In the wake of the pandemic, downtown Detroit underwent a massive shift. Many left their offices to come back just a couple of times a week, and people looking for dining and entertainment on weekends
Terms on the deal were undisclosed.
The investment is through Farner’s Ronin Capital Partners, and he’s joining the DCFC Holdings board of directors.
The deal helps fund AlumniFi Field, a planned 15,000-seat, soccer-specific stadium budgeted at $150 million. It's part of a broader $200 million mixed-use development that includes a 421-space parking garage and a 104-unit residential building with 76 affordable housing units, plus new public space off of Michigan Avenue and I-96 on the former Southwest Detroit Hospital site.
Ronin also has investments in the Student Athlete Score sports marketing intelligence platform, pickleball ratings system DUPR, TGL team golf, and Motor City Golf Club.
Says Farner in a statement:
What the founders, supporters and ownership group has built is extraordinary: a passionate supporter culture, a deep connection to the community and a bold vision for the club’s future. With the continued growth of the United Soccer League (USL) and an amazing permanent stadium on the horizon, Detroit City FC is uniquely positioned for success.
We believe Ronin’s vast experience in marketing, sports sponsorships and live events will help strengthen the club even more.
At Ronin, we have a passion for athletics and for soccer with our COO, Nicole Vallianatos, being a former Division 1 soccer player. We are confident this passion, investment and long-term commitment will help to further secure Detroit City FC’s future.
The stadium project won unanimous Detroit City Council approval after a community benefits process.
The club says construction is on track for the 2028 USL Championship season, with nearly 6,000 seat deposits already in, and more than 1,000 construction jobs and 140-plus permanent jobs projected once the development is built out.
Fairlane Town Center is back in the headlines, and not for the right reasons.
In this episode, Devon and I dig into the latest on Dearborn’s struggling mall. From receivership and a possible sale
What used to be a fast, vehicle-heavy intersection is now a pedestrian-first public space that better connects Greektown with the rest of downtown outside of three local watering holes.
I was at the ribbon-cutting, and it’s a quality upgrade both on foot and behind the wheel. It’s easier to cross, easier to drive, and clearly designed to be a place you actually want to hang out.
The plaza brings new seating, lighting, landscaping, and room for public art and events, with plans for year-round programming that can spill out from Monroe into the wider district.
It comes out of the Greektown Neighborhood Framework and is backed by a mix of public, private and philanthropic dollars, including support from the MEDC’s Revitalization and Placemaking program and the City of Detroit.
It’s part of a larger $13.7 million investment in downtown parks and public spaces.
Now if only we could get tenants in the rest of the buildings on that block... anyone who loves cities and downtown life would love to live upstairs from those storefronts.
The 200,000-square-foot DDOT Coolidge Terminal replaces the original facility that operated from 1928 until a fire destroyed it in 2011. After years of delays, including Detroit’s bankruptcy, the city moved forward with a full rebuild and shifted west side operations from the aging Gilbert Terminal.
I got an early look at the facility during a hard-hat tour a few months ago while it was still under construction, and it was clear this is the kind of infrastructure upgrade needed to give DDOT employees what they need to succeed.
The new complex includes three buildings: a climate-controlled storage facility for up to 120 buses, a maintenance building for repairs, and an administration building with upgraded amenities for workers including a lounge, kitchen, workout room, lockers, and showers.
Funding came largely from the federal government at $102.5 million, along with $31.5 million from the city and $25.6 million from the state.
City officials say the investment should improve reliability and efficiency while giving drivers and mechanics a modern base of operations. The site is also designed with room to expand.
The east side Shoemaker Terminal will remain in operation.
Lights were out, bills are up, and a lot of folks around here are just done with it.
On today's Daily Detroit, Norris and I talk through the long Fourth of July weekend that
There's a ton of useful information in today's Daily Detroit, and you'll walk away with a better understanding of how our state works.
I’m joined by longtime budget expert Steve Watson
Mallory McMorrow just suspended her campaign for the Democratic U.S. Senate primary here in Michigan — in a race the nation is watching.
In an emergency Sunday edition of the podcast, we give local perspective
Today I’m joined by artist and entrepreneur Trice Clark, the creative force behind Kraftologie, to talk about building a new creative space in Detroit’s West Village, life after Joann Fabrics, and how better
The Eastern Market-based craft distiller has opened its first location outside Detroit, adding an outpost inside Foley’s Market in downtown Lexington along Lake Huron (7252 Huron Ave), just in time for the July 4 rush.
The project comes together with Detroit-based Roxbury Group, known for developments like the David Whitney Hotel and Metropolitan Building.
Founded in 2014, DCD built its name on small-batch spirits and a packed tasting room back home. The Lexington spot brings that same formula to a summer-heavy beach town, with daily hours from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Co-founder J.P. Jerome says the goal is a comfortable, year-round gathering place for locals and visitors alike.
I think it's a smart next step. There's been a wave in the last few years of Detroit-based brands that to find new markets and ensure financial sustainability have expanded into the suburbs, state, and beyond.
I’ve got a three‑parter for you today!
First, Norris and I headed down to Little Caesars Arena for Big3. It's a three‑on‑three traveling basketball league. We talk about why it
Detroit Future City CEO Anika Goss joins me to dig into a recent report on career-connected learning and the future of work for young Detroiters.
“Career-Connected Learning: Investing in Detroit’s Future Talent,
The wholesale water and sewage rates of the GLWA (Great Lakes Water Authority) will increase 5.8% on July 1, but that won't be anywhere near enough cash for what's needed.
There are three underlying issues we need to be honest about.
- The average age of failing water mains is 53 years old according to a national study. 50 years have passed since many mains were installed.
