Buzz

TONIGHT: TRU's quarterly meeting to discuss DDOT efforts to bring rapid transit to Detroit

TRU Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Transportation Riders United will host its quarterly meeting April 17. The meeting will discuss DDOT's Detroit Transit Options for Growth Study as well as TRU's latest projects.

The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Guardian Building.

10-year plan to end homelessness announced

Crain's Detroit Business Monday, April 16, 2007

A multi-faceted plan intended to end homelessness in Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck has been developed by the Homeless Action Network. It targets five key areas: prevention, housing, supportive services, community engagement and collaboration.

Excerpt:

The plan, created over the past two years, includes input from numerous stakeholder and community partners in the three cities, including the Homeless Action Network,, City Connect, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Cynthia Pasky, CEO and President of Strategic Business Solutions.

Read the entire article here.

AT&T donates $1.2M for youth technology access

Great Lakes IT Report Friday, April 13, 2007

The AT&T Foundation has made a $1.2 million grant to the Detroit Youth Foundation to provide Detroit youth with access to technology.

Excerpt:

"The AT&T grant will allow Detroit youth the opportunity to have practical, hands-on experience using technology," said Gerald K. Smith, DYF president and CEO. "Access to technology is vital in today�s world. This funding will provide our youth with the experience they need in order to succeed in the future."

Read the entire article here.

Papa John's to open 30 franchises in area, most in Detroit

Detroit News Friday, April 06, 2007

Papa John's has signed a $35 million deal with a group of local investors that will bring 30 of the franchises to the area, with most slated to open in Detroit. The first two restaurants will open by June, one in the Wayne State area and one at Seven Mile and Livernois.

Excerpt:

"We're only the third partnership they've made and the first with a minority business," Alpha Chairman Paul Hubbard said of Papa John's. "We are group of individuals who are committed to giving back to Detroit."

Currently Papa John's has no restaurants in Detroit and only a handful in the suburbs.

Read the entire article here.

Ford Foundation commits $25M to Detroit, $75M more possible

Crain's Detroit Business Sunday, April 01, 2007

Ford Foundation has pledged $25 million to an economic development fund that the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is quietly assembling -- and may reach $100 million when complete.

Excerpt:

William Hanson, director of communications and technology, declined to comment on the economic development fund the Community Foundation is pulling together but said, �Michigan philanthropy can bring significant resources � both financial and intellectual � to the table, so it makes a lot of sense for foundations to consider collaborating on critical issues.�

Read the entire article here.

JC Penney's intent to locate in Detroit seen as positive sign for retail

Detroit Free Press Thursday, March 22, 2007

Excerpt:

The department store's interest reflects some major retailers'
strategy to consider areas they've overlooked, said Fred Marx, partner
in Marx Layne & Co.

"You look at that population of potential shoppers that are not being
served," Marx said. Pharmacy chains like CVS took that route and saw
success, Marx said.

Read the entire article here.

TRU launches transit design competition

metromode Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Transportation Riders United, a metro Detroit transit advocacy group, is sponsoring a design competition on the future of mass transit in the area.

Excerpt:

"Detroit in Transit: Visions of a Region on the Move" is looking for drawings and designs of what Detroit�s future transit and transit-oriented neighborhoods would look like with convenient, high-quality rapid transit.

"What we�re really hoping to do is launch a public conversation about what rapid transit can do to revitalize a city like Detroit," says Megan Owens, executive director of TRU.

Read the entire article here.

JC Penney may locate at Gateway Park

Crain's Detroit Business Tuesday, March 20, 2007

JC Penny has signed a letter of intent to open a 100,000 square foot
retail store as the anchor tenant at the Shoppes of Gateway, located
at the southeast corner of Eight Mile and Woodward near the Michigan
State Fairgrounds.

Excerpt:

Plans also include up to five national "junior box" retailers, up to
five restaurants and as many as 40 national and local small retail
shops.

