North Flint Health and Wellness

The North Flint Redevelopment Corporation (NRFC) is a non-profit organization with the mission of revitalizing the City of Flint, Michigan after several highly publicized catastrophes, beginning in the late 1960’s, have drastically diminished the median income and residential population.

For their most recent project, NFRC has conceived of a master plan in an under-served area of North Flint. The plan includes a completed and fully functioning elementary school called Eagle’s Nest Academy to the south, an affordable housing development including apartments, townhomes, and tiny homes to the East, and the Health and Wellness Hub to the North.

JGMA worked closely with NRFC and the North Flint community at large to program and design a retail-based master plan focused on the physical, emotional, and financial well-being of local residents. The major components address significant gaps in the North Flint market and include a grocery co/op, credit union, health clinic, fitness center, and early education center. Furthermore, additional retail space will be constructed in multiple phases, slated to house thriving local businesses. Space will also be allocated for a business academy and incubator space to encourage other North Flint residents to conceive their own businesses.

The design team took the approach of thwarting tired, car-centric planning ideologies by pushing buildings towards major thoroughfares and including angled parking along the streets, thus creating more urban, walkable environments. Additionally, the team bisected the entire site by introducing a new through street. This allowed the team to avoid vast parking lots and strike a balance between the need for sufficient parking and the goal of encouraging walking. Finally, the design incorporates elements of outdoor fitness and culture by providing a generous lawn area with a stage, seating area, food truck area, fitness area, public plaza and bike paths. This space will be utilized for theater, musical performances, group fitness, and an annual African art festival.

Ultimately, the North Flint Health and Wellness Hub master plan is intended to serve as a planning model, and catalyst for the resurgence of a historically-prosperous American city; a city that already exemplifies strength and perseverance, will have a new sign of hope and a call to inspire, invest, and achieve.