Buzz

CCS contemplates expansion to Argonaut Building

Detroit Free Press Thursday, October 11, 2007

The Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority approved a $10 million tax credit for the redevelopment of the Argonaut Building to add to the potential that the College for Creative Studies might expand into that building. The $140 million plans include using the building for a new graduate school and 250 units of student housing.

Excerpt:

CCS President Richard Rogers said the school, located just east of the Detroit Institute of Arts, is desperately short of space and parking. But whether it decides to go ahead with an expansion into the Argonaut Building will take a few more months of analysis.

"Conceptually everybody is very excited about it," he said Thursday. "But we have to look at the realities of it and decide whether it�s practical for us to do it. I hope we can pull it off."

Read the entire article here.

Wayne County's TURBO program spurs $40M in development

Crain's Detroit Business Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Wayne County's TURBO (Transforming Underdeveloped Residential and Business Opportunities) is being used to catalyze challenging developments -- $40 million in just its first year of operation.

Excerpt:

Developers may get a 100 percent tax rebate for the first year of construction and an amount equal to 50 percent of their taxes in cash rebates over the next five years for new construction or total rehabilitation projects. Partial rehabilitation and projects involving brownfield development can also get cash rebates under the program.

TURBO incentives have been used to jump-start several developments, creating about 700 permanent and construction jobs, Ficano said. These include retail projects in Highland Park and Detroit.

Read the entire article here.

Progress Report: NEXT Detroit Neighborhoods get 5-month check-up

Detroit Free Press Monday, October 01, 2007

Even though the NEXT Detroit Neighborhood Initiative is just shy of 5 months old, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is looking to expand its purview.

Excerpt:

In May, Kilpatrick pledged $125 million in tax dollars over five years to upgrade services in six neighborhoods. He also said he would seek to raise $100 million from foundations plus additional money from the sale of bonds. But in this economy, with a financially strapped city and state, floating bonds isn't a viable option, at least for now, Goss-Foster said.

"The mayor is now sitting at the table with 20 private foundations and financial institutions working on an investment model," Goss-Foster said last week. "We were at this $100-million figure but realized, by really working in partnership, the public/private commitment can be limitless. This is unprecedented."

Read the entire article here.

Sign up for WSU's October Orientation Institute

Detroit Orientation Institute Tuesday, September 25, 2007

This fall's Detroit Orientation Institute will take place Oct. 16, 23 and 30. The keynote address will be from Detroit Renaissance's Doug Rothwell and attendees will get a backstage tour of the Michigan Opera Theatre.

The DOI is intended to introduce the city to people who have recently moved to the area as well as illuminate those who live in the city but lack familiarity with it.

Full payment must be received by Oct. 2 to secure a reservation.

Program registration forms are available here.

For more information call 313-577-0171.

Crain's house party draws 900

Crain's Detroit Business Monday, September 24, 2007

Crain's Detroit Business' second annual Ultimate House Party drew 900 people. After visiting individual houses across the city, revelers converged at the Ren Cen.

Excerpt:

Jerome Raska and Robbin Yelverton, co-owners of Detroit-based florist Blumz ... by JR Designs, opened their University District home to House Party guests both this year and last. About 20 partiers mingled inside of the historic home, which was built in 1926, and the backyard, which features a number of lush plants and floral arrangements.

Raska said he and Yelverton participated in the House Party because they wanted to showcase the historic homes in their neighborhood and the home they've lived in since 1997.

"We're very proud to be Detroit residents," Raska said.

Read the entire article here.

Crain's to host second Ultimate House Party

Crain's Detroit Business Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Crain's Detroit Business is hosting its second annual Ultimate House Party on Sept. 20, when people will get a chance to learn about living in Detroit by hanging out in a private residence. Then all guests head over to the Ren Cen for a big after-bash.

Find out more and register here.

LISC community development awards to be given Sept. 20

LISC Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Detroit Local Initiatives Support Corporation, better known as LISC Detroit, will celebrate the success of the city's community development corporations at its annual awards luncheon on Sept. 20.

The luncheon is at noon at the Antheneum Hotel in Greektown. For ticket information contact Detroit LISC at 313-596-8222.

Forbes names Detroit 21st best city for singles

Forbes Tuesday, August 28, 2007

In its annual rankings of how well singles cities fare in 40 metropolises, Detroit came out twenty-first.

