New Center : Detroit Development News

Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance has created a new position dedicated to furthering a network of trails in Detroit.

The new Detroit greenways coordinator, Todd Scott, will coordinate maintenance, fundraising, security, programming, promotions and development for the eight greenways under various stages of planning and development within the city.

Scott comes to the position with a great deal of experience in cycling advocacy. He is the former director of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association and has been involved with numerous other initiatives, including the citizen’s committee for Michigan State Parks, MDOT Metro Region Nonmotorized Advisory Committee, City of Ferndale Bicycle Committee and the League of Michigan Bicyclists.

"Todd’s skilled advocacy, wealth of knowledge about nonmotorized transportation and recreation, and understanding of and enthusiasm for the revitalization of Detroit are key ingredients that he brings to this project," stated Nancy Krupiarz, Executive Director of MTGA.

Scott is currently acclimating himself to the various greenways projects on the table, including the Midtown Loop, Corktown-Mexicantown Greenlink and Connor Creek Greenway. "The greenways in Detroit have so much variety in terms of where groups are at," says Scott. "I'm finding that there are similar challenges and different challenges."

Finding affordable liability insurance for the nonprofits sponsoring the various greenways was Scott's first task. He also hopes to work on integrating Detroit's burgeoning trails network with the larger regional one and has some ideas about encouraging on-road cycling. "One thing that I really bring to the table because I ride so much is that I know how to get around," he says. "We can make connections between these trail networks."

Source: Todd Scott, MTGA
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Cameron Court Senior Village, a 48-unit, senior housing complex, will break ground on April 25 at the corner of Cameron and Alger in Detroit's North End. The project is being developed by Vanguard Community Development Corp. and is located just blocks from the organization's Melrose Square Homes.

Eighteen of the units are 655-square-foot, one-bedrooms and 30 are 855-square-foot two-bedrooms. Amenities include computer, exercise, community and fellowship rooms. The building itself is three stories and is vinyl-sided with brick elements on the facade. It is L-shaped and includes a porch wrapped around the rear.

The project is being funded with MSHDA tax credits syndicated by the National Equity Fund, a Charter One construction loan and a bridge loan from LISC. The apartments will be rented to seniors over the age of 55 that earn 30 to 60% of the area's Average Median Income.

The ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Please RSVP your attendance to 313-872-7831 or SADavis@VanguardCDC.org by Wednesday, April 23.

Source: Scott Alan Davis, Vanguard CDC
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

In October 2007, Model D kicked off a recurring series called D-Biz that is designed to draw attention to small businesses in Detroit that are unique or fill an important niche in their community.

Part of the reason we wanted to start this series was to highlight businesses that are not new but still deliver important services to Detroiters. The city's small businesses are a big part of what make Detroit's neighborhoods liveable, but they don't often get media attention.

As of last week, D-Biz has covered all of our featured neighborhoods. Here's a look at the 21 businesses in 19 neighborhoods that we've covered in the last six months, from bike shops to optical shops, from coffee shops to photo studios, and even a tennis racquet repair shop:

• Central Woodward: Mr. Fo Fo's serves infamous sandwiches.
• Corktown: Downtown Mobil is known for fair auto repair.
• Downtown: Andiamo in the Ren Cen tops the entire chain.
• East Side: Get your bike on at Bike Tech.
• East Riverfront: Office furniture refurbished and re-purposed at Franklin.
• Eastern Market: Gabriel Imports stocks the best in olives and feta.
• Grandmont Rosedale: Sweet Potato Sensations perfects the art of baking.
• Hamtramck: Art and culture is highlighted at Polish Art Center.
• Highland Park: Black Whole Collective encompasses a community.
• Jefferson East: Trek Computers gets the east side on-line.
• Lafayette Park: Neighborhood plaza serves LP residents.
• Mexicantown: Fresh tortillas are the house specialty at La Jalisciense.
• Midtown: Fred's keys up the neighborhood.
• Near East Side: Atlas keeps Detroit plumbed.
• New Center: Java Exchange, Dittrich Furs and Howrani Studios all have it going on.
• Southwest Detroit: Sophisticated specs spied at El Valle Optical.
• University Commons - Palmer Park: Get strung up with Professional Racquet Services.
• The Villages: Independent music lives at Pearl's.
• Woodbridge: Dogs and cats find loving care at Patterson.

