Detroit City Council Approves Land Swap Near Ambassador Bridge

DETROIT — The Detroit City Council voted 6-3 in favor Tuesday of a land swap deal to give roughly 4 acres of riverfront land to the owners of the Ambassador Bridge in exchange for $2 million to complete renovations to Riverside Park.

The deal comes after city officials originally agreed to give the Detroit International Bridge Co. the land on West Jefferson Avenue in Southwest Detroit next to the Ambassador Bridge in 2015, while the company dished out $5 million for improvements to Riverside Park.

But after residents in 2021 pushed back the notion a second span or possible expansion of the Ambassador Bridge could wipe out numerous blocks and send more traffic near the Hubbard Richard neighborhood, the deal was put on hold and the renovations to the park were delayed.

Numerous council members noted the Moroun family (owners of Detroit International Bridge Co.), lived up to their part of the deal by renovating the park, and refusal to transfer over the land could pose legal problems for the city.

"The fact that we are in current breach of the 2015 land exchange agreement places the city in potential jeopardy," Detroit's Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallett said.

Under the new amended deal that passed Tuesday, the Moroun family will finish the renovations to Riverside Park in exchange for the vacant land near the Ambassador Bridge.

However, city officials added in the new deal that if the family decides to build a second span over the Detroit River, they must secure a community benefits agreement, something they promised to do.

Matthew Moroun, chairman of the Detroit International Bridge Co., told WDIV after the vote they're not looking to build a second span anytime soon.

"Not right now. The Gordie Howe is going to be a great bridge, and the ambassador bridge will last for another 75 to 100 years, and it’s all we need for the foreseeable future," the family told the news station.