Happy Saturday and how are you doing? Jer here with what we’ve been up to and some stories around town.
As always, my thoughts are in italics.
If this is your first time here, consider signing up free for future notes:
📰 What to know
» Should we cap I-75 in downtown Detroit? $2 million in Federal funds has been given to the Downtown Detroit Partnership to study idea between Cass and Brush avenues.
The city of Detroit was also earmarked $1.9 million for implementation. [Urbanize Detroit]
It’s part of a $3 billion Biden administration initiative aimed at reconnecting cities across the country that were tore apart by freeways. [The Guardian]
This idea has been floated in various proposals over the years, but this is tangible progress. There’s obviously a lot of questions to be answered — that’s the point of the study.
But it could add some park space, create more walkability as crossing freeway overpasses on foot isn’t fun. It might also hide what is a loud, noisy freeway section that cuts right through downtown, benefitting the Brush Park neighborhood.
We talked about it our Friday edition of the podcast. My co-host was pretty skeptical it will happen.
» The popular restaurant Marrow is expanding with more retail and experiences in Eastern Market and Birmingham. We talked with owner Ping Ho and Sarah Welch about their upcoming plans — and thoughts on how to make sustainable, short and local food chains. Quality over quantity.
The new Eastern Market spot will span more than 14,000 square feet, with a smaller outpost in Birmingham.
» 313 Day was this week, celebrating what’s good in Detroit. So we celebrated in our way. The Detroit area is known for our almost uninterrupted cannabis and lawyer billboards in town. Nothing against them, but we thought maybe, if even for a short time, we could break up the landscape a little with a billboard of something different.
Maybe something hopeful. Like one for a podcast about what to know and where to go in our city and region.
» The ultimate checklist of Detroit bars, restaurants and cafes is freshly updated. With more than 900 entries across the city, you’ll be able to know about them all! It’s made by the City Institute. [City Institute]
I talked with their founder Jeanette Pierce about making the list, the history of it, as well as the work of the City Institute.
» The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation is reviving the Green Grocer Project to support healthy food availability in the city. The project plans to assist at least eight grocery stores in Detroit with grants of up to $25,000. [Bridge Detroit]
⚜️ Detroit City FC opening match preview
Ahead of matches this season, Fletcher Sharpe will join us to share some key things to know.
Detroit City FC returns to the pitch tonight in Colorado Springs to take on the Switchbacks in the first USL Championship clash of the 2024 season.
While fans are glad the team is back, there’s also hope for a better result than the last time the two teams met. The Switchbacks left Keyworth Stadium with a 3-0 victory.
But a new season brings new players and a new coach. So here are three keys to winning for Detroit City FC:
Put the ball in the net
It seems obvious, but the way to win in soccer is to put the ball in the net. Detroit struggled to do that last year, scoring the lowest number of goals of any team in the league with 30 — or less than one per match.
The club hopes to address that by bringing in Elvis Amoh, by way of Hartford Athletic. Amoh has 37 career goals in his USLC career, and is a dynamic forward who can score in many different ways — whether it’s with his feet, or his head.
Defense is key
Defense is historically a strong suit for City. Detroit was able to gut out points throughout the season by relying on their defensive form and goalkeeping from Nate Steinwascher, allowing only 39 goals, tying them for 5th best in the entire league.
This year they will have to replicate that without a familiar face as key starter Matt Lewis announced his retirement from professional soccer this past week.
Lewis did a lot for the backline when healthy, so they’ll need to fill that gap. There might be challenges through the season, but Le Rouge should be able to do that against the Switchbacks.
Be cool as a cucumber
Last time these two teams met, Detroit was caught flat footed early and within 25 minutes was down 2-0.
They couldn’t recover, and lost composure — having to play a man down for the last part of the match because Michael Bryant was sent off.
Key tonight is no silly plays, and no extra contact after the whistle.
If they can stay cool, Detroit could very well come back to Michigan with three points.
-Fletcher Sharpe
You can watch the match starting at 8pm on ESPN+, over the air on Detroit 50, or on the CBS Detroit website if you’re in Michigan.
☕️ Thanks for reading! If you want to support what we’re doing, buy us a coffee or two. Local media requires local support to keep going.
Remember that you are somebody, and we’ll see you around Detroit. Talk soon.
-Jer
