Archive
We're on the eve of expected 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico going into effect. Michigan and Metro Detroit's economies are deeply tied to international trade — whether it's the automotive and manufacturing sectors or our
Devon O'Reilly joins in to round up some of the interesting stories and places around town.
Timestamps:
00:21 - Introductions, mentioning that Fat Tuesday is approaching and our favorite flavors of Paczki
03:
One of the most impactful stories long-term on Detroit isn't in the core of downtown, but up by the New Center and TechTown.
The Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences Research Center is will be a seven-story, $335 million building that will be home to various medical research teams devoted to cancer, neuroscience, cardiometabolic diseases, and immunology — as well as the Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute.
I saw that major visible progress is being made and wanted to share a little update.
You can find it on Third Street, south of the boulevard and across from the Pistons Performance Center.

Part of the wider $3 billion Henry Ford and MSU partnership, this should be ready in 2027.
The Prince of Brightmoor Norris Howard is in, and we discuss a recent push to turn the RenCen into a historic district to save all of the towers. Is that the best way forward?
Plus,
The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) board voted Wednesday to increase water service charges by 5.9% and wastewater charges by 4.5%.
But what you pay at home may be more.
The GLWA provides service to many local communities who then set their own rates, adding a markup to cover local costs.
In a release sent after the meeting, the GLWA says that the price of chemicals, utilities and construction materials has risen nearly 55% since 2020.
There's also a new multi-year flood mitigation study in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where the Corps and GLWA split the $6 million cost 50/50.
GLWA's 2026 budget is $954 million, up $48 million from the year before.
Public comment lasted three hours, with residents and local leaders like former state rep. Cynthia A. Johnson and Utica mayor Gus Calandrino in opposition.
The rate increases take effect July 1, after an annual 4% rate increase cap expires.
The spot I visited Tuesday was Brush Park Apartments.
It's a $19-million development with 53 affordable units and 3,800 square feet of commercial space at 269 Winder in Detroit.

The second is in Midtown. It's named MLK on 2nd, at 3515 Second Avenue.
That $11.5-million project has 33 units and also features ground-floor commercial space.
Out of the combined 86 units across both developments, 63 will be deeply affordable for those earning 60 percent area median income (AMI) or below, with the remainder being available for households earning 80 percent AMI or below.

The projects, funded through various partnerships including CVS Health, Fifth Third Bank, and government programs, aim to make sure Detroiters can afford to live in desirable neighborhoods.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said that more than $1 billion of affordable housing has been built in the last five years.
On today's episode I talked with Sam Cerwin, co-founder of BeReworn, about the importance of community and sustainability.
We discuss the ways her platform connects people to swap clothing and other goods, how that
A litte Townie Talk with Fletcher Sharpe...
Topic timestamps:
02:10 Fletcher appears on One Detroit and talks about the hug that broke barriers in baseball
04:28 - Seva is closing. We
A simple hug helped break down the color barrier in baseball, and the story has a big local angle.
One Detroit did a segment about Steve Gromek of Hamtramck, and Larry Doby, the second African American in the MLB, and how their moment together sent shockwaves through not only Detroit — but much of the country.
Our podcast co-host Fletcher Sharpe was part of the piece, too. Have a watch.
I spotted that the retail space at 1425 Woodward in downtown Detroit is getting a new chapter.

Free People is an Urban Outfitters brand, focusing on bohemian fashion for women. There is a store in the Somerset Collection in Troy.
What is Free People? From their website:
Free People, a specialty lifestyle brand, serves as the destination for those who embrace creativity, inclusivity, and individuality. In support of their growing global community, Free People crafts and curates an expansive collection of apparel, accessories, shoes, swim, vintage and small business goods, and beauty – all in the name of Creative Spirit.
I don't have an opening date for you yet.
What does it take to become a cheesemonger? What are some of the best cheeses right now? Where can you try some of this stuff?
Zach Berg from Mongers' Provisions stopped by to talk about
I saw visual progress is being made on the former United Savings Bank in Detroit's Capitol Park.

It's undergoing significant remodeling to an art deco-inspired design, and the addition of four new floors. Two stories will be for commercial space, and the rest will have 25 residential units.
Designed by Albert Kahn and opened in 1921, the building's facade was ruined by a "facelift" in the 70s that removed most of the windows.
The developers of 1133 Griswold Street are the Detroit-based RKP Group.



How the building looked in the 1920s, vs. just before renovation, then the rendering for the future.
On this Friday edition of Daily Detroit, hosts Devon and Jer kick things off with a victory lap for Devon, who accurately predicted the opening of an Apple Store in Detroit nearly three years ago.
The 54-inch wide pipe arrived in Southwest Detroit Thursday to replace a section that failed earlier this week, causing massive flooding that drove many out of their homes.

The GLWA says that it’ll be at least two weeks until water service is restored.

ICYMI, we talked about the details of the flood on our Daily Detroit podcast earlier this week.
On today's episode we talk about how a new high-speed rail project in Canada could eventually connect up with Detroit, we react to your feedback on the stores and restaurants you'd like to see in
The Great Lakes Water Authority also says it has removed water from the site of the water main break, and crews have excavated the area.

Per a release:
Based upon current conditions, it is anticipated that an approximately 12-foot section of pipe will need to be removed, and the replacement section of pipe has been ordered. The replacement pipe is expected to be delivered on-site within the next 24-hours.
FYI, The city of Detroit has set up a hotline at 313-774-5261. That's where impacted residents can go to get set up in hotels and other temporary services.
Welcome to your Wednesday edition of the show, with Jer and Fletcher!
On today's all-local podcast (download here if you don't see the player above):
01:40 - Thanks Deadline Detroit for including us on
If you've been around Detroit for at least a minute, you know how important The Clique is. It's this diner on East Jefferson where you might run into everyone from a neighbor to a public official.
Bridge Detroit did a great write-up looking at the ups and downs the spot has faced. Go read the thing.
I'll be honest in that I've lapsed in going since the pandemic. Going to fix it this month. Diner breakfast is the best, IMHO.