East Jefferson Business District Information Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization In 2002, the East Jefferson Business District was selected by the city of Detroit as one of the initial commercial retail revitalization districts to be targeted by new support services provided by the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization (ONCR).
The mission of Detroit’s ONCR program is to support the growth of small businesses in clean, safe, and thriving shopping districts. This mission is made a reality through both ReFresh and Restore program activities.
The ONCR ReFresh program provides up to $15,000 in matching façade improvement grants to property and business owners. Additionally, members of the East Jefferson Business District are eligible for up to $4,000 in architectural design services.
The ONCR ReStore program provides staffing and technical design to increase business activity within the East Jefferson Business District. ReStore support also allows JEBA to improve the safety and cleanliness of the business district.
The Main Street Approach
The historic East Jefferson Business District (Jefferson Avenue from Alter to Eastlawn) is part of the city of Detroit’s Main Street Zoning Overlay. Additionally, physical planning activities at JEBA are guided by Main Street Four Point Approach.
The Main Street Four-Point Approach is a community-driven, comprehensive methodology used to revitalize older, traditional business districts throughout the United States. It is a common-sense way to address the variety of issues and problems that face traditional business districts. The underlying premise of the Main Street approach is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation in ways appropriate to today's marketplace. The Main Street Approach advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment, and the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts based on their unique assets: distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment, personal service, local ownership, and a sense of community.
Historic Designation Home to one of the finest collections of 1920s era retail buildings, the historic East Jefferson Business District is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the State of Michigan’s Register of Historic Places.
These designations allow property owners and developers to utilize federal and state historic tax credits. These credits, combined with other incentives, make the historic East Jefferson Business district ripe for redevelopment.
Historic Designation Home to one of the finest collections of 1920s era retail buildings, the historic East Jefferson Business District is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the State of Michigan’s Register of Historic Places.
These designations allow property owners and developers to utilize federal and state historic tax credits. These credits, combined with other incentives, make the historic East Jefferson Business district ripe for redevelopment.
State of Michigan’s Cool Cities Designation In 2002, the Jefferson East Business Association was honored to become one of the first Michigan Cool Cities Districts designated by Governor Jennifer Granholm. The Michigan Cool Cities program seeks to build vibrant and exciting districts that attract people and business.
JEBA utilized it’s Cool Cities funding to attract new businesses to the East Jefferson Business District.
