WHAT TO DO AROUND TOWN

Fifty years ago photographer Robert Frank immortalized Detroit in his book "The Americans," giving the city nine of the 83 shots chosen for the page-turner. Now, 50 years later, Detroit News photographer Max Ortiz revisits those nine shots, taking the same photo.

Excerpt:

Much has changed over a half-century, but the arguable fact is that Detroit remains an important city, still a taproot of the American identity. Unlike 1958, Detroit teeters. But that is the story of the new America -- America 2008.

Detroit News Photographer Max Ortiz has retraced Frank's footsteps, asking with his lens, "What happened here? From where have we come? Where are we going?"

Ortiz's photos are not intended to be daggers, but pin-pricks, reminders that Detroiters are a tough, gritty -- some times even pretty -- people.

Read the entire article here.

Fewer people are driving, according to a recently released study. The news is both good and bad, however. There are fewer cars on the road, which mean fewer emissions, plus an increase in public transit ridership. That's the good news. The bad news, according to tax collectors, is that gas tax collections are down, which could possibly affect road quality.

Excerpt:

Researchers at the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution, which released the study, say the reduced driving preceded Michigan's economic tailspin and the dramatic increase in gasoline prices. They have no definitive explanation for the trend.

"It may be because there are fewer women joining the work force, a saturated auto market and, most surprisingly, a decision by Americans that they're tired of driving," said Brookings researcher Robert Puentes.

Other possible factors include:

• The aging of the population: Senior citizens tend to drive less.

• Demographic shifts, with many younger Americans moving downtown and revitalizing cities.

• Expanded use of public transportation and car pooling.

Read the entire article here.

The nonprofit Recycle Here! center is slammed with Detroiters unloading their unwanted paper, plastic and glass, but soon many Detroiters will have a curbside option, too. Green could be very "in" in Detroit in '09.
 

Bizdom U is helping entrepreneurs get a leg up in the city of Detroit, with hands-on experience, mentoring and funding. Learn more about the program in this Model D TV clip.

Downtown's Kraemer Design Group moved to new space last spring not just because it had grown so fast but because it expects to continue that growth for the foreseeable future.

The architecture firm has expanded to 16 people. Twelve years ago the company started in the founder's house in Plymouth. It soon moved to downtown Detroit and has set up shop in Harmonie Park, among other places before taking the second floor of the Detroit Opera House Parking Garage's retail space.

"We have a lot of room to grow now," says Mark Mardirosian, principal of Kraemer Design Group. "We were maxed out in space in our old office."

The long-term goal is to double the firm's employee base to 30 people. The company hired two people in 2008. It would like to add 1-2 more people in 2009.

Kraemer Design Group specializes in urban, multi-family design. It designed the Lofts of Merchants Row and the Hilton Garden Inn. Mardirosian is also hopeful the Broderick Tower project, which it also designed, will get underway soon.

"Multi-family is one of our biggest categories," Mardirosian says. "We have done a lot of the loft developments in Detroit."

Source: Mark Mardirosian, principal of Kraemer Design Group
Writer: Jon Zemke

Coach Insignia Restaurant is still riding high atop of the Renaissance Center.

Excerpt:

Despite a slowdown in General Motors corporate business, Matt Prentice says the Coach Insignia Restaurant, occupying the 71st and 72nd floor of the GM Renaissance Center is already booked for several key days of the North American International Auto Show.

"The restaurant continues to do well since it opened in August 2004," said Prentice, CEO of the seven-restaurant chain with annual sales of million, around million at the downtown dining establishment. "But we have to beat the bushes to bring business in."

On a clear day, up to 500 diners an evening look out floor-to-ceiling windows to see the Palace of Auburn Hills, the lights atop the Ambassador Bridge, the neon entrance of Caesar's Windsor and a glorious sunset draped across two nations bisected by the Detroit River.

Read the rest of The Detroit News story here.

The Kresge Foundation is giving out an awful lot of money for artists to just be themselves in Detroit.

Excerpt:

In a city where buying groceries is often a struggle and the general populace cares more about the Lions than Lascaux, a skilled artist with some ambition can't be faulted for dreaming of greener pastures.

Who could blame them?

And while many artists over the years have found their muse in Detroit, it's common — even in more prosperous times than these — to attend their farewell parties at some local bar because waitressing and selling the occasional piece at an art fair just wasn't cutting it for them.

But now there's some incentive to keep them here: The Kresge Artist Fellowships, which will annually award 18 local artists ,000 — no strings attached.

Read the rest of the Metro Times story here and a Q&A with Detroit artist and first Kresge Foundation grant recipient Charles McGee here.

