The funk-inspired spaceship by the O.N.E. Mile Project puts a positive spin on Motor City.

In 1961, urbanist Jane Jacobs described Detroit as “composed of seemingly endless square miles of low-density failure.” It was a reasonable portrayal of a city just beginning its descent from boom town to paradigm of urban decay. But as the auto industry failed, a more sustainable legacy joined the mix, with John Lee Hooker’s blues, Berry Gordy’s Motown pop and the MC5’s psychedelic rock keeping the town on its feet.

Now the O.N.E. Mile Project is making that musical tradition part of the city’s comeback. Led by architect Anya Sirota, of local experimental studio Akoaki, the initiative zooms in on a section of Oakland Avenue in the North End to reactivate it using design, art and music. Sirota, along with partner Jean Louis Farges, launched the project with a portable DJ booth in the form of a spaceship that lands at community events with flashing lights and billowing smoke.

The Mothership emerged as the point where all of Detroit’s iconic music collides. It was right on Oakland that funk music pioneers Parliament Funkadelic got their start. The original Mothership was a 1970s P‑Funk stage prop, while Akoaki’s version is a blinged-out vehicle for change that borrows auto finishing techniques for its glossy paint job and is embellished with gold vinyl and dichroic film.

Rather than attempt to erase problems with blight removal that would take much of the local history with it, O.N.E. Mile deploys the Mothership as an active reminder of Detroit’s successes. Though Ford may have been the wheels to drive – and stall – the economy, the blues, R&B, rock, pop and soul can be counted on to maintain a steady beat in Motor City’s heart.

Erin Donnelly, Azure’s associate editor, is also a DJ who often spins an all-Detroit set.