Happy Holidays! It's Jer.
One of the great things about living in a city is stretching your legs and enjoying the neighborhood.
I started writing this from Cafe Noir in Detroit's North End, as I figured I'd get out a little note to all of you with some stories around town.
Our little team has been taking some time off with the podcast. We'll be back for sure after Monday Night Football to talk about the Lions (and the Wings have a new coach and the Tigers a new signing). We'll return to our daily schedule after the 1st.
If you didn't know we had a show, be sure to follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
🏘️ Michigan's home insurance premiums went up the least in the country. This is an indicator of the lower risk you'll find in the Great Lakes State, as major climate events are on the rise (mostly) in other areas of the United States. [Grist]
The JEC (Joint Economic Committee) report included a state-by-state breakdown of premium increases and risk ranking based on climate perils. Florida topped the list on both fronts, and saw a whopping $1,272 climb in annual premiums between 2020 and 2023. Michigan saw the smallest increase at $136. No state saw a decrease over that time. “This isn’t a red or blue state issue,” said the analyst. “It’s widely applicable across the nation.”
One of the storylines I think we'll see more of in 2025 and beyond is the attractiveness of Michigan as a place for people to move.
Whatever you 'think' is happening around climate change, insurance companies have made their decision based on how much more they're having to pay out. Premiums are going up — and money makes people take action.
🏗️ Bedrock, Dan Gilbert's real estate firm, is asking for another extension around incentives on its massive Hudson's site development in downtown Detroit. The $1.4 billion project, which includes a 45-story luxury tower and a 12-story office building, was supposed to be substantially complete by December 31st. [Detroit Free Press]
It is an impressive addition to the skyline. But between the pandemic and other reasons, the project has taken seven years (so far) and gone over budget.
The original estimate was $900 million. While the office section is about done, the hotel and residential parts won't be ready until 2027. That's a decade after the project started.
I expect any and all extensions to be granted.
But I can't help but think with General Motors saying they might demolish all five towers of the RenCen (while they move into this tower):
Are we about to trade one skyscraper for another?
BTW, our most popular post on Instagram of 2024 was about the intense reflections coming off the new tower at sunset. A listener sent in the video of them driving down Fort Street. The reel has nearly 800,000 views. [Daily Detroit Instagram]
🍔 We're saying goodbye to a number of spots around Metro Detroit as the year comes to a close.
Here are the recent or impending closures in alphabetical order across the region (or at least the ones I've heard about):
- 8 Degrees Plato (Detroit)
- Arctic Circle Brewing (Chesterfield)
- Bobcat Bonnies (Ypsi and Clinton Township locations),
- Brady's Tavern (Beverly Hills)
- The Emory (Ferndale)
- House of Pure Vin (Detroit)
- Monger's Provisions (Detroit location)
- Nick's Grecian House (Royal Oak)
- Le Detroit Macaron storefront location (Hamtramck)
- Licavoli’s Villanova Ristorante (St. Clair Shores location)
- Mallie's (Southgate)
- Oloman Cafe (Hamtramck)
- Twin Peaks (Southgate)
🚏 Downtown Mt. Clemens is getting a $6.5 million glow up. [Detroit News]
I've often wondered why it hasn't popped off to the degree downtown Royal Oak, Rochester, West Dearborn or other suburban downtowns have. Mt. Clemens has some great bones, cool old buildings, and a river running through it.
☘️ The 104-year old Gaelic League in Detroit's Corktown is under investigation by Michigan State Police for alleged financial misconduct. [Metro Times]
📚 High school students can get up to $1,000 in gift cards for showing up to school in Detroit. Under the program, DPSCD high school students would earn a $200 gift card every time they have perfect attendance during two-week periods starting after winter break and running through March. [Detroit one million]
🛏️ The new 154-room AC Hotel is opening next month in Detroit. The 10 story development features guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, a ground-floor lounge with a fireplace, and a conservatory bar connecting to the restored historic Bonstelle Theatre. A rooftop bar is planned for later in 2025. Go see some pictures of the inside at the link. [Urbanize Detroit]
We also talked about this development on a recent podcast episode, as well as a couple of others. Have a listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or in the YouTube player above.
🚍 It's expected that Wayne County will finally be all-in on transit. That's pending the Governor's signature of a bill passed that opts-in all the communities in the county to a possible future transit millage. For decades, places like Livonia, Canton Township and others — now significant population centers — have not had regionally connected service. [County Exec Warren Evans]
You might think differently than I do, but personally, as someone who's traveled and worked in other places — it's wild Wayne County had kept to an opt-out system (both Oakland and Macomb already are all-in on transit). Lack of transit and connections is one of the many things that have been holding us back competitively as a region.
Before I go, a word.
I'm falling out of love (let's be honest, it's more of a codependent relationship) with social media. I think it's important we sometimes "think slow," and mostly speak when we can add to the conversation.
I was thinking about this as I was listening to people talk about how much social media has made them unhappy.
I can't give it up completely, but if our little project is going to be part of the solution we've got to step our game up. And that's what we plan to do in a big way in 2025.
Thanks to our members on Patreon for supporting us (join here!), thanks to our sponsors throughout 2024 and those into 2025, and most of all, thanks to you for reading.
If you've got feedback, send me a note at jer - at - dailydetroit - dot - com.
Remember that you are somebody, and I'll see you around Detroit.
-Jer
p.s. - This edition of the newsletter written to "On Up" by Big Sean.
