Detroit Future City’s (DFC) Working with Lots Program aims to accelerate vacant land revitalization in Detroit using the Field Guide to Working with Lots. The program has three components: a grant program, a workshop series, and a maintenance program.

The Working with Lots Program encourages community groups, faith-based institutions, non-profits, and businesses to install one of 38 lot designs to activate community spaces, address stormwater concerns, and create more attractive neighborhoods. The program awarded its first cohort of grantees in 2016, with installations taking place throughout the city of Detroit. Since then, DFC has invested over $330,000 in communities and vacant land transformation through the Working with Lots Program.

The Working with Lots Grant Program has been funded by the Erb Family Foundation, the Kresge Foundation and Bank of America.

Groups interested in using the Field Guide to activate a lot in their community can email info@detroitfuturecity.com to speak with a member of the Field Guide team.

Detroit Future City (DFC) has awarded grants to 10 grassroots organizations amounting to $97,500 to help implement lot designs from the organization’s Field Guide to Working with Lots.

This year, DFC introduced a new component to the Working with Lots mini-grant program called the Stormwater Credit Track. The Stormwater Credit Track is for businesses, faith-based institutions or nonprofit organizations to install green stormwater infrastructure projects to manage runoff and apply for Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) drainage charge credits, as well contribute to environmental sustainability, community education and neighborhood beautification.  Five grantees will be awarded up to $13,000 to implement Field Guide lot designs.

Canfield Consortium, which is planning to implement the “Four Seasons” Field Guide lot design on the east side of Detroit:

The Canfield Consortium is committed to redeveloping and engaging the East Canfield community located on the lower east side of Detroit. The organization will install the Four Seasons lot design to create a deeper sense of community and be a catalyst for future revitalization efforts.

Holy Temple Church of the Loving God W.C., Inc, which is planning to implement the “Party Lot” Field Guide lot design on the west side of Detroit: 

Holy Temple Church of the Loving God W.C., Inc is a faith-based organization, on Detroit’s west side, focused on cultivating opportunities for intergenerational collaboration and engagement. They operate several programs in the community, including food assistance and afterschool programming for at risk children ranging from ages four to 19 years old. They plan to integrate the lot design to enhance their senior recreation space.

Yorkshire Woods Community Organization, which is planning to implement a “Quiet Remediator/Native Butterfly Meadow” Field Guide combination on the east side of Detroit:

The Yorkshire Woods Community Organization will implement a combination of two lot designs that will assist with the chemical stabilization of lead in the soil by adding soil amendments and help capture, hold and absorb stormwater, while offering a colorful garden setting. The organization looks to maintain and build on the positive momentum of their neighborhood and continue to set precedent for a distinctly positive neighborhood aesthetic, while making stormwater remediation a priority.

Midwest Civic Council of Block Clubs, which is planning to implement a “Paisley Patch/Urban Edge” Field Guide combination on the west side of Detroit:

The Midwest Civic Council of Block Clubs will implement a combination of two lot designs that will create an inexpensive, diverse and aromatic groundcover. This will also help prevent illegal dumping by creating a planted visual barrier between the road and the lot. They are excited to implement a lot design that will be a tool to build community capacity and instill an increased sense of pride in the neighborhood.

North End Neighborhood Patrol, which is planning to implement the “Friendly Fence” Field Guide lot design on the east side of Detroit:

The North End Neighborhood Patrol will implement a lot design that will spawn a colorful rain garden, while also implementing a practical stormwater solution. The lot design will serve as a component of their safe routes to school pathways and a learning lot for youth to interact, engage and understand more about their environment.

Southwest Detroit Business Association, which is planning to implement a bioretention basin on the west side of Detroit:

Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA) is a coalition of businesses and community interests committed to facilitating the continuation and enhancement of a stable, economically healthy Southwest Detroit. SDBA has been working on a strategy for shared stormwater management amongst multiple properties on their block. The Working with Lots Mini-Grant will go towards implementing the first phase: a bioretention basin, or large engineered rain garden which will beautify an adjacent commercial alley and capture stormwater runoff from their building. This project will serve as a pilot for other businesses on the West Vernor Street corridor.

Oak Grove AME Church, which is planning to implement the “Stormwater Cistern” Field Guide lot design on the west side of Detroit:

Oak Grove AME Church will implement a lot design that will collect stormwater runoff from the church roof into an above ground cistern and then re-use the water to irrigate the church’s landscaped property. Oak Grove seeks to serve as a stormwater management model and share its learning and provide design support to the network of AME churches in Detroit.

AJOM Architecture, which is planning to implement a “Ring Around the Garden/Stormwater Cistern” Field Guide combination on the west side of Detroit:

AJOM Architecture will implement a lot design that will manage stormwater runoff from the building roof through a small cistern and large rain garden installation. The company and its community partners have improved several vacant lots next to the commercial building and organized free concerts and movie screenings, and plan to improve the park with additional landscaping and programming.

PizzaPlex L3C, which is planning to implement a modified “Stormwater Cistern” Field Guide lot design on the west side of Detroit:

PizzaPlex L3C is a community pizzeria, coffee shop, bar and event space in Southwest Detroit with plans to create an engaging, interactive outdoor space that can serve as an educational demonstration site for green infrastructure. The Working with Lots Mini-Grant will be used to implement a modified Stormwater Cistern Lot Design, where rainwater from the building’s roof will be directed into underground chambers and slowly infiltrate into the site’s sandy soil. A portion of the water will also be reused to irrigate a pizza herb garden.

YAW Associates, which is planning to implement both the “Stormwater Cistern” Field Guide lot design and a bioretention basin on the east side of Detroit:

YAW Associates will implement a lot design that will capture stormwater runoff from the adjacent commercial roof and irrigate its mini-farm and will also build a bioretention basin that will manage roof and parking lot runoff. It will create more curb appeal and serve as an educational hub for the Islandview community.