[Gateway Park investor Bernard] Schrott said Penney's plans to open a
Detroit store bode well for the future of Gateway Park, which is
planned to open in March 2009.

Read the entire article here.

Dave Bing contributes to revival of waterfront and neighborhoods

Detroit Free Press Monday, March 19, 2007

Dave Bing has emerged as a key player in Detroit's turn-around. He is heading up the Mayor's Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative and is a partner in the $60 millions WaterMark East Riverfront condominium development.

Excerpt:

You have to dream," Bing said as he cruised in his Jaguar last month around the North End, one of the targeted neighborhoods and the community where his company is based. "Most businesses and investors want to make money -- they don't want to take risks. If you're looking for short-term returns, Detroit's not the place. I'm in this for the long run."

Read the entire article here.

Detroit leads region in new housing starts

Detroit Free Press Saturday, March 17, 2007

SEMCOG statistics show that Detroit led the region in new housing starts for 2006 with 657 residential permits issued.

Excerpt:

"Even in these tough economic times, these numbers demonstrate that housing in Detroit is at least competitive with housing in the suburbs," said Paul Tait, executive director of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.

Read the entire article here.

Urban farming expert in town Mar. 29-31

Detroit Free Press Friday, March 16, 2007

John Jeavons, a national expert in urban farming and biointensive agriculture, will be in Detroit March 29-31.

Excerpt:

From 6-8 p.m. March 29, Jeavons will talk about his experiences with agriculture and how growing crops can be done more efficiently, especially for those in urban spaces. The free talk will be at the Catherine Ferguson Academy, 2750 Selden, Detroit.

From 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 30-31, Jeavons will lead his workshop on how to grow biointensively. Cost for the two-day session is $10-$50 for members of the Garden Resource Program or similar urban gardening organizations, and $150 for others.

For information, call Ashley Atkinson at 313-237-8736 or go to www.detroitagriculture.org.

Read the entire article here.

Fifth Third investing in southeast Michigan, to open 2 banks in Detroit

Detroit Free Press Monday, March 12, 2007

Fifth Third Bank plans to open 40 banks in southeast Michigan over the next three years, with two in Detroit set to open in the coming months.

Excerpt:

�Obviously, an initiative like this has been in the works for some time,� said bank spokesman Jack Riley. �But it is nice to give the region some good news.�

Fifth Third also hopes to become the official bank for the City of Detroit, following the announcement of the investment in southeast Michigan.
Read the entire article here.

Auction of 260 Detroit homes set for Mar. 17-18

Detroit Free Press Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Hudson and Marshall will auction off 260 Detroit homes worth between $10,000 and $300,000 on March 17-18.

Excerpt:

�Foreclosed properties are great buys for investors and first-time home buyers alike,� said Dave Webb, a principal with Hudson & Marshall, in a statement.

Read the entire article here.

DMCVB's D-Rod will showcase Detroit as tourist destination

The Oakland Press Friday, February 02, 2007

DMCVB has tapped Holly-based Detroit Muscle to build a custom hot rod, the D-Rod, to showcase Detroit's appeal as the Motor City and as a travel and leisure destination.

Excerpt:

Rick Dyer, Detroit Muscle project manager for the D-Rod, said the company's extensive knowledge and technical ability allowed Detroit Muscle put to put together, with passion and style, a street legal vehicle that represents the best of Detroit's past and future to prospective visitors.

Read the entire article here.

United Way CEO urges regional solutions to area problems

Detroit Free Press Sunday, January 21, 2007

United Way for Southeastern Michigan CEO Michael Brennan discusses the agency's survey process that has led them to begin working on solving the region's major problems in three key areas: educational preparedness, economic stability and basic needs. He urges the region to work together in a collaborative manner to acieve success.

Excerpt:

During the course of our research at United Way for Southeastern Michigan, we collected more than 20,000 comments from 7,000 residents, and one theme reverberated consistently: This region aspires to be a place where all people have the educational and economic opportunities needed to succeed and to thrive.

Read entire editorial here.

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