Hamtramck : Features

The refleX line will link city and suburbs with express bus service. Some see it as a big step forward for regional transit, others say the money could be better spent elsewhere. 

Community organizers and entrepreneurs have more choice than ever when it comes to asking the public for funding. But is the landscape getting 'crowded'? Nina Ignaczak digs in to find out what's going on in the world of civic crowdfunding in Detroit.

How much can you really clean up and restore waterways that have been subjected to more than a century of intense industrialization and urbanization? In the case of the Rouge and Detroit rivers, there has been definite progress.

More than 50 years before Dutch elm disease, a treacherous caterpillar pest spurred the city to action on an ambitious plan for its street trees.

Business development in Hamtramck is booming thanks to a mixture of immigrant entrepreneurs, who kept large parts of the city afloat during economic hardships in the 1990s, and newer owners looking to experiment. 

Ideas from the sixth annual summit of the Detroit Food Policy Council, which took place last week.

"Detroit City of Design cannot simply be a moniker or a logo," write Olga Stella and Ellie Schneider of Detroit Creative Corridor Center. "It must be an attitude backed up by collective action." That's why they want to hear from you.

Undeniably, Detroit's local food movement has exploded. But can it one day feed the entire city?

"We know the name of the architect of Grand Central Station, but who swept the floors?"

The second round of Motor City Match grantees, who will receive a combined $500,000 in awards, are located throughout Detroit. They include a gourmet slider restaurant, a neighborhood pharmacy, a bike and coffee shop, among others.

The Regional Transit Authority millage, partnerships between Silicon Valley and Detroit, and sprawl are a few things we'll be keeping a close eye on this year.

There's something for everyone in Detroit's exploding podcast scene. Here are a few of our favorite shows to get you started listening local.

With a simple keyword search, the Detroit Green Map shows users interested in sustainable practices where to buy solar panels, where to recycle, where to volunteer, and more. 

A look back on some of Model D's best stories from the last year.

On Wednesday, Nov. 18, Model D readers gathered at the Outdoor Adventure Center to discuss what we can learn from welcoming public spaces like the Detroit Riverfront and Eastern Market. Here are some takeaways.