16 January 10 • 2019
jn

VIVIAN HENOCH
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
T

alk about the perfect spot to meet
up with NEXTGen Detroiter
George Roberts: It’
s everywhere
…. in the office buildings, lofts, coffee
shops, hot spots and streets of the city,
on the bike lanes of his commute from
Woodbridge, in the synagogues and
Chabad of Greater Downtown Detroit, at
his monthly “Whiskey Club” organized
by The Well, in the halls of Federation —
everywhere you go, you’
ll find George at
work and at play.

NETWORKING
Park professional by day, community
connector in every spare moment, net-
working and generously giving of his
talents and energy, George returned
to his hometown of Detroit from New
York three years ago to join the Quicken
Loans Community Fund, which leads
the Quicken Loans Family of Companies
philanthropic strategy. As director of
public spaces, he oversees investments in
the redevelopment, management, pro-
gramming and operation of parks, plazas
and other public spaces in and around
the Detroit Downtown area. Bedrock’
s
real estate holdings include about 100
properties.
The Quicken Loans Family of
Companies has committed more than
$5.6 billion to acquire and develop
more than 100 properties in Downtown
Detroit and has given more than $150
million to Detroit-based community
organizations and programming since
2010.

DESTINATIONS DETROIT
If you have yet to see the transforma-
tion of the historic Wurlitzer Building
— office tower turned boutique hotel
— step into the lobby of the Siren
for a quick pick-me-up brew from
Populace Coffee or head up to the pan-
oramic rooftop. Lauded by National
Geographic Traveler Magazine as the
“
Game Changer” hotel of the year, the
Siren stands emblematic of “
the city’
s
unstoppable energy and innovation.
”
“The candy bar in the hotel reminds
me of a little spot my fiancée, Sarah, and
I love in New York,
” George says. “The
building was literally dropping bricks
when Ari Heckman of New York-based
developer ASH NYC, saw the opportu-
nity and scooped the place up.
”
It’
s no coincidence that we met
George in the lobby of the Siren with

Jess Katz — career coach, consultant
of Reboot and heading for a fellowship
program with the American Jewish
Joint Distribution Committee (JDC).
“Jess has been my guide to Jewish
Detroit and a mentor to me in a big
way,” George says.
George is on the executive board
of NEXTGen Detroit. Additionally, he
serves on the board of The Well and
as vice president of programming of
the Founders Junior Council of the
Detroit Institute of Arts. A rising star
with a passion for Israel, George is a
past participant in Federation’
s Becker-

Marcus All-Star Leadership Mission
and a co-founder of Federation’
s Israel
Engagement Committee; additionally,
in 2018, he participated in the presti-
gious ROI Global Summit in Jerusalem.
On the board of the Roosevelt Park
Partnership, George is currently work-
ing on the redevelopment of the park in
front of Michigan Central, now owned
by the Ford Motor Company.
Prior to his role with the Quicken
Loans Community Fund, George
led public space projects across
North America with Biederman
Redevelopment Ventures. “I worked

with the team that turned around
Manhattan’
s Bryant Park, the company’
s
most famous project — often cited as
one of the world’
s best urban parks and
the definitive model for public spaces.
”
Though George loved the work and
pace of New York, he knew all along
that he would bring his experience back
to Detroit. “The scale of our city is per-
fect. There’
s so much to do — and it’
s all
so accessible. In Detroit, you can make
an impact on any project you set your
heart on and find people you can count
on to be there for you.
”

A WALK-N-TALK-ABOUT DETROIT
It’
s a sunny afternoon — ideal for a
stroll across John R toward Capitol
Park.
“This is part of my ride from
Woodbridge every morning,
” George
explains, mentioning that he is a “func-
tional” cyclist and the proud owner of
a Detroit Bikes C-Type.
“Up the next block, on Library Street,
is the Skillman Library, a favorite proj-
ect of mine. We commissioned interior
design students from the College of
Creative Studies to think about the ways
we work today and re-imagine how we
can invest in our libraries to become
new options for the public to use as
community co-working spaces.
”

jews d
in
the

Detroit
Tour de
Force

A walk in the park with
George Roberts.

“Our city streets aren’
t just

for cars – but for people, too.”

— George Roberts. BELOW:

Discussing Menorah in the D

with Rabbi Yisrael Pinson of

Chabad in the D.

continued on page 18

JOHN HARDWICK