WSU’s fourth Wednesday farmers market this week

Wayne State University's Farmers Market is back. Every 4th Wednesday at Prentis Hall, across from the Detroit Public Library, vendors come out with their herbs and vegetables and fruits grown in and around the city. Local vendors included Avalon Bakery, Vang Family Farm, Ridley Orchards, Earthworks Urban Farm, Eastern Market AM Fresh, Grown in Detroit Cooperative, D-Town Farm, and Vandalia Gardens Urban Farm.Based on last month's success, WSU has increased products and participating.For more information contact Kami Pothukuchi: (313) 577-4296 or email k.pothukuchi@wayne.edu.

Privately funded transit plan gains excitement, financial support

Excitement and funds are growing for the privately funded light rail line planned to run from Hart Plaza to New Center. Excerpt:The project, now known as the Regional Area Initial Link, or TRAIL, has gotten commitments for about 75% of its goal of raising $90 million to $100 million, a person familiar with the details of the effort said.In a key fund-raising innovation, leaders of the effort are selling naming rights for up to 13 planned stations along the 3.4-mile route up Woodward Avenue. The rights go for $3 million for each pair of north-south stations. So far, 10 purchasers have committed to buying rights.In one such agreement, the Wayne State University Board of Governors approved July 30 spending $3 million to sponsor a stop at the school.Read the entire article here.

Packed hotels making for a busier downtown

The hope is to fill the hotels and downtown will flourish. Recently, with all the events in town, Detroit's 2,000 hotel rooms were nearly filled and finding a room was difficult. Although a "no vacancy" sign may be an inconvenience to visitors, it's good news for the city.Excerpt:With at least four conventions in town, and the Lions home opener against the Green Bay Packers, it could be hard to find a room downtown.Visitors found themselves in a similar state two weekends ago, as Detroit welcomed the Grand Prix, the Jazz Festival and Tigers fans, along with attendees for cultural, music and gaming offerings.MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity Casino have worked together on several occasions to accommodate large groups between the two's combined 800 rooms, officials say.The successes show the potential for the city to generate enough business to support the nearly 2,000 hotel rooms that, by the end of this year, will have been added since 2004, even while opening during tough economic times, convention and hospitality leaders say. The long-anticipated Westin Book Cadillac hotel and the Fort Shelby Doubletree Guest Suites will join newly opened hotels like the MGM Grand and MotorCity Casino in trying to attract conventions. The 367-room Detroit Riverside Hotel, across from Cobo Hall, also underwent a $35-million face-lift this year.Read the entire article here.

Detroit’s investment in rapid transit would bring jobs, developments

A report released by Transportation Riders United details rapid transit's effect on Detroit. It would be thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in new development.Excerpt:“The greater Detroit area could achieve billions of dollars in new development and thousands of jobs just like dozens of other cities have, by investing in light rail transit,” said TRU Executive Director Megan Owens.  “By making major investments in rapid transit, Michigan could jumpstart its economy and plant the seeds for long-term economic growth.”Because many people want to live, work, shop and play near convenient rapid transit, developers in many cities choose to build near transit stations.  Research by the American Public Transit Association has found that property values near transit stations are generally 25% higher than similar property elsewhere.   Rapid transit systems in the four metro regions examined in the report have sparked massive investments in retail stores, grocery stores, restaurants, residential and other housing units, office buildings, movie theaters, cafes, and more.  Many developers point to the rail station as a major factor in deciding to build, a very attractive feature to buyers, and a key to their success.Read the entire release here.

MT looks at combining Detroit’s abundant resources: Empty spaces and artistic talent

Metro Times writer Rebecca Mazzei discusses public art, Detroit's open spaces, the city's artists and combining the three for the good of the community. Excerpt:What I'm saying is there has to be a clear-eyed evaluation of Detroit's actual assets, and two big ones are our artists and our land. An initiative such as this would, first off, be tailored to supporting the activities of people who actually live here. It would lead by example, proving that local public art projects are, as Heidelberg's Tyree Guyton says, "medicine" for the community. Second, it would allow Detroiters to experience world-class art in inconspicuous places, on grounds they feel familiar with, for free. Plus, welcoming internationally known artists to interact with our environment is a smart move that teaches artists (who have influence in shaping culture and are more likely to listen) to value our region's natural resources and to learn more about our rich history.Read the entire article here.

Three-county transit plan to be unveiled Wednesday

A draft of a regional, three-county transit plan will be unveiled Wednesday. It will highlight suggested improvements, such as light rail, and how to fund them.Excerpt:The plan is the product of the Regional Transportation Coordinating Council. Hertel’s job as CEO of Detroit Regional Mass Transit, the parent of the council, is to develop the plan and drum up regional consensus for it, and he reports to the executives of the three counties and the mayor of Detroit.Forming the background of the plan is a $400,000 regional transit study by Kansas City-based transportation consulting firm TranSystems Corp.The new-construction aspect of the plan is expected to revolve around a light-rail line on Woodward Avenue, which would feed into other proposed routes, such as a Detroit-Ann Arbor line in the works by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments regional planning agency.Read the entire article here.

ESPN names The Kronk Gym 49th most important sports venue in America

Kronk Gym is hallowed ground in the boxing world. Opened shortly after World War I, Kronk, lead by famous trainer Emanuel Steward, has trained some of the greatest boxers the world has ever seen.Additionally, in the ESPN piece, Joe Louis Arena was ranked at number 61.Excerpt:49. The Kronk GymLocation: Detroit. Opened: 1920. capacity: Not applicable.Because this legendary gym, which closed two years ago but remains standing, is where 37 world champions trained, including Thomas Hearns, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis....61. Joe Louis ArenaLocation: Detroit. Opened: 1978. Capacity: 20,066.Because it's the city hall of Hockey Town, USA (but bring your own octopus).Read the entire article here.

Postal workers convention coming to Cobo

A lot of mailmen and women will be in town. The postal workers convention will be swinging into town bringing 3,300 delegates and shooting several million dollars into the local economy.Excerpt:The convention will span five nights in August 2010 and bring 3,300 delegates to town, said Renee Monforton, spokeswoman for the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.With more than 15,000 hotel room nights to be booked for the convention, the event is expected to pump several million dollars into the local economy.Read the entire article here.

DDOT launches trial run of Bikes on Buses, new stop signage to be introduced