Following Antoine Bryant’s announcement of his departure from Detroit’s planning and development department, Mayor Mike Duggan swiftly nominated Alexa Bush to fill the void. Bryant has served the city for three years but is leaving to pursue an undisclosed role in the private sector. In contrast, Bush is a well-regarded veteran of the planning industry, having spent six years in the Detroit planning department prior to her recent position as a program officer at the Kresge Foundation. Her appointment will take effect after gaining approval from the City Council or after 30 days from her nomination, with a start date slated for January 6.
Bush brings significant experience and invaluable contributions to the role, having played a crucial part in reshaping the planning department back in 2015 as Detroit emerged from bankruptcy. In her prior role as Urban Design Director of the East Region within the department, she championed “inclusive economic recovery efforts,” directly engaging with local residents. Bush expressed her excitement about her new role, highlighting her commitment to strengthening community engagement and enhancing the city’s positive economic trajectory as part of her vision for the future of Detroit neighborhoods.
She has a rich history of overseeing neighborhood planning, particularly in areas targeted by the city’s 10 Strategic Neighborhood Fund. Among her achievements, she helped create a collaborative framework that involved community stakeholders through the Reimagining the Civic Commons initiative in the Fitzgerald neighborhood, leading to impactful projects like the Ella Fitzgerald Park and improvements to the Livernois Streetscape. Mayor Duggan praised Bush’s past contributions, stating her vital role in the planning department’s early rebuilding and her respect within both the city government and the broader community.
Bush’s tenure at the Kresge Foundation further solidified her expertise, where she worked on initiatives that transformed public spaces in a manner that fostered inclusion and aimed to connect sustainable urban development with economic equity. This three-year experience honed her skills in developing strategies that supported Detroit’s youth and families, as well as enhancing the city’s capacity to tackle various environmental challenges, including flooding and air quality issues, through a climate resilience pilot program.
Before her time at the Kresge Foundation, Bush worked with well-known organizations like SmithGroup and the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association, which contributed to her vast knowledge in urban planning and community development. Her roots in Detroit are deep, as her family has lived in the city for three generations, starting with her great-grandfather’s move from Alabama to Detroit’s Old West Side. This connection to the community further underlines her commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the neighborhoods she will serve.
Dana Afana, a reporter for the Detroit Free Press, continues to track this developing story, ensuring that the community remains informed about the changes in city leadership and the implications for Detroit’s future planning endeavors. As Bush prepares to step into her role, both the city and its residents are hopeful about the new direction and energy she will bring to the Planning and Development Department.