D-Biz will continue, and Model D encourages readers to share their neighborhood faves to be considered for coverage. Email kellibkav@issuemediagroup.com with your ideas.

Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Greening of Detroit is spreading its roots: it has expanded its Michigan Ave. office space by a third, to 3,000 square feet. The extra room was desperately needed: the organization will grow from nine employees in 2007 to 25 by the end of 2008.

The additional staff will be busy this spring planting season. Its core mission is reforesting the city, and tree plantings are scheduled weekly from April 19 through June 7, with an estimated 1,500 trees going into the ground.

Planting so many trees requires plenty of volunteers; call the office at 313-237-8733. A special call is out for hands at a May 17 planting in East English Village, for which 250 slots still need filling.

Greening is also a partner in the ever-growing (no pun intended) Garden Resource Program, which supports urban agriculture in the city. Last year, over 5,500 residents participated in 220 family, 115 community and 20 school gardens. More than 120 tons of food were grown, and Greening is anticipating a 20% increase in both participation and output this year.

Little marketing is done to promote such an increase, says Greening's Ashley Atkinson. "It is literally growing down the street from house to house," she says. "It's really cool, committed people that we are attracting, and that's encouraging." Visit GRP's website to find out how to sign up and when plant pick-ups and workdays are scheduled.

One last thing: Greening's annual tree sale is scheduled for April 19 at Eastern Market, but Atkinson recommends reserving plants ahead of time. With just a month to go, half of the 1,400 trees, bushes and shrubs are already sold.

Source: Ashley Atkinson, Greening of Detroit
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Photograph: Marvin Shaouni
Marvin Shaouni is the managing photographer for Model D & Metromode

Henry Ford Health System is killing two birds with one stone with its latest development. The relocation of a portion of its genetics department -- from its main West Grand Blvd. campus to TechOne -- will afford the hospital space to continue to grow research and clinical operations on-site.

Build-out has begun on the cytogenetics and DNA labs, which will occupy 14,000 square feet on the fourth floor. William Schramm, the hospital's vice president of strategic business development, estimates the space will be ready for business "on or around July 1."

Having a presence in TechTown has other potential upsides, says Schramm. "There will be other similar, related kinds of health sciences, and informal exchanges may begin to take place." He also posits a future relationship with Wayne State University along with other TechOne tenants as a result of their proximity.

The lab build-out will cost $3 million, and is being jointly funded by Henry Ford and TechTown.

Source: William Schramm, Henry Ford
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

The American Institute of Architects has selected Detroit as one of nine cities that will receive a sustainability audit from a Sustainable Design Assessment Team later this year.

Teams of volunteer professionals like architects, urban designers, planners, hydrologists, economists and attorneys will come to the city for a three-day charette and team up with local architecture and engineering students, along with government officials, community groups and other stakeholders.

Diane VanBuren Jones of WARM Training spearheaded the SDAT application and is now coordinating the assessment itself. She says the out-of-town experts will arrive with "a national eye on how sustainability will work in your community."

Jones is particularly interested in mapping the city's energy systems. "We will take it down to the level of each business," she says.

The group could look at a tortilla factory, for example, she says. "It brings in corn and wheat -- some of it from Ohio instead of Michigan -- and the production uses a ton of natural gas. There is people energy and transportation energy and energy to heat and light the building." A map of all such systems would allow experts to close some energy loops. "How much would be spent on all of those energy systems if we got smart about it?" she asks.

The process is motivated by the environment and economics. Money saved by increased energy efficiency can create prosperity and new jobs, says Jones.

Which is why her next task is identifying funding sources for entrepreneurs, neighborhoods and developers interested in investing in green technologies such as solar panels or anaerobic digesters.

Jones anticipates that the SDAT will focus on areas with a framework for environmental initiatives already in place, like Southwest Detroit, the Woodward Corridor and Eastern Market.