The film industry tax breaks are bringing in more investment to Detroit.

Excerpt:

State film officials say they are on the verge of sealing an million development deal that would create three film and television production studios in southeast Michigan, boosting one of the state's few fast-growing industries.

Two of the potential locations for the permanent studios -- including one in Detroit -- haven't been used in years, while the third site would have to be built. One of the facilities would be a multi-studio complex that would occupy up to 130 acres, state officials confirmed. Another facility would be geared toward post-production work, such as audio and editing.

The Detroit facility, if the deal is finalized, could be in operation by the end of the year.

Read the rest of The Detroit News story here.

Keith Zendler's Peoplemovers has upgraded with a new look and more changes are planned this year. The web site, which he launched from his Boston-Edison home in 2003, serves as a social networking community, like Facebook or MySpace, that focuses on community outreach.

"We're providing a low-cost way for communities and organizations to work together so these communities can thrive," Zendler says.

The web site became a for-profit business last summer. Peoplemovers has about 500 members and 100 organizations as of now. Zendler hopes to grow to 50,000 members and 4,000 groups by the end of this year. Zendler also plans to grow his staff of four and a few independent contractors to 200 within three years. He and his investors expect to raise million this year to make that happen.

"We have a very aggressive growth pattern over the next three years," he says.

Source: Keith Zendler, CEO and president of Peoplemovers
Writer: Jon Zemke

The newly restored Book-Cadillac and Fort Shelby hotels may not be spitting images of their former selves, but they are close, with architects mixing in their historic looks with a twist of modernism.

Excerpt:

"The goal is to attempt to maintain the historic essence of the building," said Robbert McKay, the state's historical architect who approves the historic tax credits. The Book Cadillac is in line to receive .5 million in historic credits, while the Fort Shelby will get million, according to McKay, who worked with the developers of both projects. "When you start with buildings reduced to shells of their former selves, there has to be flexibility," he said.

At the Fort Shelby, developers took painstaking steps to restore the elaborate Crystal Ballroom and maintain the marble floor of the lobby, among other things. But other portions of the original marble floors have been carpeted over and what is believed to have been a Pewabic tile water fountain has been walled in. The Book, with its once grand marble staircase and ornate ballrooms, now has the beige, modern sheen of a Westin. But that includes, among other things, handmade chandeliers from Italy and re-creations of ornate tiles and ceiling patterns.

Read the entire article here.

Preservationists are jumping for joy for of the recent passage of state legislation that will start promoting historic property development in the state of Michigan.

Excerpt:

Historic preservation advocates on Friday hailed the passage of state legislation that they said would promote historic property development in Michigan.

In a news release, the Michigan Historic Preservation Network said Senate Bill 973, sponsored by Cameron Brown, R-Fawn River Township, and House Bill 6496, sponsored by Steve Tobocman, D-Detroit, will expand the potential of historic restoration throughout Michigan.

Read the entire article here.

What is to be done to the vacant, abandoned Lafayette building? Preservationists and city offices have differing views.

Excerpt:

In an era when people are concerned about the environment, saving old buildings seems wiser than building new ones, says Karen Nagher, president of the nonprofit group Preservation Wayne.

"You can make them look better, and they can be serviceable," Nagher said. "It's a far greener thing to do than tearing it down, dumping it in a hole, turning it into a surface parking lot and never doing anything with the property again."

But George Jackson, president of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. and the city's chief development officer, said hard realities dictate that the Lafayette Building come down.

Jackson said the DEGC has tried for years without success to put together a redevelopment deal for the Lafayette. And new developers showing interest in the site want a cleared piece of land to build upon, not an old building, he said.

Read the entire article here.

Detroit Today does a year end wrap up of music and bands that have made a splash in 2008 with a local music panel, runs down a few books, and looks in on a couple of other Detroit-y things. Take a listen.

Listen to the program here.

Construction is moving along at the Beethoven Apartments on Third at Prentis. The 28 market rate apartments and two ground floor commercial spaces are framed and have new mechanical systems. Dry wall installation is underway. Developer Scott Lowell hopes to wrap things up in March.

There are 22 one-bedroom apartments, all in the 600 square foot range, and six two-bedroom, two-bathroom units. There is bike storage and laundry on the ground floor and a roof deck.

The commercial units face Third Street. One is approximately 1,100 square feet and the other is 900. Lowell hopes to attract a food-oriented business to the larger space and a retail one to the smaller.

Lowell took great pains in the building's restoration, replacing beams and repairing exterior brick work. He also took aim at its overall efficiency, installing eight solar panels on the roof, extra spray foam insulation and eight heat exchange systems. "You pay for this one way or another," he says. "This makes long term sense."

