Inspired by a 20/20 episode that highlighted Gina Reichert and Mitch Cope’s Hamtramck house project, Ian Perrotta and his brother hopped in their car and drove from Greensburg, PA — […]
Detroit needs to change and the economy is forcing it to change. NPR produces a series delving into what the city is doing and what it should do to retool itself for the future.Here are a few pieces from the series worth checking out:Commentary about the writer's love of the Brown Bombers fist and the city of Detroit here.Architects and rehabbers capitalizing on the Detroit market here.Venture capitalists and entrepreneurs sticking in Detroit here.Read the entire series here.
SPIN visits the Detroit Music Awards and liked what it saw, which included a Ted Nugent reunion with the Amboy Dukes. Don't worry, the Nug' didn't shoot anyone with a bow an arrow.Excerpt: Despite a few rust-induced hiccups, the event (and make no mistake, this was an event) was a pleasure to witness. The Dukes' three-song set consisted of "Baby, Please Don't Go", "Journey to the Center of The Mind," and an awesome rendition of Mitch Ryder's "Jenny Take A Ride," featuring original Ryder drummer Johnny Bee. Nugent, who was recently slammed for referring to his hometown as a "scab," was full of compliments for the Motor City during his numerous rants. Other highlights of the evening included a tribute to Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton, who passed away earlier this year. Former Rationals frontman Scott Morgan, together with his new band Powertrane and Cult Heroes singer Hiawatha Bailey, performed the Stooges classics "1969," "Down on the Street," and "I Wanna Be Your Dog." Read the entire article here.
Detroit's Final Four weekend was a success on many fronts.Excerpt:It was a downtown Detroit alive with electricity that was enjoyed by all.Financially, the local community benefited from an estimated $30 million to $50 million in direct economic impact during a time when businesses face challenges not seen since the Great Depression. Needy organizations benefitted from a Final Four-first food recovery program in partnership with Forgotten Harvest that donated more than 1,000 pounds of food to community service providers.Several screenings and panel discussions on the NCAA documentary "Game of Change" provided a platform for positive discourse on race relations, and more than 10,000 basketball uniforms were donated to local and statewide organizations.The Samaritan's Feet initiative donated more than 1,000 pairs of shoes, and the Boll Family YMCA in Detroit received a basketball court refurbishment from the NCAA, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Tyler Ugolyn Foundation. More than 500 students participated in the NCAA's Middle School Madness program that provides educators with compelling learning tools centered on the elements of the Final Four. Read the entire article here.
Community gardens and new bike paths and trails are helping Detroit get greener.Excerpt:But the city surprised many people last year when it moved from 43rd to 31st in a ranking of major U.S. cities judged by support for the environment. SustainLane, a national group that compiled the list, cited Detroit's decision to replace blight with a growing number of community gardens and paved pedestrian and bicycle paths. Beyond the city, Michigan has built the third-most housing units certified as green by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a Washington, D.C.-based environmental building expert. Michigan has 119 such units, which meet standards such as energy efficiency, while leader California has 480. Read the entire article here.
The now lease-able Fort Shelby apartments offer refined urban living in downtown Detroit.Excerpt:No detail has been overlooked in these sophisticated spaces. The kitchens boast granite countertops, Aristokraft cabinetry, GE stainless-steel appliances and hardwood floors. The bathrooms have travertine tile; double Kohler sinks in granite counters; glass-enclosed, spa-like showers; and deep, soaker tubs. Chandeliers are stainless steel in a gender-neutral style; other lighting is recessed. Carpeting is high-end Berber. Thick, horizontal, wood blinds dress the windows. The ceilings are 9 feet high. One model even has a roomy kitchen pantry. Every unit has its own washer and dryer. And the spacious, walk-in closets would make "Sex and the City's" Carrie swoon with pleasure. But it doesn't stop there. Amenities include a 24-hour doorman, concierge, cable and DirectTV, private elevator, housekeeping and dry-cleaning services. On the ground floor, there is the Finn & Porter steakhouse and sushi bar, a lounge called the Round Bar, the Bearclaw Coffee Shop and 38,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space. Catering and guest suites for visiting family and friends are available. There's also in-house ATM banking and a vintage marble shoeshine stand. Read the entire article here.
Venus Zine, a women's culture site, does a city guide to Detroit and captured it quite well.Excerpt:Detroit’s culture and cadence have long been defined, respectively, by its now infamous car industry and its prodigious music legacy. Nearly every American genre shares its roots with Detroit’s musical traditions. From J Dilla and Marvin Gaye to MC5 and Derrick May, Detroit’s creative footprint spreads far and wide.A city whose reputation often precedes it, Detroit seems to be in a constant process of revitalization. In recent years, the city has poured funding into the downtown neighborhood to bring residents back within city limits. The money went, in part, to new baseball and football stadiums and three new casinos. However, these places do not house the essence of this shrinking city. It is within the neighborhoods, music venues, and markets that you’ll find the real beat of Motown.Read the entire guide here.
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