- We've built more stuff for the same amount of people. Think about everything in Metro Detroit that's been built since 1970. 696 did not exist. The Silverdome and the Palace have come and gone. Canton Township was still the sweet corn capital of Michigan with just 11,000 people, and is now nearly 9x the size. The combined population of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County has dropped over the last 55+ years while much of the rest of the nation has grown.
| Year | Wayne | Oakland | Macomb | Tri-County Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,670,368 | 907,871 | 626,204 | 4,204,443 |
| 1980 | 2,337,843 | 1,011,793 | 694,600 | 4,044,236 |
| 1990 | 2,107,915 | 1,086,685 | 718,280 | 3,912,880 |
| 2000 | 2,058,765 | 1,196,585 | 790,701 | 4,046,051 |
| 2020 | 1,789,634 | 1,272,524 | 880,240 | 3,942,398 |
- It's $20 million a mile to replace what's needed.
“The question becomes, ‘Why don’t you just replace it all?’ At $20 million a mile, it’s more than $1.6 billion that we do not have budgeted." - GLWA CEO, Suzanne Coffey
I don't have all the answers. But I do know we're going to have to make some hard decisions. The bill for sprawl is coming due.
🔗 GLWA seeks more government aid as it urges readiness for main breaks - [Detroit News]
On today’s Daily Detroit, we start with why District Detroit still looks like a sea of parking lots instead of the neighborhoods we were promised — and why that matters for the city’s “front
On today’s Daily Detroit, we’re doing a listener “office hours” — answering your questions about life in the city, from fireworks and politics to the World Cup and where to get a proper Detroit
On Griswold near Capitol Park, we spotted a big red neon sign in the window reading "Unc's" — and it's for a Detroit-style pizza concept opening in one of the neighborhood's more extensive building renovations.
It's in the former United Savings Bank which had received a gnarly 70s makeover that removed most of the windows — but is now undergoing a glow-up with an art-deco inspired facade (and two stories) added on.
They've launched an Instagram (@uncspizza) but haven't posted anything or announced an opening date yet.
If you know more, let us know!
Today I’m joined by Khalilah Burt Gaston of the Song Foundation to talk about who actually builds a tech economy — and why it’s often the “geeks, freaks, and weirdos” who drive the biggest
On today’s Daily Detroit, Devon O’Reilly is back at the table after a family vacation in South Haven, so we start with some “Pure Michigan” talk about why that beach town has become
The Downtown Detroit Partnership opened the concept today in a fancied-up shipping container right in the park, stocked with Detroit-made goods, apparel, and some genuinely solid local collabs.
The idea is to sell interesting, locally rooted stuff and funnel the proceeds back into keeping downtown parks active and programmed.
A few quick impressions after stopping by: the setup is clean, the Detroit Sign Painters touches give it character, and the new Campus Martius branding looks sharp in person.
I've always been a huge fan of the Michigania statue on the top of the Soldiers and Sailors monument, and I love how she's represented here.
If you didn't know, Michigania is the personification of the State of Michigan and of powerful victory — strong and brave. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument has stood here since 1872.
There’s also a limited SMPLFD drop inspired by the tulip bloom, plus the usual mix of shirts, hats, and small gifts.
Plus, there's a Pewabic tile featuring Campus Martius, part of their “Postcards from Detroit” series and only available here.
Open Thursday through Sunday, noon to 8 p.m., and is expected to run through October.
A few days ago I saw a corner retail spot across from the Hudson’s development get a bright orange window treatment with the SANA logo.
Now there’s a job posting for full-time retail associates on their site, which usually means an opening isn’t far off. [Sana Detroit]
Founded in 2021 by Michael Sana, SANA Detroit is a streetwear and lifestyle brand that builds hypey, sports-centric drops around the city’s culture, athletes, and teams. They’ve done well-attended pop-up events and collabs, and fans tend to line up early.
The corner of State and Woodward was most recently a Born in Detroit location before that brand moved up the street, and a Moosejaw before that.
It’s on the same block as Nike and Timberland and across the street from the recently opened Alo and Tecovas, putting SANA in the middle of a growing cluster of national and local apparel brands.
Looking through my previous coverage notes, the space is about 4,000 square feet.
No word yet on when they’re opening, but if they’re staffing up, we’re getting close — and I’d bet those opening-day lines will be long.
On this episode of Daily Detroit, I sit down with returning guest Dr. Paul Thomas, CEO and founder of Plum Health Direct Primary Care, to talk about The Real Cost of Healthcare for Michigan Families
Nox Metals, a seven-month-old company operating in Southwest Detroit, has closed a $11.5 million seed round.
The round was led by NYC-based Hyperion, with participation from notable firms including Y Combinator, Palmer Luckey, RoboStrategy, Alumni Ventures, Operator Collective, and DTX Ventures. [Source]
Nox Metals specializes in custom aluminum blocks for CNC machining. By utilizing AI automation, the company claims it can cut lead times from "days to seconds."
In a post, the founder and CEO Zane Hengsperger says:
Our metal has gone to space. It has protected our troops. It is in your car and in the machine that scanned your chest. It is all around us. And we can't stop supplying at warp speeds.
We will be revitalizing a WW2-era, 30,000 square foot factory in Detroit this summer where we will have our techno-industrialists working hard to further pursue our mission. We will be tripling down on technology, which has allowed us to move this fast for America thus far.
Seed funding is used to help a company fund product development, conduct market research, and make key hires.
On today’s Daily Detroit, we start with big news for Detroit City FC fans and the future of Corktown.
We recap our visit to the new Detroit City FC welcome center on Vernor and