Daily Detroit News Byte

In the last few years, it seems as if prices for property in Detroit and Metro Detroit have gone up. It seems like just yesterday there were stories of houses for a dollar; but now, it's gone pretty far in the other direction, with downtown penthouses listing for $3.2 million, and million-dollar condos in historic hotels.  But why? Well, it turns out Detroit is still affordable for buyers around the nation and, at least according to Eric Walstrom of @properties, an influx of people from around the nation moving to Detroit. And that's changing the market in Detroit. So we get into the real estate business side of this conversation on this episode.

On today's show:  00:27 The State of the City address in Detroit was Tuesday night. Let's do a run through of the highlights. 02:26 The bandshell at the Michigan State Fairgrounds will be saved. 03:04 District 7 City Councilmember Gabe Leland was arraigned on a misconduct in office charge. 04:18 40 Hague is accepting residents. The apartment building was designed by Albert Kahn and was a Packard showroom. More on Urbanize: https://urbanize.city/detroit/post/newly-renovated-40-hague-ready-residents-north-end 05:10 The Detroit Bus Company finds a new home on Detroit's west side. 06:15 The city of Livonia is adding social workers to their Police Department. More: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/livonia/2021/03/08/an-incredible-step-forward-livonia-adds-social-workers-police-force/4634468001/ 06:56 Restaurant openings and closings - Lager House and Union Street are opening back up; Peso is gone, Toma is coming. 08:14 What's happening around 313 Day around town - that's this Saturday, March 13.  Support:

Fletcher Sharpe (@saintfdw) is here to talk sports: 00:41 Blake Griffin is heading to New York to play for the Nets 04:06 The Detroit Lions are considering trading back up quarterback Chase Daniel  06:34 U of M Men's Basketball clinches the Number 1 seed for the Big Ten tournament 08:16 Michigan State Big Ten Tournament predictions 10:35 Detroit City FC has added another youth league to its roster Support us on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit  

It's time for a pandemic update with Dr. Paul Thomas of Plum Direct Primary Care. Questions we get into: The recent flap around COVID-19 vaccines and the city of Detroit. We discuss Moderna, Pfizer and J&J. First the city of Detroit wasn't going to take the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and now they are after the mayor walks back comments and publishes an op ed (read here).  Listener questions about taking the vaccine if pregnant (of course, with all of this, talk to your doctor, this is for education purposes only). How to process the new CDC guidelines for vaccinated people. And, Plum Health DPC has a new bi-lingual doctor. Dr. Leslie Rabaut speaks Spanish and English. There are less than 100 primary care doctors serving 650,000+ people in the city of Detroit, and very few speak Spanish.  Plus, a couple things you should know: District 7 Detroit City Councilman Gabe Leland is not running for re-election. And it's a battle of mortgage behemoths at either end of Woodward: United Wholesale Mortgage has iss

On today's show, Jer and Devon run through stories around metro Detroit. Plus, Engineer Randy makes a special appearance. 00:31 - Pandemic update, including a discussion on bars and restaurants reopening to 50%. 06:50 - Cannabis news, including municipalities getting $28,000 per recreational dispensary and a lawsuit that's come up questioning the city of Detroit's "Legacy Detroiter" licensure program. More background to read: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2021/03/03/detroit-recreational-marijuana-shops-licensing-rules-challenged-lawsuit/6898978002/ 12:06 - Ferndale is getting drinking districts along 9 Mile on either side of Woodward. Ferndalian Engineer Randy Walker pops up in to share more details and we discuss drinking districts in general. 19:03 - Hygrade Deli is for sale after nearly a half-century of service. More background: https://detourdetroiter.com/southwest-detroit-institution-hygrade-deli-is-up-for-sale/ 20:34 - What makes for a good Irish bar? It goes way past some

In a previous episode of the podcast, we talked about how metro Detroit's economy is diversifying. But the ways we get around town? We've been stuck in the same mode for a lifetime. And that's almost completely being dependent and investing only in the car. A recent piece in Planetizen talks about how we might, as a region, build a culture of transit. After all, even automakers themselves are embracing ways to get around that aren't single-person owned vehicles. And maybe it's time our policies matched up? Joining me to talk about it is Dave Gifford. He runs Transit Guide Detroit and is an advocate for transit in southeast Michigan. He's the author of this piece: https://www.planetizen.com/features/112361-cultivating-culture-transit  

