Quick Post
The City of Dearborn was awarded the money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency earlier this month. It will aid in reducing the risk of repetitive flooding and to modernize the city’s sewer system.
In recent years, thousands of homes in Dearborn have dealt with flooding.
What are the plans for the money?
- Installing approximately 6,200 feet of new storm sewers to increase capacity and move stormwater more efficiently away from homes
- Adding grade protection and new flap gate structures to manage large flows during heavy rains and cut down on the basement backups that have become common
The funding will help address neighborhood flooding, specifically in east Dearborn between Chase Rd. and Greenfield Ave.
This is the second phase of an $8.4 million total grant through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
FEMA is covering 90% of the costs, while the City of Dearborn covers the remaining 10%. FEMA is also providing more than $149,000 to assist in managing the second phase of this grant.
It's just the second in the Zoo’s history and a big moment for the Great Apes of Harambee habitat.
According to Detroit Zoo officials, the female was born late Sunday, July 12, to first-time mom Tulivu.
Zoo officials say both are doing well, along with father Mshindi, who is also the sire of Motema, the first gorilla ever born at the Zoo in 2024.
That makes the new infant and Motema half-siblings.
Over roughly eight and a half months of pregnancy, Tulivu voluntarily trained for routine ultrasounds, giving vets a clear view of the baby’s development.
The gorilla group came to Royal Oak in 2023 on a breeding recommendation through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Gorilla Species Survival Plan, which manages gorillas in human care to keep the population healthy and genetically diverse.
The Great Apes of Harambee building is open, but staff say the newborn may not always be visible as Tulivu and the troop are given time to bond behind the scenes.
Terms on the deal were undisclosed.
The investment is through Farner’s Ronin Capital Partners, and he’s joining the DCFC Holdings board of directors.
The deal helps fund AlumniFi Field, a planned 15,000-seat, soccer-specific stadium budgeted at $150 million. It's part of a broader $200 million mixed-use development that includes a 421-space parking garage and a 104-unit residential building with 76 affordable housing units, plus new public space off of Michigan Avenue and I-96 on the former Southwest Detroit Hospital site.
Ronin also has investments in the Student Athlete Score sports marketing intelligence platform, pickleball ratings system DUPR, TGL team golf, and Motor City Golf Club.
Says Farner in a statement:
What the founders, supporters and ownership group has built is extraordinary: a passionate supporter culture, a deep connection to the community and a bold vision for the club’s future. With the continued growth of the United Soccer League (USL) and an amazing permanent stadium on the horizon, Detroit City FC is uniquely positioned for success.
We believe Ronin’s vast experience in marketing, sports sponsorships and live events will help strengthen the club even more.
At Ronin, we have a passion for athletics and for soccer with our COO, Nicole Vallianatos, being a former Division 1 soccer player. We are confident this passion, investment and long-term commitment will help to further secure Detroit City FC’s future.
The stadium project won unanimous Detroit City Council approval after a community benefits process.
The club says construction is on track for the 2028 USL Championship season, with nearly 6,000 seat deposits already in, and more than 1,000 construction jobs and 140-plus permanent jobs projected once the development is built out.
What used to be a fast, vehicle-heavy intersection is now a pedestrian-first public space that better connects Greektown with the rest of downtown outside of three local watering holes.
I was at the ribbon-cutting, and it’s a quality upgrade both on foot and behind the wheel. It’s easier to cross, easier to drive, and clearly designed to be a place you actually want to hang out.
The plaza brings new seating, lighting, landscaping, and room for public art and events, with plans for year-round programming that can spill out from Monroe into the wider district.
It comes out of the Greektown Neighborhood Framework and is backed by a mix of public, private and philanthropic dollars, including support from the MEDC’s Revitalization and Placemaking program and the City of Detroit.
It’s part of a larger $13.7 million investment in downtown parks and public spaces.
Now if only we could get tenants in the rest of the buildings on that block... anyone who loves cities and downtown life would love to live upstairs from those storefronts.
