Detroit Wholesale Food-Distribution Facilities

Excerpts from the report: This study was initiated in the fall of 1957, at the request of the Detroit Tomorrow Committee. This group was a civic nonprofit organization of 250 business and industry representatives, appointed by the Mayor of Detroit, to assist in the planning of civic facilities for the proper development of the city. The request was prompted principally by its Urban Development Committee and a subcommittee on Commercial Development. The Detroit Tomorrow Committee, recognizing that proper distribution facilities for food should be provided in a comprehensive plan for the redevelopment of certain areas of the city, wished to determine the need for new food handling facilities in the Detroit metropolitan area. Also, land presently occupied by parts of two city-owned food marketing areas is included in the new Federal highway construction program. A relocation of these markets would be necessary when the new expressways are built. The study had the following objectives: • To analyze the present wholesale food marketing situation for seven commodity groups in Detroit, and to ascertain the adequacy of present facilities in light of present and future needs. • To develop plans and designs, and consider possible sites for new marketing facilities that will be adequate to provide efficient distribution of Detroit's food supplies. • To estimate the costs of construction and probable operating expenses, and sources of income of the proposed facilities. • To estimate the potential benefits to be obtained from the construction of a new and modern wholesale food-distribution center.