Jones is currently working with several universities, including Wayne State, Michigan State and University of Michigan, to select the date for the SDAT.

Source: Diane VanBuren Jones, WARM Training
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

The City of Detroit has released a request for proposals for the development of 4,000 units of service-supported rental housing targeted to the homeless. The NEXT Detroit Permanent Supportive Housing Initiative is looking for developers  teamed up with service providers to deliver such a product.

The city, along with partner organization Detroit Collaborative to End Homelessness Together, recently completed a ten year plan for the elimination of homelessness that calls for a three-pronged strategy: the development of permanent housing called for in this RFP along with prevention and rapid re-housing.

Elterro Carroll, deputy director of the planning and development department hopes that this first round will generate 250 to 500 units over the course of the next two years. He anticipates that applicants will be both teams of developers and service providers as well as single organizations, such as Southwest Solutions, that already do both.

The RFP is deliberately vague as to the size and scope of proposed developments, leaving the door open for large projects sited on large parcels as well as smaller ones; types of housing called for include units designed to serve families, youth and the chronically homeless.

Prospective applicants can pick up an RFP from PDD's Welcome Center on the second floor of Cadillac Tower. They also can view and download the RFP at the City’s Website, www.detroitmi.gov/pdd. On Feb. 27, applicants are invited to attend an RFP information session at 10:30 a.m. in the department’s 23^rd floor conference room. Completed proposals are due on March 28 and development teams selections will be announced on May 1. For more information call 313-224-1538.

Source: Elterro Trent Carroll, PDD
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has granted nearly $7 million to eight Detroit initiatives. "These grants are supporting the city’s efforts to become the Next Detroit. We are supporting the city plan for neighborhood revitalization while partnering with other foundations and local leaders in order to move the city forward," said Brenda Price, Knight Foundation’s program director for Detroit, in a statement.

The monies have been allocated to the following programs, which cupport Detroit neighborhoods and its arts community:

• $3 million to Detroit Local Initiatives Support Corp. (LISC), to support its Neighborhoods NOW Initiative.


• $1.25 million to the Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative, which will be used to implement land-use strategies for more than 4,400 properties in the Northend neighborhood. It will also help transfer land to private developers.


• $250,000 to Detroit Renaissance to develop an asset map of Southeast Michigan's creative sector.
  


• $200,000 to the Arts League of Michigan to launch the Design Detroit Initiative which will work to attract 1,000 creative professionals to the city.
  


• $100,000 to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to conduct a feasibility study on a summer home on the riverfront for the orchestra.


• $250,000 to the Detroit Institute of Arts to support the museum's pilot project of providing visitors hand-held informational devices.

• $1.3 million to Holy Cross Children's Services to stimulate employment for African-American males in the Northend neighborhood.


• $200,000 to the Child Care Coordinating Council to increase Internet access in Northend and provide computer training to residents.


• $240,000 to City Connect to help the numerous Northend grantees communicate and work together.

Source: The Knight Foundation
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

After one year of Recycle Here!, the number of Detroit residents recycling per week has grown from the wee range of 45 to 60 to anywhere from 200 upwards to 500.

At the main Recycle Here! drop-off facility on Holden, which is open two days a week, 9,073 participants dropped off 618,746 pounds of recyclables in 2007. The four mobile facilities — located in Rosedale, Corktown, Creekside and Farwell — netted another 111,125 pounds from 1,804 participants.

John Francis of Capital Waste, one of Recycle Here!'s partner companies, is hopeful that the program's continued growth will help convince city officials to expand it.

"We're hoping that this morphs into targeted curbside recycling," he says. "It is impossible to start citywide -- we'd have to target certain areas first," he says. "Then that would grow, hopefully, to the whole city -- or even half, or three-quarters. We're hoping this is the nucleus for that."

The zip codes of recyclers are collected in order to ascertain what neighborhoods would be most likely to use such a service. So far, records indicate that New Center, Eastern Market, Corktown, Grandmont-Rosedale, Southwest Detroit and Midtown are leading the recycling revolution in Detroit.

Recycle Here! is also looking into a second permanent drop-off site and a key-card reward system that would equate drop-off poundage with points redeemable at local merchants.

