Daily Detroit

On today's show:

• Challenging weather conditions and high water levels continue to complicate plans for the highly anticipated Oudolf Garden Detroit project on Belle Isle.
• Auburn Hills-based auto supplier BorgWarner is buying Delphi Technologies in an all-stock deal. You can read more about it here.
• The Detroit News is reporting that the city of Detroit will be asking for proposals to redo historic Fort Wayne in February.
• The restaurant chain Bar Louie has just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. There are eight locations in metro Detroit.
• Sven talks about the work being done on the former Motorama Motel site at 8 Mile and Woodward.
• An episode of the No BS News Hour with Charlie LeDuff and Peter Karmanos has gotten a lot of people talking. Sven thinks it's not crazy that President Donald Trump would do something to shorten Kwame's 28-year sentence.
• Detroit City FC has released its spring schedule ahead of its first full season of professional soccer.
• The Paczki Run returns for its 8th year.

Thanks for listening to your Daily Detroit! We're on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942

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And although the show will always be free, our members help make it available for everyone else. Become a member on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

On today's show:

The GM Detroit Hamtramck plant has a new electric future.

A new poll shows little support for new road funding taxes, a lot of support for expanding protections for LGBT housing and employment, and although many Michiganders want changes made to the health care system, not much support for Medicare for All as the way to do it.

The Michigan State Police Crime Lab in Sterling Heights will be closed and merged with the one in Detroit to help with months-long backlogs.

Oakland County saw $575 million in new investment in 2019, with 41% from foreign firms.

And, Shianne Nocerini joins us to break down and look behind the scenes on her big burger list that went up yesterday.

If this is the first time meeting our show, we're on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Yhv8nSylVWxlZilRhi4X9

And although the show will always be free, our members help make it available for everyone else. Become a member on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Today's show is a long-form conversation with author Conrad Kickert. He's a retail and planning expert and professor at the University of Cincinnati.

His most recent book caught my eye, "Dream City: Creation, Destruction, and Reinvention in Downtown Detroit."

Backed up by research and global experience, he busts some myths about downtown Detroit and its history. He adds perspective from his career from world-class cities and working on making urban design and retail planning that actually works.

He is very frank about the possibilities for the future. That there are real opportunities. But doing things as we did before isn't a path forward.

Here are some highlights:

Why Conrad got interested in Detroit and downtown Detroit.

Because of shifting market forces that are beyond what's happening locally, you probably won't be able to buy a pepper grinder at a store unless it has an "authentic" "story" behind it. Why? Regular transactions are all moving online, and retail is transitioning to becoming 3D advertisements. They don't have to sell as many goods, the point is experiential and as a billboard for the online experience.

Parking lot barons have been a problem for nearly a century, as when a skyscraper went up, flat parking lots got built instead of many other options.

80% of new construction in downtown Detroit is parking.

The city of Detroit mandates a lot of parking through ordinances, but parking minimums are out as development policy nationally. Cities that have them are "stuck in the last century."

Downtown Detroit, though, is quite a bit smaller than comparative cities and has less going on. Just The Loop in Chicago alone is a multitude of downtown Detroit in a small area when it comes to offices and residential.

There's not much in downtown Detroit for people in the neighborhoods, and it's hard to get there, and that's not good. You need strong connections.

Although many people are nostalgic for our old streetcar system, it was woefully inefficient (by land area Detroit and Metro Detroit is massive) as the city and region never made the jump to a heavier rail and/or subway system in the 1910s-30s like other cities when it should have (see this post about abandoned subway plans). By the time the conversion was made to buses, the city and region had sprawled too far to be practical and ridership had sunk.

The QLINE was a development tool, and helped replace infrastructure under Woodward, but is not a transit tool. But for economic development, amazingly, it's worked as far as investment – as it has in other cities as well because developers put their money where rails are, even though it hasn't functioned for everyday residents.

Sometimes the plans that aren't sexy are the ones that work. Like bike-sharing. People use it here and in other cities and it works here. Detroit's also a great biking city in warm months. You usually can get where you're going by MoGo faster than transit within its service area.

And then we finish up with pros and cons, including the big difference between Ilitch and Gilbert's development visions.

Host note: One thing this left me thinking afterward was, "We have no idea what a real boom looks like." Matching this with my travels even around the country, Detroit is woefully behind.

The things we talk about as "massive change" are everyday occurrences in much of the nation.

