Aerotropolis"Airports are driving and shaping business location and urban development in the 21st century, much as highways did in the 20th century - railroads in the 19th, and seaports in the 18th. Airports have become key nodes in global production and commercial systems. As aviation-related businesses cluster at and near major airports and along transportation corridors radiating from there, a new urban entity is emerging - the Aerotropolis." John Kasarda, PhD, Dean of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise and Kenan Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina.

Seven communities, two counties and the Wayne County Airport Authority have signed a memorandum of understanding to transform this concept into a reality in the Detroit region. The governmental units, lead by The Honorable Joseph Palamara, Wayne County Commissioner and John Rakolta Jr., Chairman and CEO Walbridge Aldinger, are the City of Belleville, Huron Charter Township, City of Romulus, City of Taylor, Van Buren Charter Township, Washtenaw County, Wayne County, City of Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Charter Township.

A public/private task force has been appointed by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano to oversee several studies to inventory the region's assets, benchmark the region against competitors and prepare the business case for development.  The goal is to develop the area between and surrounding Detroit Metro and Willow Run airports into an aerotropolis, consisting of a global logistics hub, offices, warehouses, residential, retail and entertainment venues, and employing tens of thousands of people.

Detroit Region Aerotropolis Homepage 

Detroit Region Aerotropolis
Metro area see hope in Dallas-Ft. Worth's successful travel hub (PDF, 42.7 KB) - November 26, 2007 
A towering bronze sculpture aptly titled "The Wish" is the first thing travelers see when they enter the sparkling new Terminal D at Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport.
(Detroit Free Press)

Aerotropolis seen as key to reviving Detroit area (PDF, 44.5 KB) - November 25, 2007 
As metro Detroit struggles to renew and rebuild its economy, one goal has emerged as pivotal — the creation of a new hub around Metro and Willow Run airports.
(Detroit Free Press)

Region can soar with aerotropolis - September 23, 2007
Michigan has an opportunity to modernize its approach to the global marketplace. This opportunity would develop more good paying jobs while expanding Michigan's role in national and international commerce.
(Detroit Free Press, by Representatives John Dingell and Candice Miller)

'Aerotropolis' is in future (280 KB) - June 4, 2007
Policy consultants at the Mackinac Policy Conference said Friday that Southeast Michigan is destined to become an “aerotropolis” — a booming hub of air travel and commerce.
(Crain's Detroit Business)

Task force to work to create aerotropolis (158 KB) - June 4, 2007
Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and Detroit Renaissance Inc. President Doug Rothwell announced the formation of a task force last week that will work on creating an aerotropolis in Southeast Michigan.
(Crain's Detroit Business)

Aerotropolis can move cargo, region (280 KB) - June 4, 2007
The aerotropolis vision unveiled Friday at the conference is a compelling one. And it's a no-brainer for Southeast Michigan because of two existing assets — its international border and the thousands of acres of undeveloped or underdeveloped land surrounding Willow Run and Detroit Metropolitan airports.
(Crain's Detroit Business)

Transportation: Becoming a Catalyst for Regional Economic Development (PDF, 19 MB) - June 1, 2007
On June 1, 2007, Richard E. Blouse, Jr., President and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, and Michael Gallis, President of Michael Gallis and Associates, made a presentation on transportation as a catalyst for regional economic development at the Mackinac Policy Conference, focusing on the proposed Wayne County Aerotropolis.
(Detroit Regional Chamber) 

FlashPoint: Aerotropolis - April 15, 2007
On the April 15, 2007 FlashPoint, guest host Guy Gordon spoke with Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano about an exciting, provocative and often controversial plan -- turn metro-Detroit into an "aerotropolis."
(ClickOnDetroit.com)

Presentation to the SEMCOG Executive Committee (PDF, 4.1 MB) - July 28, 2007
On July 28, 2006, Robert Ficano, Wayne County Executive and Dr. Mulugetta Birru, Executive Director, Wayne County Economic Development discussed their vision for a Wayne County Aerotropolis and the benefits this development would provide for the region.

Aerotropolis 2006 urban design charrette - January 20-23, 2006
Detroit Metro Airport, Willow Run Airport, and the surrounding 20+ square miles of land were the focus of the eight annual University of Michigan Taubman College Urban Design Charrette that took place January 20-23, 2006. (University of Michigan)

General information
Aerotropolis 
Major airports are key nodes for global production and enterprise systems offering them speed, agility, and accessibility. They are also powerful engines for local economic development attracting aviation-linked businesses of all types to their environs.
(John D. Kasarda)

The rise of the aerotropolis (37.6 KB) - Spring 2006
Airports are no longer simply places where airplanes land and passengers and cargo transit.
(The Next American City)

Rise of the aerotropolis (PDF, 86.3 KB) - July 2006
As competition shrinks the globe, the world is building giant airport-cities. They look monstrous to American eyes - and that could be a problem.
(Fast Company) 

The aerotropolis - Fall 2002
An economic development strategy of the 21st century now includes the planned aerotropolis, an aviation linked urban form consisting of an airport surrounded by tens of thousands of acres of light industrial space, upscale retail mix, business-class hotel accommodations, restaurants, entertainment, recreation, golf courses, and single and multiple-family housing.
(Eastern Michigan University)

Case studies 
New 'cities' springing up around many U.S. airports (90.3 KB) - September 25, 2003
When thunderstorms roll in, gusty winds whip through wheat fields and farm pastures that stretch as far as the eye can see. For years, Denver residents wrote off these deserted plains northeast of the city as a no-man's land that might as well be in Kansas. Denver's explosive suburban growth veered in the opposite direction. Then, in 1995, came the new airport.
(USA Today)

Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok, Thailand (168 KB) - Fall 2006
The new Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is due to replace the overloaded and unexpandable Bangkok International Airport, was scheduled to open in June 2006.
(Airport Technology)