The 200,000-square-foot DDOT Coolidge Terminal replaces the original facility that operated from 1928 until a fire destroyed it in 2011. After years of delays, including Detroit’s bankruptcy, the city moved forward with a full rebuild and shifted west side operations from the aging Gilbert Terminal.
I got an early look at the facility during a hard-hat tour a few months ago while it was still under construction, and it was clear this is the kind of infrastructure upgrade needed to give DDOT employees what they need to succeed.
The new complex includes three buildings: a climate-controlled storage facility for up to 120 buses, a maintenance building for repairs, and an administration building with upgraded amenities for workers including a lounge, kitchen, workout room, lockers, and showers.
Funding came largely from the federal government at $102.5 million, along with $31.5 million from the city and $25.6 million from the state.
City officials say the investment should improve reliability and efficiency while giving drivers and mechanics a modern base of operations. The site is also designed with room to expand.
The east side Shoemaker Terminal will remain in operation.
The Eastern Market-based craft distiller has opened its first location outside Detroit, adding an outpost inside Foley’s Market in downtown Lexington along Lake Huron (7252 Huron Ave), just in time for the July 4 rush.
The project comes together with Detroit-based Roxbury Group, known for developments like the David Whitney Hotel and Metropolitan Building.
Founded in 2014, DCD built its name on small-batch spirits and a packed tasting room back home. The Lexington spot brings that same formula to a summer-heavy beach town, with daily hours from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Co-founder J.P. Jerome says the goal is a comfortable, year-round gathering place for locals and visitors alike.
I think it's a smart next step. There's been a wave in the last few years of Detroit-based brands that to find new markets and ensure financial sustainability have expanded into the suburbs, state, and beyond.
The wholesale water and sewage rates of the GLWA (Great Lakes Water Authority) will increase 5.8% on July 1, but that won't be anywhere near enough cash for what's needed.
There are three underlying issues we need to be honest about.
- The average age of failing water mains is 53 years old according to a national study. 50 years have passed since many mains were installed.
- We've built more stuff for the same amount of people. Think about everything in Metro Detroit that's been built since 1970. 696 did not exist. The Silverdome and the Palace have come and gone. Canton Township was still the sweet corn capital of Michigan with just 11,000 people, and is now nearly 9x the size. The combined population of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County has dropped over the last 55+ years while much of the rest of the nation has grown.
| Year | Wayne | Oakland | Macomb | Tri-County Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,670,368 | 907,871 | 626,204 | 4,204,443 |
| 1980 | 2,337,843 | 1,011,793 | 694,600 | 4,044,236 |
| 1990 | 2,107,915 | 1,086,685 | 718,280 | 3,912,880 |
| 2000 | 2,058,765 | 1,196,585 | 790,701 | 4,046,051 |
| 2020 | 1,789,634 | 1,272,524 | 880,240 | 3,942,398 |
- It's $20 million a mile to replace what's needed.
“The question becomes, ‘Why don’t you just replace it all?’ At $20 million a mile, it’s more than $1.6 billion that we do not have budgeted." - GLWA CEO, Suzanne Coffey
I don't have all the answers. But I do know we're going to have to make some hard decisions. The bill for sprawl is coming due.
🔗 GLWA seeks more government aid as it urges readiness for main breaks - [Detroit News]
On Griswold near Capitol Park, we spotted a big red neon sign in the window reading "Unc's" — and it's for a Detroit-style pizza concept opening in one of the neighborhood's more extensive building renovations.
It's in the former United Savings Bank which had received a gnarly 70s makeover that removed most of the windows — but is now undergoing a glow-up with an art-deco inspired facade (and two stories) added on.
They've launched an Instagram (@uncspizza) but haven't posted anything or announced an opening date yet.
If you know more, let us know!
The Downtown Detroit Partnership opened the concept today in a fancied-up shipping container right in the park, stocked with Detroit-made goods, apparel, and some genuinely solid local collabs.
