Ayesha Jeddy
Pronouns: She/her
Research Mentor(s): De Yi
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Architecture / AUP
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 3 – 1:40pm – 2:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Ayesha Jeddy, Peter Yi
Presenter: 90
Abstract
With the steady decline in population since the 1960s and influx of vacant land, land speculation and corporate development has had an unvarying hold on Detroit, assuming that large-scale development generates large-scale economic transformation. However the recent prominence of small-scale developments allude to alternate models of ownership. Interviews were conducted with a range of actors influencing land development in Detroit; this included the Detroit Land Bank Authority (DLBA), two non-profit organizations, and five community organizations, together reflecting the trend in vacant land development for housing and urban agriculture. Each interview was oriented around perceptions and experiences with the DLBA then expanded to capture how land is currently being used as well as the future of land use in Detroit. Site visits with the interviewees were also conducted to observe the current, dynamic uses of land. It was found that land utilized for small-scale development must be productive for the neighborhoods that they are in, blurring the idea of ownership as belonging to an individual. Observing land to be public rather than private allows architecture to respond to ecological, social, and cultural needs. Ultimately, these stewarding efforts possess the ability for dynamic future development because economic value is not the direct goal. Analysis of this stewardship versus ownership model was compiled into a journal article. Future applications of this project look towards producing architectural resources, such as a website and education workshops, that help Detroit residents navigate the renovation process associated with a DLBA-purchased home, making it easier to obtain affordable housing.
Arts and Humanities, Interdisciplinary
