Features

Stephen Roginson of Batch Brewing Company

A fermenting culture: Detroit food businesses harness the science (and flavor) of fermentation

Sarah Rose Sharp Monday, December 05, 2016

Fermentation is an ancient form of preservation that's being popularized for its unique flavor and health properties. Many food businesses in Detroit are likewise finding new uses for this old technique.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

Chase Cantrell, director of Building Community Value

Combating income inequality: 3 local, practical solutions to a national epidemic

Aaron Mondry Monday, December 05, 2016

Metro Detroit has one of the highest rates of income inequality in the nation, which is a huge problem for the region's future prosperity. But there are positive, incremental steps Metro Detroiters are taking in their communities that can make a real difference.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

Detroit's urban farms embrace green infrastructure for sustainable water use

Brian Allnutt Monday, December 05, 2016

Detroit's urban farms are using green infrastructure to reduce their water costs. Along the way, they're helping to improve the city's stormwater system.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

Can Metro Detroit's municipalities cooperate?

Ellen Vial Monday, December 05, 2016

In the wake of a narrow defeat for regional transit, Ellen Vial explores how we might learn from regional cooperation in Pittsburgh and the Twin Cities.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

How Detroit's public parks are using green infrastructure to prevent flooding, save money

Brian Allnutt Monday, December 05, 2016

Detroit's parks are testing grounds for new green infrastructure projects that are changing the way the city manages its stormwater runoff.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

The Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood, located on the far east side, is one of the areas most at risk for flooding and heat stress

How Detroit's climate change activists are using science to plan for a warmer city

Nina Ignaczak Monday, November 07, 2016

As Detroit's climate changes, scientists are working to inform policies that will help the city both mitigate its greenhouse gas emissions and increase its resiliency in the face of a warmer, wetter future.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

Ron Gurdjian has tended bar at Tom's Tavern since "the late 70s"

In praise of the chill bar

Amy Elliott Bragg Monday, November 07, 2016

With the announcement of the closing of St. Cece's, a quintessentially chill bar, Amy Elliott Bragg makes a case for the chill bar and lists her favorites.

Southwest, Corktown, The Villages, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

Two community benefits ordinances in Detroit set for ballot battle

Nina Ignaczak Monday, November 07, 2016

Two bills on this year's ballot could establish a community benefits ordinance in Detroit. Nina Ignaczak delves into what that might mean for the city and the differences between the two.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

Michigan Avenue bustling during Detroit Open Streets

Guest column: Open Streets Detroit proved the value of pedestrian zones

Jessica Meyer Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Open Streets Detroit closed 3.7 miles of road to vehicular traffic and opened it to people. Jessica Meyer recaps what took place during those two exciting days.

Downtown

3 regional transit systems Metro Detroit can learn from

Patrick Dunn Tuesday, October 25, 2016

We checked in with experts in three very different American cities—Cleveland, St. Louis, and Los Angeles—to gather lessons as our own transit system takes shape.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

Karen Guilmette, owner of Natural Red, with three of her children

Detroit's mother entrepreneurs: these women started businesses and ended up with happy families

Melinda Clynes Tuesday, October 25, 2016

In the first of a three-part series looking at the challenges of being both a mother and entrepreneur, Melinda Clynes writes about women seeking financial independence in business.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

Rain gardens to the rescue: How Detroiters are working together to protect water infrastructure

Brian Allnutt Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Detroiters must deal with a new drainage fee to help pay for water infrastructure. Fortunately, an innovative program will help residents reduce those fees, while also soaking up water on their land and helping their neighbors.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

CEO and co-founder of Castle, working at Rebirth House

"Generation Startup" shows it's possible to build and scale a startup in Detroit

Aaron Mondry Thursday, October 13, 2016

The documentary, which follows six people working or owning startups in Detroit, presents both the joys and challenges of running a startup.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

As Ellis Island Tea grows, founder Nailah Ellis-Brown makes hiring local a priority

Patrick Dunn Thursday, October 13, 2016

Since founding the company in 2008, Ellis-Brown been named one of Forbes' "30 Under 30" in the manufacturing industry and her beverages are now available in Meijer and Whole Foods stores across the Midwest.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

Shakiya Robertson with her kids, from left to right, Kye'Ren, Kyi'Lei, Davion, and Ky'Shaun in front of their home

In search of solutions to Detroit's foreclosure crisis

David Sands Thursday, October 13, 2016

In the second installment of our series on Detroit's foreclosure crisis, David Sands looks at the organizations and people developing innovative solutions to keep people in their homes.

Woodbridge, Hamtramck, Southwest, Corktown, Palmer Park / University District, The Villages, Lafayette Park, Grandmont Rosedale, Eastern Market, Midtown, New Center, Downtown

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