I thought about a recent visit to Charlotte, North Carolina that made my head spin with the number of cranes I saw out the window.

Think about the economic opportunity from bottom to top if the city of Detroit started adding about 15,000 people each year, every year, for two decades instead of debating Census numbers whether or not we're going to see a tiny rise for public relations points. And regionally, staying about flat.

Or Atlanta, a city that's been seeing growth since 2010.

The city at one point had more than double the people we have now. We have space. Why don't we use something like that as a metric to shoot for instead of clawing onto not losing?

Anyway, enough of my rambling. Conrad Kickert is an interesting, long-form very podcasty conversation. We'll try doing these on some Fridays.

If this is the first time meeting our show, we're on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Yhv8nSylVWxlZilRhi4X9

And although the show will always be free, our members help make it available for everyone else. Become a member on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

The big beer news in town was that Atwater Brewery sold to a subsidiary of Molson Coors, Tenth and Blake. But why? And what's next? To take a look behind the deal, a talk with Atwater owner Mark Rieth. That conversation is at 7 minutes in.

We also round up a few things happening around Michigan and Detroit:

Tesla can now sell cars easier in Michigan, and service them through a subsidiary. That's big news. But there may be more to the story. Experts say that a dealer protection law that passed almost unanimously - and with bipartisan support - probably couldn't have withstood a true challenge in court. That would have major impacts as buyers are used to online and streamlined buying experiences, and more than 36,000 people are employed by Michigan's 600 or so franchise dealers. Here's a link to the Attorney General's announcement.

Detroit's three casinos have record revenue.

The Detroit River at Ralph C. Wilson park is going to get a big cleanup, as it turns out it's an "area of concern."

The city of Detroit's property values have gone up 20% in the last year, says the city. But we give context. In 2008, it was worth $8.8 billion. In 2018, $3 billion. So although some progress, nowhere near a recovery to post-recession levels.

McNichols (really, they should just call it 6 Mile) is getting a major streetscape facelift between Livernois and Greenlawn. Think the Fitzgerald neighborhood, just west of University Detroit Mercy.

If this is the first time meeting our show, we're on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Yhv8nSylVWxlZilRhi4X9

And although the show will always be free, our members help make it available for everyone else. Become a member on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

The New Year is a great time to take inventory of what we've done and where we're headed, and I like to talk to Dennis Archer Jr.,the CEO of Ignition Media Group and the president of Archer Corporate Services ahead of the Detroit Policy Conference that's coming up this Wednesday, January 29.

We touch on a variety of topics including transit, education, development, the focus going forward on the neighborhoods, and why Archer doesn't like the word "comeback" when it comes to Detroit.

Archer is also the chair of the conference, with speakers like Dug Song, who has gotten more visibly involved in policy and such since selling his company, Duo Security, to Cisco. Actor Hill Harper, who owns the Roasting Plant in downtown Detroit and bought a house in the city.

The suburbs are in, too. Oakland County Executive David Coulter is speaking. A statewide perspective from Lieutenant-Governor Garlin Gilchrist.

I could go on, but here's a link to everything if you want to know more or want to go.

If this is the first time meeting our show, we're on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Yhv8nSylVWxlZilRhi4X9

And although the show will always be free, our members help make it available for everyone else. Become a member on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

On today's show:

Last week on this show we told you how a capitol reporter in Lansing alleged that state Senator Peter Lucido of Shelby Township made a sexist remark to her while she tried to interview him. Now, a fellow state senator of Lucido's says she's filing a workplace sexual harassment complaint against him. State Senator Mallory McMorrow tells Crain's the incident took place in November 2018 after she was first elected to her seat representing the 13th District in Oakland County.

Recreational marijuana sales seriously lag behind a neighboring state, Wayne County gets its first recreational dispensary, and the city of Detroit pushes their ban out another couple of months saying they're working on making the licenses more inclusive.

The Ilitch organization is trading some parcels of land that will become parks for an extension of development rights near Little Caesar's Arena. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says it's a good deal.

Greenspace in downtown Ferndale is closing. So where else is good to get a good vegetarian or vegan bite to eat? Sven's the healthiest eater among us and a former vegetarian, so he gives his picks.

Detroit is apparently a place people want to move, and it's, according to Storage Space, "Perfect for hipsters."

