Michigan's shrinking local news industry

1 big thing: Michigan's shrinking local news industry

Lions grind out road win in New Orleans

2. Lions grind out road win

Lions head coach Dan Campbell points to someone off camera after the Lions win over the Saints.

3. The Grapevine: You heard it here

Illustration of music note-shaped pepperoni on a Detroit-style pizza.

4. How much we're using EVs

📷 1 historical photo to go

☁️ Today's weather: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40.

Situational awareness: MGM Grand Detroit union workers approved a new contract and ended their 47-day strike after turning down a deal back in November, WXYZ reports.

Today's newsletter is 893 words — a 3.5-minute read. Edited by Everett Cook and copy edited by Cindy Orosco-Wright.

🎄 Joe is getting into the Christmas spirit.

📖 Annalise is vowing to use her library card in person more. As of now she only uses it through Libby.

🦁 Sam finally watched the Barry Sanders documentary over the weekend and thought it was really fun!

🤩 Everett is wondering how to act after Michigan became No. 1 for first time in 26 seasons.

Detroit

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Axios Detroit

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Where to dance in Detroit

1 big thing: Where to dance in Detroit

Boiler Room Detroit from Russell Industrial Center on Oct. 17. Photo: Samuel Robinson/Axios

Michigan Democratic leader goes on hunger strike for Gaza

2. Democratic leader goes on hunger strike for Gaza

Abraham Aiyash talks to reporters on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at Eastern Market after a bill signing event with the governor. Photo: Samuel Robinson/Axios

Illustration of a retro microphone. Some of the slits have been replaced with "The Grapevine."

4. Most-streamed Spotify artists

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Eras tour at Ford Field on June 9 in Detroit

5. Michigan is back in Indy

Michigan takes the field before last year's Big Ten Championship against Purdue at Lucas Oil Stadium. 

There's a 100% chance it's Friday and the first day of December.

🌧️ Today's weather: It's also 100% going to rain. High near 42.

Today's newsletter is 892 words — a 3.5-minute read. Edited by Everett Cook and copy edited by Cindy Orosco-Wright.

🎧 Joe is listening to Fat Pat's "Greatest Hits."

🥾 Annalise is trying to embrace the benefits of winter.

🪑 Sam would lose Squid Games in the first round.

Everett loved this story from Axios Columbus about how former Buckeye coach Woody Hayes publicly campaigned for former Michigan center Gerald Ford during his run for president.

Highway project threatens historic Detroit recording studio

1 big thing: Highway project threatens historic studio

United Sound Systems Recording Studios, 5840 Second Ave.

2. Big Ten women's hoops preview

The Michigan State Spartans huddle before a game against the Evansville Purple Aces. 

Illustration of a vintage car with an Axios logo for a hood ornament.

Generous portions at El Taquito in Mexicantown

4. 🌯 Big burritos at El Taquito Taco Truck

Surf and turf burrito from El Taquito Taco Truck in Mexicantown. Photo: Samuel Robinson/Axios

5. Where in Detroit winners

Anna pointing at a vacant black building with a giant bull's head on top of it. 

🤷 It's Wednesday! Time to analyze your life and fix all your problems before the week's over.

🌤️ Today's weather: Partly sunny, with a high near 39.

⚾ Situational awareness: The Tigers landed the No. 11 overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft at yesterday's draft lottery in Nashville, the Free Press reports.

The Cleveland Guardians won the lottery and got the No. 1 pick.

Today's newsletter is 920 words — a 3.5-minute read. Edited by Everett Cook and copy edited by Cindy Orosco-Wright.

☃️ Joe is itching to throw some well-packed snowballs.

😅 Annalise is wondering how people who don't worry a ton function. Like, things happen and you just move on with your life? That sounds nice.

🎁 Sam is wishing his mom a happy birthday!

👀 Everett is hoping that Sam used his excellent local gift guide to get something for his mom!

DTE rate increase approved as Whitmer promises lower energy costs

1 big thing: DTE rate increase approved as Whitmer promises lower energy costs

DTE Energy headquarters building in downtown Detroit

2. Big Ten hoops in Michigan start tonight

U of M's Dug McDaniel dribbles against the St. John's Red Storm at Madison Square Garden in November. 

3. The Grapevine: Jim's in

Jim Leyland smokes a cig in the Tigers dugout against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park on August 24, 2006

4. Community groups help with absenteeism

Illustration of a cursive alphabet poster with "H is for Help" written on it.

