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Axios Detroit
StockX president Greg Schwartz's best day ever
When StockX president and COO Greg Schwartz isn't overseeing daily operations at one of the world's largest sneaker websites, he's carving out time for his family and hobbies.The intrigue: Axios caught up with Schwartz, a Metro Detroit native and U of M grad who lives in Birmingham, inside StockX's downtown pop-up during the NFL Draft.Sneakerheads from across the country stopped inside the Detroit-based company's storefront on Woodward â 49ers defensive end Chase Young even made an appearance.Zoom in: The sneaker executive wore Travis Scott Jordan 1 lows, which he says are his favorite shoes right now."I also love Air Force...
Detroit shelter ramps up dog adoption efforts ahead of big move
The Detroit Animal Care and Control (DACC) shelter is ramping up a dog adoption campaign as it starts its move to a bigger facility.The big picture: The new building is expected to help alleviate challenges, like lack of space, at the current facility.Intakes at shelters nationwide reached new heights last year, including at DACC, which was over capacity and seeing higher euthanasia rates, Axios Detroit reported in August.As of last July, DACC had 171 dogs, over its approximately 84-dog capacity. As of last week, it had 104 and a goal of adopting out 80.State of play: DACC is always looking...
Lawsuit challenges Flint water prosecution
Rich Baird, who was prosecuted for his role in the Flint water crisis, is trying to clear his name through a new lawsuit against his former prosecutors.The big picture: Baird's counterattack highlights the state's failures to hold public officials accountable for the contamination of Flint's drinking water.The 10th anniversary of the city's ill-fated switch to the Flint River as its drinking water source was last month.Flashback: Prosecutors had accused Baird â who helped lead the state's Flint response â in 2021 of perjury, threatening or intimidating scientists who studied lead pipe corrosion, and other charges.But charges against former Gov. Rick...
Things to do this Mother's Day weekend in Metro Detroit
Make sure to celebrate the mother figures in your life this weekend.đˇ Volunteer with nonprofit Cadillac Urban Gardens for its 13th annual planting day.Saturday, 10am-2pm.đ˛ Snag a reservation for a Mother's Day meal through OpenTable or Resy.As of Thursday morning, there were still spots at Cadieux Cafe on the east side and Bar Pigalle in Brush Park on Resy.đĒģ Check out Royal Oak in Bloom in the city's downtown for a colorful annual flower, plant and landscaping sale.Sunday, 7am-2pm.đĨ Take someone special out for a Mother's Day brunch and movie at Emagine's Royal Oak theater.The buffet brunch is 11am-1pm, with...
How the NAR settlement impacts Detroit real estate
The National Association of Realtors recently agreed to settle a big lawsuit that questions how real estate agents are paid â and who foots the bill.Between the lines: The proposed settlement could shake up the traditional 6% commission structure, which is usually split 50-50 between buyer and seller agents, Crain's reports.The big picture: If approved, come summer, agents won't be able to make offers of compensation in the Multiple Listing Service, the database where real estate agents post homes for sale.Why it matters: The seemingly small change, which a court preliminarily approved last week, is causing major confusion.How it works:...
WeWork staying put in Detroit amid restructuring
WeWork's leases at two Detroit offices will remain intact as the company struck a deal last month to exit bankruptcy.Why it matters: The coworking space operator filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November, leaving its leases in Detroit and elsewhere in limbo.Driving the news: WeWork will remain open at 19 Clifford St. and 1001 Woodward Ave., the company announced.Existing lease agreements with Bedrock will be maintained. WeWork's footprint in other markets could be shrinking as part of its restructuring.Flashback: WeWork closed a third Detroit location in the TechTown area at 6001 Cass Ave. in 2022.Between the lines: WeWork reached a $450 million restructuring deal to exit bankruptcy by the end of May.Company co-founder and former CEO Adam Neumann is not involved, despite having wanted to buy back his former company.Yardi Systems, a property management software provider and WeWork service partner, would become the company's new majority owner with around a 60% stake.
"No Mow May" isn't about just one month
The No Mow May trend has branched out into a conversation much larger than whether to pause mowing your lawn for a month.Why it matters: The environmental movement cropped up because constant grass cutting diminishes pollen available to bees and other pollinating insects. The start of growing season is a critical time for hungry bees.Some have turned instead to Less Mow May or Low Mow May â or doing away with grass lawns all together.Zoom in: Ann Arbor, for example, has encouraged keeping grass 6-12 inches high, MLive reported. The city of Madison, Wisconsin, suggests mowing no more than twice...
Detroit's downtown foot traffic is increasing
Data: University of Toronto; Note: Downtown defined as the central location with the highest concentration of employment in each metro area; Chart: Alice Feng/AxiosDetroit's downtown saw a bump in visitor activity between March 2023 and February 2024, per new University of Toronto data.Why it matters: It's a sign of improvement for downtown's sluggish post-pandemic recovery.The big picture: Detroit's 20% increase was 12th largest among more than 50 U.S. cities studied.About a dozen cities saw decreases, led by San Francisco's 22% drop.How it works: The researchers used anonymized mobile device location data to estimate visitor activity in metro downtowns defined as...
City seeks financing proof for Perfecting Church's cathedral project
The city wants proof that Perfecting Church has money to complete its cathedral project at Woodward and 7 Mile that stalled after starting nearly 20 years ago.The big picture: To help revive commercial corridors like Woodward and Grand River, the city began cracking down on Perfecting Church and other well-known vacant properties last year with a wave of lawsuits intended to force the properties' redevelopment or demolition.Perfecting reached a deal with the city to restart construction on the $50 million church, but timelines within the agreement have been missed.What they're saying: "I'm trying to work with these guys. It's been...
Detroit's QLine ridership breaks records during NFL Draft
QLine ridership shattered records during the NFL Draft, solidifying the streetcar service's importance to the city's transit infrastructure during major events.The big picture: The 3.3-mile QLine's practicality and cost to the public have been questioned. But the service was critical during the draft, transporting about 9% of the event's unprecedented crowd of 775,000 people.Full service along Woodward Avenue â the route was cut by a third for the draft â resumed Thursday.By the numbers: Ridership during the draft totaled 68,377 for a daily average of 22,792.On a typical day, about 3,300 people ride."We never approached close to 10k riders in...
Environmental advocates push for "cumulative impact" rules
Prominent names in environmental justice have formed a group to push for statewide change addressing how pollutants affect residents cumulatively.The big picture: Joined by Wayne County health director Abdul El-Sayed, advocates launched the Clear the Air Coalition at a press conference Thursday.They want to get legislation enacted attempting to ensure no communities are exposed to pollutants that harm their health at a higher rate than other communities.What they're saying: Air pollutants are generally measured one by one. But when we breathe them in, all of them hit us at once â yet public policy doesn't reflect that potential "cumulative impact,"...
Real data backs Plymouth-made presidential campaign game
A video game created in Wayne County has had some success predicting outcomes of U.S. presidential elections, including seeing former President Trump as the winner in 2016, its makers say.The big picture: On Thursday, Stardock Entertainment, a 30-year-old game developer based in Plymouth, launches the 2024 election edition of The Political Machine.The company is known for strategy games, including Sins of a Solar Empire.How it works: Players choose a candidate like President Biden, Trump, a third-party candidate or create their own, and vie for the presidency while building a campaign, fundraising, visiting swing states and smearing their opponent, whose actions...
Things to do in Detroit: Cinco de Mayo weekend
This weekend is packed with horse racing, Star Wars parties and Cinco de Mayo.đ The Kentucky Derby on Saturday is known as the most exciting two minutes in sports, but you can celebrate before and after the race at 6:57pm.Get gussied up for gourmet food stations, an open bar and live music at the 2024 Detroit Kentucky Derby Day Party from 4-10pm on the grounds of Marygrove Conservancy. Tickets: $70 general admission, $140 VIP.The Eastern Market Social Guild's Kentucky Derby event starts at 2pm at participating establishments in the area.đ Embrace your inner Jedi at events celebrating May the Fourth,...