The idea is to sell interesting, locally rooted stuff and funnel the proceeds back into keeping downtown parks active and programmed.
A few quick impressions after stopping by: the setup is clean, the Detroit Sign Painters touches give it character, and the new Campus Martius branding looks sharp in person.
I've always been a huge fan of the Michigania statue on the top of the Soldiers and Sailors monument, and I love how she's represented here.
If you didn't know, Michigania is the personification of the State of Michigan and of powerful victory — strong and brave. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument has stood here since 1872.
There’s also a limited SMPLFD drop inspired by the tulip bloom, plus the usual mix of shirts, hats, and small gifts.
Plus, there's a Pewabic tile featuring Campus Martius, part of their “Postcards from Detroit” series and only available here.
Open Thursday through Sunday, noon to 8 p.m., and is expected to run through October.
A few days ago I saw a corner retail spot across from the Hudson’s development get a bright orange window treatment with the SANA logo.
Now there’s a job posting for full-time retail associates on their site, which usually means an opening isn’t far off. [Sana Detroit]
Founded in 2021 by Michael Sana, SANA Detroit is a streetwear and lifestyle brand that builds hypey, sports-centric drops around the city’s culture, athletes, and teams. They’ve done well-attended pop-up events and collabs, and fans tend to line up early.
The corner of State and Woodward was most recently a Born in Detroit location before that brand moved up the street, and a Moosejaw before that.
It’s on the same block as Nike and Timberland and across the street from the recently opened Alo and Tecovas, putting SANA in the middle of a growing cluster of national and local apparel brands.
Looking through my previous coverage notes, the space is about 4,000 square feet.
No word yet on when they’re opening, but if they’re staffing up, we’re getting close — and I’d bet those opening-day lines will be long.
Nox Metals, a seven-month-old company operating in Southwest Detroit, has closed a $11.5 million seed round.
The round was led by NYC-based Hyperion, with participation from notable firms including Y Combinator, Palmer Luckey, RoboStrategy, Alumni Ventures, Operator Collective, and DTX Ventures. [Source]
Nox Metals specializes in custom aluminum blocks for CNC machining. By utilizing AI automation, the company claims it can cut lead times from "days to seconds."
In a post, the founder and CEO Zane Hengsperger says:
Our metal has gone to space. It has protected our troops. It is in your car and in the machine that scanned your chest. It is all around us. And we can't stop supplying at warp speeds.
We will be revitalizing a WW2-era, 30,000 square foot factory in Detroit this summer where we will have our techno-industrialists working hard to further pursue our mission. We will be tripling down on technology, which has allowed us to move this fast for America thus far.
Seed funding is used to help a company fund product development, conduct market research, and make key hires.
Detroit is losing two of its most distinctive nightspots at the end of the month, as Spot Lite on Beaufait and UFO Bar in Corktown prepare to close.
In a statement, owner Roula David says she’s “moving away from nightlife” after a five‑year run that turned Spot Lite’s warehouse space into a gallery, record store, and dance floor that doubled as a creative space on the east side. [Facebook]
Spot Lite earned a loyal following for its stacked DJ lineups, deep love of Detroit music, and the way it blurred lines between bar, arts venue, and community living room.
UFO Bar, which David took over last year, kept the UFO Factory spirit alive with indie shows, hot dogs, and late‑night music. According to the statement, it'll be re-concepted into the Detroit Vinyl Bar, a cocktail bar and record store.
The last day of service is Saturday, June 28 at Spot Lite and Monday, June 30 at UFO Bar, with Cairo Coffee operating temporarily at 2905 Beaufait as it looks for a new permanent home.
Pine Hall is at the top of the Hudson’s building (the lower office block) and features the pseudo-mid century design that most of the entire compound follows.
It’s modern, clean and its patio wraps around the entire western side of the building, with city views to the west and south.