There's a contest for a large-scale public sculpture outside of the TCF Center downtown. Here's how to enter: https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=7348

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Yhv8nSylVWxlZilRhi4X9

Although the show will always be free, our members help make it available for everyone else. Become a member on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Today on your Daily Detroit, we're talking all things autos. After all, it's usually at this time of year when everyone's in town for the North American International Auto Show.

Although the big Detroit show is in the summer now, have no fear.

We thought we'd fill your tank with some updates on cool car tech from the Consumer Electronics Show, talk about the almost-sure reintroduction of the Hummer, the Mustang Mach E, Jeep, saving money when buying a car, and of course, electric and self-driving cars.

Our conversation style today will be very similar to when we do one of our bar and restaurant roundups, where we bring in someone who has their head in that stuff all the time.

So today, joining us is Eric Trytko. He has years of experience covering and working in the industry, as well as experience as a motorsports announcer.

You might know him online as Rumblestrip. Find him on Twitter here. As well as YouTube.

So enjoy!

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Yhv8nSylVWxlZilRhi4X9

Although the show will always be free, our members help make it available for everyone else. Become a member on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

On today's show, Alexandra Schmidt from Bridge Magazine joins us to talk about a new report they released today, "No Substitute: The Public's Agenda To Reduce Michigan's Reliance On Uncertified, Long-Term Substitute Teachers."

We run through the data and the responses with Schmidt, including:

• 50,000 kids are served by long-term, uncertified substitute teachers
• Enrollment in teaching prep programs in the state is down 70 percent in eight years
• Average pay is dropping for Michigan teachers
• This impacts districts across the state, but even more so those that serve people of color as 18 percent of students are minorities but 92 percent of teachers are white

Polling shows that Michigan parents are very concerned about all of this. Many people may not know that Michigan does not require any sort of teacher certification for long-term subs. Bridge's polling shows 9 in 10 Michiganders want that to change.

So what are some of the solutions? We discuss it all.

We also round up some stories you should know around town:

Macomb County is looking at becoming a Second Amendment Sanctuary City, with the aim of protecting the ownership of AR-15s and the like

Recreational Marijuana sales surpass $10 million in the first six weeks

Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Roseville will be demolished for a self-storage place and retail strip

Though Livonia is getting a Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries site, it won't be a homeless shelter (read more on Hometownlife)

Beyond Juicery opens in New Center

Mister Dips, a Brooklyn burger and soft serve joint, is coming to downtown Detroit behind the Shinola Hotel (more on Eater)

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Yhv8nSylVWxlZilRhi4X9

Although the show will always be free, our members help make it available for everyone else. Become a member on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

On today's show, Michigan and Metro Detroit have been talking about the callout by Michigan Advance reporter Allison Donahue of State Senator Peter Lucido, after this exchange, excerpted from her first-person account:

"You should hang around! You could have a lot of fun with these boys, or they could have a lot of fun with you."

The teenagers burst into an Old Boys' Network-type of laughter, and I walked away knowing that I had been the punchline of their "locker room" talk.

Except it wasn't the locker room; it was the Senate chamber. And this isn't high school. It's my career.

We quickly run through where it stands as of this recording (here's her original, first-person post) and here's Lucido's tweet about it and another story about it.

Oh, and a national story too.

But more than the basics lots of people may know, Shianne dives in and shares about her experiences, and she praises Donahue (with apologies to Lizzo) as "100% That Reporter."

And, we touch on the disappointment of a first-run movie theatre project falling through over parking problems. Here's the original Crain's story you should check out and we expand, discuss and break it down. Will this obsession with parking mean we'll never get some things?

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Yhv8nSylVWxlZilRhi4X9

Although the show will always be free, our members help make it available for everyone else. Become a member on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Detroit lays claim to a rich musical legacy going back decades, including Motown Records, a vibrant jazz scene, techno music and more than one generation of booty-shaking garage rock. But it's been a while since it was home to an actual music magazine.

That's changing with the debut of Maggot Brain, a new full-color quarterly print magazine launched by Third Man Records. That's the retailer, record press and label founded by Jack White. We speak with the magazine's editor and longtime music writer, Mike McGonigal.

You can subscribe here or pick it up at a variety of local stores.

ALSO:

Turns out no permits were issued for a piece of Detroit riverfront that collapsed into the waterway. More here.

And Kermit the Frog is going back on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts after a long hiatus. We have all the green details.

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Yhv8nSylVWxlZilRhi4X9

Although the show will always be free, our members help make it available for everyone else. Become a member on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit