Corktown

State land bank going green, offering vacant lots up as community gardens

Fate of Michigan Central Depot sparks Detroit’s latest demolition/preservation debate

City council wants the train station gone but its history and its potential may beat them out.Excerpt:These buildings should be preserved so in the near future they may be used in a manner that will allow for an economic gain for Detroit. There have been many options on the table pertaining to the depot , and both sides should come to an agreement, for the betterment of Detroit. Think about this decision a year from now. Suppose the building was demolished, does Detroit plan on rebuilding on that tract of land? Or will the tract sit there, empty, collecting filth and garbage. On the same day council decided to move forward with a plan to demolish the building, Mayor Ken Cockrel visited with community groups and promised to clean up the 7 Mile area. Council President Moncia Conyers proposed that the building be demolished and a shopping mall be erected on the spot. Maybe Conyers did not get the memo, but the economy is preventing Metro-Detroiters from doing much shopping lately.It is difficult not to drive past the Central Depot and reflect on what Detroit once was. . The Council will be quick to point to the fact that the building will be demolished at the expense of Mr. Moroun, however the citizens of Detroit will be paying a lot more. Once that building falls all that was Detroit, and all that Detroit hopes to be falls too. The morale of Detroit is down, and knocking down a symbol of this great city will knock the morale down further.Read the entire article here.A few other stories about the Detroit icon:Detroit News editorial here and a story about the demo here.The Freep asks if it is an icon or an eyesore here and what could happen to its neighbors here.Another Freep editorial tells the city and owner Matty Moroun to do something about the blighted train station here.Photo essay can be found in this Freep story here.

Model D is looking for an intern or two for the summer

Model D is looking for an intern to help out on the editorial side of things. This position is unpaid except for any feature stories published. We're looking for one, maybe two, lucky candidates to work 15-20 hours a week. Interns will help out with various projects, events update listings, write stories and get us coffee. No, just kidding, we get our own coffee.A journalism background is a plus. Knowing the city is an even bigger plus. Knowing a little about online media is a bonus.If interested please send a cover letter and resume to terry@modeldmedia.com.

Model D TV: Mudgie’s Deli in Corktown

When people talk about "the corner" in Corktown, our thoughts often drift to the corner of Porter and Brooklyn (you probably thought we were going to say Michigan in Trumbull). Mudgie's has become a neighborhood staple, and draws in downtown diners, too.

NYTimes finds Detroit’s music scene vibrant, packed

New York Times finds the places where Detroit's music scene flourishes. There's even a mention of Hamtramck's Blowout.Excerpt:IN a city whose name is forever entwined with that of Motown Records, it is tempting to expect to hear songs like “Dancing in the Streets” blaring constantly from speakers on light posts, or to see Eminem or Kid Rock shooting videos on the downtown streets.But Motown left town a generation ago, leaving behind only the small white house that is home to the Motown Historical Museum (2648 West Grand Boulevard; 313-975-2264; www.motownmuseum.com). And while Eminem and Kid Rock still live and record there, they keep lower local profiles than their fame might suggest.But the clubs where they and other Detroit acts got their starts are still very much a part of the city, developing performers who could join the ranks of other famous Detroit artists. Even though the city, and its auto industry, have been hit by hard times that threaten some venerable places, live music endures in the Motor City.Read the entire article here.

Here’s one more reminder: Model D is now on Twitter

It's been great so far, the tweeting. Though we'd just drop in one more reminder. So, everyone, keep tweeting. Can we call it a Model D Tweet Shop? Follow us at Model D Twitter feed. Talk to us. Give us feedback. And stay engaged. Also, join our group on the other social media giant Facebook for updates. On top of that, we'll be out covering Detroit's nightlife during the NCAA's Final Four. There are sponsored events by the NCAA but there are also a lot of un-sponsored events... If you know what we're sayin'. So, let us know where you'll be and what you'll be doing and we'll do the same for you. See you out and about. www.twitter.com/modeld

Want a little more Model D? Then follow us on Twitter

We're there. We've done it. We're on Twitter now. We have a Facebook group, might as well have a Twitter feed, too.Our hope is to offer a little more insight into what we're doing and when we're doing it. We don't want it to just be another RSS feedSo follow us. Talk to us. Give us feedback. And do it all right here: @modeld

Detroit’s border shouldn’t end at Eight Mile

The Detroit city council, as of late, could probably have its own VH1 reality show with all the drama, controversy, and, some would say, flat out ignorance it has portrayed. Lately, the question of division has cropped up and what is and isn't a Detroiter? Division is only productive when it comes to math and recycling. Yet, it seems as if some on the city council haven't figured that out yet, according to Detnews columnist Nolan Finley.Excerpt:Why on earth would a city in such desperate straits build a wall between itself and its best potential allies? A smarter marketing strategy would be to encourage more people to boast that they are citizens of Detroit, in spirit if not by address. If more suburbanites identified themselves internally as Detroiters, it might put an end to our infernal turf wars. And we'd have more folks who gave a damn that Detroit is rotting away, that it's under siege by the worst forces of urban life, that it's been neglected and abandoned and nobody outside our small corner of the world cares. Instead, the council is advocating the very black-white, city-suburban divides that are responsible for Detroit's decline. Read the entire article here.Another piece from the Metro Times about being a Detroiter can be found here.

City hosts series of meetings to solicit resident input on foreclosure stabilization