Hey friends,
Jer here. Writing this on the road after being down in the birthplace of Dolly Parton — Sevierville, TN for some much needed R+R.
Our most recent podcast has a little Dolly influence, and I shared some local ties. Did you know her Imagination Library book program is up and running in two Detroit zip codes? It sends one age-appropriate book a month to enrolled children ages 0-5. [Wayne State]
Plus, Devon checked out the (official) opening of Chroma Detroit and talked about Northville shutting down their streets to be more business and people friendly. You can listen to the podcast episode here:
Thanks to Luciano for his help curating stories while I was gone. Stay dry and safe out there as there’s supposed to be some major rain today.
🗞 What to know…
» An old house with a tangled history near the Ilitch’s District Detroit burned to the ground overnight. [ClickOnDetroit]
The Detroiternet, of course, is suspicious but the cause of the fire is under investigation as of this writing. Owners had listed the house and land for $2.5 million, making the blighted structure one of the most expensive residential properties in the city. At one point, they were asking nearly $5 million.
No one lived there, but the location right next to Little Caesars Arena makes the land more valuable.
My two cents: I know everyone has a lot of thoughts and theories from people because of where the house is and the drama over the years. I do get the impulse, and I’m no fan of the lack of progress with the parking lot-a-palooza that is the current state of District Detroit near the stadiums.
But more than one trusted expert tells me the land that house is on is probably worth more without the house as it would have needed to be demolished after a sale.
» Erosion at the Rohrbeck Extension Drain is putting I-94 in Roseville at risk of collapse. Turns out the freeway was built on sand. Macomb County Public Works says the two biggest areas of concern are:
- Just east of Little Mack, one-quarter mile north of 13 Mile Road, and only about 20 yards from the right shoulder of westbound I-94.
- South of 13 Mile Road, west of Little Mack, 25 yards from the right shoulder of westbound I-94.
MCPW Commissioner Candice Miller says this is an “emergency,” and a stabilization project will start this week to try and shore up the 10 foot tall embankment and make it less vulnerable to erosion.
» Centerline and Utica in Macomb County are seeing big financial gains from the cannabis industry. [Macomb Daily]
» Pontiac’s former mayor, Deirdre Waterman, is in hot water after an auditor found that she used a city credit card for personal expenses, had parties on the city dime and more. She denies the allegations. Pontiac City Council is expected to vote submit the findings to the U.S. Attorney for possible criminal charges. [Freep]
» The drop in mortgage demand hits Rocket as profits dip 94%. [Crain’s Detroit]
» Trash collection in the city of Detroit could run 1-2 days late due to staffing issues with contractors GFL and Waste Management. Residents should keep containers and bulk items at curb, says the Department of Public Works in a note to media.
» Long-standing local bike seller American Cycle and Fitness will be sold to their supplier, Trek. American has been open since 1928 and has eight locations across Michigan with many in Metro Detroit including Royal Oak, Grosse Pointe, Macomb Township, Pontiac, and Electric Avenue in Detroit. [Facebook]
» Gas prices are down 85 cents in the last month, to an average of $4.01 in Metro Detroit. Demand is down so prices are down. [WXYZ]
» Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan was invited to the White House tomorrow. He was asked to be present for the signing of the CHIPS act, providing $52 billion in funding for domestic supply of semiconductors and $24 billion in investment credits.
My two cents: It’s strategically important for our business success and national security that work on these crucial parts starts to happen in a meaningful way in America, and it’d be excellent if we could attract some of the money to our area.
If this is your first time here and want to get future editions of your Daily Detroit, sign up to get emails free!
🏃♀️ ICYMI…
» A skyscraper project on the old Hudson’s site got a green light from Detroit city council. $60 million in tax breaks were awarded by a vote of 5-4.
