Yep, that snow that was outside is 100% real. It’s crazy to think we’re in mid-November already.
If you don’t have your Christmas or holiday shopping done yet, you might want to check out Decked Out Detroit. It’s in Cadillac Square, just across from Campus Martius.
18 different entrepreneurs are there, and Shianne has her favorite picks on a recent episode of the podcast. It starts about 3 minutes into the podcast.
Also next week, the tree at Campus Martius lights up and the ice skating got started this week, all outdoor activities.
BTW: No booze or alcohol in the Cadillac Lodge tent this year. They say it’s to make it more family-friendly. There will be soups, hot chocolate and lemonade from Bea’s, an outfit in Eastern Market.
It’s a bit smaller footprint than in years past. But, the stores are larger and it’s easier to move around. Local shops need your support after everything that’s been going on.
Also, there are waffles.
Some things to know around town
Danny Fenster, a journalist from Metro Detroit, was sentenced to 11 years in a Myanmar jail.
This is a frustrating and sad story we’ve been following. The government over there is controlled by an anti-democratic military junta, so don’t think there’s any sort of real rule of law there. It’s about cracking down on dissenting voices across their nation — especially a free press. The U.S. State Department vowed to work to get him released.
There were two charges added that may tack on an additional 20 years for the 37-year-old Huntington Woods man. (New York Times; CBS News)
Detroit City FC moves up
Detroit’s professional soccer team, Detroit City FC, is changing leagues next year. They’re leaving NISA after winning eight different tournament and season titles. They will move to the USL Championship.
USL Championship is one level below Major League Soccer.
This will mean a bigger TV stage on ESPN+ (and with a market the size of Detroit’s you can bet the team will be featured often), facing tougher competition, and improvements to Keyworth Stadium.
Fletcher Sharpe joined me this week on the podcast to talk all about it and answer listener questions. Next week, we’re taking the ones we didn’t get on his regular Tuesday feature.
BTW: There is a new section just for our Detroit City FC podcast segments and news on our website. Thanks Engineer Randy!
New life for a long-vacant Detroit building designed by a notable Black architect
The old Stanley Hong’s Mannia Cafe on East Baltimore will be turned into a performance venue. The 1970 structure designed by the recently deceased Nathan Johnson is stunning. There will be room for 700 in the main space, 150 in the lounge and a restaurant. (Urbanize has more details and a rendering here.)
p.s. - You can’t say I don’t like modern buildings. I like quite a few of them, including this one.
p.p.s. - If you don’t know who Nathan Johnson was, read this from HistoricDetroit.org. And you will know.
Controversy around Life Remodeled and Cooley ruffles feathers
Life Remodeled is a non-profit that successfully rehabbed the former Durfee Elementary school as a nonprofit and community hub, but their aggressive PR tactics have riled up two Detroit school board members and a number of community members when it comes to a follow up project.
This week, the non-profit said they’re going to make an offer to Detroit’s public school district of $400,000 for the long-empty Cooley High School and 18 acres of land at Hubbell and Fenkell roads on Detroit’s west side.
Life Remodeled says they’d put $37.5 million into the project.
The snag? Cooley is not currently for sale.
There’s a process in place where Detroit school buildings aren’t on offer until at least Spring of next year, when the district will share a comprehensive plan on what to do with 24 structures and properties instead of trying to dispense of them piecemeal.
Some have said it’s playing favorites and unfair to the community; others say an early press conference by a group with a track record is just what you need to do to be transparent and impact the public narrative.
There’s a question of equity, as well. Chris Lambert, the head of Life Remodeled, is white; and many black developers feel shut out of many opportunities in the city due to lack of access to philanthropic and capital support. Regardless of Life Remodeled’s non-profit status, some feels this shows (and rubs in) the financial and connection advantage the group has to make an announcement before a deal is done.
Life Remodeled has been operating in the Detroit region since 2010.
Separate from all the above, there seems to be a resurgent trend of the pre-announcement in Detroit.
It’s a tactic to build public pressure to get a project over the line, often because there are still political questions still to deal with. Incentives or zoning changes that require approval, elected officials that need to make decisions, etc.
The media coverage makes it look like a “done deal” to the public in a way that anyone raising questions gets painted as against the new thing.
It’ll be interesting to see how this shakes out. (More reading at Bridge Detroit; WDET)
Help literally build something on the east side
Got word of a shed-raising over in East Warren you might want to know about.
The East Warren Development Corporation is putting together some new sheds for their Farmer’s Markets.
From 8a-5p on Saturday, November 20 at 16835 East Warren they’re looking for people to come for a couple of hours and help build this.
It was designed by Other Work and the East Warren Tool Library is helping out, too.
Hudson’s at Christmas will be celebrated by the Detroit Historical Museum starting at a new exhibition November 18.
Hudson’s Holidays will bring back the memories and magic of Hudson’s in pop-up exhibitions throughout the museum. Founded in 1881, you’ll learn about what made Hudson’s such a popular retailer for Detroiters across the region. There will be on display a number of toys, decor, fashions and accessories and some artifacts from the downtown store. (Detroit Historical Museum)
One moment please for a coming attraction on the podcast…
I’m scheduled to have a conversation on the podcast with the legendary former Channel 4 TV anchor Mort Crim. He has a book out this year, “Anchored: A Journalist’s Search for Truth.”
I’ve read it and I’m looking forward to sharing our talk with you.
If you don’t want to miss it, be sure to follow Daily Detroit free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you download your favorite shows.
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-Jer