Source: Scott Lowell, developer
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra's new director Leonard Slatkin will be hosting a 13-week music series on WTVS-TV, Detroit's channel 56.

Excerpt:

Each 30-minute episode in the 13-week series promises to explore a specific theme and is designed to open a window on the world of classical music and the orchestra for general audiences. Slatkin, who began his tenure as music director of the DSO last month, has made outreach a signature of his career, and the series dovetails with many of the priorities he has for building audiences.

The programs air at 5:30 p.m. Saturdays, with rebroadcasts at 2:30 p.m. Sundays.

Read the entire article here.

Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center has debuted a new lobby bar called Volt.

Featuring contemporary decor, wireless access and a fresh food selection, the Marriott hopes to appeal to both hotel guests and downtown Detroiters; liquor and wine tastings will be scheduled to broaden the bar's attraction to local residents. "We want to start involving the community," says sales manager Kelly Herbert.

The bar's name and decor is inspired by the Chevy Volt, General Motors' extended-range electric vehicle that will be available in 2010. "The decor is more of a hip, chic kind of communal lobby," says Herbert.

Food ranges from sandwiches and burgers to walleye, meatloaf and salmon ranging from about to . An outdoor patio with sweeping river views will open in warmer weather.

The Ren Cen Marriott recently completed a significant upgrade to its guest rooms. Next up is the completion of two board rooms, a lobby expansion and the relocation of its corner market.

Source: Kelly Herbert, Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

The University of Detroit Mercy will host a seminar on Millenials and their needs on Wednesday and Thursday.

The "Project Millennials: Make it Work with Generation Y" focuses on the characteristics and expectations of today's college students. It will pay special attention to the generation's learning styles, need for engaging and experiential learning, helicopter parents, love of technology, community orientation and preferred ways of accessing information. The idea is to continue the conversation to shrink the generation gap in education.

The seminar will be held in the Ford Life Sciences Building, Room 113, on the McNichols campus at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7. It will also be held on the Corktown campus at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8.

Source: University of Detroit Mercy
Writer: Jon Zemke

The ad campaign said 15 million Canadians can't be wrong: try Tim Hortons coffee. Well, you'll now have a chance to test the theory at the chain's new location at the Millender Center. Owned by former pro-baller Derrick Coleman, the coffee shop opened its doors on December 15.

On the other side of downtown, WBC Gourmet Grab & Go officially opens today on the ground floor of the Westin Book Cadillac. Starbucks coffee, standard coffeehouse fare, panini, pot pies, pasties and entree salads will be served. The space seats 15 and looks out at Michigan Avenue. WBC will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Call 313-442-1604.

Source: Tim Hortons, Westin Book Cadillac
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

The Christmas season is no longer upon us but some of the music is still ringing in ears around Detroit. The new director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra has made his mark on dozens of kids in his first three weeks. And in the new year, parents could fall under the director’s spell too. Michigan Now's Chris McCarus reports.

A retail building is under construction in Hamtramck on Hobrook just west of Gallagher at the site of the Holbrook Cafe -- the new building actually improves and expands on the restaurant's structure.

The project is sweet news to Jason Friedmann, Hamtramck's community and economic development director. "The City is excited to welcome the redevelopment of a historic community meeting place," he says. "The three new businesses will contribute to the eclectic diversity that continues to make Hamtramck an exciting place to live, visit and conduct business."

Parking for 35 cars will be available off-street, adjacent to the building.

Sources: Mohamed Dueic, developer and Jason Friedmann, City of Hamtramck
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Urban Neighborhoods Initiative, formerly Neighborhood Centers, Inc., has a new name that better explains its purpose: to create healthy urban neighborhoods.

The organization coalesced 10 years ago to develop a neighborhood center in the Springwells Village area of Southwest Detroit. Over the years, it has evolved to provide programming at its center and at schools and to redevelop five parks. The name change reflects this broader purpose.

Next up: the creation of a comprehensive development design for Springwells Village, in collaboration with other neighborhood organizations, and the identification of ten parks in Southwest Detroit to target with improvements. UNI is looking for greenspaces in which investing "would have significant impact on the development of youth in the neighborhood and the development of real estate in the neighborhood," says UNI's executive director Dennis Nordmoe.

Source: Dennis Nordmoe, UNI
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Greektown Casino had a bit of a problem: regular casino patrons kept unwittingly wandering into their high roller area, the Pantheon Club. So they turned to Kraemer Design Group for some design intervention.

