Russell Industrial Center expands

The Russell Industrial Center continues to grow. The Free Press reports that in addition to the buildings' growing stable of art studios, the complex will soon feature a retail market, a film theater, and a drive-in.

Can Calloway fix DPS?

The Metrotimes evaluates the performance of Connie Calloway, Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools, who is charged with stabilizing a district that now anticipates a $400-million shortfall this year and is contemplating a drastic deficit-reduction plan.

Community development on the west side

The Metrotimes profiles John George and Motor City Blight Busters on the city's west side.

Protect Belle Isle from development

Back in March, the mayor announced a plan to build a maritime academy on the site of the historic Detroit Boat Club. That plan is receiving renewed and much needed scrutiny in today's Free Press by John Gallagher.

He asks a simple question: Is this what we want for Belle Isle? I hope the answer is no. Belle Isle is a beautiful park meant for recreational use by city residents. It is not and never should be a site for dense development. Any renovation of the park (and it deserves more funding and better maintenance) should preserve the island for use by people, not development.

Minneapolis's community-based comeback

Larry Gabriel of the Metrotimes looks to Minneapolis for inspiration, where a resident-led revitalization plan has had great success.

I agree with the thesis -- the city needs to let neighborhoods prioritize their own needs and then fund community groups to address them. A few business leaders may save downtown, but neighborhood revitalization can only happen bottom-up. A key to making this happen will be electoral reform. City council members should be elected by district, not at-large, so they can finally be held accountable (and so they fairly represent the city's diversity -- Southwest Detroit deserves a council member).

Gilbert will build two towers downtown

John Gallagher of the Free Press says Dan Gilbert plans to develop both offered parcels downtown -- the Hudson site on Woodward and the Statler site on Grand Circus Park. One will house Quickens' headquarters while the other will be "a mixed-used office, retail and possibly residential tower." No word yet on which will be which; he has until November to decide. Rumor has it that the Deloitte & Touche consulting firm may also build a new tower downtown when its lease at the Ren Cen expires.

CAID funk night raided by SWAT team

The CAID's funk night was busted by a SWAT team last night. Judging from reports online, the raid was frightening and abusive. Check out Web Vomit and Five Three Dial Tone for the gruesome details. Hopefully CAID and its patrons have access to qualified attorneys.

Dequindre Cut to open in July

The Dequindre Cut, the rails-to-trail greenway connecting Eastern Market to the RiverWalk, is set to open July 1, according to a brief item in the Free Press.

To incinerate or dispose and recycle?

The Free Press (weeks after the Metrotimes began covering the story) writes that the city of Detroit must decide soon whether to keep the incinerator. I'll be shocked if they shut it down -- doing so would constitute an admission that building it was a mistake, and our politicians are loath to admit their errors.

Detroit: The birthplace of "nerd"

In an otherwise uninteresting column in The New York Times, David Brooks makes a startling revelation -- the word "nerd" first gained circulation in Detroit! Dr. Seuss is credited with coining the word in 1950 in If I Ran the Circus, but Newsweek first noted its use in everyday speech in our own beloved city.

DPS superintendent criticized

The Detroit News questions DPS Superintendent Connie Calloway's competence:

Superintendent Connie Calloway is drawing criticism for a series of recent communication missteps that have community leaders and even supporters concerned that she may be losing buy-in for initiatives that are essential to rehabilitating the 106,000-student school system.

Calloway's plan to overhaul five low-performing schools nearly collapsed before getting off the ground as frustrated parents and board members blasted her administration for its lack of information on the concept. She has been absent for meetings on the school overhaul initiative and for a press conference on the district's $45 million budget deficit.

"Either she is passionately disrespectful or just inept, but at $280,000 a year, neither is acceptable," said radio talk show host Mildred Gaddis.

Perhaps saving DPS is too great a task for anyone to handle.

“Let’s Meet in the D!”

Tom Walsh of the Free Press reports that Christopher Ilitch is leading a campaign to get local businesses to hold conventions Downtown rather than other cities. Why send your employees to Vegas when we have casinos and hotels here?

A number of firms have already made this sensible pledge: Little Caesers, General Motors, Ford Motor, Bank of America, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Crain Communications, Deloitte, Detroit Medical Center, ePrize, Northwest Airlines, Strategic Staffing Solutions, Verizon Wireless and the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

DMC expands campus

The News reports that the Detroit Medical Center will build a new, $34 million pediatric center on Beaubien Street, across from the existing Children's Hospital. This will be the first expansion of DMC's campus in thirty years.

Bad news for DPS: $45 milion deficit

Worst case scenario: DPS could return to state oversight. That's according to the Detroit News, whose editorial board seems to be awaiting just such a catastrophe so charter schools can take over the district.

End is near for Tiger Stadium

The New York Times reported yesterday on the pending demolition of old Tiger Stadium. I regretfully agree with the closing quote: “This is an old city. But history here is discounted by a lot of people.”

New apartments downtown

According to the Free Press, 1403 and 1413 Woodward will be converted into 70 upscale apartments with first-floor retail. The earliest occupancy would be spring 2010.

Get involved with TRU

Local transit advocates Transportation Riders United are hosting an Open House tonight at 6:30 pm for new volunteers interested in bringing rapid transit to Detroit. TRU's office is on the 16th floor of the Guardian Building (500 Griswold - Suite 1650).

$220,500 offered for GAR building

A new offer is on the table for the castle-like Grand Army of the Republic building downtown: