Welcome toTwo Sides, One Story — Michigan’s First HighwayBIRMINGHAM NPC MOBILE TOUR 2026
Birmingham - A Highly Unique Case Study of How Communities Develop Along Woodward Avenue
Woodward Avenue, metro Detroit's "Main Street," begins in Detroit and passes through several suburbs before ending in Pontiac. Birmingham, as the historical "halfway point," presents a unique case study as to how Woodward affects its component communities in both planning and reality. As Birmingham is a community that is bisected by Woodward, Birmingham has been steadfast in its effort to help reinvent the road through a unified, multi-jurisdictional approach. Enhancements being considered for Woodward in Birmingham include a lane reduction, pedestrian improvements, and additional green space.
In Downtown Birmingham, tour leaders touch on past and present downtown influences after Woodward was rerouted to the east. The tour features new retail and housing, redesigned city parks, new and small redevelopments, and streets reconfigured into walkable, vibrant places.
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1 Tour Stop #1 - Birmingham City Hall WELCOME TO BIRMINGHAM!Population: 21,763 | Median Household Income: $153,510 Birmingham officially became a city in 1933 after operating as a village incorporated in 1864. Since Birmingham's first General Village Plan in 1929, Woodward Avenue has been a prominent issue that demanded significant attention. 70 years later, Andreas Duany developed the Downtown Birmingham 2016 Plan that would reshape Birmingham forever. SEMCOG THEN & NOW | COMMUNITY EXPLORER |
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2 Point of Interest - Edison Via Utilizing space in a tight urban environment through the activation of alleys & passages. |
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3 Tour Stop #2 - Brown & S. Old Woodward Commercial redevelopment like the RH & Chase Bank Headquarters are emblematic of the draw of Birmingham and the ability to develop certain uses and at scales that may not work elsewhere. This stop represents a transition between different Downtown districts and reflects changes in zoning to accommodate a different experience. |
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4 Point of Interest - Brown St. Reconstruction Recent street construction project to support new Woodward traffic signal and crosswalk. |
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5 Tour Stop #3 - Maple & S. Old Woodward (Main & Main) Downtown Birmingham has experienced much in terms change, a result of several key visionary decisions that paved the way for investment and new opportunity. However, it is also a result of incidental history as well as opportunities not taken. |
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6 Point of Interest - Palladium Building The first building developed under the new Downtown Overlay Zoning (2002). |
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7 Tour Stop #4 - N. Old Woodward & Willits This stop represents the northern boundary of the Central Business District and a busy access point to the City. Bus stops, public art, and new development symbolize the changes that have occurred after a ring road concept to keep traffic out of Downtown was abandoned. |
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8 Point of Interest - N.O.W. Parking Garage |
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9 Tour Stop #5 - Booth Park Recreation & open space opportunities are critical in a dense urban environment. Booth Park has not always been a part of Birmingham's recreation/trail network - it started as a powerhouse for the Detroit United Railway system. |
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10 Point of Interest - The Rouge River The Rouge River is far and away Birmingham's most valuable natural asset. A significant challenge lies ahead with protecting this corridor and addressing stormwater a different way. |
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11 Tour Stop #6 - Willits St. Housing Redevelopment Housing redevelopment affects affordability, community and the environment. Considering the spillover effects of a successful Downtown on its adjacent residential neighborhoods is essential in planning at a neighborhood scale. |
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12 Point of Interest - Mixed-Use Infill Developing a new 5-story mixed-use addition to a historic building in a tight urban environent is not without its challenges. |
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13 Tour Stop #7 - Shain Park The final stop on the tour is Birmingham's civic-oriented "City-Center" that includes Shain Park, the Baldwin Public Library and City Hall. Shain Park is a critical community gathering space and symbol of growth. |