GIS ANALYSIS OF THE DEQUINDRE CUTJustin Lyons

July 23, 2014

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Contents• Background• Project Scope• Map Layers• Project Tools• Observations• Conclusion

• Sources

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Background• The Dequindre Cut is a rails to trails, greenway project in

Detroit, MI• Located on east side between Eastern Market and Detroit

Riverfront• Currently 1.35 miles long and runs below grade• Mack Ave extension to be completed Spring 2015

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Project Scope

Analyze population and housing around the Dequindre Cut greenway in Detroit, MI• Concentrate on six entry

points to trail

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Map Layers • Streets (Esri)• Block Group Demographics (US Census)• Detroit Schools (City of Detroit)

Key research attributes:• Population• Housing Units• Vacant Units• Occupied Units• Rental vs. Owner Occupied

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Project Tools

Application a variety of geoprocessing tools to compile and analyze data

1. Created a geodatabase to store all project information

2. Manually located six entry points and converted graphics to features

3. Formed ½ mile and ¼ mile buffers around each entry point

4. Intersected block group demographics with buffers

5. Selected schools with in buffers and create a new layer

6. Generated summary statistics to further analyze data by entry point

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Observations

Majority of population is located around entry points 4 and 5• Entry point 4: 6,428

people• Entry point 5: 4,331

people

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Observations

Entry point 4 has the most housing units within a half mile• 5,161 units

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Observations

Vacant housing is located primarily around entry point 4• 17% of units within a half

mile of entry point 4

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Observations

Seven schools within a half mile of an entry point• Two high schools• Five K-8 schools

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Conclusion• Majority of housing and population along the Dequindre

Cut is concentrated around the central entry points• Primarily rental housing (ex: 75% renters within half mile

of entry point 4)• Students in area could use path as access to schools• Research opportunity for economic development and

increase density

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Sources• ArcGIS 10.1• Map Layers

• World Street Map (Arc GIS Online)• Detroit Public Schools (City of Detroit)• Block Group Demographics (US Census)

• “Dequindre Cut.” Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. http://detroitriverfront.org/riverfront/dequindre-cut/dequindre-cut