Lens on Detroit: Red Wings arena to transform impoverished Cass Corridor

The new Red Wings arena is planned to be built here.
Looking south from planned Red Wings arena.

The Cass Corridor, one of Detroit’s most challenged communities, is about to undergo a major transformation because of the $650 million Red Wings arena and entertainment district.

The area between downtown and Midtown has gone through many transformations, from a farm to a middle-class community to an area dominated by poverty and drugs.

Now the Cass Corridor is a medley of vacant and occupied apartment buildings, houses, bars, shelters and small shops. Its population is a mix of lower-income residents, homeless people, college students and a new crop of young professionals.
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The arena and entertainment district are expected to be complete by summer 2017, and massive changes are expected.

All photos by Steve Neavling.

Abandoned houses on Temple near Woodward, just north of the development.
Abandoned houses on Temple near Woodward, just north of the development.

 

The arena and entertainment district will replace the parking lots.
The arena and entertainment district will replace these parking lots.

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Woodward side of the development, where a church was intentionally burned to the ground.
Woodward Ave. side of the development, where a church was intentionally burned to the ground.

 

This area just west of the entertainment district is expected to draw a lot of new investment.
This area just west of the entertainment district is expected to draw a lot of new investment.

 

Residents of a low-income apartment building gathered last year after getting evicted.
Residents of a low-income apartment building gathered last year after getting temporarily evicted.

 

Abandoned Hotel Fort Wayne on Cass & Temple.
Abandoned Hotel Fort Wayne on Cass & Temple.

 

Vacant apartment at
Vacant apartment at Cass & I-75.

 

Another vacant apartment on Cass & I-75.
Another vacant apartment on Cass & I-75.

 

Stadium Liquor at Cass & I-75, where a shooting occurred last year.
Stadium Liquor at Cass & I-75, where a shooting occurred last year.

 

The Cass Corridor has a large homeless population, including this man who lived in an abandoned hotel.
The Cass Corridor has a large homeless population, including this man who lived in an abandoned hotel.

 

Mural for local activist and philosopher, Grace Lee Boggs, on Cass near Martin Luther King.
Mural for local activist and philosopher, Grace Lee Boggs, on Cass near Martin Luther King.

 

Remnants of the old Chinatown at Cass & Peterboro
Remnants of the old Chinatown at Cass & Peterboro

 

Mural by Detroit Asian Youth Project on Peterboro.
Mural by Detroit Asian Youth Project on Peterboro.

 

The abandoned Charlotte Lounge on Lounge near Cass.
The abandoned Charlotte Lounge on Charlotte near Cass.

 

The interior of the vacant Charlotte Lounge is in disrepair.
The interior of the vacant Charlotte Lounge is in disrepair.

 

Vacant Chinatown on Cass & Peterboro is getting a tattoo shop and restaurant.
Vacant Chinatown on Cass & Peterboro is getting a tattoo shop and restaurant.

 

Cass Corridor
DTE Energy demolished the low-income Temple Hotel to make way for a substation to provide power to the entertainment district.

 

The plan calls for trying to save the historic Hotel Eddystone & Hotel Park Ave.
The plan calls for trying to save the historic Hotel Eddystone & Hotel Park Ave., which would tower over the arena. 

 

Cass Corridor
At Hotel Park Ave., looking south at downtown.

 

Vacant buildings at Cass & Temple, just north of the development.
Vacant buildings at Cass & Temple, just north of the development.

 

Cass Ave., adjacent to the development.
Cass Ave., adjacent to the development.

 

The world's largest Masonic Temple borders the project area.
The world’s largest Masonic Temple borders the project area.

 

Cass Corridor
Kings Arms Hotel next to an abandoned house.

 

Cass Avenue south of Alexandrine is largely vacant.
Cass Avenue south of Peterboro is largely vacant.

 

Wayne State University Police cover a lot of the area now.
Wayne State University Police cover a lot of the area now.

 

Abandoned car in a vacant lot off Cass Ave.
Abandoned car in a vacant lot off Cass Ave.

 

Alley in the Cass Corridor
Alley in the Cass Corridor

 

Graffiti and abandonment at Park Ave. & Sporat
Graffiti and abandonment at Park Ave. & Sporat

 

The Temple Bar is still open at Cass & Temple.
The Temple Bar is still open at Cass & Temple.

 

Mural on Charlotte & Second Ave.
Mural on Charlotte & Second Ave.

 

Abandoned Cass Corridor Food Co-op on Charlotte & Second.
Abandoned Cass Corridor Food Co-op on Charlotte & Second.

 

Needle near Peterboro & Second Ave.
Needle near Peterboro & Second Ave.

 

Cass Tech High School, just west of the arena plan, was demolished in 2011.
Cass Tech High School, just west of the arena plan, was demolished in 2011.

 

The plan includes sprucing up this area around Cass Park.
The plan includes sprucing up this area around Cass Park.

 
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Steve Neavling

Steve Neavling lives and works in Detroit as an investigative journalist. His stories have uncovered corruption, led to arrests and reforms and prompted FBI investigations.

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