Title Page and Contents

University City - Woodbridge Historic Area Together

II. History and Timeline

The future of Woodbridge depends on the joint effort of its residents and local organizations. This future is connected to the past in that some residents of Woodbridge have lived in the community since the early 1960s. Some can even trace their roots back to the early 1900s. The 1980s and 1990s brought many new faces to the Woodbridge community, including professionals drawn by the historical value of the neighborhood's homes and the convenience of city living. This influx of new people has been a double-edged sword in some ways. It has promoted the rehabilitation of the historic community, but with the renewed interest some long-term residents fear that they may be displaced through gentrification; a process where property values increase to the point that older residents can no longer afford to live in the area.

The history of Woodbridge is a mirror of Detroit and Michigan history. The community stands on property first farmed by one of the state's first governor. Its fortunes have risen and fallen with the city. Now, like Detroit, it stands on the verge of a renaissance.

In the 1960s the Woodbridge community, like all of Detroit and the nation, was wracked by social unrest. But Woodbridge, because of effects of the Depression and post-war years, was not poised to withstand the unrest. These conditions were further aggravated when a large population of the community was not protected from urban renewal and some of the area was incorporated into the University City urban renewal area. Since then Woodbridge has faced population loss, urban blight, political in fighting, several rounds of redevelopment and finally gentrification. But through it all the community, one of the last pre-industrial neighborhoods in Detroit, has survived. The area may not be as elaborate and stately as it was during its inception in the late 1800s or as unified and proud as during its heyday in the early 1900s, but with brief periods of enlightenment and rehabilitation in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, Woodbridge has managed to survive. Despite suburban flight, threats of destruction from urban renewal, city neglect in financing, and being overrun by the expansion of Wayne State University, the Woodbridge community still stands.

Through local organization and involvement Woodbridge residents continue to fight for the good of their community. Although in recent years there have been incidents of in-fighting among local organizations, residents continue to champion the community's interests and work together. But it is apparent that Woodbridge saw the most progress in the eras when neighborhood organizations worked together for the good of the entire community.

The table below highlights some of the dramatic changes the Woodbridge community has witnessed since its inception, focusing on the most difficult periods for the Woodbridge community, the 1960s through the 1990s.

Table 1: Historic Timeline of Woodbridge Community

Period		Description	Extent of Development
1800s	late 1800s	Development of Woodbridge Farms. William Woodbridge, one of the first governors of Michigan, owned one of the ribbon farms. The property was platted after his death in 1861. Many of the largest, most historic homes were built before 1900. (Map shows earliest development)

Early 1900s	Auto Industry Boom	Influx of autoworkers from Europe to Detroit auto factories. Blue-collar workers established themselves in the Woodbridge community, building large two flat homes, where the upstairs was rented and downstairs was their residence. These homes were called 'Home of intelligent working man' (Development around 1910)
	1920s - 1940s	Depression and war years. This era changed the class structure of the neighborhood from upper class and upper middle class to the lower middle class and low income.
	1945	Interstate Highway. The Detroit Industrial (Ford) Freeway was built during WWII, isolating neighborhood from north. Residents began leaving the city for the suburbs.

Mid 1900s	1960s	Urban Renewal A major portion of Woodbridge was declared an urban renewal site called University City and was scheduled for demolition. (Development prior to urban renewal)
	1967	Social Unrest Detroit riots of 1967 left many areas burned out and abandoned. Many businesses left the area and did not return.
	1970	Citizens District Council Legislation Legislation was enacted to give neighborhoods a voice, in the wake of urban renewal. Councils were elected to represent the residents of the neighborhood and their concerns regarding development of vacant lands, and to help determine how millions of federal dollars designated for urban renewal were to be spent.
		Woodbridge Citizens District Council (WCDC) elected.
	1974	Woodbridge formally named to prevent naming to the area University B, by The Federal Urban Renewal project.
	1979	HUD purchases vacant homes. Woodbridge Historic District designation.

Late 1900s	1981	WCDC stopped further development by WSU. Preservation Wayne Enacted numerous community programs - tree planting, sidewalk repair, alley clean up, etc.
	1981	City historic status. Requested historic site designation by city - status never granted.
	1983	Complaints by residents against WCDC. WCDC accused of excluding residents from meetings. Election fraud. Residents accused WCDC of election fraud, but election commission ignored complaints.
	1987	Revitalization. Woodbridge listed by Money Management as a place to watch for development. Many incoming professionals from Wayne State University and other areas purchase homes in the Woodbridge area and begin to restore them to their once-historic luster.
	1993	WCDC funding revoked. In wake of allegations of money mismanagement, the city's planning and development department seized WCDC office. Woodbridge lost $132,000 in block grant funding.
	1994	Woodbridge Estates. 250 million dollars earmarked for redevelopment of Jeffries Housing Project - to be named Woodbridge Estates
	1996	Aggressive city demolition program. Many historic homes demolished
	1999	Housing Stock. More investors realizing the value of historic homes take part in the refurbishment movement - taking advantage of 25% tax credit to offset the cost of restoration