Downtown Detroit Gilbert plaza's name honors late son's 'vision'

Detroit — Although he was nearly blind in the last several years of his life, Nick Gilbert had vision, said his father, Dan Gilbert.

The Gilbert family, officials and other supporters honored that vision Thursday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Nick Gilbert Way. Named after Nick Gilbert, the son of Dan and Jennifer Gilbert who died at the age of 26 in 2023 from neurofibromatosis, the downtown plaza is designed as a pedestrian-friendly gathering space.

"His vision was for hopeful things in the future, and that's exactly why we're here today," Dan Gilbert said. "We're hoping these buildings and this plaza bring those exact optimistic visions and optimistic feelings and hope to this city. So it all works together very nicely."

The public plaza at 1000 Nick Gilbert Way connects Woodwa