The result is a Pantheon Club that is open to the gaming floor, but visually differentiated with columns, a reception desk and decorative iron work. New carpeting, lighting and wall coverings have also been installed.

The club is about 7,500 square feet and includes separate restrooms, a salon and a VIP lounge.

The redesign was unveiled just after Thanksgiving and project architect Ryan Smith believes his firm met their client's design challenge. "The new design really does add a sense of entry into the space," he says.

Source: Ryan Smith, Kraemer Design Group
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

A small group of Detroiters formed committee to not only save the city's last synagogue but to transform it into a symbol of energy and renewed interest in Detroit.

Excerpt:

"We don't want to just save the building. We want it to be a hub for the people returning to the city and the energy that represents," Smith said.

That energy was on vivid display on a Saturday night last month when the committee hosted a party called "no sex in the synagogue." (The title was later toned down to "no sin in the synagogue.) Filmmaker and action member Oren Goldenberg led a traditional service called the Havdalah. Then several bands and a deejay played until the wee hours. One of the bands was comprised of young Jews from Philadelphia in town for another gig who eagerly volunteered their services after hearing about the event at D'Mongo's.

Hundreds filled the threadbare first floor of the synagogue. Patrons ranged from the suburban parents of some of the action committee members to plenty of twentysomethings and older bohemian types. The crowd flowed freely from D'Mongo's on Griswold next door to the synagogue. For years, that block of Griswold has been one of those downtown Detroit streets that's looked empty and mean. But that night, the street pulsed with music and people.

Read the entire article here.

Did Clint Eastwood's new movie "Gran Torino" look familiar at all? It should, it was shot here. Well, some of it. The Freep goes through and lists the areas of Detroit that made it to the silver screen.

A few Detroit area spots:

• Pilgrim Street, west of Woodward, Highland Park. Walt has a climactic showdown with Hmong gang members at a house here.

• Rhode Island Street, east of Woodward, Highland Park. Highland Park stands in for what the film's characters call "the old neighborhood." Walt keeps a tidy house here and looks askance at those that are crumbling around him.

Read the entire article here.

Two more Freep pieces here and here about Detroit's role in "Gran Torino."

Once a denizen of small northern towns, Josh Fisher wanted to experience a big city. He chose Detroit for grad school a few years ago and fell hard. Here's his story.

Recycle Here! is working with Detroit Public Schools and teaching the students how to live a greener, more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Excerpt:

Recycle Here! is working with 22 elementary schools in the Detroit Public Schools to encourage students to bring paper, glass, plastic, metal and other materials to class to be recycled.

The money generated from recycling the material is returned for school programs. The school that collects the most recyclables by March wins 0 and a mural by Detroit artist Carl Oxley, known for his colorful pop art of animals.

"The kids want to go green," said Matthew Naimi, director of Recycle Here! "We are all taught not to throw garbage on the street. Now we're going beyond that and telling them not to throw trash in the garbage can and instead throw it in the recycling bin."

Read the entire article here.

TechTown sees faith-based tech firms playing a significant role in the local new economy, so much so that the WSU biz incubator has a Faith-Based Business Club. The club's featured speaker for next Wednesday morning's meeting will be Howard Brown, co-founder and CEO of CircleBuilder Software. The start-up helps Christian-based organizations become more efficient and grow through things like online networking, fundraising and organizing.

Brown is a veteran of Silicon Valley-based start-ups during the 1990s and early 2000s. His resume includes serving as vice president of sales for Liquid Audio and NaviSite before starting PlanetJewish in Oak Park in 2001.

PlanetJewish offers online services for Jewish communities. It proved so successful leaders of Christian communities courted him to start a similar service for churches and other Christian-based organizations. That led to the creation of CircleBuilder in 2006. Brown has raised .5 million in venture capital for it and has begun a second round of fundraising.

Howard will speak at 9 a.m. in TechTown. For information contact Ebony Johnson at ebony@techtownwsu.org or (313) 879-5251.

Source: Wayne State University
Writer: Jon Zemke

A small section of Michigan Avenue, in Detroit and Dearborn, will be getting carpooling lanes to test out their feasibility with car-loving Detroiters.

Excerpt:

Other big cities around the country have had them for years, but we're about to embark on a limited, Detroit-style test of carpool -- or high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) -- lanes on a stretch of Michigan Avenue between downtown and Dearborn.

The goal of HOV lanes is to give people in vehicles with more than one occupant a lane for faster travel, an incentive to not drive alone -- taking the bus or carpooling instead.

Read the entire article here.

The new pictorial book "20th Century Retailing in Downtown Detroit" features an era when shopping downtown was a bustling spectacle.

