Detroit Good News Archives

Monroe Blocks Breaks Ground

2018/12/14 By Jared Hoffman Leave a Comment

Dan Gilbert’s long-awaited Monroe Blocks project in downtown Detroit broke ground on Thursday. The project spans a two-block area between Cadillac Square, Monroe Street, Randolph Street, and Bates Street and will include a 35-story office building, around 500 residential units, and 117,000 square feet of retail space. Currently, one block contains a parking lot and the Cadillac Tower, while the other block is comprised of a large vacant lot, the old National Theatre, a temporary skatepark created in part by Tony Hawk, and another building.

Rendering of the 35-story office building on Block A of the Monroe Blocks project. Courtesy of Bedrock Detroit.

Bedrock Detroit is investing over $800 million into Monroe Blocks and estimates that the project will support over a thousand construction-related jobs. Construction will be separated into two phases, each centered around a public space totalling more than an acre of open space combined. Construction is expected to be complete in 2022, the same year the Hudson’s site construction is supposed to be finished.

Phase 1

The first phase of construction, known as Block A, broke ground today. Block A is the block adjacent to Campus Martius and will contain the 35-story office tower as well as “a 17-story, 148-unit residential building and a total of 66,000 square feet of retail space.” The office building will be Detroit’s first WELL Certified building, based on how it impacts “human health and wellbeing, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind.”

Phase 2

The second phase, or Block B, will contain more residential buildings, but final designs are still in the works. The facade of the National Theatre will be preserved and made into a pedestrian archway on Farmer Street.

Rendering of Monroe Blocks courtyard. Courtesy of Bedrock Detroit.

Bedrock’s press release also mentions the other three large projects that Gilbert’s real estate arm is currently working on. The projects, totalling $2.1 billion in investment, include the Hudson’s site, which will be Michigan’s tallest building, the restoration of the historic Book Building and Tower, and the 310,000 square-foot addition to One Campus Martius.

Courtesy of Bedrock Detroit.

Remove Downtown Detroit Freeways?

2018/12/13 By Jared Hoffman 1 Comment

Freeways connect communities and are responsible for historic urban expansion and economic growth. They make it possible for an executive to work downtown and make it back to their suburb fifty miles away in time for dinner. They also split and destroyed neighborhoods and contributed to white flight and sprawling suburbs.These days, urban freeways might be more of a burden than a help. Cities across the world and country are removing inner-city freeways due to high maintenance costs and new developments in urban planning.

Black lines indicate freeways that will remain under this proposition. Blue lines indicate the 7 minute drive on Michigan Ave. from I-96 to Downtown and the 9 minute drive on Woodward Ave. from I-94.

Another crazy idea. It won’t be easy, and it won’t be cheap, but for a moment let’s consider removing all Detroit freeways surrounding Downtown and Midtown east of I-96 and south of I-94. The city is already in the works to remove I-375, so why not more? Downtown, Corktown, and Midtown are arguably the hottest neighborhoods in a quickly rebounding city, but they’re completely cut off by freeways. If you’ve ever walked from Corktown to Downtown on Michigan Avenue, you know what I’m talking about.

Blocks and blocks of packed bars and trendy restaurants give way to concrete and semi-truck exhaust as you walk over The Lodge freeway. Corktown and Downtown both taper off as they reach The Lodge, but imagine how three new blocks of Michigan Avenue in place of the freeway could transform both neighborhoods.

Imagine how much stronger the border between Downtown and Midtown could be with the removal of I-75 east of I-96. Removing the inner ring freeways would also reconnect Corktown and North Corktown and Woodbridge and Midtown.

Decreased Congestion

Some car-lovers are already bemoaning the loss of their speedy getaway to the suburbs after Red Wings and Tigers games, but do some research on Induced Demand and Reduced Demand and how they relate to freeways, and you might be surprised to learn that removing these freeways actually eases congestion and decreases drive time. And in any case, driving to Campus Martius from I-96 only takes seven minutes on Michigan Avenue, and it only takes 9 minutes to drive to Campus Martius from I-94 on Woodward Avenue. Seattle, Portland, and Milwaukee are just a few of the American cities that have removed freeways in favor of more unified city centers. Let’s at least consider starting the conversation in Detroit.

Mixed-Use Development Coming to Midtown Lot

2018/11/27 By Jared Hoffman Leave a Comment

The lot slated for development at 3750 Woodward Avenue in Midtown Detroit.

