Greening of a Detroit Alley

The owners of the Green Garage and the Motor City Brewing Works in Detroit’s midtown partnered with area residents to raise the funds and get the permitting to convert the derelict alley between the two business establishments into a “green” passageway for pedestrians.

The Green Garage Building, circa 1920, used to be a showroom for Model T-based automobiles, and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. The Green Garage Building was purchased in 2008 by Tom and Peggy Brennan. They and about 100 community members developed plans for a green/historic renovation, and a business plan (developing green businesses).

About 1,000 reclaimed historic bricks from a local supplier add character to the alley.

The alley, which used to flood, has incorporated permeable materials and extensive planting beds to infiltrate much of the stormwater runoff. There are 43 plant beds, ranging in size from 11 to 75 sq. ft., and about 25 native plant varieties. Some of the plants in the larger beds include cosmos, golden Alexander, goldenrod 'Fireworks', switchgrass, spiderwort, New England aster and purple coneflower.

Shrubbery for the alley is serviceberry, flowering dogwood and ninebark.

Street lighting for the alley is induction type, which uses only about 30% of the energy of standard lights.

The Green Alley opened Sept. 16, 2010 for pedestrians to enjoy.