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Mark Nickita

Mark Nickita, AIA, CNU, APA, BSArch, BArch, MArch is an urbanist, architect, retail entrepreneur, developer, educator and an elected municipal leader and President of Archive DS, an award-winning, multi-disciplinary design firm in Detroit and Toronto. Archive DS has distinct expertise in the development, enhancement and the regeneration of existing, pedestrian-oriented urban environments including downtowns, neighborhoods, developed corridors, mixed-use areas and underutilized districts of post-industrial cities. Mr. Nickita is a City Commissioner and has served as Mayor of Birmingham, Michigan and is co-owner of urban retail establishments in Downtown Detroit, including the Pure Detroit Stores, The Rowland Cafe and Stella Cafes.

The Story of Lean Detroit

Detroit is rapidly transforming into its next incarnation. The challenges that the city has experienced in past decades are being addressed, as demands for enhancements from the current and new population increase. Changes will be efficient out of necessity, and will likely reestablish an already distinctive urban environment, based on its history, inhabitants and physical form. The potential for Lean applications in Detroit directly relates to the capacity of its existing infrastructure and the quality of its underutilized built environment. Through a reexamination of extensive opportunities, Lean, effective solutions will arise and lead to a successful new Detroit.

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