Rivertown Property Owners Vote to Establish the Rivertown Business Improvement Zone

A major new milestone for Rivertown will bring coordinated investment, neighborhood care, and stronger support for businesses and property owners.

DETROIT - Rivertown property owners have voted to establish the Rivertown Business Improvement Zone (Rivertown BIZ), marking an important step forward for the future of the neighborhood.

The effort was led by Rivertown stakeholders and three neighborhood nonprofit organizations - Jefferson East, Inc., the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, and the Rivertown Detroit Association. The Downtown Detroit Partnership served as the technical lead, drawing on its experience managing the Downtown Detroit Business Improvement Zone on behalf of its Board of Directors.

The Detroit City Council approved the process allowing property owners to vote, and the election was administered by Hon. Janice M. Winfrey, Detroit City Clerk and Chief Elections Officer, along with her team. The Rivertown BIZ will officially launch on April 1, when its board-elect will be seated.

A Business Improvement Zone helps create a neighborhood that is clean, safe, and welcoming through services provided to property owners for the benefit of their properties, tenants, businesses, and the broader community. These districts are designed to help preserve and enhance property values while strengthening the overall quality of place.

The Rivertown BIZ includes 297 assessable commercial parcels and is expected to generate approximately $850,000 annually and nearly $10 million over 10 years. The district covers the area between the Detroit Riverfront and Larned, and between Rivard Street and Grand Boulevard.

“This BIZ is a tremendous win for Rivertown and shows how committed stakeholders and strong collaboration between business and nonprofit leaders and elected officials can set and deliver a higher standard of care for their neighborhood and make a real difference in our city,” said Gina Cavaliere, chief community impact officer for the Downtown Detroit Partnership and executive director of the Downtown Detroit BIZ.

The Rivertown BIZ becomes the third BIZ in Detroit, joining the West Vernor & Springwells Business Improvement District, Michigan’s first BIZ, and the Downtown Detroit BIZ, established in 2014. Rivertown now joins more than 1,500 cities and commercial districts across the country that use similar models to maintain and strengthen high-quality urban environments.

The Downtown Detroit BIZ has already demonstrated the impact this type of model can have. In 2025, Downtown Detroit BIZ Ambassadors removed more than 429 tons of trash, assisted more than 38,000 pedestrians, and completed nearly 3,500 maintenance reports, including graffiti, weed, and blight removal, as well as scooter relocation from walkways. In a 2024 perceptions survey, more than 80% of respondents said Downtown sidewalks were clean and free of litter and described Downtown as a safe place to visit.

“The creation of the BIZ is a major milestone for Rivertown,” said Joshua R. Elling, CEO of Jefferson East, Inc. “This vote reflects years of meaningful engagement across Rivertown’s diverse community. Together, we’re building a cleaner, safer neighborhood, and giving small businesses and property owners a stronger, collective voice to move Rivertown forward.”

The Rivertown BIZ board slate, made up of property owners and neighborhood leaders, was elected by owners of assessable property through their approval of the BIZ plan. In the coming months, the board-elect will work to develop an implementation strategy and continue engagement efforts to assess the best mix of services for the district. All official acts of the Rivertown BIZ will be made by vote of the board of directors on or after April 1, and all board meetings will be open to the public.

“The approval of the Rivertown BIZ is a real testament to the commitment stakeholders have made to sustain and improve the quality of life in the area,” said Ryan Sullivan, CEO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. “This vote reflects the optimism Rivertown property owners have in their investments and in the area’s future.”

“With the Rivertown BIZ in operation, small businesses will have a reliable partner supporting a clean, safe and welcoming environment sure to attract customers and allow for thoughtful, incremental improvements over time,” said Chip Rohde, president of the Rivertown Detroit Association and of Arthur J. Rohde and Co. “My family business has been a part of Rivertown for 75 years, and I’m excited to see how this investment will help us look back in the years ahead and clearly see progress and growth the Rivertown BIZ made possible.”

At Jefferson East, Inc., we are proud to be part of this important collaborative effort. The creation of the Rivertown BIZ reflects years of partnership, planning, and engagement to help ensure Rivertown continues to grow as a vibrant, welcoming, and economically strong neighborhood for all.

For more information about the Rivertown BIZ, visit DetroitRivertownBIZ.org.