Try this humongous Reuben
đ Hey, Joe here with a massive Reuben sandwich for you to try.Dig in: Lou's Deli on McNichols topped Mr.ChimeTime's ranking of Detroit's corned beef sandwiches â partly because Lou's version doesn't skimp on the sauerkraut.As a documented corned beef connoisseur, I had to try it.The bottom line: This triple-decker Reuben ($14.25) is a winner. The sauerkraut is layered throughout the sandwich and the beef, grilled rye and Swiss cheese were all on point.If you go: 8224 W. McNichols Road, with locations on 7 Mile and 9 Mile in Southfield.Hours vary; generally open from 10am-1am or later Monday-Friday and noon-1am on Sunday.
Michigan C-section rate higher than national average
Data: CDC; Chart: Axios VisualsThe rate of cesarean births in Michigan is higher than the national average, according to new data.Why it matters: The rates are increasing and well above the 10%-15% rate that the WHO considers "ideal."By the numbers: In Michigan, the 2023 C-section rate was 33.3%, according to provisional CDC data. That's nearly 33,000 births out of a total of around 99,000.It's up slightly from 33.1% in 2022.Zoom out: The national C-section delivery rate increased in 2023 to 32.4%, up from 32.1% in 2022, according to provisional CDC numbers.That's the highest rate since 2013, and the fourth annual...
Detroit names first poet laureate in 20 years
Internationally recognized poet and activist jessica Care moore was named Detroit's poet laureate Tuesday, the first such honor given in more than 20 years.The big picture: The title is a full-circle moment for moore, 52, a Detroit native and Cody High School graduate who grew up reading Nikki Giovanni, Larry Neal and others at the library off Joy Road.What they're saying: "Once that light was turned on, it could only become brighter," says moore, whose first and last names are lowercased as an homage to the late author bell hooks."I only hope with this new position, I'll be able to...
Tours and concerts to headline Michigan Central depot's reopening
A multiday celebration to welcome the public back inside Michigan Central Station is in the works for next month's reopening of the historic depot.Driving the news: Officials from the depot shared plans during a City Council meeting Tuesday in order to obtain permits for events, including a free concert for as many as 15,000 attendees.Michigan Central CEO Joshua Sirefman told council he thinks more than 60,000 will tour the building after opening to the media and a private event on June 6, the Detroit News reports.Catch up quick: After a six-year restoration of the abandoned train station, the public will...
Detroit residents' biggest complaints to oversight office
Data: Detroit Ombudsman's Office; Chart: Axios VisualsOmbudsman Bruce Simpson, who leads the city's independent Ombudsman's Office, received 4,020 complaints from residents last year.Why it matters: The oversight office acts as a mediator between the city and residents, addressing their concerns and proposing policy changes.Zoom in: From February 2023 to February 2024, the department residents had the most concerns about was the Building, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED), per the ombudsman's recent report.BSEED's share of complaints has been on the rise, from 1,583 (40% of the total) in 2020-2021 to 1,996 (50%) this recent cycle.Between the lines: Common categories of complaints included illegal dumping, high grass, dangerous buildings, demolitions, abandoned vehicles and sidewalk repair.What they're saying: Based on complaints, Simpson proposed in his annual report to increase standards for lead inspections and improve the demolition deferral process so salvageable properties don't get torn down.Complaints can always be submitted through an online form. Residents can also call the Ombudsman's Office at (313) 224-6000.
Key insights from Detroit leaders on the NFL Draft's influence
City officials believe the reputational impact of the NFL Draft, which broke all-time attendance records, will benefit the city for years to come.Why it matters: Local government and business leaders who organized the draft said at a press conference Monday that they are confident the draft has reset the city's formerly negative reputation as it works to redefine itself.What they're saying: "I feel like we are a 10-year, overnight success," Mayor Mike Duggan said Monday, alluding to when the city went through bankruptcy and he became mayor."The credit really belongs to the people who live in this city. Every single...
Campus encampments call for divestment from Israel at MSU and UM
Data: Axios research; Note: Universities with joint encampments reported separately; Locations approximated for clarity; Map: Kavya Beheraj, Tory Lysik and Will Chase/Axios. Correction: The map was updated to show Arizona State University is in Tempe, not Tucson.Students at Michigan State and the University of Michigan have joined antiwar protests across the country in setting up on-campus encampments to decry the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.Driving the news: Pro-Palestinian student protestors set up tent encampments in Ann Arbor and East Lansing this month to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and that their universities divest from Israel or companies that support the country.The...
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