Take your career to the next level

5. Where in Detroit?

🌮 It's Taco Tuesday — here are the best local places to get them today, according to Eater Detroit.

🌧️ Today's weather: A chance of rain or freezing rain before noon, then a chance of rain and snow showers between 10am and 5pm. Cloudy, with a high near 38.

🚀 Want to elevate your support of our newsroom? Follow the lead of fellow readers who have joined our membership program.

Today's newsletter is 883 words — a 3.5-minute read. Edited by Everett Cook and copy edited by Cindy Orosco-Wright.

🔥 Joe is setting his TV to one of YouTube's fireplace channels for the crackling sounds.

😯 Sam is realizing Super Crisp is good because it's run by the same people who own Ima.

😞 Annalise likes Super Crisp but misses the old Ima fried tofu sandwich.

🪵 Everett is scheming up (somewhat safe) ways to get a fireplace into his house. 

1 big thing: The agreements pushing U of M center forward

Cruisin' the Burbs: Ferndale's road diet

2. Cruisin' the Burbs: Ferndale's road diet

A pedestrian crosses Woodward at 9 Mile, an intersection being improved as part of new road construction.

3. Go-to Hanukkah latke recipe 

4. The Grapevine: You heard it here

Illustration of a vinyl record that says "The Grapevine."

New jobs to check out

1 chart to go: Hybrids having a moment

Ah, yes, Thursday. The week continues to dwindle, as does 2023.

⛅️ Today's weather: Partly sunny, with a high near 45. Wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

Today's newsletter is 903 words — a 3.5-minute read. Edited by Everett Cook and copy edited by Cindy Orosco-Wright.

🎅 Joe is getting started on his Christmas shopping.

🤔 Annalise reported a coyote (she thiiinks it was a coyote) to the city through the Improve Detroit app and heard back that the issue was "resolved," but has no idea what that means…

🎮 Sam has one year to pull himself out the mud and buy a PS5 so he can play GTA VI…

👀 Everett is reading this Axios story about a Beijing-linked Chinese help center in Tanzania.

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Whats Next

Axios What's Next

Wayne County had an estimated 61 electric vehicle (EV) miles driven per 1,000 residents on a typical weekday in the second quarter of 2023.

That's compared with Marin County, Calif., which took the crown among large U.S. counties at 1,942 miles, according to data from mobility analytics platform Replica.

Context: Wayne County had 20,100 overall miles driven per 1,000 residents.

The big picture: Michigan is no hotspot. Much of the country's EV use is concentrated in the "four corners" — California, the Pacific Northwest, the Northeast and the Southeast.

The areas with the most EV activity have better-developed charging infrastructure, as well as higher-income households.

Between the lines: Electric car sales are booming but remain short of automakers' hopes as some potential buyers continue to be skeptical about their range, performance and cost.

Meanwhile, used-EV prices are dropping fast.

How Wayne County's electric vehicle use measures up

The areas with the most EV activity have better-developed charging infrastructure.

Wayne County had an estimated 61 electric vehicle (EV) miles driven per 1,000 residents on a typical weekday in the second quarter of 2023.<ul><li>That&#x27;s compared with Marin County, Calif., which took the crown among large U.S. counties at 1,942 miles, according to data from mobility analytics platform<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Replica" data-vars-click-url="https://www.replicahq.com/" data-vars-content-id="1fb32e6b-9ed3-4e2e-b08e-6e6a24c7de48" data-vars-headline="How Wayne County&#x27;s electric vehicle use measures up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.replicahq.com/" target="_blank"> Replica</a>.</li></ul>

News

Transit

"Intimacy," the latest exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, shows a local program's three years spent supporting burgeoning artists with developmental disabilities and mental health differences.

Details: MOCAD and the Progressive Art Studio Collective partnered to exhibit personal and emotional work from 30 artists.

Arts institutions need to give artists with disabilities — who influence art but whose work isn't shown often enough — more space, the exhibition's website says.

If you go: The exhibition runs Saturday through Jan. 14. An opening reception is 5-8pm Dec. 8 at MOCAD's Woodward gallery in Midtown.

A small figure of a red devil with horns and a beard on the left. A black and white maze-like piece of art that appears abstract on the right.

Manual Bart, "Devil," fabric and ink (left), and Stanley Brown, "The Bridge," pen on paper.

Displaying "Intimacy" at Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit

An opening reception is Dec. 8 at MOCAD's Woodward gallery in Midtown.

