DETROIT – The homes along Virginia Park Street in Detroit can boast early 20th-century architecture, but not the street itself.
While it’s true the more than 130-year-old brick road reflects the late 1800s, a time before Henry Ford’s first car and when buggies and bicycles dominated the street, it has seen better days.
Long and deep ruts stretch significantly along the Lodge Freeway and Woodward Avenue corridor. It’s a painful reminder of the race riots of 1967.
Following the police killings of three Black teens at the Algiers Motel, military tanks stormed Virginia Park Street to quell the uprising.
The ruts have only gotten worse for nearly 60 years. An early morning rain shower on Tuesday (Aug. 27) also revealed how much the road needs a restoration project.
A school bus traveling on the street sounded like a freight train.
“It has done a number on our suspension on our car, but we love the neighborhood,” said resident Brian Haber.
Two years ago, Jeffrey Cowin began storing 30,000 bricks on his property.
The donation and haul were made possible by neighbors and companies like DTE.
“So, here we are with a state-funded project to fix some of the damage done in 1967,” Cowin said.
After receiving state funding, the Historic Virginia Park Block Club and the city of Detroit are restoring the road brick by brick.
“It’s been difficult for people to drive on the street for a long time,” said Jodie Wise, vice president of the neighborhood association. “So, it’s nice to know – it’ll always be bumpy because it’s brick, it’s not going to be smooth like a paved street, but the seven-inch ruts will hopefully be gone.
The restoration project has been needed for decades, but momentum began six years ago, according to Steve Waldrop, president of the Historic Virginia Park Block Club.
The city is currently in the design phase and held the first of two public meetings earlier this month.
Neighbors say they’re ready for the project, but living through it will be different.
“Thinking about that, ripping up this whole street and nobody being able to park in their area will be another nightmare to deal with,” said resident Nicholas Ponte.