Hey friends, Jer here.
If you haven't biked down the Dequindre Cut and went down the Detroit Riverfront, I don't know what you're waiting for.
It's a magical ride, from the entrance at Mack at Eastern Market through greater downtown and to Milliken State Park, where you can turn right and head right down to the heart of downtown.
It was good to see all the people out at JazzFest as well. I personally appreciated the Uncle Cam that the City of Detroit posted on their social media. And in the greatest achievement of my social media career, I tagged Spice Adams and he showed up.
I'll take that as a win. Let's get to the news. As always, my thoughts are in italics.
🍣 Maru Sushi is closing in Downtown Detroit, and opening a new spot in Brighton next year. Opened in 2016 in the Federal Reserve Building on Fort Street, it was one of "the" places to go for awhile. There are also Maru locations in East Lansing, Kalamazoo, Midland and Grand Rapids. [Detroit News] [ClickOnDetroit]
This isn't billed as a "move," but if I'm being honest it's hard to call it anything else. Maru was a huge hit when I worked in corporate communications across the street in the Penobscot Building.
The huge decline of office workers (that aren't coming back) means we have to do a rethink — I think it's imperative there's a real focus on more residents downtown or else we're going to see a repeat of the cycle we've seen so many times before of spots heading the suburbs.
🥩 Long-time "steak by the ounce" spot Capers on Gratiot on Detroit's east side says rumors of their demise are premature. In a social media post, they say they're working on upgrades — but don't give a timeline when they will reopen. [Capers]
🚊 The Detroit People Mover will be closed for the next 11 weeks to replace about 20% of the track on the nearly 3 mile loop. The goal is to re-open in time for Thanksgiving. Some of these sections haven't been replaced since it opened nearly 40 years ago. [WXYZ]
⚽️ A new stadium and maybe hundreds of new housing units? Detroit City FC's plans for Corktown continue to increase in scope, now adding "hundreds" of news housing units as a possibility — though the report doesn't get into specifics on what will become a "gateway" to the city. [Crain's Detroit Business]
Housing as part of the proposal isn't unusual in USL Championship (Second Divison) soccer circles, but actually making it happen is challenge in itseld. Housing was proposed as part of a new $130 million stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island but those plans were scrapped as borrowing costs increased, and have been part of the plans for Louisville for "Butchertown" but still haven't come to fruition. I'm not saying DCFC and Method Development can't pull it off, but it is another level of complexity.
🏗️ Detroit's historic Cadillac plant will get a second life as luxury lofts. The $26 million project in Milwaukee Junction will transform the 1905 building into 90 apartments, with 20% reserved for affordable housing. It's part of a larger wave of residential conversions sweeping through the neighborhood. [Urbanize Detroit]
🎧 On The Podcast
📰 Who Do You Trust For News? (ft. Steve Friess)
Steve Friess is back to talk all things politics with a Michigan and local Metro Detroit lens.
If you don't know Steve, he's a veteran freelance journalist for the New York Times, Newsweek and others.
Some of the topics we hit:
Political Landscape: Steve and I discuss the heated race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Harris recently visited Detroit and we discuss her possible strategic avoidance of college campuses maybe due to a hot-button issue.
Internal Conflicts: The Michigan GOP's internal struggles come to light as Ron Weiser, a significant figure in the party, loses the nomination for the University of Michigan's Board of Regents.
Democratic Tensions: The Democratic Party faces its own challenges with a pro-Palestinian activist's nomination for the Board of Regents, highlighting the internal conflicts over the Gaza issue and the party's reluctance to address it head-on.
U.S. Senate Race: A new poll shows Elissa Slotkin leading Mike Rogers 46 to 42 with 12% undecided. We analyze the campaign strategies, including Rogers' dual approach of presenting himself as both independent and a Trump ally.
Media Trust and Journalism: We discuss the growing distrust in media from both the left and right, and the challenges faced by journalists in today's polarized environment. We reflect on the importance of local news and the impact of social media on public discourse.
🍃 When Will Detroit See Impact Of Being A Climate Change Haven? (Plus Eastern Market Gems, Development News, and More)
What we talk about on the show:
- Show and Tell: Devon brings Mayor O'Reilly Campaign merch from his family to the studio!
- Devon is excited about football season kicking off
- Local Spotlights: La Ventana and a tour of the upcoming Marrow space
- Inside the reopened Third Street Bar
- Development news: The Henry on Cass
- And a listener question: When Will Detroit start seeing the real impact of being a Climate Change Haven? (p.s. - it'll be soon)
🍽️ Forest to Table: A Unique Dining Experience in Nature
Wanted to give you a heads up on a fundraising dinner for the Johnson Nature Center in Bloomfield Hills on September 14, 2024, from 5:30p to 9:30p.
Here's what to expect:
- Seven-course strolling dinner featuring Michigan-foraged ingredients
- Collaboration between chefs Chris Gadulka (Sylvan Table) and Johnny Prepolec (Alchemi)
- Quarter-mile trail dining experience in a beautiful wooded setting
- Live music, performing artists, open bar, and interactive ecological demonstrations
This upscale event benefits the Johnson Nature Center, supporting accessible trails and educational programs. Tickets are on the higher side at $225, but remember… this is a fundraiser.
For more information and tickets, visit johnsonnaturecenter.org/forest2table
...and that's it for today. As always, thanks for reading. Remember that you are somebody, and I'll see you around Detroit.
-Jer
p.s. - If you want to support what we're doing, get swag and (if you want) join our members-only Discord chat group, become a member on Patreon.