The Next Generation Of Affordable Housing
By: Constance Crump,
10/1/2009
Forget traditional notions of affordable housing. If Metro Detroit wants to end the brain drain, attract new economy workers and revitalize its communities it needs to pay better attention to the housing needs of 20 and 30somethings. What does that mean? Affordable rentals, downtown condos and hip, walkable neighborhoods. (
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Going Green On The Cheap: Low Impact Development
By: Amy Kuras,
9/24/2009
Sometimes it's the little things that count. What might seem like flower gardens or stretches of grass can be valiant guardians of the health of the region's waterways. Low impact development uses native plants to minimize the impact of water overflow into lakes and streams -- and looks pretty doing it. (
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Preservation vs Demolition
By: Jon Zemke,
3/26/2009
Dilapidated eyesore or historic keystone to downtown redevelopment? It's an argument that's repeated over and over in Metro Detroit communities. Lincoln Park's Mellus Newspapers building is only the latest flashpoint. Jon Zemke gives you the lay of the land and gets some insight from downtowns that have fought this fight and won. (
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Blog/Megan Owens
Ironically, early auto workers once rode the streetcar to work in factories. This new model year, facing a crumbled rail system and plant closings, the communities of greater Detroit are assembling a regional transit authority. Megan Owens, the executive director of Transportation Riders United, outlines a timeline of transit and what's needed to make the jump from jalopy to streamlined bus service and regional light rail. (
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