Displacing Delray

Diplacing Delray is a collaborative photography project Detroit photographer, Bill Valicenti – documenting the displacement and erasure of an overlooked community. Delray has always been one of the most ethnically and racially diverse neighborhoods in Detroit, and is known as one of the most polluted zip codes in America.

In 2012, a plan for a new bridge was set in motion. The Gordie Howe Industrial Bridge would connect Canada and Detroit, erecting directly in the center of home for over 600 residents and small businesses. Leaving them with a minuscule buy-out and nowhere to go, replacing them with hundreds of semi trucks passing through everyday. A clear profit-over-people story. With words, artifacts, GPS data and constant communication with the community, we documented the mess.