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