Hey friends,

With so much going on in the world right now (waving arms wildly like Kermit the frog at Ukraine), I know it might be hard to think about what’s happening around here.

But I’ll keep you up to date on our neck of the woods. Let’s jump into it.

» 🚧 I-75 Closes this weekend. I-75 will be closed between I-696 and Square Lake Road starting Friday night. Plus, 13 Mile Road will be closed under I-75 until Monday morning. MDOT is finishing demolition of the overpasses at Gardenia and Lincoln avenues; and the bridge that carries northbound I-75 over 13 Mile Road.

Local traffic will be able to enter northbound I-75 at 14 Mile, Rochester, Big Beaver, and Crooks roads. The freeway should reopen for the Monday morning commute.  [MDOT]

» 🚰 The Great Lakes Water Authority approved regional rate hikes of 3.7% for wholesale water rates and 2.4% in sewer rates for 2023. The hike is due, in part, to $52 million in allegedly unpaid water and sewer bills in Highland Park. I say alleged, as that amount is being contested in court. [ClickOnDetroit]  [Detroit News]

» 💸 Metro Detroit rents are up 9.8% in just one year, according to Redfin. The average cost of an apartment is now nearly $1600 a month. That’s still inexpensive compared to most of the nation, but more than cities like Indianapolis, Columbus and Cleveland. That increase percentage is an average. Some suburbs are seeing rents rise 20%. [Crain’s Detroit Business]

My two cents: We have had a shortage of new construction for years in our region. Although our population is growing slowly, we also have aging stock. Plus, it’s not like we have much in our area that’s taller than a couple of stories. This is a supply and demand issue, and if you want affordable housing, new units need to be brought online.

» 🌳 Marijuana prices have cratered 70% since 2019, says Bridge Michigan. In 2019, an ounce cost an average of $516. Now, it’s $152. That’s good for consumers but not so great for producers, as supply has flooded the market. Michigan is the fourth largest marijuana market in the country and worth $1.8 billion. [Bridge]

» 🎥 Could film incentives return to Michigan? I talked with the Michigan Film Industry Association’s Alexander Page on their new plan that they say has bi-partisan support. [Daily Detroit]

» ⚾️ Apparently Detroit Tigers owner Chris Ilitch was one of four MLB owners who didn’t even want to offer the players a deal on Tuesday [The Athletic]. Realistic consensus is that we’re going to be in for a long baseball lockout and you can kiss Opening Day goodbye.

» ⚽️ That said, if you want to get in the sun and see some awesome sports, Detroit City FC is honoring Detroit Tigers Opening Day and Season tickets for a match to try out a game at Keyworth. [Detroit City FC]

» 🙌 If you want to win a pair Detroit City FC season tickets, we’re running a contest. Soccer journalist Fletcher Sharpe hit the crossbar challenge, so we’re raffling off the pair on Tuesday’s podcast. I look forward to seeing you at Keyworth this year!

Enter to win!

» 🖍 $700 million is planned to be spent on Detroit’s school buildings. Chalkbeat Detroit’s Ethan Bakuli joined me on the podcast this week to break down DPSCD’s plan.

It’s going to go to the community for feedback over the next week, and so here are the dates if you want to share yours. [Chalkbeat Detroit]

» The Woodward West development is coming online. We featured it on the podcast when construction started, and they’re now leasing for July occupancy. Located on Woodward and Stimson, the five-story, $60 million structure will have 204 apartments and 25,000 square feet of retail. It was put together by the Platform and Queen Lillian. [Urbanize]  [Leasing information]

» Oakland County won’t be chipping in to the Detroit Historical or Wright Museum millages. Republican resistance in the legislature to the idea means that there’s only a chance it’ll be on the ballot in Wayne County. Remember, this isn’t to enact the millage; it’s to create a legal framework to put it on the ballot. The idea is to create a stable funding source for the two institutions. [Crain’s Detroit]

» 📺 Here’s a spoiler of the latest episode of Bravo’s Top Chef Season 19 with Detroit’s Sarah Welch (of Marrow) are here. [Vulture]

» 🇵🇱 What specialty Pączki rules them all? On Tuesday we waited in line for three hours in Hamtramck for the tasty treats, made some friends along the way — and then took them home and ranked them. [Daily Detroit]

Thanks for reading, and I hope you find a way to enjoy that 60 degree plus weather we’re supposed to get on Sunday.

If you find what we’re doing valuable, you can buy me a coffee here.

- 🌻 🇺🇦 -

Share this post