Recyclables can be dropped off at 1331 Holden, Recycle Here!'s main facility, Weds. from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Sat. from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. A list of accepted materials can be found here.

The three companies that comprise the Recycle Here! group are Recy-clean, Detroit City Recycling and Capital Waste.

Sources: John Francis, Capital Waste and Matt Naimi, Recy-clean
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Photo by Dave Krieger

Ara Howrani's father, Ameen, set up a photography studio 30 years ago in a rented space near Woodward and Baltimore. At that time, he was a steady freelance photographer for commercial clients including Motown — even traveling with Marvin Gaye.

When that building burned to the ground in 1982, he bought the old Jam Handy building at 2820 E. Grand Blvd. and renovated it into studio space and four residential lofts. From there, he expanded the scope of his clients to include businesses, politicians and nonprofit organizations.

When Ameen's health declined in 2005, Ara moved back to Detroit from Los Angeles to run his father's successful business.

Despite the cutbacks in the automotive industry — Ara Howrani estimates that 30% of Howrani Studios' work is indirectly related to the Big Three — the business has managed to continue to grow.

"I came in after things had shifted," he says. "Fortunately, a lot of small businesses are staying afloat."

The studio employs three and currently is seeking to add a project manager to its team. Clients include K-Mart, Cambell-Ewald, General Motors, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Source: Ara Howrani, Howrani Studios
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

The Kresge Foundation has awarded TechTown a $1.5 million grant that will be used for ongoing renovations at TechOne, the business incubator's Burroughs St. headquarters. Some of the funds will also be used for operating capital.


The bulk of the funds will be used to build-out a floor of TechOne, which will give the building an additional 20,000 square feet of usable space. This is imperative to TechTown's success, says executive director Randall Charlton, since only one-third of the 100,000-square-foot building is currently occupied. "Last year we had over 100 firm inquiries from entrepreneurs that wanted to come to TechTown." If start-ups cannot find space at his facility, "They'll go elsewhere," he says.

Construction will begin immediately and will include office and laboratory space. "It is crucial as we try and build this community of entrepreneurs that we get as much space as possible ready for occupancy," says Charlton. "This is a very exciting next stage in TechTown's development."

TechTown is currently home to more than 30 entrepreneurial, technologically oriented companies, including NextEnergy, whose 45,000 square-foot facility is located across the street from TechOne. Another significant tenant includes Asterand, which has become an international, publicly traded company.

Source: Randall Charlton, Techtown
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

The timeless television commercials of Dittrich Furs are instantly recognizable to Detroiters of all ages. Who can forget the glamorous skiier schussing down the slopes with a fur coat streaming behind her? Or the luxurious equestrian draped in a mink?

That's the point, says Hall Dittrich, the company's CEO. "The whole idea for all the commercials has been to create a fantasy for people that would make them want a fur," he says. "It's things people don't really do in daily life -- very much things that make them want to fulfill a fantasy."

Dittrich's family has owned the company since 1893. Its New Center location was opened in 1967 — a time that saw many other businesses flee for the suburbs. "My dad and grandfather and everybody was born and raised in Detroit," says Dittrich. "I think we just felt loyalty." His sons are poised to be the fifth generation to run the business.

Dittrich sells furs of all shapes and sizes and offers its customers lifetime service. There are generally 3,000 furs in stock at any one time. Most are imported from around the world, but the company manufactures approximately 250 of its own pieces each year.

Current trends include shorter coats, coats made of multiple types of fur, shearlings and slimmer profiles. "Everything is nice and supple and more lightweight than it used to be," says Dittrich. "People are more and more interested in quality."

Dittrich Furs is located at 7373 Third Ave. just north of W. Grand Blvd. Call 313-873-8300. Hours are typically Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. but they are open Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. through Christmas.

Source: Hal Dittrich, Dittrich Furs
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Ramone Crowe is not your typical coffee shop owner. He is interested in not just the success of his business, but also in seeing others  prosper. Which is why the name of his cafe, Java Exchange, is so apt: It acts as a place for people to meet, network and exchange  ideas.

