DETROIT – A majority of Michigan voters and more than two-thirds of Detroit voters support a proposal to turn Belle Isle into a “special economic zone” featuring high-income, mixed-use housing, entertainment and a retail district, according to a poll released this week.
The plan, backed by Belle Isle Freedom City Chairman Rodney Lockwood, envisions transforming the 982-acre island park into a high-density development with a population of up to 50,000 people.
“Belle Isle would become the country’s first special economic zone with a great degree of autonomy with regard to taxation and regulation,” Lockwood said.
Support increased after respondents were given details about the proposal, the poll said. Initial support was 42% statewide and 71% among Detroit voters, but rose to 51% statewide and 68% in Detroit by the end of the survey, according to Mitchell Research & Communications President Steve Mitchell. You can see the poll results in the document at the end of this article.
“A majority, bare majority but nevertheless a majority, of Michigan residents and two-thirds of the city of Detroit voters who responded to the survey were in support of the concept after they heard it,” Mitchell said.
The poll of likely 2026 general election voters surveyed 616 people statewide and 197 Detroit voters. It was conducted in November 2025 and commissioned by Belle Isle Freedom City.
Under the proposal, investors would make a one-time $1 billion payment to the city in exchange for a long-term lease, and Detroit would receive an additional $50 million annually.
The total investment to build out the island would be $50 billion, and the project would create 20,000 construction jobs over 10 years and 46,000 permanent jobs, according to a press release.
Lockwood called the project a potential economic boost.
“If it were allowed to go forward, it’s a slam dunk to be a positive economic uplift for the city of Detroit and for the region and for the state,” he said.
The plan would face significant hurdles before it could become a reality.
The federal government would need to authorize special economic zones through legislation, the state would have to pass its own law, and the city would have to approve the proposal, either through mayor and City Council approval or a voter referendum.
Some Detroit-area residents said they could see benefits in redeveloping the landmark.
“I think that’s a really good idea,” Detroit resident Maria Peerzada said. “It’s a great place to come and walk around and hang out and to add houses — I mean, why not?”
Others raised concerns about access and affordability if Belle Isle were developed for high-income residents.
“The people who like to come to this place and bring their kids to play could probably never afford to live here,” said resident Cheyanne Bradley.
“If you have people that’s living here and it’s going to be high-end residents, I don’t foresee that that is going to play well long term with the things that are public in this space,” said resident Kamaria Washington.