After negotiations with Detroit City Council, Bedrock committed to more community benefits including:
- An “enhanced commitment” to Detroit small businesses
- Bedrock will dedicate at least 20% of the street level retail space for Detroit-based small businesses and community programming;
- $1 million will go to support the growth and development of Detroit-based small businesses that are, or were, operating within the dedicated space of the old Hudson site;
- $5 million for projects that meet the Neighborhood Improvement Fund guidelines, such as resident home repairs, blight removal, home repairs for those in need;
- Increase the amount of affordable housing in Bedrock properties from 20% to 30% and move the Area Median Income (AMI) level from 80% to 60%;
- A bucket of support for “technology skills development and digital equity,” but specific details in the amendment are lacking.
Labor groups argued that the incentives would keep the $1.4 billion project moving and keep construction jobs.
Some opposed what they argued is a taxpayer-funded handout to a company owned by Dan Gilbert, Michigan’s richest man.
Detroit City Council will be taking a summer recess until September 5.
[Urbanize Detroit] [Hudson’s CBO Amendment] [Bridge Detroit]
» A legendary venue in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood will get renovated. The City of Detroit’s Historic District Commission approved plans for Stanley Hong’s Mannia Cafe. One of the few surviving buildings of Detroit’s Chinese-American community, it was designed by Nathan Johnson. He’s one of the nation’s most prominent Black architects.
The Mannia Cafe was a practice spot for The Temptations and home of the Rhythm Kitchen, the epicenter of Detroit rap battles in the 1990s. [Historic Detroit]
» Wayne State’s president M. Roy Wilson is stepping down next year. Wilson announced that he will neither extend nor renew his contract at its conclusion on July 31, 2023. Wilson became Wayne State’s twelfth president in 2013. The Board will begin the search process for a new president this fall. [Wayne State University]
» A $40M Detroit Water and Sewerage Department project to keep 100 million gallons of stormwater and snowmelt annually out of the combined sewer system is underway.
Over the next five years, work will include:
- A pair of new detention basins and green paths inside Rouge Park
- Water main and lead service replacement
- Downspout disconnection for about 400 houses
This project will serve about 1,200 homes just west of Rouge Park in Far West Detroit.
» There is a pickleball war in Beverly Hills. Turns out the pop of pickleballs against the paddle is provoking a pointed response from neighbors of the Birmingham Country Club, unlike the quiet swoosh and thunk of tennis. [Free Press]
» Turns out the Peterboro will close for the summer for retooling and a repair of the space. After our initial report, the owners clarified a few days later that they aim to reopen in the fall. [Eater Detroit]
🎙On the podcast…
There’s some episodes to catch up with since the last note.
» Cindy Pasky has some bright ideas based in real-world experience on how to bridge the talent gap and find the people you need within your own organization. That’s among other topics we touch on like their new-ish office at the Fisher Building with the CEO and founder of Strategic Staffing Solutions.
» Detroit City FC is in their final stretch of the season. So I thought I’d catch up with national soccer analyst John Morrissey to get some perspective on how we’re doing in the league that’s new to us. His insight is brilliant and he’s positive on the future of Le Rouge and what they bring to the USL Championship.
» Newsweek’s Steve Friess joined us for a pair of episodes to predict and unpack the primary election last week.
» Royal Oak made a list of one of the top 100 communities in America to live. We discuss what they’re doing. Plus, the Indian Village Market on East Jefferson in Detroit is for sale, and a lot more.
» Engineer Randy loves frog legs, and he tried them at Bar Pigalle. Plus, we took a first look at the new Pizza Cat Max near Greektown and Time Will Tell on Woodward south of Grand Boulevard.
📊 Fizz fun with polls…
BTW - We’re planning an episode trying it on air this week, and experimenting how to make cocktails with it.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoy what we do or find it valuable, think about buying us a virtual coffee to support the work. It all goes to us making stuff, not to some national conglomerate somewhere.
Until next time, remember that you are somebody and I’ll see you around Detroit.
-Jer
