Rivertown BIZ
As the experienced non-profit manager of the Downtown Detroit Business Improvement Zone’s (BIZ), the DDP was called upon to provide technical leadership and guidance to Rivertown stakeholders working to establish a Rivertown Business Improvement Zone (Rivertown BIZ).
Rivertown Business Improvement Zone (BIZ)
The Rivertown BIZ launched on April 1. Its 14-member Board of Directors was seated who unanimously agreed to contract with the DDP to administer and manage its day-to-day operations. Please fill out the form a little further down if you’d like to receive updates on Rivertown BIZ business, including information on future Board Meeting dates.
Read the official press release here.
2026 Board Meetings: April 1 | April 15 | May 27 | June 10 | October 14
The DDP worked alongside the Rivertown Detroit Association, Jefferson East, Inc., the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, and many community leaders on this community effort. It will be managed openly, transparently, and responsibly based on the Zone Plan, which was approved by votes of Detroit City Council at the end of 2025.
In January 2026, Rivertown property owners approved the Rivertown BIZ, creating a district that will generate approximately $800,000 annually to support a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming neighborhood.
The success in establishing and launching the Rivertown BIZ reflects DDP’s role as a resource for best practices in urban place management and its commitment to creating programs in Downtown Detroit that can be easily replicable in all Detroit districts to build strong and sustainable business corridors and communities.
For more information on the Rivertown BIZ, please contact Gina Cavaliere or Abigail Haag.
Rivertown BIZ Board of Directors
Chip Rohde
Chair
Rivertown Detroit Association, President - Arthur J. Rohde & Company
Chris Brownell
Vice Chair
Chief Executive Officer - The Kirlin Company
Nadia Sesay
Treasurer
Chief Public Finance Officer - Bedrock Detroit
Josh Elling
Secretary
CEO - Jefferson East, Inc.
Roger Basmajian
Executive Committee Member
BASCO OF MICHIGAN, INC
Robert Maxey
Executive Committee Member
President - Bob Maxey Ford, Inc.
Ryan Sullivan
Executive Committee Member
CEO - Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
Leonard Barnes
Vice President, Sales and Business Development - Heritage Vision Plans, Inc.
Brian Carnaghi
Former Senior Vice President, Finance and Business Development - Presbyterian Villages of Michigan
Aamir Farooqi
CEO - BANYAN INVESTMENTS
Franz Herbert
Executive Vice President of Acquisitions & Finance - Princeton Management
Vincent Little
President - Pembury Holdings, LLC
Tonja Stapleton
President - Parkstone Development Partners
Jacqueline C. Young
Detroit Economic Growth Corporation
What is a BIZ?
A Business Improvement Zone (BIZ) creates a vibrant community that is clean, safe, and welcoming through services provided to property owners for the benefit of their properties and tenants and all neighborhood stakeholders. A BIZ is intended to preserve and enhance property values through the following core services: hospitality, safety, upkeep of parks, sidewalks, and other public spaces.
Available Public Documents
2026
Public Meeting Notice
Public Meeting Notice: June 10 Board of Directors Meeting
View / Download2026
Public Meeting Notice