Since it was a busy opening night, I stuck to one cocktail and got the Silk Standard. A riff on an Air Mail, it’s a mix of Doctor Bird rum, lime, lager, and North African spices (specifically Ras el Hanout).
The drink list was more limited than I expected, but with a full suite of food as well, I think it evens out. Don’t expect a Sugar House level menu.
In terms of vibes, it felt distinctly younger and sexier than say Kamper’s or Monarch Club.
It positions itself as the most urbane of our lofted libation lounges. If Kamper’s is for the tourists, Monarch is for the older suburbanites and Godfrey or Cambria for the locals, then Pine Hall feels like the Happy Hour move for the key card warriors.
With hours clearly catering to those that will work and play downtown, they will have their doors open every day at 4 p.m., closing at midnight during the week, 1 a.m. on Saturday and 10 p.m. on Sunday.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Thomas Tucker on Tuesday afternoon granted the city’s request for a final decree, ending federal court oversight of Detroit’s finances.
The move signals the city is meeting the terms of its post-bankruptcy plan, including keeping up with pension obligations.
Fiscal year 2027 will mark the fourth consecutive year Detroit has made its required pension contributions, supported in part by the Grand Bargain and the city’s Retiree Protection Fund.
“Our team remains focused on the rigorous, long-term fiscal management necessary to protect our retirees and ensure our residents never face this kind of financial uncertainty again,” said City CFO Tanya Stoudemire in a press release.
The move wraps up one of the most consequential chapters in Detroit’s modern history and shifts full responsibility for maintaining fiscal discipline back to City Hall.
On Thursday, crews put in place the final steel beam on the new $2.2 billion, 20-story Henry Ford Health Patient Tower.v
When it opens in 2029, the hospital will add 432 all‑private, high‑tech rooms, five floors of specialized ICU care, and a vastly expanded 75,000‑square‑foot ER with 100 private treatment spaces, roughly doubling the current emergency department.
The tower is a centerpiece of Henry Ford’s ‘Destination: Grand” expansion, which also includes a new 1,500‑space parking garage, a shared services building, and a central energy hub that will help make it one of the largest all‑electric hospitals in the country.
In pure scale, it’s in the same conversation as the Hudson’s tower and the Gordie Howe International Bridge. And although the University of Michigan Center for Innovation gets a lot of press because it's visible downtown, the investment on this project is multiple times larger.
If you want to see it for yourself, look for it just off the Lodge at West Grand Boulevard.
Spring 2026 is here and it's time to hunt for a deal, with neighborhood and citywide yard sales in and around Detroit.
Here are four I know about, and I'm sure I'll be at a couple of them:
- Historic Indian Village Yard Sale (Detroit) – The historic east side neighborhood hosts its spring yard sale Saturday–Sunday, May 16–17, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with homes across Indian Village setting up on porches, lawns, and garages. [Facebook]
- University District “Hidden Treasures” Yard Sale (Detroit) – Just west of Woodward and between 6 and 7 Mile, the University District Community Association’s “Hidden Treasures” sale runs Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., with more than 60 homes. [UDCA]
- Huntington Woods City‑Wide Garage Sale – Just north of 696, the suburb is holding its annual city‑wide sale Friday–Sunday, May 15–17, 9 a.m.–7 p.m., with permitted sales throughout the city. [City]
- Wyandotte Spring City‑Wide Garage Sale – Downriver, Wyandotte is running its Spring City‑Wide Garage Sale May 15–17, with residents all over the city participating. Some proceeds go to support their local museums. You can pick up a map behind the Ford-MacNichol Home at 2610 Biddle. [Event]
The Detroit Bird Alliance is kicking off the first-ever Great Detroit Bird Off this May, a friendly contest to see which of Detroit’s four big parks — Belle Isle, Rouge, Palmer, or Eliza Howell — racks up the most bird species on the eBird app during peak migration.
Anyone can jump in, from hardcore birders to curious beginners, with reps from the Alliance on-site select Saturdays to help you log sightings and learn the ropes.
