DETROIT, MI - It's been nearly three years since the Detroit Works Project launched, and residents have had plenty of questions and concerns about this effort to make better use of the city's resources for a more promising future.

Don't feel bad if you're confused about the whole effort; there's a lot of information to process, and plenty of misconceptions about a "framework" that could or couldn't be used by city officials as part of an official master plan for Detroit.

Below is a look at some general questions that you might have and some answers, based on project experts' interviews with myself and other media members Tuesday at the initiative's home base in Eastern Market.

If you have any questions that haven't been addressed, feel free to ask questions in our comments section. I'll give you as prompt of a response as I can.

The plan is expected to be released Wednesday to the media, and will be followed by

What exactly is this plan all about?

Based on information provided by the media and expert analysis, the plan is considered a guide for decision making to help every Detroiter work together to:

Create job growth and economic prosperity for all

Strengthen and create unique, vibrant neighborhoods

Use vacant land proactively

Build/strengthen infastructure that serves citizens (roads, lighting, transportation, etc.)

Maintain a high level of community engagement

Ultimately, improve the quality of life for all Detroiters

What's the difference between the short-term and long-term Detroit Works Project plans?

The short-term plan, which started in 2011, appears to be a pilot program that gave some areas of the city increased city services to test the viability and response in those areas. The Detroit Wiki website accurately explains this concept: "Areas are being classified as "steady market" (high property values, good maintenance); "transitional market" (higher Real Estate Owned rates), and "distressed" (areas with long-term physical decline). Transitional areas will receive the most attention and subsidies. The long-term plan is the wide-ranging framework suggested for the city that will be unveiled Wednesday.



What are the chances of the long-term and short-term plans actually being part of the the city's efforts to transform and improve itself?

There's a good chance at least part of both will be implemented because of how the Detroit Works Project is structured. Remember, it's only a framework for what could eventually be the city's master plan, and there appears to be plenty of leeway. Experts said Tuesday the plan, expected to be released Wednesday, was compiled and finalized after "hundreds of meetings connected with people over 163,000 times, and over 30,000 conversations."



How much money did it cost to get this plan together and who's paying for this?

Experts didn't disclose the dollar figure on Tuesday, but they claim none of the money came from taxpayer funds - city, regional or statewide. Seven private philanthropic organizations and business contributed to the Detroit Works Project: Ford Motor Co., the Kresge Foundation, the Hudson Webber Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.

What kind of money is needed to actually follow through with the plan, and who pays for that?





Nobody appears to know exactly, but it's safe to say implementation of the plan will take resources from public and private entities. That could include everything from federal, state and local governments, to private business owners, venture capitalists and even block club presidents and members. It will take an all-out, community-wide effort to follow through with the plan - if it is indeed implemented and works cohesively with the city's vision for the future.

What happens if the plan doesn't come to fruition?

It's hard to believe that all of the plan will be scrapped because there are already elements of it in place and being used by state and local officials.

There's also been somewhat productive discussions and actions taken pertaining to a proposed agriculture ordinance in the city. Those are a few examples.

Will people be forced to move from their homes or receive cash incentives to leave certain areas?

Nope. Not at all. There never were plans. Unfortunately, the Detroit Works Project's initial announcement, and subsequent meetings, generated a ton of confusion and misinformation. I don't think Bing did himself any favors during the Detroit Works Project's infancy. He could've done a much better job telling people what the project is and isn't.