maintain the land as a public park.[14]

The Brightmoor Alliance is a group of community organizations that work to coordinate revitalization programs in the neighborhood. Created in 2000, the Brightmoor Alliance meets regularly to discuss programs, events, and partnerships developed by member organizations. The Alliance also works with city officials and large community foundations like the Skillman Foundation to help plan and develop new programs for the neighborhood.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Brightmoor is zoned to

Detroit Public Schools.[2] Gompers K-8 and Murphy K-8, within Brightmoor, serve Brightmoor for Grades K-8.[15][16] All residents are zoned to Frank Cody High School, outside of Brightmoor.[17]

The current Gompers Elementary-Middle School, serving Grades PreK-8, opened in 2011. The two-story,

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified facility replaced the Gompers, Harding, and Vetal schools and was built on the Harding site for $21.4 million. It has an elementary wing and a middle school wing. The central administration suite, gymnasium, and multi-purpose room are between the two wings.[18]

Schools formerly serving sections of Brightmoor for elementary school include Thomas A. Houghton Elementary K-6th, Don Hubert Elementary,[19] Burt Elementary School, and Harding Elementary School; all of the schools are in Brightmoor. Vetal K-8 also formerly served sections for elementary school.[20] For middle school some residents were zoned to Vetal K-8,[21] Murphy K-8 was previously just a middle school.[22] At one time residents of Brightmoor were zoned to Redford High School.[23]

In 1999 Hubert had 614 students in grades PreK to 5.[24]

Private schools

City Mission Academy, a private non-denominational Christian school, is located in Brightmoor. Nicole Aikens opened the school in the early 2000s.[4]

Organizations

Organizations in the neighborhood include Brightmoor Community Center, Motor City Blight Busters, Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, Northwest Detroit Neighborhood Development, Neighbors Building Brightmoor The Detroit Partnership, NexusDetroit, Redford Brightmoor Initiative, and 28 other area businesses, community centers, and churches. [2] The current Executive Director of the Brightmoor Alliance is Rev. Larry L. Simmons, Sr.

References

  1. ^ Census Tract 5435, 5437, 5439, 5440, 5441, 54481 & part of 5433
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "A Basic Community Profile: Brightmoor." (Archive) City Connect Detroit at University of Michigan. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  3. ^ "Homes can't hide blight: Vandalism, abandoned buildings plague Brightmoor, obscuring signs of rebirth." The Detroit News. September 28, 1999. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c Carlisle, John (Detroitblogger John). "String theory." Metro Times. November 11, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d Archambault, Dennis. "Brightmoor: 'Feisty' Neighbors Use Hope, Innovation to Face Struggles." Model d. Tuesday September 29, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  6. ^ a b c Hackney, Suzette and Kristi Tanner. "How Brightmoor became a hot spot for homicides." Detroit Free Press. November 14, 2011. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  7. ^ "Article: Partnerships rebuild Brightmoor Community." Michigan Chronicle. May 31, 2005. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  8. ^ Archambault, Dennis. "Urban farming in Brightmoor Gardens: Neighbors sow change in Detroit." MLive.com. October 23, 2009. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  9. ^ "One of Detroit's largest private blight-cleanup blitzes gets under way in Brightmoor." Detroit Free Press. July 1, 2013. Retrieved on July 11, 2013.
  10. ^ "[1]." Detroit Free Press. August 10, 2013. Retrieved on August 16, 2013.
  11. ^ a b c Homig, Rollo. "When You’ve Had Detroit." The New Yorker. July 1, 2014. Retrieved on July 14, 2014.
  12. ^ "Brightmoor Alliance, community website Retrieved December 27, 2010
  13. ^ "Post Office Location - BRIGHTMOOR." United States Postal Service. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  14. ^ MacDonald, Christine. "Developer wants family's gift back from Detroit." The Detroit News. November 18, 2009. Retrieved on November 3, 2012.
  15. Detroit Public Schools
    . Retrieved on November 1, 2012.
  16. Detroit Public Schools
    . Retrieved on November 1, 2012.
  17. Detroit Public Schools
    . Retrieved on November 1, 2012.
  18. Detroit Public Schools
    . Retrieved on November 3, 2012.
  19. Detroit Public Schools
    . July 10, 2003. Retrieved on November 2, 2012.
  20. Detroit Public Schools
    . Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  21. Detroit Public Schools
    . Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  22. Detroit Public Schools
    . July 10, 2003. Retrieved on November 2, 2012.
  23. Detroit Public Schools
    . July 10, 2003. Retrieved on November 2, 2012.
  24. ^ "Schools: Employees pool cash to clear away snowdrifts: Hubert Elementary pays for plow in northwest Detroit." The Detroit News. January 20, 1999. Retrieved on November 5, 2012.

External links

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