Featured Stories

Freshwater Metropolis in words and pictures: More than a concept

Matthew Lewis and Doug Coombe Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Now here's a two-for-one treat for our growing blue/green Detroit infrastructure readership: a springtime feature by project editor Matthew Lewis on rain gardens and an equally springy slideshow by photographer Doug Coombe.

Blue/Green Infrastructure, Detroit, Reuse / Rebuild

East Riverfront, Midtown, The Villages

Old buildings with new uses inspire development

Natalie Burg Sunday, March 17, 2013

Sometimes it seems historic preservation and economic development are at odds with one another, but innovative business owners across Michigan are proving otherwise. Learn how entrepreneurs in Pontiac, Ypsilanti and Lansing are blending the two to create neighborhood growth.

Choosing Michigan, Redevelopment, Reuse / Rebuild

Urban trailblazing: New series looks for trends before they happen

Francis Grunow Tuesday, February 12, 2013

We begin with a forward-thinking critique of Detroit Future City by urbanist-preservationist-Detroit advocate Francis Grunow, who, by day, is a public policy consultant for New Solutions Group. By night, yes, he'll be burning the critical midnight oil for Model D.

Architecture, Blue/Green Infrastructure, Building Communities, Detroit, Placemaking, Reuse / Rebuild

From vacant to vibrant: A coalition rises

Jon Zemke Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Educating community activists about the resources and best practices available for improving the quality of life in Detroit neighborhoods is the mission of the Vacant Property Coalition. Jon Zemke talks local empowerment with the group's Janai Gilmore.

Detroit, Reuse / Rebuild, Transformational change

Grandmont Rosedale

No property left behind recapped

Matthew Lewis Tuesday, December 04, 2012

A standing room crowd squeezed into a pop-up space in Lafayette Park to listen to members of Loveland Technologies, county officials and other land reuse experts talk about tax reverted Detroit properties. Matthew Lewis took a bunch of notes.

Building Communities, Detroit, Reuse / Rebuild, Social innovation

Lafayette Park

Model D & UIX present: "No property left behind"

Model D staff Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. at Cafe Con Leche's new Lafayette Park pop-up cafe for an Urban Innovation Exchange forum led by Jerry Paffendorf of Why Don't We Own This? and Loveland Technologies.

Building Communities, Detroit, Reuse / Rebuild

Lafayette Park

Talk of the TechTown

Curtis Johnson Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Detroit is home to the third highest concentration of design professionals in the U.S., seemingly attracts entrepreneurs by the minute and has one of the best platforms for turning ideas into companies. Curtis Johnson tells us why TechTown is one of the catalysts for this growth.

Entrepreneurs, Placemaking, Redevelopment, Reuse / Rebuild, Wayne State University, Woodward Avenue

New Center, Midtown

UIX TV: John George and Motor City Blight Busters

DETROIT LIVES! Tuesday, October 30, 2012

John George, founder of Motor City Blight Busters, has positively impacted 1,500 houses in the city with 120,000 volunteers logging almost 700,000 hours. Mighty impressive. Video by DETROIT LIVES!

Detroit, Reuse / Rebuild, Social innovation

Publisher's notebook: Pop-up culture and the new wave of walkable retail

Claire Nelson Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Detroit's Village people, envied for their gorgeous homes a stone's skip away from the river, have long wished for their own retail district. Good things are starting to develop this fall, there and in other key neighborhoods, says Claire Nelson.

Development, Entrepreneurs, Redevelopment, Reuse / Rebuild, Small Business

Midtown, The Villages, Corktown

All eyes on the ArtPrize

Tommy Allen Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Detroit artistry was a clear winner at the 2012 version of ArtPrize, held this past weekend in Grand Rapids. Tommy Allen was on the scene taking notes and pictures, and meeting creative neighborhood catalysts, Gina Reichert and Mitch Cope.

Arts, Detroit, Museums, Reuse / Rebuild

Warming up to green energy

Amelia Kanan Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Thanks to the Recovery Act, a few local programs are recruiting unemployed residents, training them with sustainable construction skills and then helping them find work; all for free. Amelia Kanan reports with words and pictures.

Detroit, Green, Reuse / Rebuild, Sustainability

Midtown, Southwest Detroit

Midtown rebuilding block

Dennis Archambault Tuesday, September 11, 2012

There are many dead zones in Detroit. One of them was the block between The Max M. Fisher Music Center and the Majestic Theatre on Woodward Avenue. Dennis Archambault shines a light on why we're talking about it in the past tense.

Reuse / Rebuild, Transformational change, Urban Leadership, Woodward Avenue

Midtown

Green City Diaries: Reclaiming the built environment

Matthew Piper Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The bad news is that we've lost buildings to neglect and disinvestment. The good news is that we're not going to take it anymore. There are new strategies to repurpose Detroit properties. Matthew Piper hunts down some more sustainable solutions.

Architecture, Detroit, Green, Placemaking, Reuse / Rebuild

Hamtramck, Midtown, Lafayette Park

Green City Diaries: This land is our land (Part 2)

Matthew Piper Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Green projects are sprouting up all over the city. In part 2 his latest diary entry, Matthew Piper finds common ground in Hamtramck and Palmer Park.

Detroit, Green, Reuse / Rebuild, Sustainability

Hamtramck, Midtown, Southwest Detroit, University Commons - Palmer Park

Green City Diaries: This land is our land (Part 1)

Matthew Piper Tuesday, July 10, 2012

In Detroit, stories about people successfully taking ownership of neglected space abound. And they keep coming. Matthew Piper found a few more in the North End, in Corktown, and in Midtown for this week's Green City Diaries entry.

Detroit, Green, Reuse / Rebuild, Sustainability

Reuse / Rebuild : Featured Stories