Buzz

Detroit Renaissance unveils regional revival strategies

Crain's Detroit Business Thursday, May 03, 2007

Details of Detroit Renaissance's "Road to Renaissance" plan have been unveiled. The three-year plan is expected to cost $75-80 million, $50 million of which will go towards business accelerators -- including TechTown and NextEnergy.

Two of the 11 strategies include:

Establishing a �Creative Corridor� on Woodward Avenue that attracts and retains creative talent, inspires output from the creative community and increases the creative industries locally.
Starting a �Creative Business Accelerator� in the corridor to foster start-ups and accelerate the growth of existing creative businesses.

Read the entire here.

Farmers markets - from Eastern Market to neighborhood markets - strengthen local food security

metromode Thursday, May 03, 2007

A look at farmers market around Southeast Michigan discusses Eastern Market as well as the food security afforded neighborhoods and smaller cities, like Highland Park, that host their own markets.

Excerpt:

Economic benefits are another farmers market positive that WSU urban planning professor Kami Pothukcuchi has studied. "Farmers markets are important as they are for the market environment they create and the buzz they create for places. They are tools for much larger objectives, regional objectives in terms of economic benefits." She cites a study that shows that money spent at markets stays in the community. "Ten dollars spent in the market can result in $20 worth of business in the surrounding area."

Read the entire article here.

Construction on Dequindre Cut scheduled to begin this summer

Detroit Free Press Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Construction on the Dequindre Cut greenway's first phase, which will stretch from Woodbridge Street north to Gratiot, will begin this summer.

Excerpt:

Wrote nofunk, a contributor to UrbanPlanet.org, one of several spots on the Internet that feature Dequindre Cut artwork: "That graffiti is freaking AMAZING."

What will happen to the graffiti? Officials said they will keep as much as possible.

"We'd like to consider it an art form," said Leonard Marszalek, chief operating officer for the river conservancy. "As long as it's not profane or obscene, why not?"

Read the entire article here.

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.

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.

Downtown boosters celebrate successes at annual luncheon

Detroit News Friday, March 30, 2007

At Downtown Detroit Partnership's luncheon, city officials touted recent demographic studies that demonstrate that Downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods are more-populated than was previously thought -- and its 74,300 residents are affluent and well-educated.

Excerpt:

Among the facts: The $59,300 average income of downtown residents is 33 percent higher than shown in previous census data. Robert Penske also noted that three market studies show downtown and adjacent neighborhoods have far more economic potential than census data indicates.

The studies were released in the past year by the University of Michigan, Katherine Beebe & Associates and most recently, Social Compact. Penske praised Washington-based think tank Social Compact's "leading-edge technology" that used data such as private and public tax assessor records, credit card transactions and building permits to determine the area's economic worth.

Read the entire article here.

Detroit Film Center finds new home in Eastern Market

Crain's Detroit Business Sunday, March 25, 2007

The Detroit Film Center has found a new -- and much larger -- permanent home in Detroit's Eastern Market.

Excerpt:

[Founder Bob Anderson] sees the new location as a �catalyst for future growth. We continue to grow in terms of audience. We're a nonprofit media-arts center fueled through volunteer help and part-time staff. We have an active board.�

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.

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.

Eastern Market : Buzz