A 3.78-acre lot just north of the Whole Foods in Midtown Detroit reportedly sold in September to a limited-liability company registered to Mohammad Qaz, CEO of Southfield-based Ciena Healthcare Management Inc. Crain’s Detroit reported this morning that the site sold for $15 million, or $3.97 million per acre. Ciena Healthcare operates and maintains 45 nursing facilities and rehab centers in Michigan, but it appears that the Midtown purchase will not necessarily contain a healthcare element.

During a Crain’s phone call with Qaz, the CEO stated that the development will “be one of the most exciting projects to take place in Detroit. It’s going to be a mixed-use development, upscale.” Not much more is known about the plans for the lot at 3750 Woodward Avenue, but more information is expected in the next few months along with a spring groundbreaking.

Grand Rapid’s Rockford Construction will be leading the development, and the team has already started preliminary work on the Midtown site. Shane Napper, the president of Rockford Construction, told Crain’s that the development will “meet several market needs in the community.”

The area surrounding the lot speaks to the city of Detroit’s more recent revival, especially in the Midtown district. The Plaza, formerly known as the Hammer and Nail Building, has undergone a $24 million redevelopment and now houses 72 apartments and 2,000 square feet of retail just north of the lot. Big developments are still in the works a block south, including the West Elm Hotel, the South of Mack Avenue (SOMA) project, and the Woodward @ Midtown mixed-use project.

Detroit’s 2018 Thanksgiving Day Parade

2018/11/15 By Jared Hoffman Leave a Comment

Grand Marshall Big Sean at last year’s parade. Courtesy of Click on Detroit.

The 2018 edition of America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van is hitting Woodward Avenue on Thanksgiving Day. Huge balloons, colorful floats, and marching bands will make up the meat of the parade, with special guests and celebrities making appearances throughout the celebration as well. This year will be the 92nd year of the parade, and CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz will be the Grand Marshall.

Last year, Detroit’s Thanksgiving Parade was voted the best Thanksgiving parade in the nation in a USA Today poll and the second best overall holiday parade in the country. The Grand Marshall in the 2017 parade was rapper Big Sean. The Detroit parade is also in the running for this year’s USA Today parade poll.

History

America’s Thanksgiving Parade has a long and storied history. Beginning in 1924, the parade is tied for second oldest Thanksgiving parade in the country along with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The oldest Thanksgiving parade in the nation began four years earlier in Philadelphia and is now known as the 6abc Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Parade route. Courtesy of The Parade Company Detroit.

Route and Coverage

The procession kicks off from Midtown at 8:45 am. If you’re brave enough to endure the cold, the parade route starts at the intersection of Kirby and Woodward Avenue, just north of Warren Avenue by Wayne State of University. The route heads south through Midtown and Downtown before finally ending at Congress and Woodward Avenue. The TV zone is located just north of Campus Martius.

Not willing to step outside in freezing temperatures? The parade will air on WDIV-TV (Channel 4) in Metro Detroit from 10 am to noon and will also be broadcast in more than 190 cities across the US. Radio coverage begins at 6 am on News/Talk 760 WJR with A Prelude to The Parade hosted by Paul W. Smith and wraps up at 9:30 am. Live coverage of the parade runs from 1 am to noon on WOMC – 104.3.

Best Bars in Detroit – Part 4 – Wine

2018/11/08 By Jared Hoffman 2 Comments

Detroit boasts one of Esquire’s “Best Bars in America 2018,” a couple dozen breweries and beer houses, barcades, distilleries, underground speakeasies, tiki bars, and alley bars. What does this mean for Detroiters and visitors? No shortage of drinking establishments to visit after a hard day of work, before a show, or during a weekend of sports. Check out our favorite wine bars in the Motor City below, and read the other parts of our series on the best cocktail, beer, and entertainment spots in the city.

The Royce Detroit. Courtesy of WineCountry Media.

Motor City Wine Corktown 1949 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216

Located right down the street from Slows Bar BQ, Motor City Wine has a sizeable wine menu in addition to charcuterie boards. It also doubles as a wine shop, carrying a massive selection of bottles which can be purchased and even drank on site. Not a wine connoisseur but forced to tag along with a friend or spouse? Don’t fear! A few beers and cocktails are also available for consumption.

Vertical Wine Bar Downtown 1538 Centre St, Detroit, MI 48226

Located in the Historic Ashley Building, Vertical Wine Bar offers dozens of sparking, red, and white wines by the glass, as well as a bevy of tasting flights. An extensive menu includes cocktails, beer, small plates, fries, foie gras, and crème brûlèe, and while some menu items are a bit pricey, the happy hour is not to be missed.

The Royce Detroit Downtown 76 W Adams Ave, Detroit, MI 48226

This Spanish style wine bar has dozens of different brands for you to try by the glass. In addition to the substantially large selection, the bar also serves charcuterie and cheese to help you fully appreciate the full bourgeois experience. The Royce also offers classic cocktails like negronis, NY Sours, and Martiniques.

Brix Wine & Charcuterie Boutique East Jefferson 7968 Kercheval Ave, Detroit, MI 48214

This chic bar in a former bank offers exactly as its name suggests: wine and charcuterie boards. The East Jefferson location is actually in the process of moving to New Center, but the management team expects to release more news in early January.

Don’t forget to check out Parts 1, 2, and 3 of this series, highlighting our favorite cocktail, beer, and entertainment bars in the city of Detroit.

Best Bars in Detroit – Part 3 – Entertainment

2018/10/29 By Jared Hoffman 2 Comments

Feather bowling in progress at Cadieux Cafe. Courtesy of ESPN.

Detroit boasts one of Esquire’s “Best Bars in America 2018,” a couple dozen breweries and beer houses, barcades, distilleries, underground speakeasies, tiki bars, and alley bars. What does this mean for Detroiters and visitors? There’s no shortage of drinking establishments to visit after a hard day of work, before a show, or during a weekend of sports. Check out our favorite bars for a night of entertainment in Detroit below, and read Part 1 and Part 2 of our series on the best cocktail and beer spots in the city.

Cadieux Cafe East Side 4300 Cadieux Rd, Detroit, MI 48224

This East English Village institution has been serving the city’s Belgian population for over a century. A bastion of feather bowling in the United States and a speakeasy during the prohibition, Cadieux Cafe is still pumping out mussels, fries with mayo, European beers, and live music until 2am most nights. If that’s not appealing enough, comedian and actor Keegan-Michael Key, of “Key & Peele,” counts it as one of his favorite spots in the city.

Punch Bowl Social Detroit Downtown 1331 Broadway St, Detroit, MI 48226

Private karaoke rooms, bowling alleys, arcade games, billiards, ping pong, foosball, board games, and giant jenga are just a few of the entertainment options at your disposal at Punch Bowl Social. A full food menu compliments a diverse drink sheet, including alcoholic milkshakes and shareable punch bowls.

POP + Offworld Arcade Downtown 128 Cadillac Square, Detroit, MI 48226

A former pop-up arcade, Offworld Arcade now has a permanent location on the second floor of the Checker Bar. Pizza, full service bar, and more than 30 quarter-operated arcade games.

Foosball table at Fluxx Deluxx. Courtesy of Arrested Motion.

Ready Player One Bricktown 407 E Fort St, Detroit, MI 48226

Another barcade downtown, Ready Player One offers more than 40 arcade games running on tokens distributed with each drink and food item purchased. Rock ‘n’ Rye chicken wings, meatloaf sliders, and video game inspired cocktails.

Deluxx Fluxx Downtown 1274 Library St, Detroit, MI 48226

Blacklights illuminate hundreds of colorful posters plastering the walls of the underground bar featuring custom arcade games and 20 cocktails on tap. Entertainment options at Deluxx Fluxx include DJs, burlesque performances, karaoke, live bands, and bingo.

Baker’s Keyboard Lounge Green Acres 20510 Livernois Ave, Detroit, MI 48221

Baker’s began in 1933 as a restaurant, but became known throughout the decades as one of the hippest jazz bars in the country. Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Woody Herman, and Nat King Cole have all graced the stage at some point, and live performances and great drinks are still in supply today.

Check back for Part 4 about the best wine bars in the city, and don’t forget to read Part 1 and Part 2 about cocktail and beer locales in the city.

Best Bars in Detroit – Part 2 – Beer

2018/10/29 By Jared Hoffman 4 Comments

Some of the taps at Midtown’s HopCat. Courtesy of Edward Cardenas.

Detroit boasts one of Esquire’s “Best Bars in America 2018,” a couple dozen breweries and beer houses, barcades, distilleries, underground speakeasies, tiki bars, and alley bars. What does this mean for Detroiters and visitors? There’s no shortage of drinking establishments to visit after a hard day of work, before a show, or during a weekend of sports. Check out our favorite bars for beer lovers in Detroit below, and read Part 1 of our series on the best cocktail spots in the city.

Ye Olde Tap Room Jefferson-Mack 14915 Charlevoix St, Detroit, MI 48215

Ye Olde Tap Room, on the city’s east side, was founded in 1915 just before the Prohibition Era. It’s situation at the end of a commuter trolly line meant the basement bar thrived as a speakeasy during the thirteen years of prohibition. Previously owned by two former Detroit Tigers players, the Mack family purchased the establishment in 1966, and the bar now serves over 250 beers from around the globe.

8 Degrees Plato Detroit Chinatown 3409 Cass Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

“8° Plato Detroit is located at 3409 Cass Avenue Detroit, Michigan. An amazing selection of bottled and canned beer, cider and meads are available, but we also have a bar in the back to provide draft beer for growlers to go. Yep. There are ‘taps’ in the Detroit store. You can actually have a beer while you are shopping for your beer. Or just hang out. Looking for more Detroit history? Ask Brigid ~ her family arrived with Cadillac in 1701.”

HopCat Midtown 4265 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

HopCat has over 130 beers from around the world on tap. “We’re listed among Top 50 bars in the US by Draft Magazine. Beer Advocate Magazine has ranked us as the #3 Beer Bar in the world, CraftBeer.com has rated us the #2 beer bar in the U.S., and from 2012-2016 RateBeer.com has ranked HopCat Grand Rapids as the #1 Brewpub in the United States. We’re humbled by how craft beer lovers all over the world have responded to our philosophy.”

$A fraction of the beers on tap at Jacoby's in Downtown's Bricktown neighborhood. Courtesy of Jacoby's.$

A fraction of the beers on tap at Jacoby’s in Downtown’s Bricktown neighborhood. Courtesy of Jacoby’s.

Jacoby’s German Biergarten Bricktown 624 Brush St, Detroit, MI 48226

Jacobys’ German Biergarten has a full menu of German and American food, but the establishment really shines in its European beer offerings. The menu boasts about two dozen German varieties, a dozen Belgian beers, and a smattering of English, Scottish, and Canadian brews as well as your American favorites.

Grand Trunk Pub Downtown 612 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226

The former ticket station for the Grand Trunk Railroad now contains a bar serving up 24 Michigan brews on tap, over 170 rotating bottles, and their famous Reuben sandwich.

Check back for Part 3 of this series, where we discuss the hottest bars in the city for games and entertainment.

Best Bars in Detroit – Part 1 – Cocktails

2018/10/26 By Jared Hoffman 4 Comments

Detroit boasts one of Esquire’s “Best Bars in America 2018,” a couple dozen breweries and beer houses, barcades, distilleries, underground speakeasies, tiki bars, and alley bars. What does this mean for Detroiters and visitors? There’s no shortage of drinking establishments to visit after a hard day of work, before a show, or during a weekend of sports. Check out our favorite cocktail spots in the city below.

The Sugar House bartender Scott Poole making a Freddy Kreuger cocktail. Courtesy of Sylvia Rector, Detroit Free Press.

The Sugar House Corktown 2130 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216

“The Sugar House is Detroit’s original craft cocktail bar, opening in the fall of 2011 in the historic Corktown neighborhood. In addition to the foundational 101 classics, the Sugar House features a rotating seasonal menu of original house cocktails and one of the deepest back bars in the city. The extensive spirits list is anchored by the many hand picked single barrel bourbons and American whiskies.”

Standby Detroit Downtown 225 Gratiot Ave, Detroit, MI 48226

“Our primary focus is on the principles of hospitality. We are a bar dedicated to serving our community with thoughtful service, fine food, and good drink. Boasting a cocktail lab equipped with a centrifuge, liquid nitrogen, and all manner of advanced culinary tools, Standby’s bar program produces drinks of both a highly complex, technical nature and beloved approachable classics.”

Mutiny Bar in Southwest Detroit. Courtesy of Eater Detroit.

Mutiny Bar Southwest 4654 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209

Mutiny Bar is a tiki bar on the southwest side close to Clark Park and Taqueria El Rey. Try the Rye Tai with Lot 40 Rye, Pierre Ferrand Curacao, orange, and lime or Walk The Plank with poblano infused Jim Beam Bourbon, raspberry, and grapefruit soda. Going out with a group? Check out the Scorpion Bowl with Sailor Jerry Rum, Hennessy VS Cognac, Luxardo Amaretto, and orange.

The Keep Downtown 140 Cadillac Square, Detroit, MI 48226

Hidden downstairs in a barely-marked building downtown, The Keep serves up around 30 different kinds of cocktails, as well as more than two dozen beers. A little confusing to find the entrance at times, look for the door on Congress Street.

The Skip bar in Downtown Detroit. Courtesy of Eater Detroit.

The Skip Downtown The Belt, Detroit, MI 48226

“A lively watering hole in the heart of Downtown Detroit, The Skip is the place to celebrate life’s simple pleasures and let the good times roll. Our team of drinking enthusiasts take pride in serving you our signature frozen cocktails, innovative drinks or just a cold can of beer. Whatever your pleasure, we’re here to indulge it.”

Grey Ghost Midtown 47 Watson St, Detroit, MI 48201

“Nestled between the historic Brush Park and Midtown neighborhoods, Grey Ghost Detroit was born of dedicated craftsmen, committed to the art of butchery, refinement of crafting cocktails and unparalleled hospitality.” Try the Not Yo Libre with tequila, chipotle, cola, lime, and angostura or the High Society with London Dry Gin, Cocchi Rosa, creme de mure, and absinthe.

Check back for Part 2 of this series, where we look at the best bars in Detroit for beer lovers.

Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation Grants $100 million to Detroit Parks

2018/10/25 By Jared Hoffman Leave a Comment

Rendering of the West Riverfront Park redesign. Courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.

The late Ralph C. Wilson, former businessman, Buffalo Bills owner, and longtime Detroit resident, would have celebrated his 100th birthday last week. Instead, his philanthropic foundation is donating $100 million to parks and trails in Detroit. Half of this sum will go to the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s planned redesign of the West Riverfront Park just west of Downtown. The conservancy will rename the 22-acre park the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park after finishing the project.

Of the $50 million going to the West Riverfront Park, $40 million is earmarked for construction costs, and the remaining $10 million will aid the park’s long-term sustainability. The other half of the $100 million gift will expand and protect recreational trails in the city, such as the planned Joe Louis Greenway, a 26-mile greenway through Dearborn, Highland Park, Hamtramck, and Detroit. The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation has been working together with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy to figure out what the city of Detroit really needs and values on its riverfront.

Rendering of the West Riverfront Park redesign in winter. Courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.

The riverfront park is being designed by New York-based Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, who have released designs and renderings for their vision. Van Valkenburgh said of the design, “It was love at first sight when I saw the Detroit River . . . The big idea is that you can actually put your toes in the water of the river, and that there will be a beach around it that if you don’t want to be in the water you can feel really connected to the water. So that forms a kind of center of the park.”

Other features include a small island, basketball courts, a concert space, waterslides, and a space for ice skating in the winter. The park should be ready to open to the public in four years.

Donation to Buffalo, New York

The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation donated an additional $100 million to the city of Buffalo, New York for parks and recreational trails.

Rendering of a basketball . court in the West Riverfront Park redesign. Courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.

“Halloween in the D”

2018/10/19 By Jared Hoffman Leave a Comment

Halloween in Detroit. Courtesy of the City of Detroit.

Devil’s Night long defined the Halloween season in Detroit, with scores of acts of vandalism and arson taking over the city on October 30th during the 1970s through 1990s. In the mid-1990s, Angels Night was created in order to reduce these destructive acts, and as many as 50,000 Detroit citizen volunteers took to the streets on the night before Halloween to guard the city. Arsons and violent acts have decreased monumentally since then, and this year the city is preparing for a different kind of Halloween.

“Halloween in the D” will stage events around the city for children and families on October 31st. Rouge Park, Chandler Park, and Clark Park will host haunted parks, a harvest festival will fill Spirit Plaza, and “trunk-or-treat” events will be at every fire station and Detroit Police precinct. Each of the seven districts will host one community meal to honor current and attract future community volunteers.

The Detroit News reported that at a Wednesday press conference Mayor Duggan spoke positively of the shift to the “Halloween in the D” events. “We feel we’ve made enough progress that we can make Halloween about the children and we’re really excited about that . . . We got to the point where we said, ‘why do we keep talking about this? And so the people of the city volunteered and curbed the problem and now I think the people will come together and make Halloween special. Ten years from now, you’re going to have children who their only memory of Halloween is dressing up and trick or treating.”

More Info

Volunteers can sign up to help at “Halloween in the D” events on the website, and Detroiters interested in the festivities running from October 26th to the 31st can find the full schedule on the website as well.