There's a newly-opened Gratiot-Randolph plaza at the eastern edge of Greektown.

What used to be a fast, vehicle-heavy intersection is now a pedestrian-first public space that better connects Greektown with the rest of downtown outside of three local watering holes.

I was at the ribbon-cutting, and it’s a quality upgrade both on foot and behind the wheel. It’s easier to cross, easier to drive, and clearly designed to be a place you actually want to hang out.

The plaza brings new seating, lighting, landscaping, and room for public art and events, with plans for year-round programming that can spill out from Monroe into the wider district.

It comes out of the Greektown Neighborhood Framework and is backed by a mix of public, private and philanthropic dollars, including support from the MEDC’s Revitalization and Placemaking program and the City of Detroit.

It’s part of a larger $13.7 million investment in downtown parks and public spaces.

Now if only we could get tenants in the rest of the buildings on that block... anyone who loves cities and downtown life would love to live upstairs from those storefronts.