Daily Detroit

On today's Daily Detroit, we dig into a fresh Emerson College poll that shakes up the Michigan U.S. Senate race.

If their numbers are right, the Democratic primary is suddenly a two-person contest, with Abdul El‑Sayed and Mallory McMorrow tied at the top and Haley Stevens slipping into third, even as more than a third of voters are still undecided.

We talk through the big generational split driving those numbers, and reshaping the Democratic coalition, and why jobs and the economy are still the real deciders for that huge undecided block.

We also touch on a few other topics in the poll.

Then, we zoom out to a bigger question with deep Detroit roots: should this region become the "Arsenal of Democracy" again?

A quiet Pentagon push to involve automakers in weapons production is colliding with the reality that we may be past peak car sales.

We talk about what that could mean on the ground here. That means drones and cybersecurity to good-paying munitions jobs in old factory space, plus the moral, emotional, and neighborhood-level questions that come with it.

If forced to pick between the two, would you rather live next to a data center or a munitions plant, and who actually gets the jobs either way? We wrestle with nostalgia, economic necessity, and what kind of future Detroiters really want to build.

Your feedback is always welcome - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com 313-789-3211.

On today's Daily Detroit, we unpack Detroit's new $3 billion city budget that was just approved and what it actually means for people who live, work, and play in the city.

I'm joined by Civic Life reporter Briana Rice from Outlier Media and public finance expert Steve Watson of Watson & Yates to walk through where the money's going, what got reshuffled, and what that means on your block.

We get into why the overall budget, approved in April of 2026, actually shrank by about $30 million this year, even as Detroit's population ticks up.

Mayor Mary Sheffield and council still managed to pass a balanced plan. It includes $30 million more for DDOT to boost bus driver pay and maintenance, the creation of a new Housing, Homeless and Family Services department, and continued investment in community violence intervention.

We also talk about the big questions underneath the line items: Only 14% of rentals are code compliant. Or the fact that nearly one in every three city dollars goes to policem but less than 1 in 4 live in the city of Detroit. And, the Land Bank has moved from mass demolition to figuring out what to do with thousands of remaining lots.

Plus, how growing the city's population might help with making the budget have a little more room.

As always, feedback is at dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211.

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Today's show comes to you from the Ford Experience Center in Dearborn, as Jer catches up with Devon O'Reilly at the city's first‑ever Dearborn Development Day. They dig into the future of the former Hyatt hotel at Fairlane — now moving forward as a Hilton‑flagged property — with plans for 168 residential units, a mix of restaurants and entertainment, and a revived rotating bar at the top.

From there, the conversation zooms out to Dearborn's wider development push: the emerging 'Midtown' Fairlane area, West Warren streetscape changes, and new housing concepts around Lundy, the Eugene and Porath sites, and the Joe Louis Greenway.

In the final third, Jer recaps his trip to the groundbreaking of the Gratiot Life Sciences Building on part of the old 'fail jail' site in downtown Detroit, why the two‑story project coming online in 2027 matters for 'eds and meds' jobs, and what BAMF Health and Henry Ford Health are planning there.

As always, send feedback to dailydetroit‑at‑gmail‑dot‑com, and be sure you're following the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

On today's Daily Detroit, Jer sits down with developer and Greatwater Homes co-founder Matt Temkin to unpack what it really takes to build brand-new single-family houses inside the city limits. After all, there were only 19 permits pulled in 2024 in Detroit.

We dig into the brutal math behind new construction: why a typical unit can cost $250,000–$400,000 to build, how the "1% rent rule" prices many Detroiters out of new apartments, and why at $2,500 a month most people start asking whether they should just buy instead.

Temkin says Detroit has always been a city of houses, and that new construction needs to respect that history while also meeting modern needs.

Jer and Matt talk about designing homes that fit the neighborhood — solid walls, solid oak floors, real fireplaces, and façades that sit comfortably next to 100-year-old houses — without falling into the "matchstick" trap of cheaply built new builds. How trying to cut every corner doesn't actually help anybody.

They also tackle pricing strategy, how Greatwater makes it financially sustainable while many others behind them have failed, and why bigger floorplans often end up being the better deal per square foot.

And we talk about policy: Detroit's tiny share of new home construction in Wayne County, Mayor Mary Sheffield's goal of 1,000 new single-family homes, and what process changes like permits, taps, and inspections that could aunlock more quality new housing in city neighborhoods.

As always, be sure to follow Daily Detroit in your favorite podcast app like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you isten to shows.

On today's Daily Detroit, a fast-moving, food-and-development-heavy episode rooted in what's changing on the ground in metro Detroit.

Jer is joined by Devon O'Reilly and Norris Howard for a full-table conversation that spans ballparks, the best places to eat, and big bets on Dearborn's future.

The crew starts with Opening Day, as Norris recounts one of the most beautiful Tigers home openers he's ever seen — complete with a cautionary tale about trying to outdo his dad.

Devon then takes us to Midtown for a deep dive on Mad Nice as a rare, reliable "power lunch" spot, breaking down its cocktail program, menu, and why its scale, aesthetics, and backing have given it real staying power past the three-year mark.

From there, the conversation shifts to huge news for the region: Detroit and the Great Lakes are now eligible for Michelin stars. Jer, Devon, and Norris build their own shortlist of contenders — from Freya and Seldon Standard to London Chop House, Ladder 4, Grey Ghost, Saffron De Twah, and more — while debating consistency, creativity, and what a first star should reward.

