Major changes are coming to the leadership of the Detroit Planning and Development Department (PDD). Planning Director Maurice Cox and Deputy Director Janet Attarian are both stepping down. Both have had a tremendous impact on moving Detroit forward, but especially with parks, greenways, and biking infrastructure. We’ve really enjoyed working closely with them and learning from them.
One especially memorable moment with Maurice occurred shortly after he came to Detroit. He pulled together many of the long time bicycle advocates with city staff and we met in a Mayor’s office. Here he announced that he wanted to make Detroit the best bicycling city in America. There wasn’t much reaction. We were in shock to hear this coming from the city.
It was also Maurice who early on declared that protected bike lanes would be the design minimum for major Detroit streets. He promoted the 20-minute neighborhood idea, where every Detroiter could walk or bike for their non-work errands in under 20 minutes. He expanded the Joe Louis Greenway vision from a mere trail to neighborhood revitalization tool. He was adamant that the Detroit Riverfront should be developed with world class public spaces for Detroiters.
While he and his team achieved much more, we must mention that he also was a regular bike commuter.
Maurice will step down in September and begin his new role as Planning Director for the City of Chicago.
A Bike Infrastructure Rock Star
Losing Janet is equally tough. She came to Detroit via Chicago where she was their Complete Streets Director. She also led the development of hundreds of other projects, including the McDonald’s Bicycle Station, Bloomingdale Trail framework plan, and more.
We used to hustle to bring bike and trail design rock stars to Detroit for workshops, but with Janet, we had one here full-time. She brought a wealth of experience and a pragmatic approach to making safer streets for everyone. She led the design and development of the protected bike lane designs, such as the ones on Cass and E. Jefferson.
She was also instrumental for the framework planning currently underway with the Joe Louis Greenway. At that time, we weren’t certain that was necessary. Now we now it was the right decision. This greenway planning is bringing a much more diverse community voice into the project that strengthens the greenway’s support.
Janet’s last day with the City is July 26th. She’s being coy about where she is headed, but has said she “will not be going far.”
What’s Next?
It remains to be seen who will be the permanent replacements for these positions. We can easily imagine Mayor Mike Duggan seeking equally qualified candidates. In the meantime, there is still a fully-staffed planning department that supports greenways and Complete Streets. Two former members of PDD are now in DPW and GSD as this work has spread between departments.
In short, we’re not worried.
Additional Reading
Planning Director Maurice Cox, Champion of Detroit’s Neighborhood Revitalization, Stepping Down in September, City of Detroit Press Release.
Maurice Cox, head of Detroit’s planning efforts, resigning as of September, Detroit Free Press.
Statement from Maurice Cox:
Janet Attarian, Deputy Director of Detroit’s Department of Planning and Development, leaves the department with a significant mark on design excellence, innovation, equity and inclusion in Detroit’s recovery. With much gratitude and regret we bid Janet farewell as she steps down from her role as Deputy Director and takes the next steps of her career. Her last day with the City of Detroit will be July 26, 2019, however we are fortunate that she will remain in Detroit and continue to positively impact the lives of our citizens and their built environment. Throughout her time here, Janet has been at the forefront in our progress towards building strong neighborhoods and has played a key role in driving our commitment toward equity and inclusion, while also encouraging us to expand the orbit of those who participate in bringing back Detroit. Her work will leave a lasting mark on the department and the city.
Janet joined the Department in June 2016 as Deputy Director when the city was reimaging civic life in its neighborhoods through new streetscapes, parks, greenways and pedestrian-oriented development. As a key member of Mayor Duggan’s leadership team, Janet helped transform Detroit by immediately advocating for public infrastructure that put people at the center. Janet took her deep understanding of people, places and transit and applied them to the needs of Detroiters, who have long felt disenfranchised as pedestrians in the Motor City.
There is much to say about Janet’s contributions as the Deputy Director for Planning and Development. In that role she designed a Streetscapes Program funded through a $125-MM road bond that will transform 20-plus miles of commercial corridors into pedestrian-oriented places. She assisted Mayor Duggan in negotiating an immensely complex community benefits agreement on behalf of Southwest Detroit that is to receive the Gordie Howe International Bridge. In 2018, Janet helped the Department of Public Works design and execute a larger network of protected bike lanes than any other city in America that year. She grew into a trusted advisor and the “go-to expert” on transportation and place-making issues for other city department heads and for the leadership team at the Michigan Department of Transportation. Her reimaging of the I-94 Corridor and transformation of I-375 to a future “at-grade urban boulevard” will fundamentally reconnect neighborhoods and provide more mobility choices for Detroiters.
As a leader and mentor within the Planning Department, Janet has assisted me in hiring over thirty design professionals from a multitude of fields, providing Detroit with one of the most racially diverse, design-centered planning departments in the country. Her ability to identify and mentor professionals has created a culture where talent is rewarded and promoted. I have rarely found individuals like Janet, with both deep technical knowledge of their field and patience and respect for the intelligence of others, who so willingly share their knowledge in an accessible and plain-spoken way. She has been a confidante, partner and dear friend whose laughter and ready support will be missed.
Maurice D. Cox
Director of Planning and Development