Hey all - Jer here.
My friend and Friday co-host Devon O'Reilly brought this up at the end of last week, that it seems like the pace is truly picking up on new things and things happening around town. Maybe it was the NFL Draft. Maybe it's just the passing of time from the pandemic. But it "feels" around town a lot more like it did in 2018-2019.
Let's hop into it. As always, my analysis is in italics and if you're new here, sign up for future notes for free.
📰 What to know
>> 💰 Lions QB Jared Goff gets a $212 million payday. Goff has agreed to a four-year, $212 million contract extension. It secures his place with the team until 2027, with an option for 2028. The new deal averages $53 million per year and makes Goff the second-highest-paid player in the league in terms of annual salary — behind only Cincinnati's Joe Burrow. [NFL]
"After being called a bridge quarterback by so many, the Lions have made it clear that Goff is their QB1, making him the richest Lion in the history of their franchise." - Fletcher Sharpe
>> A hospital system with 15 facilities in Michigan has been ground to a near-halt by a cyber attack. The attack occurred on the morning of May 8, 2024 left facilities without access to technology — including electronic medical records. Ascension is the nation’s largest Catholic hospital system. [Freep]
It’s unknown how long this will last, but this section of a Michigan Radio piece stuck with me:
“One ER doctor at Ascension St. John in Detroit said Friday a patient came in with a urinary tract infection, but it took 12 hours for her to get care because the hospital lost her urine sample four different times. That doctor said physicians there also had to wait an agonizing 90 minutes to get test results for an older woman in cardiac arrest — tests that normally take just 15 to 20 minutes.” [Michigan Radio]
>> Speaking of hospitals, a large abandoned hospital site in Southwest Detroit was sold. The buyer is an entity connected to a former owner of the SPKRBOX cafe downtown, Edward Siegel. [Crain's Detroit]
Siegel has been busy in the city, and recently renovated this residential apartment building in the Cultural Center. [Urbanize Detroit]
I have for awhile thought this could be a very interesting piece of land with a lot of uses. It's sizable, it's got a great location near the freeways and what's happening in Corktown.
>> Construction has begun at the old Northville Downs site on a large, mixed-use development called "The Downs." It'll bring over 400 residential units, retail, and green space to Northville. [Urbanize Detroit]
What's notable to me about this is that it's in more of a street grid pattern, contains multiple kinds of housing - and feels a lot more "complete" than some of the suburban developments we've been seeing as of late.
>> This kind of development hasn’t been done in the city of Detroit in decades. City-based developer Greatwater Opportunity Capital is doing a new speculative housing project of 23 homes in the East Village neighborhood — think near West Village and Indian Village.
There are already two homes under contract at their full asking price. The homes run from 900-1,800 square feet - and start at $285,000 with one already selling for $459,000. [Crain's Detroit] [Click On Detroit]
>> Ferndale Pride is almost here! The 14th edition of Michigan's largest free Pride is Saturday, June 1st, 2024 in Downtown Ferndale on West Nine Mile. Organizer Julia Music stopped by the TechTown studio to talk about what to look forward to. [Apple Podcasts] [Ferndale Pride]
🍔 News Bites
>> The old Park Bar space near the State and Fox Theatres has new life. Meet "Vollmers," who have renovated the space and will have a bar and food program.
Gone is the circular bar and in is the angular bar, along with a retro look. Open 7 days a week from 3pm to 2am. 2040 Park Avenue in Detroit.
>> Leña is now open in Brush Park. The Spanish-inspired restaurant includes Basque bar bites, Patatas bravas, Steak escalivada, and more.
You'll find it at 2720 Brush in Detroit, or online here. [Leña]
We talked about both of these places in-depth on our Friday podcast as Devon tried them both. [Apple Podcasts] [Spotify]
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Until next time, remember that you are somebody — and I'll see you around Detroit.
-Jer