The focus turns west to Dearborn, where the former Hyatt/Edward Hotel site moves toward a major hotel-and-residential redevelopment, and Ford plans a massive "World Headquarters South" campus that will bring thousands of employees, Ford Performance, and new amenities to the city.

Plus, we get into the Detroit Grand Prix that's starting to get set up, and coming renovations at the Motor City Casino Hotel.

Rundown:

03:06 - Where we've been: Mad Nice

07:36 - Which Detroit restaurant should get a Michelin Star first?

16:04 - Dearborn Hotel Rebuild?

17:23 - Ford World HQ South Plans

19:47 - Detroit Grand Prix is starting their setup work

22:20 - Major Motor City Casino Renovation

On today's Daily Detroit, I'm joined by the Prince of Brightmoor himself, Norris Howard, for a conversation about what kind of city and community we actually want to build.

We start with the University of Michigan men's basketball national championship, how a starting five of transfers signals a new era in college hoops, and why I'm choosing some hope for the Detroit Pistons.

From there, we dive into the recent "teen takeover" downtown and what really happened versus the panic you might have seen on social media.

Norris talks about growing up in the city, why big groups of kids have always gathered somewhere when the weather turns nice, and how race, class, and whose property we value shape which crowds we call a "problem."

We also kick around what it would mean to actually welcome young people downtown with spaces and programming designed for them.

Then we pivot to a new Rocket Mortgage survey on the "neighborhood paradox" — most of us say community matters, but only a fraction really know our neighbors.

Norris makes the case that HOAs are "the death of the neighborhood," and we swap stories about block‑level care, watching each other's kids, and why I chose to live in a part of Detroit where people still show up for one another.

We close with Detroit's surge in office‑to‑residential conversions, from the RenCen and Penobscot to the Guardian, Fisher, and beyond, and imagine a dream list of buildings that should be filled with new Detroiters instead of empty floors.

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Today I'm at the table at TechTown with Life Remodeled president and CEO Diallo Smith, along with Norris Howard.

We get into how this Detroit‑based nonprofit is transforming vacant school buildings into "opportunity hubs" that connect entire families to education, jobs, and essential services in their own neighborhoods.

Diallo walks us through the rebirth of Durfee Intermediate as the Durfee Innovation Society on the West Side, now home to more than 30 nonprofits and social impact partners, and shares how neighbors themselves shaped which programs moved in.

We also talk about Life Remodeled's next big project on the East Side at the former Dominican / Winan Academy campus, including a 700‑seat theater and a planned 26,000‑square‑foot tech education addition with room for everything from esports to advanced training.

Along the way, we get into why the future of the Detroit region is fundamentally tied to the future of Detroit's neighborhoods, what thousands of volunteers accomplish in the Six Day Project each year, and why investing in arts, culture, and opportunity on our blocks is really about rebuilding the heart of this region. More: https://liferemodeled.org/

Don't forget to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows. We also have a full transcript up on our Daily Detroit website.

Detroit is finally seeing population growth and net positive migration — and a new coalition called Move Detroit wants to keep that momentum going.

Our guest is Hilary Doe, president and CEO of MoveDetroit, to unpack a new incentive fund paid for by a number of partners, the Make Detroit Home program, and a neighborhood ambassador effort designed to keep and attract residents, entrepreneurs, and creatives.

Details include:

• Up to $500,000 total in benefits distributed to 313 current and future Detroit residents.

• Select participants can receive $15,000 to use for a business investment or work project, a down payment, home renovation, or other housing subsidy (including rent support).

• Other selected applicants are eligible for $1,000 in relocation or quality‑of‑life support, which can cover moving costs, security deposits, or things like gym memberships, kayaking lessons, or meal delivery from local restaurants.

We dig into why population growth matters for tax base and small businesses, how this work is funded, and why Hilary believes Detroit can become one of the fastest-growing cities in the Midwest if the strategy stays driven by Detroiters themselves.

Learn more: https://www.movedetroit.com/

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Jer and Devon start with the smoky scare at Wayne State's historic Maccabees building, sharing on-the-ground details, Detroit trivia, and memories of brunches past.

Then they dig into Devon's annoyance at the Xfinity vs. WXYZ/Channel 7 standoff, what these carriage disputes say about legacy media, and how more people are getting pushed toward cord-cutting and algorithms for local news.

And finally, they celebrate the Pistons clinching the Central Division, lament the Red Wings' latest collapse, and look ahead to what's shaping up to be a beautiful Tigers Opening Day in downtown Detroit.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield delivered her first State of the City at Mumford High School, and we're unpacking what it really means for everyday Detroiters. Host Jer Staes is joined by Norris Howard and Outlier Media civic life reporter Briana Rice to dig into homeownership and repair, wages and affordable housing, transit, retail corridors, youth programs, safety initiatives, and more.

They also talk about what was left out of the speech — and how much of the city's future will depend on local dollars and neighborhood-level follow-through.

Follow Briana's work here: https://outliermedia.org/author/briana-rice/

Full unofficial livestream: https://www.youtube.com/live/VQMsqsyXMeY?si=mlHUIDdmcBF8EX9r&t=7846

Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942