Java Exchange just celebrated its first anniversary in its TechTown location. Crowe counts Henry Ford Health System employees and NextEnergy and TechTown staff and visitors among his regular clientele. "The building as a community has really been growing," he says. "I've watched companies start from one or two employees and grow to five or six or seven -- and some even up to 15 or 20!"

The Java Exchange hosts entrepreneurship forums with brokerage firm Edward Jones as well as group viewings of "The Big Idea" with Donny Deutsch. After watching the struggles of now-successful entrepreneurs, the group discusses issues and solutions for their own businesses.

Crowe has also worked with Wayne County Community College's Entrepreneurship Institute and banks to offer seminars and forums. "The Java Exchange is a destination for resources," he says. "It's an environment where you can go and learn outside of a real institution -- we can provide the same information in a relaxed environment."

Although the Java Exchange has free parking, Crowe is looking forward to increased foot traffic in the area when Wayne State University's police department relocates nearby and University Preparatory Academy opens a middle school next door.

Java Exchange hosts poetry Friday night and was named the best place to hear poetry by Metro Times readers for 2007. A Wi-Fi hotspot, it's located at 440 Burroughs Street and can be reached at 313-822-6456. Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon. through Thurs. and 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Fri.


Source: Ramone Crowe, Java Exchange
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

A two-story addition to the Henry Ford Hospital's West Pavilion is going up now and is slated to open in the spring of 2009. The $35 million, 62,000-square foot expansion includes 20 intensive care unit beds and 60 medical-surgical beds, all private.

The West Pavilion was built in 1998 and it was always assumed it would one day grow. "The builders who built our West Pavilion actually had the foresight that, if needed, the building could hold two additional floors," says Anthony Armada, president and CEO of the Henry Ford Hospital and Health Network.

"This was natural for us -- as we have continued to grow in the last several years, and anticipate continuing to do so -- to capitalize on our building infrastructure."

The addition is part of a five-year, $300 million expansion and renovation of the hospital campus that includes an already-completed overhaul of the emergency department as well as a new simulation center.

Other major components include a $40 million wireless electronic medical record system, the expansion of existing operating rooms ($10 million), the $33 million redevelopment of the outpatient tower and $50 million of infrastructure improvements, among other enhancements.

Armada says the hospital is committed to its New Center neighborhood. They occupy three floors of the New Center One Building, their athletic medicine center houses the popular Fitness Works facility and there are plans to collaborate with TechTown on research and development ventures.


Source: Anthony Armada, Henry Ford
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Washington, D.C.-based Social Compact has released initial findings from its study of Detroit demographics. The numbers revealed by their DrillDown approach paints a wealthier and more populous picture of Detroit than does the Census.

This is good news for the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., which plans to use the information to attract retailers to the city. The findings include:

• The resident population of Detroit is 933,043, nearly 62,000 more than projected by the current Census population estimates. 
• The average income of a Detroit household is $48,000 as opposed to the 2000 Census estimate of $40,900. 
• There is $800 million of informal economic activity in Detroit's economy each year. This is income like tips, side-consulting, baby-sitting and the like that do not register on traditional market measures.
• The aggregate income of Detroit households, $15.8 billion, is $2 billion greater than indicated by 2000 Census estimates.
• At least $1.7 billion of resident retail spending is being leaked outside the city limits.
  

Traditional census methods tend to undervalue older urban cities for several reasons, one of them being a bias towards new home construction. "The bureau assumes that a certain percentage of homes built before 1940 are retired each year," says Social Compact president and CEO, John Talmage. "The burden rests on the city to prove otherwise."

Immigrants and intergenerational households are also often under-counted.

"This really creates better information for actual business people, developers and brokers," says DEGC project manager Olga Savic. The organization will work to educate these entities, along with government officials and community development corporations, as to how these numbers can be used to leverage commercial investment.

There will also be more surveying at the neighborhood level, which has the potential to reveal even more residents and income. "The numbers are good enough to go after grocery stores now," says Talmage. "It's just going to get better."

Download a copy of the report here.

Source: John Talmage, Social Compact and Olga Savic, DEGC
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh