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« Detroit News Roundup for Wednesday, August 29, 2007
» Detroit News Roundup for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 31-September 2, 2007

Detroit News Roundup for Thursday, August 30, 2007


Detroit to become black culture capital

Blues and jazz pulsed from hot spots such as the Cotton Club and Club 666, as young black doctors, clerks and assembly line workers shared crowded sidewalks.

It was the heart of Detroit’s Paradise Valley, an area that defined the Michigan city’s black culture, arts and music until many of the businesses and homes were demolished beginning in the 1950s in the name of economic development.

[via Pravda]

Detroit Hopes to Reinvigorate Downtown

It was the heart of Detroit’s Paradise Valley, an area that defined the city’s black culture, arts and music until many of the businesses and homes were demolished beginning in the 1950s in the name of economic development.

In an effort to recapture the excitement and thriving business climate of the old district, a small enclave of shops and buildings in a northeast corner of downtown will be designated the new Paradise Valley.

Funny how the same story gets a different headline from the Washington Post.
[via Washington Post]

First hybrid bus to hit road in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti by mid September

Don’t expect Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti to break out in the South Park Hybrid Song when the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority’s first hybrid bus hits the streets this month, but a lot of people will be cheering the changing of the guard.

The hybrid bus built by Hayward, California-based Gillig Corp. is the first of 20 that will be integrated into the AATA’s fleet in the next year, replacing older buses as they are decommissioned. The AATA expects to replace all of its 69 buses with hybrids over the next couple of years. The price difference for first 20 will be paid for by a federal grant.

[via Metromode Media]

8 Mile Boulevard Association hands out first facade grants

The 8 Mile Boulevard Association has started giving out the first of its faade grants for its newly launched faade-improvement program and is looking for a few more businesses.

Among the first to receive the grants is Lewis Tire Service at 317 E. 8 Mile Road in Hazel Park. The grant is helping provide new planters, awnings, benches and signage for the store. A few more of the grants are in the works for businesses along 8 Mile between John R Street and Ryan Road. The association is also looking for a few businesses take part in the program on the Detroit side of 8 Mile in that same area.

[via Metromode Media]

Long life of downtown Pontiacs Crofoot Building begins anew

The latest chapter in the up-and-down history of Pontiac’s Crofoot Building, one of its oldest downtown structures, will begin when it reopens as a concert venue on Sept. 6th.

The Crofoot’s latest chance at life comes thanks to Blair McGowan, a local preservationist who has rehabbed a number of historic downtown Pontiac structures including Clutch Cargo’s. Vacant, boarded up and run down, the Crofoot stared demolition square in the eye as recently as 2005. Until McGowan stepped in with the idea of restoring the building to its 1850s state.

[via Metromode Media]

German bioinformatics co. establishes US base in Ann Arbor

A German-based bioinformatics company, Genomatix, has established its United States base of operations in Ann Arbor. The division, Genomatix Software, has been operational since the end of May in the Ann Arbor SPARK incubator, although CEO Peter Grant says they will move to a permanent location in November.

[via Metromode Media]

LLamasoft moves to new Ann Arbor offices to accommodate growing staff

Supply chain software designer LLamasoft, Inc. is growing in leaps and bounds. In fact, they’re leaping into a larger space less than a block away from their old Ann Arbor offices.

[via Metromode Media]

Think Local, Act Regional

Detroit is full of dividing lines. They range from the infamous 8 Mile Road to the serene Detroit River. But few people look at Dequindre Road as the border between regionalism and modern day feudalism.

Metro Detroit’s communities have long struggled to work together for even the simplest of things. Think DDOT and SMART buses chasing each other down the region’s avenues despite years of effort to combine the two agencies. It’s gotten to the point where regionalism is considered more a novel idea than feasible concept. The communities around Dequindre between 8 and 13 mile roads serve as a microcosm of southeast Michigan’s present and possible future.

To the west of Dequindre to the Southfield border is Metro Detroit today – a mishmash of 10 municipalities clustered around the Woodward corridor. Governing the 192,000 people in approximately 38 square miles are 10 different local governments, nine city councils, planning commissions and recreation departments, eight libraries, six police departments, five fire departments and three public safety departments.

Flip that same block of land to the east side of Dequindre and there is an example of what local government in Metro Detroit can become – Warren.

130+ municipalities in three counties, we need to start setting precedents for regional cooperation and, most importantly, stop the in-fighting.
[via Metromode Media]

Tunnel crossing no good for LaSalle, mayor says

A tunnelled approach to a new border crossing won’t do much to improve LaSalle’s air quality, says Mayor Gary Baxter.

DRIC officials opted against the City of Windsor’s vehement call for a tunnelled route. The city contends a truck route without tunelling would bisect the city and expose people to harmful truck fumes.

But since most of LaSalle’s air pollution is blown in from U.S. coal fire generated plants, Baxter said a tunnel won’t do much to improve the town’s air quality.

[via Windsor Star]

Changes coming to local rail lines

BATTLE CREEK (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - For over a month leaders and customers have worried about whether the sound of an Amtrak train would disappear and put a stop to dreams of high speed rail service in Michigan. It all stems from plans surrounding the 115 miles of track between Kalamazoo and Ypsilanti. The current owners, Norfolk Southern, plan to transfer ownership to a smaller company, Watco. Leaders were worried Watco wouldn’t be able to maintain the railway for Amtrak service. While leaders thought transferring ownership to a smaller company would mean losing Amtrak service, Watco now says they guarantee that won’t be the case. The sound of an Amtrak train is something 3-year-old Darius is used to, he’s been riding since he was just two weeks old. Not having this as an option would put him and mom out of options. “I wouldn’t travel, goodbye to traveling, I’d have to get a car,” said Kissey Rome. It’s why leaders from Ann Arbor to Battle Creek, state and local, met with Ed McKechnie to make sure Amtrak won’t be going anywhere. “It would be a tremendous loss to the southern corridor of the state of Michigan,” said Battle Creek Mayor John Godfrey. “Amtrak will rely on this new company to maintain the line up to the current standards of 79 mph,” said Senator Mark Schauer. It’s something McKechnie says Watco will guarantee leaders in writing. “We’re willing to make a binding commitment and put our money where our mouth is to make sure that happens,” said McKechnie. Helping to secure dreams of someday boosting this railway to 110 mph, making a high speed corridor between Chicago and Detroit. The dream is safer today than it was yesterday. And it’s helping to secure transportation for customers like Louise who can no longer drive long distances. “There’s many many people like me who need the train.” Leaders say Wednesday’s meeting calmed fears, but they want to get a hard copy of that guarantee. Norfolk Southern will still be involved working with Watco in the joint venture the Michigan Central Railway.

[via WWMT]

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« Detroit News Roundup for Wednesday, August 29, 2007
» Detroit News Roundup for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 31-September 2, 2007