Excerpt:

The book covers shopping in every season downtown, but the accompanying photo gallery focuses on the holidays in an era before most major retail had moved to suburban malls.

In putting together their book, Hauser and Weldon chose photographs from several local archives, and most of them have not been widely seen. Hauser, who is the marketing manager for the Detroit Opera Theatre and the Detroit Opera House, said the project is an extension of work he did producing an exhibit in 1997 on the J.L. Hudson department store for the Detroit Historical Museum, which was followed by an Arcadia book on Hudson’s by Weldon and him.

Read the entire article here.

Grandmont Rosedale Development Corp. has sold one of the three homes it constructed this year, and a new program means that potential buyers of the two remaining now have even more incentive to do so. In partnership with the city, the organization is now able to offer buyers up to ,000 of down payment assistance towards purchasing a home. "Someone that could get a mortgage for ,000 could potentially buy one of these homes," executive director Tom Goddeeris says. "It opens up the possibility."

The homes, located at 16823 and 16839 Stahelin, are 1,300 square feet and have three bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, full basements, attached garages and appliances. They are also Energy Star certified because of their efficiency, including thermal windows and extra insulation.

The construction cost of each home cost 0,000, and the starting sales price is 0,000 before the down payment assistance. Subsidies were provided by City of Detroit HOME funds and Community Development Block Grant dollars and the Development Corporation of Wayne County. Construction loans were provided by the Michigan Interfaith Trust Fund and Detroit LISC.

Source: Tom Goddeeris, GRDC
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

It was a big year for Detroit's dining scene. We love celeb chefs and fine dining, but we also love restaurants that are both interesting to the palate and kind to our budgets. Lucky for us, the '08 had a lot to offer in that department, too. Here are some faves.

Every dollar brings the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy closer to its target of 0 million in funding for the East Riverfront. Its latest announcement is million that Wayne County is donating to their efforts, bringing the total to 2 million.

The money is intended to support public safety and wellness efforts at the Riverfront and comes from the county's departments of Homeland Security/Emergency Management and Health and Human Services. No county general fund dollars were used; the money was raised through grant-writing efforts of county employees.

Through the winter, construction will continue on the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority public dock and terminal and the expansion of Tricentennial State Park.The Conservancy will take over operation and maintenance of the Dequindre Cut when its construction is complete, which is expected to occur this winter.

Source: Carly Strachan, Lovio George, for the DRFC
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Alexander Gow, a Wayne State University School of Medicine professor, is pushing forward research into a number of neurodegenerative diseases, such as autism and schizophrenia.

His latest research, published in the Journal of Cell Biology, sheds light on  why these diseases develop and how they might be treated.

It basically breaks down to the white and gray matter in the brain and how they communicate. Those lines of communications that send signals for everything from sneezing to wiggling a toe sometimes fail. Gow's research shows that a leak in the myelin sheath of these communication lines might play a part in developing diseases like autism and schizophrenia.

Although far from a cure, if further research shows this is the case, it could give scientists a big clue on how to treat and possibly prevent such diseases.

Source: Wayne State University
Writer: Jon Zemke

2008 was a big year for Detroit. Photographer Marvin Shaouni offers a retrospective of his masthead images from the year.  We've got the big stories (Transit. Film. Tiger Stadium. The Book Cadillac.) as well as the smaller stories, (D'Mongo's. A creperie.). All made this a good year to be in the D.

Also note: We're taking a break for two weeks for our annual holiday season ciesta. Model D will return Jan. 6.

After 5 Detroit has become so successful it's spinning out subsidiaries. The latest addition is Connect After 5, a web site aimed more at businesses than people.

The idea is to help area employers attract and retain young professional talent and boost employee morale by helping organize after work events, like a broomball tournament at Campus Martius for the likes of Compuware, Ernst & Young, Miller Canfield, Health Plan of MI and Marketing Associates.

"We create fun events and opportunities for the employees to engage in outside of company walls," says Kerry Doman, founder & CEO of After 5 Detroit.

After 5 Detroit has been growing itself this year. It has added 10 independent contractors and three interns since May. Doman expects to increase the number of interns to five in January and increase staff even more next year as After 5 Detroit looks to create another subsidiary or two.

"As the business grows, we plan to grow accordingly," Doman says.

Source: Kerry Doman, founder & CEO of After 5 Detroit
Writer: Jon Zemke

Automotive jobs aren’t all blue-collar factory jobs, and Detroit is on track to make the most of them.

Excerpt:

Crain Communications Inc. Chairman Keith Crain said Detroit will become the world’s center of automotive intelligence, defined less by manufacturing and more by engineering and design, if the region can get through this economic crisis.

