The Michigan Chronicle continues its up-close look at each of the seven city districts that are represented by seven city council members. Two council members, which round out Detroit City Council, serve at-large. After publishing profiles on Districts 1, 2, and 3, this week we focus on District 4, represented by City Councilman Andre L. Spivey.
Mayor Mike Duggan, under the auspices of the newly formed City of Detroit Department of Neighborhoods, has appointed Odell Tate as District 4 manager and Toson Knight as deputy manager, both of whom report to Charlie Beckham, the department’s executive director.
District 4 is comprised of many communities and neighborhoods bordered by East Seven Mile Road, which turns into Moross to the north; Mack Avenue to the east, inclusive of Alter Road, where the district extends to and along the shoreline of the Detroit River. Riverside Boulevard is District 4’s most southern street. The district’s west boundaries, as it heads north from the Detroit River, include such streets as Clairpointe, Conner, Jefferson, Harding, McClellan, Mack (again), Conner (again), McNichols, and Gratiot, before connecting to its East Seven Mile Road north border.
“We have a very eclectic district with great assets, such as great schools, great residents and great neighborhood associations that have real pride in this district,” said Spivey. “There are people moving out, just like in any district across the city, but we have a whole lot of people and businesses moving in because District 4 is vibrant.”
According to Data Driven Detroit, a local organization that specializes in demographic profiles of Detroit, District 4 has a population of 98,666. There are 90,212 African Americans, 789 Hispanics, 5,339 Whites and 2,326 representing other ethnicities.
Some of the neighborhoods and communities that make up District 4 include MorningSide, East English Village, Cornerstone, Lake Point, Yorkshire Woods, Maple Ridge, Jefferson East and Jefferson-Chalmers, to name a few.
“Each one of these and the other communities in District 4 have strong leadership in terms of addressing issues that will improve the quality of life,” said Knight. “These leaders have been creative and innovative in working to solve issues that impact every aspect District 4.”
Educationally speaking, District 4 is home to about two-dozen schools, including Denby High School, Southeastern High School, East English Preparatory Academy High School, Ronald Brown Academy and Clark Preparatory Academy. Additionally, Wayne County Community College District’s Eastern Campus is in the western sector of the district.
District 4 is also home to approximately 85 churches, which include New Greater Zion Hill, Metropolitan Community Tabernacle, Bethany Lutheran, Greater Old Landmark Missionary, East Lake Baptist Church and Banks of Jordan Missionary.
“We have a very strong relationship with the faith-based community of District 4,” said Tate. “We have a District 4 leadership meeting once a month with faith-based pastors, community leaders and retail leaders to collaborate on how we can put resources together to make this district better. The faith-based community is very much a part of this.”
District 4 has several large employers, such as St. John Hospital, Chrysler Jefferson North Assembly Plant, and Wayne County Community College Eastern District Campus. Errol Service, an African-American entrepreneur, owns several McDonald’s restaurants in District 4. Additionally, there are numerous smaller businesses that are African American-owned and have been in the district for decades, including Maison Restaurant, M&M Pet Supplies, AAA Laundromat and Dry Cleaners and Singleton Cleaners.
There are also many parks designed for family fun in District 4. The UAW-Ford recently unveiled a brand new state-of-the art baseball facility that the storied union funded for Little League baseball teams. The facility is located in Balduck Park. Close by is Chandler Park, the district’s largest park, which is also home to Chandler Park Family Aquatic Center. Adjacent to Chandler Park is Chandler Park Golf Course. Along the Detroit River sectors of the district are Alfred Brush Ford Park and Maheras Memorial Playground.
The historic Alger Theater, which opened in 1935, is also in District 4. While closed due to renovations, the theater, which is in the MorningSide neighborhood, is expected to be a vital component to the revitalization of the entire district. The Friends of the Alger Theater, a community organization made up of residents and district businesses, has been active in bringing the theater back to its days of glory. In 2005, the “Art Deco” Alger Theater was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In addition, the famed Harpos Concert Theatre is in District 4. It was built in 1939 as the Harper Theater which showed first-run movies. However, in 1974, it was turned into a rock concert venue that featured top national rock acts such as Iron Maiden, Mitch Ryder, Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Nazareth. It has also hosted concerts by such hip-hop acts as Snoop Dogg, Run-DMC and LL Cool J. It will celebrate its 40th anniversary in September.
Overall, District 4 has great amenities. However, it has its share of problems.
“District 4 has several issues, including crime and blight,” Spivey said. “However, I am totally committed to assisting our mayor and our police chief with initiatives that will help reduce crime in District 4 and across the city. I’m also determined to help fight blight by working with the City of Detroit, the Blight Removal Task Force and the many residents and community organizations that care, as I do, about District 4.”
Many of District 4’s neighborhoods and residents have galvanized efforts and have bought into the power of volunteerism to help solve issues.
“We got tired of seeing all the blight every day, so we just started doing something about it,” said Mose Primus, Jr., a concerned citizen and active member of the Yorkshire Woods Community Association. “There are members like Michelle West, Laverne Slaughter, Michael Brooks, Laverne and Kevin Homan and others, who regularly board up vacant apartment buildings and houses. We also cut grass, clean up brush and debris, clean up alleys and have things ready every two weeks for bulk pickup.”
Primus points to the work of Pastor George Washington, who serves as president of the Yorkshire Woods Community Association, for showing leadership that is making Yorkshire Woods a better neighborhood.
“I see a better District 4 and a better Detroit,” said Primus, who has lived in District 4 for 14 years. “As more and more people continue to volunteer and address blight and crime in this district, the better it will get. I’m not going anywhere.”
Zelda Anderson, president of MorningSide Community Association, agrees.
“We are working on many initiatives to improve our neighborhood,” said Anderson, who has lived in District 4 since 2000. “However, our main focus is to clean up the neighborhood and bring it back to the way it used to be. We are working on a project that when houses are demolished and big open spaces are left, we can make improvements to the spaces with a garden or other green space initiatives, like a park-like environment.
“We are doing the same by cleaning up vacant lots so that they are not eyesores to the neighborhood. We are looking for approval to turn several vacant lots into parks for our kids and families. It’s all about bringing the entire community back through beautification.”
Anderson was asked to speak on the progress made.
“In the last few months, I’ve seen changes for the good,” she said. “People in District 4 are beginning to see that something positive is happening with the Duggan administration, it’s not business as usually. It’s like a rebirth of some type. People are finding out that they want to be a part of the something good that is happening. I see it and I talk with many people in the neighborhood and district every day who see it as well.”
Tate and Knight are glad to hear comments like that of Anderson and others.
“I love to drive around the district and talk with residents and business owners,” said Knight. “People have been very receptive when they see me. It’s like, ‘Wow! Someone from the mayor’s office is talking with me about issues and I didn’t even call him.’
“I get a lot of calls about blight, illegal dumping, crime, and drug houses. A typical day for me is not typical; there’s always new challenges to address. However, it’s been enjoyable to talk with and assist residents and businesses throughout the district.”
Tate added. “One of the enjoyments that I have is knowing that now residents in District 4 have someone who they can hold accountable for working on their behalf to get things done. When people get to speak to us, they are happy and appreciative because they see that we are listening and report to the mayor the concerns that they have. Their morale is boosted knowing that they have faith again in their city government. I’m also happy to be working with Councilman Spivey on a number of issues, including economic development and empowerment to help grow District 4.”
Spivey concluded, “I’ve known Odell Tate for a while. He and I have worked together on initiatives even before I was elected. I look forward to effectively interacting with Odell, deputy manager Toson Knight, as well as other residents and organizations that are committed to improving the quality of life for all in District 4.”
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