Matt Cullen is leading Detroit’s latest transit initiative, the privately-funding M-1 line along Woodward Avenue. Smart City talked to Matt about the impact he believes light rail can have on the city’s redevelopment ambitions and why investing in Detroit now makes sense.
Matt is President and Chief Operating Officer of Rock Enterprises in Detroit, the portfolio of companies owned by Quicken Loans founder’s Dan Gilbert. Matt is also in charge of Gilbert’s “Detroit 2.0″ development initiatives in downtown Detroit, which includes spearheading Quicken Loans’ Detroit headquarters project and move downtown.
Matt is a 29-year veteran of GM, where he was General Manager of Economic Development and Enterprise Services. A native Detroiter, Cullen was chief architect of GM’s $500 million acquisition and development of the Renaissance Center as GM’s global headquarters, and the billion dollar redevelopment of the Detroit Riverfront.
He is founding chairman of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and was appointed by Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm to Chair the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
Smart City is an hour-long talk show that takes an in-depth look at urban life: the people, places, ideas and trends that affect us all. Host Carol Coletta, president and CEO of CEOs for Cities, talks with national and international public policy experts, economists, business leaders, artists, developers, planners and others on the pulse of city life for a penetrating discussion on urban issues.
It is webcast from its website and where you can sign up for the podcast.
I spent most of my life living in the Detroit and I’ve always wished for better public transportation. I’m truly glad Dan Gilbert and Matt Cullen are pushing for the new rail line on Woodward Avenue. I also work for Quicken Loans and it’s great to be part of a company that is forward thinking.
My biggest hope is that eventually, the rail line will not only go out Woodward Ave for miles, deep into the outer suburbs, but it will also branch off in spokes along our other main artery roads (Grand River, Michigan Ave., Gratiot Ave. and Jefferson Ave). Then it will truly be a public rail system that serves the area.
I love riding trains and visiting places that have them. Whether it’s New York City or even overseas (I once spent three weeks in Japan and probably rode in a taxi or car twice the entire time), when I can rely on public transportation, I’m in a good place.
Detroit had excellent public transportation 60 years ago. It can again if we can make a reliable, save and efficient system. Those are big ifs, but I’m a believer it can happen.