“In every developed and developing country, an auto industry is considered a pillar for a successful economy,” he said in a speech delivered to the Detroit Economic Club today.

Read the rest of the Crain's Detroit Business story here.

More federal funding could mean more jobs helping rebuild Detroit.

Excerpt:

If the proposed major federal spending package to prop up the economy is approved after President-elect Barack Obama takes office, Detroit Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. wants the city to be in position to get money for its tattered public lighting system, buses and City Airport.

Cockrel submitted 1 million in ideas last week to the U.S. Conference of Mayors as part of a survey it is conducting of cities to demonstrate the massive infrastructure needs across the country and to boost the prospects for federal aid to states and local governments.

So far, 581 cities have proposed billion in projects as part of the survey.

Cockrel spokesman Daniel Cherrin said the 23 projects on the list Detroit submitted are general in nature and the administration is still determining top priorities.

"We're optimistic, based on the president-elect's agenda on infrastructure ... that Congress will secure much-needed funding for the City of Detroit," Cherrin said.

Read the rest of the Detroit Free Press story here.

Bankruptcy be damned. Greektown Casino is hiring. It's hiring a lot of people.

Excerpt:

DETROIT -- Greektown Casino is looking to hire another 150 employees to work in its 400-room hotel, slated to open in February.

Greektown, the smallest of Detroit's three casinos, is also the last to open its resort-style hotel, which will be housed in a striking tower ensconced in blue glass soaring above Monroe Street; rivals MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity Casino opened their hotels in 2007.

All told, Greektown will hire 400 workers as part of the opening of its new hotel.

Read the rest of The Detroit News story here.

Thomas Friedman says that the potential bailouts could not only define Detroit and change the economy but also shape an entire generation.

Excerpt:

We not only need to bail out industries of the past but to build up industries of the future — to offer the kind of big thinking and risk-taking that transforms enormous challenges into world-changing opportunities. That is what made the Greatest Generation great. This money can’t just go to patch up our jalopies.

“Remember, this money will not be neutral,” said Andy Karsner, a former U.S. assistant secretary of energy. “We are talking about directing an unprecedented volume of cash at our housing, energy, transportation and infrastructure industries. This cash will either fortify the incumbent players and calcify the energy status quo, or it will facilitate the economic transformation we seek. The stimulus will either be white blood cells that will heal us or malignant cells that will continue to sap our strength.”

Read the entire article here.

Another interesting piece by Friedman about Detroit, the auto industry, and developing innovations before someone else does.

Read that entire article here.

Keeping young and talented kids in Michigan, and luring them to Detroit, is part of one U-M grad's mission. Detroit-based Digerati founder Brian Balasia talks with Model D TV.

Lee Plaza may just see new life: Its owner, the City Housing Commission, is looking to work with a viable developer to build the financing necessary to revive the property. In the case that the numbers could be made to work, the agency would part with the building for .

Built in 1929, the 15-story Art Deco tower is located on West Grand Boulevard and has sat vacant for since the early 1990s. Mildred Robbins of the West Grand Blvd. Collaborative has hopes that a renovated Lee Plaza would be of great benefit to the neighborhood. "If something were to come of this, it could create a revitalized environment," she says. "It can mean jobs, sustainability, more community in terms of businesses, retail and housing."

Robbins envisions a mixed-use development that could also take advantage of adjacent parcels. "Because of blight in the area, there is actually some opportunity created by all the vacant property," she says. She also see a potential for cultural and educational aspects to the building's programming because of its proximity to Northwestern High School and Henry Ford Hospital.

Lee Plaza hit the news back in 2002 when terra cotta lions scrapped from its exterior turned up on a Chicago condominium complex. They have been returned to the city after efforts made by the FBI, but an estimated million worth of damage was caused.

Source: Mildred Robbins, WGBC
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

TIME looks at the Detroit auto industry's role in creating a melting pot of workers and a diverse metro Detroit.

Excerpt:

"Detroit is truly a huge melting pot," says Alee Darwish, 53, a retired assembly line worker employed by Ford Motor Company for 32 years. "The car companies were no doubt responsible for that." Like other Lebanese who flocked to the area in the early 1900's, Darwish's father immigrated to the U.S. seeking a job at Henry Ford's Model T plant, as the pioneering automobile entrepreneur was offering a large a day. Following in his footsteps, both his sons ended up as career hourly employees at Ford, applying sealer to the seams of metal on the assembly line. "I worked hard, saved my money, and eventually opened a Coney Island diner and a pizzeria on the side while I worked full-time at the plant," says a proud Darwish, now married with two children. "Ford was good to us."