It’s fun, it’s community science, and it highlights just how wild Detroit’s parks really are.
Here's the schedule:
- Saturday, May 2 Belle Isle from 8-10a
- Saturday, May 9: Belle Isle from 8-10a
- Saturday, May 16: Eliza Howell Park from 8-10a
- Saturday, May 23: Palmer Park from 8-10a
- Saturday, May 30: Rouge Park from 6-8p
Private contractors will begin clearing 1,884 miles of residential streets in the city of Detroit at midnight, giving them 24 hours to plow a 16-foot-wide path through each of the city's seven council districts.
City crews are already working 12-hour shifts to salt and plow 673 miles of major roads.
In a release, DPW Director Ron Brundidge is asking residents to move their cars off the streets before midnight to give plows room to work and prevent vehicles from getting blocked in by snow.
Detroit's snow removal policy kicks in automatically when more than six inches of snow falls, triggering the deployment of contractors across all districts.
Seven different companies will handle the residential plowing: Jordan Landscaping covers Districts 1 and 2, Payne Landscaping takes Districts 3 and 4, while Fontenot Services, Gibraltar Construction, and A-Team Snow & Ice Control handle Districts 5, 6, and 7 respectively.
In case you didn't know, the city's snow removal setup is a bit complicated.
DPW handles local streets, but the Wayne County Road Commission maintains the freeways, the state manages major roads like Woodward and Gratiot, and the county takes care of roads like Outer Drive.
Bike lanes on major roads will be cleared after the regular travel lanes, with snow pushed to intersections and hauled away.
Residents can report snow removal problems through the Improve Detroit app or by calling 313-224-0033.
The Roxbury Group is converting the 79 residential apartments at the Hotel David Whitney into condos. This is a rare chance to own in one of Detroit's most iconic buildings.
The 1915 Beaux-Arts landmark, designed by D.H. Burnham and Company, anchors Grand Circus Park and the theater district.
Prices range from $277K one-bedrooms to $1M+ premium units, with three design packages available including one by Patrick Thompson Design.
The project has 68 one-bedroom, nine two-bedrooms, and two three-bedrooms apartments, ranging from 569 to more than 2,000 square feet.
Owners get hotel-style perks: concierge, valet parking, room service, housekeeping, and more. Priority registration is open now, with previews starting soon. [ResidencesatHotelDW.com]
Yet another international retailer has opened up in the city of Detroit, and here’s a first look inside.
FYI, they’re running an opening weekend discount of 30% off of most of their merchandise, from Friday 11/16 through Sunday 11/18.
Most of the merchandise is unisex, and there is a women's section in the back.
The store is open from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 12 - 6 p.m. on Sundays.
I recently visited the renovated museum in the Solanus Casey Center. It is the first complete overhaul since the center opened back in 2002. While this is a Catholic space, the Capuchins priests and brothers welcome people of all backgrounds.
The museum has more photos and information than the previous layout. I appreciate how more open the space feels without having too much going on from all of the informative displays.
Born in 1870, Blessed Solanus is on the path to being canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church, but his life was not a story of celebrity. He was not a military leader, martyr, famous author, or a public intellectual.
Solanus' life was seemingly ordinary. He grew up on a farm, had a chronic illness as a child, faced heartbreak from the woman he wanted to marry, was rejected from a seminary, and was made a "simplex priest" without full responsibilities.
Solanus' road to religious life was riddled with obstacles. His example of humility and turning to God in gratitude for everything in life is a radical model for how to maintain trust and confidence in one's calling or vocation. He passed in 1957.
You can find the Solanus Casey Center at 1780 Mt. Elliott in Detroit.
I had a chance to check out Spritz Bar at San Morello. It's open in the evenings Thursdays through Sundays through Negroni Week (think end of September) on the ground floor of the Shinola Hotel.
The patio is on Woodward and the cityscape views are great. On a nice day, the vibes, as some might say, are immaculate.