Read about Detroit's ranking here and the magazine's intro to the feature here.

Crain's special issue showcases living in the D

Crain's Detroit Business Monday, August 13, 2007

Crain's Detroit Business has published an extremely comprehensive guide to living and investing in the D, including a slide show, views into two days of five households' lives, information on tax credits and much, much more.

The theme is definitely clear: some people living here actually like it.

The special section's gateway page is here.

BBC World video examines Detroit's cars and culture

BBC World Tuesday, July 24, 2007

This BBC World video is kinda old (from 2005) and pretty long (24 minutes), but it's worth watching. You can tell that the host, Jeremy Clarkson, really likes Detroit. Besides cars, he talks Motown, rides around with Bob Seger and delves into history.

Best unintentionally funny moment: Clarkson's mis-pronunciation of Packard.

Watch it here.

Woodward still evolving in its 200th year

Detroit News Monday, July 16, 2007

In its 200th year, Woodward continues to change. New housing and retail developments are improving it day by day.

Excerpt:

"It's going to take a while to build up enough for the next couple of hardware stores, a big grocery downtown, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods to come in," said Jim Rogers, manager of the Southeast Michigan Council of Government's data center, which tracks building permits. "It's going to take some time for it to build up. But clearly there's a lot more going on than there has been."

Read the entire article here.

Lasalle Bank commits start-up funds to DEGC to help eliminate "food desert"

Crain's Detroit Business Monday, July 09, 2007

Lasalle Bank has committed $15,000 to help the Detroit Economic Development Corporation establish a fund that would target areas of Detroit in need of fresher food options.

Excerpt:

The DEGC could complete an agreement with a consultant for setting up the fund soon, said Olga Savic, the DEGC's director of strategy and external affairs.

The fund will be patterned after a one in Pennsylvania called the Fresh Food Financing Initiative. The 3-year-old fund, which started with $38 million, has financed 26 grocery stores to date with $23 million in financing, Savic said.

The financing fund ties into the DEGC's work with Social Compact, a national nonprofit it contracted with to identify market strengths and needs in Detroit.

"We were already planning to look at this issue of grocery stores and to be able to have a data-driven strategy around choosing sites for grocery stores," Savic said.

Read the entire article here.

DEGC enlists DC-based Social Compact to draw retailers to neighborhoods

Crain's Detroit Business Monday, June 25, 2007

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation will work with Washington, D.C.-based Social Compact to attract retail to Detroit neighborhoods, including the six Next Detroit areas. Social Compact uses data that is not included in census information to portray buying power.

Excerpt:

"We see the Social Compact work as absolutely critical to what the right business-attraction targets are, especially in the retail sector, and being able to make a compelling business case for Detroit," said Detroit Renaissance Inc. President Doug Rothwell.

The studies help show things that out-of-towners often can�t see about Detroit, such as increased foot traffic downtown since Campus Martius Park opened, said Jim Bieri, a retail consultant and president of the Detroit-based Bieri Co.

"I believe they�re able to identify retail demand in a way traditional demographics can�t," Bieri said.

"Many retailers find that the Social Compact and its methodologies are verifiable and they accept them as fact," [DEGC president and CEO George] Jackson said.

Read the entire article here.

Bike to Work Day draws attention to cycling in the D

Detroit News Friday, May 18, 2007

The second annual Woodward Avenue Bike to Work Day drew more than 50 cycling commuters.

Excerpt:

"I've probably saved this year a good 400 miles a month on gasoline," said Ron Fischer, 52, riding in from Royal Oak to his job as a musician with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Like event organizer Alexander Froehlich, there are times when he can't ride the 55 mile round trip from his home in Farmington, times when his hands have to be warm and loose when he arrives at work. But he and his wife ride as often as they can, even planning a self-supported bike tour for an upcoming vacation.

"It's great to see all these people out," Fischer said. "I just hope it translates into more people riding on their own."

Read the entire article here.

Details of Next Detroit Neighborhoods Inititative announced

Detroit Free Press Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick announced details of his Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative, including the estimated cost: $225 million over five years.

Excerpt:

"We believe this is the most revolutionary thing we can do for the city of Detroit," Kilpatrick said.

The city will set aside $25 million a year for the next five years for his Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative and they have asked nonprofit foundations for another $100 million.

Read the entire article here.

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