Read the entire article here.

Wayne State is looking to get some more girls from Detroit interested in the STEM subjects - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

The university's College of Education will kick off the 10th edition of its GO-GIRL program (Gaining Options-Girls Investigate Real Life) in January. The program aims to get more girls interested in science and math subjects. The hope is this will inspire them to pursue careers in these fields.

The free program will be held every Saturday for 10 weeks. It is open only to girls in the 7th grade. For information, contact Prof. Sally Roberts at gogirl@wayne.edu.

The program began in 2002. More than 400 girls from both private and public schools in Detroit have graduated from it. They have enjoyed the high-tech resources of the university and one-on-one tutoring from university mentors.

Source: Wayne State University
Writer: Jon Zemke

Explore Hamtramck and Mexicantown, grab a play at Planet Ant, go for a drink at Enoteca, check out the DIA, the Detroit Historical Museum, and D'Mongo's Speakeasy. These are just a few of the things that The Detroit News came up with to do under 50 bucks.

Excerpt:

Having a good time doesn't mean you have to break your piggy bank. There are various inexpensive ways for families, couples and singles to find fun. Take some of the guesswork out of finding a good time on a budget with our list of 50 value-conscious activities that will take you from the museum to a hipster hotspot -- all for less than .

See the entire list here.

The City of Detroit and the Greening of Detroit are working together on the Walter Meyers Tree Nursery at Rouge Park. The goal is to plant 20,000 trees in the city within eight years.

The nursery is 125 acres and has been unused for the last seven years. Greening hopes to one day provide trees to all of its plantings from the nursery, says operations manager Jill Katakowski. "This is going to make our organization so much more sustainable," she says. "We can do much much more when we are in full control of our trees."

Greening is still working on a master plan for the nursery that will spell out how many trees of which varieties to plant, but Katakowski estimates that it will take three to five years to build it up to full capacity.

Source: Jill Katakowski, Greening of Detroit
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Southwest Housing Solutions is capping off a busy 2008 with two more accomplishments: the receipt of 0,000 in unrestricted operating funds from Bank of America and another 0,000 from the Michigan Housing and Community Development Fund that will be used towards the redevelopment of a historic warehouse on Michigan Avenue east of Livernois.

The four-story building, originally the San Telmo Cigar Factory, was designed by Albert Kahn in 1910. SWHS aims to complete construction by the end of 2010 or the beginning of 2011, just in time for its 100th anniversary. Steve Palackdharry, the organization's communications manager, says their development team was impressed with its condition, including the original hardwood floors and wood columns.

Final plans for tenants and floor plans are still being worked out, but it will likely be mixed-use. Although the credit crunch impacts the project's financing, Palackdharry says the building is worth the effort. "It's going to be a spectacular historic renovation," he says.

Source: Steve Palackdharry, SWHS
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Holiday wishes for the west side of downtown Detroit have been answered: the Westin Book Cadillac came on line just a couple of months ago and the Fort Shelby Doubletree Suites and BearClaw Coffee Shop opened their doors on Monday. The accompanying Finn & Porter steakhouse and sushi bar and Round Bar will follow later this week.

The million restoration of the two buildings that comprise the property began in April 2007. A full-service conference center and two ballrooms complete the hotel's offerings, while the taller of the two structures will house 56 luxury apartments.

Fort Shelby employs 135, many of whom were hired through Michigan Works!

Take a tour of the property and the project with our recent Model D feature and learn more about the apartments, which begin leasing soon, here.

Source: Fort Shelby Doubletree Suites
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Incoming DSO music director Leonard Slatkin got the Detroit bug. The Grammy winning maestro's presence here is good not only for music fans. With his rep for civic involvement, educational outreach and audience-building -- not to mention his status as an international figure in the music world -- the symphony's "Slatkin era" also stands to be a boon for the community as a whole.

Detroit Synergy is back with Shop Detroit -- but this year it has grown from a one-day event to four days over four weekends with four distinct destinations. Two of the weekends have passed, but you still have a chance to participate on December 13 at the Russell Industrial Center and on December 20 in Eastern Market.

At the Russell, check in at the Russell Bazaar Food Court -- that's the easternmost building in the complex -- between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Shoppers can hit the Bazaar for a mix of eclectic goods, and Synergy volunteers will also provide a list of the many artists in the complex that will be on-site selling their work that day.

The following weekend, meet at Eastern Market's Shed 5, just south of Wilkins, between 11 and 4 p.m. Event organizer Alok Sharma anticipates up to 20 retailers will participate, giving lots of options for the rapidly approaching holidays. At noon and 2 p.m., Inside Detroit will give free guided tours of the Market's specialty shops, restaurants and lofts.

