The U.S. Census announced results today from its annual survey of the nation’s poorest cities, and Detroit – thankfully – is no longer in the top spot. Slipping down only one spot, to number two, we clearly have a lot of work to do, though.

Cleveland took over as the nation’s poorest city based on 2005 data from the American Community Survey.

Miami, El Paso, Atlanta and Buffalo, NY, rounded out the top six poorest cities in the nation, respectively.

I have been watching the city progress further for a few years now, and I have noticed that Sterling Group is definately one of Detroit’s saviors, at least in my opinion. The work I have seen on the Guardian (upgraded elevators, promenade reopening, doorman, exterior lighting accents, awning) has just been phenomenal.

According to the article in today’s edition of Model D, they are now improving Fort Washington Plaza, better known as 333 W. Fort Street. Upgrades will be elevators, new decor, deli, with more to come it appears.

Praise for Sterling Group and what they are doing for Detroit. Keep it up!

but not far enough into it!!!

i was pleased to hear that the FBI will be moving into a larger facility near downtown… according to an article in the News, the new FBI facility will be privately owned and located right next to the Greyhound bus station… just last week i took a trip using Greyhound and thought to myself that the area near the bus station needed some help… this new facility will basically take up a good chunk of the land in the area, so that should help things a bit…

a few months back there was word that maybe the FBI would try to move into the old MCS… that woulda been really awesome to me and i think it woulda been great for Corktown, but that obviously won’t happen… on top of renovation costs, i’m not so sure the building would’ve been able to meet certain FBI requirements anyway…

Those of you who live in Michigan know that today’s weather was very Seattle. The temperatures were cool and in the 60s and it rained all day. Not really a downpour, but a slow foggy sprinkle with occasional showers. I have compiled a short list of the pros and cons of Seattle in Detroit.
(more…)

I was at the Festival of India this weekend at Hart Plaza. The thing I love most about festivals . . . and about anything for that matter . . . is the food. At two of the festivals I’ve been to this year, I was disappointed because the vendor was from out of state. This was also a little frustrating because I was hoping that my high priced meals, that I barely saved from the disaster of cracking Styrofoam, would go towards local businesses. I suppose it all helps out indirectly.

Need a pimped-out ride for your wedding? Bachelor party? Homecoming? Entertainment Express’ display at Hart Plaza at the Festival of India.

I attended the Maryann Mahaffey memorial service yesterday at the Detroit Opera House. It was a very fitting, memorable, long, and touching service. Everyone was in good spirits and focused on her great attitude for change and the great things about her. Speakers included Gov. Granholm, Mayor Kilpatrick. It featured some great music, with a sing-a-long of “Maryann” with changed words, and amazing singing by the Mosaic Singers.

Overall it was a great service for a great woman. She will be missed.

Friday night’s Cryo Baptista concert at Campus Martius Park

Tonight marks another round of 4th Fridays with Ford, a semi-new signature event at Campus Martius Park that kicked off in June.

Grammy-award winning Cyro Baptista & Beat the Donkey are the headliners for tonight’s free concert, which runs from 7:30 – 10:30.
(more…)

I live in Downtown. It irrational the arbitrary geographic label of “Downtown” can illicit such pride. It has recently come to my attention however that I am also living west of Woodward. Am I really from the Westside? Is this a bad thing? Should I care? This type of identification is creates competition and gets people to act in their best interest. I am hoping that out of pure awe and envy of the Eastside of Woodward, the Westside can build up to continue building all of Detroit so efficiently. I plan on representing and attending the public meeting for the development of the West Riverfront to be held Tuesday, August 29th at Wayne County Community College.