Greektown: Monroe Street makeover is finished
DETROIT. Greektown's $20 million Monroe Streetscape project is complete after a year and a half of construction. The car-free stretch now has about $2.4 million in granite paving, 50 new trees, and 50 smart lampposts with security cameras.
The upgrade also brought free WiFi, a public speaker system, and new stormwater drainage. The 124 cameras feed Detroit Police's Real Time Crime Center. Tasso Teftsis, who has run Astoria Pastry Shop on Monroe for almost 60 years, said business dropped 40 to 50% during construction but has climbed back 10 to 15% since the street reopened.
Athens Liquor owner Ather Butris, who's operated on Monroe since 1997, is among the other longtime business owners on the block. The project also widened room for outdoor seating and made the street more accessible for wheelchairs.
This is a reader-friendly summary. The full story belongs to Hour Detroit — go give them the click.