The first Shop Detroit day was held downtown on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. More than 100 shoppers turned out. This past weekend, the event moved up to Midtown in conjuntion with Noel Night and drew another 60. Sharma says feedback from retailers has been positive. "Stores said that people were definitely in buying mode when they showed up," he says.

The event is free and registrants receive a Shop Detroit tote bag.

Source: Alok Sharma, Detroit Synergy
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Photo: Marvin Shaouni

TechTown's new soft landings program is bringing international companies to set up U.S. shops on Detroit turf. We talk with TechTown chief and Asterand entrepreneur Randal Charlton about the project.

Stop. Don't go anywhere. Staycations are the big travel, or un-travel, trend. We love this idea. Spend a quality weekend with someone you love in Detroit, and actually go to all those places you were meaning to check out but didn't have time. We offer some ideas on how to make it happen.

The Paradise Valley District at Harmonie Park has netted one more retail amenity in Sovereign Soles, a new shoe boutique on E. Grand River. Proprietor Nedra Merriweather holds a job at Chrysler but decided to pursue a dream she has had for a decade. Despite fears about her job and the current market, she made the leap. "Shoes are my passion," she says. "I don't want to wait another 10 years."

Speaking to Merriweather's tastes (fave designer: Christian Louboutin), many of Sovereign's shoes are built for style -- we're talking heels, ladies -- rather than comfort. Labels include Michael Antonio and Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. Prices range from to 0. Handbags and a scattering of apparel and accessories can also be found in the shop.

Sovereign Soles is located in the space most recently occupied by GOAT, also a shoe store, but one that focused on sneakers. It is just below Mezzanine and on the same block as DSE @ Grand, Spectacles and Rags -- all in all, quite the burgeoning retail cluster. "There's a lot of foot traffic in this area," says Merriweather. "I'd love to see it become a nice little shopping district -- bring the feel of SoHo to Detroit."

And the name? Credit goes to Merriweather's mom, who has always called out her daughter's tendency to follow her own path. After she read an article about rapper Lady Sovereign, the name stuck.

Sovereign Soles is at 208. E. Grand River. Call 313-964-9100. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday noon to 8 p.m. By appointment only Sunday and Monday. Parking is to be had on street, plus the Detroit Opera House garage is nearby.

Source: Nedra Merriweather, Sovereign Soles
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Photo: Marvin Shaouni

Getting a job with the U.S. State Department is one of the hardest gigs to line up with the feds, but four Wayne State University students have scored spots in the inaugural group department's Internship Fellows Program.

The four Wayne State Honors College students are the only students from Michigan to get into the program. They will receive ,000 stipends for their work in Washington, D.C., or abroad.

The students include Mary Craft (a history major preparing for law school), Alexander Marinica (a pre-med student going for a philosophy degree) Rasha Natour, a political science major) and Srdan Sadikovic (also majoring in political science).

Source: Wayne State University
Writer: Jon Zemke

The stars are lining up for Bodman after this years edition of Benchmark Litigation ranked it as a "highly recommended" law firm.

Five of the downtown-based firm's attorneys received some sort of star status in the report. George Kemsley and Joseph Shannon from the Detroit office were named as "local litigation stars" while Thomas Bruetsch (a Detroit-office partner) and Alan Harris (a partner in the Ann Arbor) were named "future stars" by the magazine.

Benchmark's focus is on the U.S. litigation market. Its research team conducts extensive face-to-face interviews across the country year round, finding the best all-around trial attorneys at the local and national levels.

Bodman's clients include both local businesspeople and Fortune 500 firms. These include companies that specialize in accounting, financial services, automotive, insurance, high tech, real estate and securities broker-dealers. It has 146 attorneys in five offices.

Source: Berg Muirhead and Associates
Writer: Jon Zemke

Need to get excited about Detroit? Watch this clip.

The creative economy has been alive and well on Jefferson Avenue since 1903. Model D Radio's Chris McCarus takes us inside Pewabic Pottery to learn more about this Detroit institution.

A little East Side history lesson for you, and a story about a resident who wants to use his love of local lore to pump up interest in preservation and revitalization.

Some straight-talk from the man who crunches numbers for Creative Class guru Richard Florida. He shares some thoughts about how a city like Detroit can be the one that pulls away from the pack.

Just building it isn't good enough for architect Andrew Zago. Detroit's spaces should reflect 'rigorous and progressive architecture,' says the guy whose stamp is seen at two cool spaces: Mercury Coffee Bar and MOCAD.