May 1, 2017 - Crain's Detroit Business

Detroit Experience Factory to offer new tours of QLine, neighborhoods

By Annalise Frank

Detroit Experience Factory is offering 16 new public tours this summer, including a free exploration of the city from aboard the new QLine streetcar system.

The Detroit-based nonprofit, which also offers privately booked tours, is looking to pull in more local residents with a focus on connection and economic and community development, Executive Director Jeanette Pierce said.

"Just because you've been here your whole life doesn't mean there isn't more to learn," Pierce said. "It's not only the facts and figures, but it's the relationships and those experiences you can't really Google that make the tours exciting."

In addition to learning about how the QLine works, those who take the new tour built around the coming addition to Detroit's public transit system will learn more about older businesses along its path.

The organization is also expanding a series of free neighborhood walking tours it started offering last year. The "Beyond Downtown" tours started in neighborhoods like Corktown and Midtown and are expanding to Lafayette Park, the Livernois area, West Village and others.

Other new offerings include a small business tour complete with samples and an art-centric stroll through Eastern Market. The nonprofit has also planned a May 13 summer season launch party to introduce the new tours.

The additions bring Detroit Experience Factory's list of tour offerings to 28.

Since it began offering tours in 2006, the independent program of the Downtown Detroit Partnership has serviced about 85,000 people.

Detroit Experience Factory opened a welcome center in 2015 at 123 Monroe St. in a bid to bring in more pedestrian traffic. The nonprofit also offers the DX-Pass, which gives passholders access to seven Detroit attractions including the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.