On today's show, with timestamps: 00:24 Vaccinations expand to Michiganders 50 and older. Pandemic restrictions lift. We run down the gamut from bars and restaurants at now 50% to gyms and venues. Plus, manufacturing workers in Detroit can now get the vaccine. Detroit's public schools are reopening and a snapshot at the region's low positive test rates. 03:37 Detroit's fire department is wrestling with the use of alcohol on the job after a pair of incidents. There's also the beginnings of a new plan from city officials to deal with it. 05:36 Detroit city council has reversed course and approved all the first round of contracts for Proposal N. Even more background if you want to get into it: https://www.crainsdetroit.com/government/detroit-city-council-flips-decision-oks-proposal-n-demolition-contracts-2nd-vote 06:31 Detroit is changing from just being the Motor City to the Mortgage City. As the Detroit three and now the two big mortgage servicers in the region, Rocket Companies and United Wholesale Mortgage

Today's topics with timestamps: 00:38 U.S. Soccer Federation repeals former policy barring players from kneeling during anthem, discussion on Seth Jahn and local impact. 05:46 Detroit City FC has some new faces on both the men's and women's teams. 10:32 Former Detroit Red Wing Tod Bertuzzi arrested for a DUI in Auburn Hills. 13:08 Fletcher has a new piece in Hour Detroit about college basketball. 15:25 Whither Michigan State basketball?  Follow Fletcher Sharpe: http://www.twitter.com/SaintFDW Support us: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

On today's show: Should we pay people to move to Detroit? Detroit native Monica Williams posed the idea in a recent Detroit Free Press op-ed. We discuss it.  Background reading: https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2021/02/18/detroit-housing-incentives-pandemic/4488055001/ Plus: The Detroit City Council says no to about half of the proposed demo contracts before them. And the Robocop statue no longer has a home as the Michigan Science Center isn't doing their grounds improvement project they previously planned. So where should it go? More in depth at the Metro Times here: https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/robocop/Content?oid=26514744  

Show notes: 00:45 The Hate Has No Home Here rally supporting Black Lives Matter happened, in part, outside of Fletcher's front door. We were going to cover this on the show in a different way, but we ended up talking about about what happened in his community plus the bigger picture of a changing Southeast Michigan region as a whole. 10:58 The Detroit Pistons have continued woes as their season struggles. 18:01 Fletcher shouts out fellow UDM alum and a Detroit native, Steve Perry 19:17 The Detroit City FC Women's side is losing a familiar face to an international team Voicemail: 313-789-3211 Fletcher on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/saintfdw Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit  

Our feature conversation is with Karen Dybis talking about the new Portillo's in Sterling Heights. She went to the media preview and spills the details. Show notes w/ timestamps: 00:30 COVID-19 update. A restaurant and bar association in Macomb County sues seeking damages due to the state-ordered pandemic shutdown. Wayne County has a series of vaccination sites.  02:50 Detroit vs. Everybody is collaborating with Gucci for Gucci vs. Everybody. 03:50 The Art Van name goes back to the founding family of the defunct furniture chain. 04:50 Guy Fieri's ghost kitchen restaurant expands in Metro Detroit 05:30 Karen Dybis joins me to preview the new Portillo's in Sterling Heights. From decor to menu, she's got the details. Follow her on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/karendybis Or buy her books: http://www.karendybis.com Support our work: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit  

On your Daily Detroit for Friday, February 19, 2021: 00:37 Michigan's marijuana industry has skyrocketed, with more people employed in the cannabis industry than police; and roughly as many as there are auto mechanics.  03:23 There's new leadership at the QLINE, and it's a familiar face to Daily Detroit listeners. What are the challenges ahead and when will it get back on the rails? 08:01 Fernando Pallazuelo is falling futher behind at the Packard Plant. His plans were sky high from the beginning, but never found enough funding. We discuss this from earlier this week: https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/packard-plant-owner-said-he-would-pay-hundreds-thousands-late-taxes-end-2020-he-hasnt 12:07 Onassis Coney Island in Corktown has closed. What's next? And Corktown changed alot in decade - including becoming less, well, Irish among other things. 14:57 There's a new speakeasy in town called The Shelby 16:44 Restaurant openings have slowed during the pandemic