DETROIT — (Nov. 8, 2013) —  The TechTown Living Room, an initiative of nonprofit urban development organization Midtown Detroit Inc., is part of a group of development projects that has been awarded the Urban Land Institute’s Global Award for Excellence. The award,  bestowed on Midtown Detroit today, is widely recognized as the real estate industry’s most prestigious honor. The Living Room project is supported by $175,000 from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The TechTown Living Room is part of Midtown Detroit’s plan to create an innovation hub in the city’s TechTown district—a business incubation area in midtown. Creation of the Living Room forms the first phase of a wider development project that won the Urban Land Institute award; the project is supported by several funders and anchor institutions focused on revitalization efforts in Detroit.

As the first phase of the plan, the Living Room will be developed as a central gathering space for more than 30,000 employees and students, including those from TechTown Detroit, Next Energy, Wayne State University, Henry Ford Health System and the College for Creative Studies. Funding from Knight Foundation will specifically support the design of the Living Room, which is currently being implemented by Midtown Detroit, Philadelphia-based advisory firm U3 Ventures, and planning firms Sasaki of Watertown, Mass., and Rebar of San Francisco.

“We hope that once it’s up and running, the Living Room’s innovative design and programming will have a catalytic effect on the district and create a place for casual collisions between the district’s many entrepreneurs, researchers and creative businesses,” said Sue Mosey, president of Midtown Detroit Inc.

Recognition of the project by the Urban Land Institute’s Global Award signals the significant effect that the project will have on Detroit as a growing knowledge hub. The award recognizes superior development efforts that go beyond good design, including leadership, community contribution, public-private partnerships and financial success.

“The Urban Land Institute’s recognition of Midtown is an important milestone in the district’s development,” said Mosey. “This award represents a strong counterpoint to the national narrative that has focused on Detroit’s challenges.”

“The award marks a significant moment in Detroit’s emergence as a knowledge-based economy. Midtown Detroit is being honored both for being innovative and for its plans to spark innovation,” said Katy Locker, Detroit program director for Knight Foundation. “The TechTown Living Room builds on a growing momentum in the TechTown District; it will create a vibrant environment that supports the ‘happy accidents’ among people that innovation requires.”

“The recognition by Urban Land Institute will help focus national attention on the transformation of Midtown and TechTown that is key to the turnaround of Detroit,” said Leslie Smith, president of TechTown Detroit. “The TechTown Living Room will solidify the district’s role as a center for entrepreneurship in Detroit.”

In addition to TechTown Living Room, the Urban Land Institute award also recognizes the Woodward Garden Block development, the Sugar Hill Arts District, The Ellington and Detroit Whole Foods Market, The Auburn, and the Green Garage, in addition to the TechTown District Plan, which was developed this year.

Midtown Detroit Inc. is one of 12 recipients of the award from a global pool of nearly 200 entries. MDI was selected as one of 27 finalists for the award in June. MDI would like to recognize its strategic partners that have made this award possible including: George N’Namdi and Zachary & Associates; Green Garage LLC; the Roxbury Group; Peter Cummings of Ram Real Estate; George Stewart and Michael Byrd; U3 Ventures; TechTown Detroit; Sasaki; the Kresge Foundation; the Ford Foundation; the Hudson-Webber Foundation; the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan; the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan; the Living Cities Integration Initiative; Knight Foundation; Invest Detroit; NCB Capital; Detroit Development Fund; the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation; Henry Ford Health System; Wayne State University; and the Detroit Medical Center.

About the Knight Foundation

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit www.KnightFoundation.org

CONTACTS:

Susan Mosey, Executive Director, Midtown Detroit Inc., 313-420-6000, [email protected]

Anusha Alikhan, Director of Communications, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, 305-908-2677, [email protected]