Quick Post
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Two things our fellow Detroiters have are pride and a competitive spirit!
So we at Daily Detroit thought we'd have a bit of fun on the made-up holiday celebrating Detroit - 313 day, March (third month) 13th - and host Detroit-themed trivia.
It'll happen at Tocororo in Eastern Market, doors are at 5pm and we'll get trivia going soon after 6pm.
Facts, history, anything is on the table.
We'll also put together a very special live podcast of Daily Detroit for the intermission (our show, if you're a listener, is usually only about 20 minutes long).
Trivia will be hosted by noted local author, journalist, and barchaelogist Mickey Lyons.
You'll be able to grab an alcoholic (or N/A) drink, order some food from their kitchen, and have fun with fellow Daily Detroit readers and listeners.
Tocororo has a very accessible drink menu, so no matter your price point there's something for you. Be sure to tip your bartender!
So head over to Eventbrite and register, free!
"Father Forgive Me" will be located in the former garage space of The Shepherd Detroit, adjacent to ALEO on Parkview. [Instagram with more pictures]
The venture comes from the hospitality group behind Standby, Deluxx Fluxx, and The Skip.
Interior design will be handled by Holly Jonsson Studio.
Plans include using The Shepherd's outdoor spaces, with programming aimed at fostering community engagement through art, culture, and conversation. You can follow them on social media here.
The Shepherd is a church that's been converted into a community, arts and entertainment space.