If you’ve never had an Aperol Spritz, I suggest you try it.
As I know it, it’s Aperol, Prosecco, and a splash of club soda over ice. Light and refreshing, good warm weather drink. Not too boozy.
As you can guess by the colors, orange flavor is the vibe. But not overly sweet (which I like).
An eagle-eyed listener sent word that on the first floor of the south side of Somerset Collection a Cartier location is set to open in Winter of 2026.
Cartier is a highly sought-after brand in the region, and the "Buffs" sunglasses are part of Detroit's culture (and lately, the University of Michigan football team).
Cartier at Somerset 📸 Shianne Nocerini
The closest official store location until now has been Chicago, though various boutiques and stores have them available locally like Optica (also in Somerset).
There are 30 boutique locations nationally listed on the Cartier website, not including Metro Detroit.
My two cents? It might just be me, but in my mind Black Detroiters made Cartier the big deal it is here. They even recently did a serious of partnerships with Detroit influencers. This should store should have been in the new Hudson's Detroit across from Gucci, or hear me out — on the Avenue of Fashion on Livernois. But I'm sure it'll do well at Somerset.
The historic Scott Memorial Fountain will undergo $6 million in renovations starting this summer, paid for by federal relief money.
The 18-month project will close the fountain until May 2027, but promises to preserve this 100-year-old treasure for future generations.
"Two years ago, results of the concrete core samples taken from the lower bowl showed the basin structure needed to be addressed," said Thomas Bissett, urban district supervisor for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. "Although the project will have an impact on visitors, we're grateful that ARPA dollars were available for this project to strengthen and protect fountain structure and operation for future generations."
Per press materials:
To ensure the basin's structural integrity and protect the underlying mechanical room, the renovation project will involve installing new concrete beams and replacing the underlying fountain plumbing. Additionally, a watertight seal and marble elements around the lower bowl will help prevent water infiltration to subgrade operational space.
A bummer for this and next summer, but the work is way overdue and there just hasn’t been the money to do more than spot repairs for decades.
Last Saturday, I was in the outer reaches of our coverage area and thought I’d swing by Waycaster Tiki on my way home. I’ve wanted to visit since it opened back in December, and I finally got the chance to go to South Lyon.
From the outside, only the sign and a few tiki decorations hint at what's inside the nondescript building.
The interior tells a different story.
Stepping in the door, you’ll need a few seconds for your eyes to adjust. The lighting is very low and designed to give chill and intimate vibes.
Once I could see... I was blown away!
The well-decorated interior seats 40 people, divided into several cozy sections designed for small groups rather than centered around a main area.
Each unique seating area offers something different – one separated by vine curtains, another featuring a bar counter with paired stools.
As I was alone, I chose one of the four stools at the bar.
Behind the bar was the usual array of backlit bottles, but crowning the back bar were two shelves that held a variety tiki mugs in various shapes.
The tiki mugs on display at Waycaster Tiki
The menu was small, but on point.
Each page held an image and a description of a single drink — some with the expected rum, some with gin, and some with tequila. There was even a giant shareable cocktail on the menu. Beer was available, as were nonalcoholic drinks.
I sampled three cocktails: a Tradewinds, Singapore Sling and Jungle Bird. Each drink was delicious and very different from each other.
There is also a “Rations” section of the menu that has dried fruits and nuts, cheeses, and cured meats.
My Palm Plate included mango ginger cheese, brie, honey, dried fruit and pita crisps. It was a great snack to pair with my drinks.
When I got there in the late afternoon, the bar had a sparse crowd and the friendly staff were happy to chat with me.
As day turned into night, things started to pick up as reservation holders arrived. The tiki music that plays all the time could still be heard, but various conversations blended together to make the place sound lively.
I definitely plan to return to Waycaster Tiki! Next time, with friends.
You will find it at 228 S Lafayette Street in South Lyon.
Check out their website at https://www.waycastertiki.com for hours and to make a reservation.