Ryan McDonagh, "At the Movies," mixed media on paper. Photos: Courtesy of MOCAD

&quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Intimacy" data-vars-click-url="https://mocadetroit.org/event/progressive-studio-art-collective/" data-vars-content-id="317e782a-798d-42f8-adf5-752ddb78dd6a" data-vars-headline="Displaying &quot;Intimacy&quot; at Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mocadetroit.org/event/progressive-studio-art-collective/" target="_blank">Intimacy</a>,&quot; the latest exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, shows a local program&#x27;s three years spent supporting burgeoning artists with developmental disabilities and mental health differences.Details: MOCAD and the Progressive Art Studio Collective partnered to exhibit personal and emotional work from 30 artists.

Culture

Things to Do

Detroit's top-streamed artist on Spotify this year was Taylor Swift, followed by Drake, Morgan Wallen, 21 Savage and Future.

Drake notably sampled a Detroit gospel singer on his new album.

Driving the news: The annual music/personality talking vehicle Spotify Wrapped dropped on Wednesday, using data from 574 million listeners' patterns to name Taylor Swift the most-streamed artist globally.

Spotify users can post their years in review, share personalized playlists and — most importantly — judge their friends' taste.

Detroit's top five songs on Spotify this year were:

And finally, our top five genres were rap, pop, hip-hop, rock and trap.

💭 Sam's thought bubble: SZA and Gunna were the only artists out of this bunch I ever heard being played outside, other than the two days Morgan Wallen fans took over downtown.

Maybe Swifites can explain it to me, but I'm confused why a 4-year-old Taylor Swift song made this!

Detroit's most-streamed Spotify artists

Our top five genres were rap, pop, hip-hop, rock and trap.

Taylor Swift performs during the Eras tour at Ford Field on June 9 in Detroit. Photo: Scott Legato/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Detroit&#x27;s top-streamed artist on Spotify this year was Taylor Swift, followed by Drake, Morgan Wallen, 21 Savage and Future.<ul><li>Drake notably sampled a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Detroit gospel singer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/10/25/drake-samples-gospel-singer-new-album-rudolph-stanfield-jr" data-vars-content-id="82a0d191-f649-4d54-b4ef-6e6d0a5aa088" data-vars-headline="Detroit&#x27;s most-streamed Spotify artists" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/10/25/drake-samples-gospel-singer-new-album-rudolph-stanfield-jr" target="_self">Detroit gospel singer</a> on his new album.</li></ul>

The U of M Center for Innovation site at 2121 Cass Ave. and the property of a future parking structure. Data: University of Michigan; Map: Axios Visuals

While the U of M Center for Innovation (UMCI) is separate from District Detroit's development plans, the two downtown development projects are still intertwined.

Why it matters: The relationships behind UMCI are laid out in agreements among U of M, private developers and the state. They're moving forward next Thursday with the $250 million development's groundbreaking, ending its time crunch to get started by an end-of-2023 deadline.

Making UMCI a reality requires a heavy lift from public and private parties. Through documents Axios requested from the state and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), we now get to lift the hood to explore those relationships.

They include a formal affiliation with District Detroit, a deal for the $100 million state grant and a confidentiality agreement.

Catch up quick: The UMCI project could have a major impact on the city by drawing hundreds of new students downtown. UMCI says it'll also serve residents, though concerns have been expressed that it hasn't adequately addressed community benefits.

The building with graduate classes and non-credit job training in tech fields is planned at 2121 Cass Ave.

It received donations of $100 million from billionaire developer Stephen Ross' foundation and land from the Ilitches' Olympia Development.

Though the project is U of M's, it's still seen as integrated with Ross and the Ilitch family's larger District Detroit development plans, which have yet to break ground despite expecting to start construction in July.

State of play: UMCI was required to formalize its plans in a grant agreement with the state, which they finalized Nov. 8. The project must also make quarterly, publicly available progress reports.

In the deal with the state, U of M needed to demonstrate that its building would collaborate with local partners and vouch for new housing and green space being built nearby — not just rise alone.

Details: Through an affiliation agreement dated Oct. 27 between U of M and the District developers, Ross' real estate company Related and the Ilitches' Olympia Development commit that they will "make all reasonable efforts" to complete their planned District construction nearby.

The agreement outlines the parties' "combined research, education and entrepreneurship" initiative to further economic development in the city.

The District's plans have also long included a tech incubator next to UMCI.

"We are excited that the [UMCI] will be an anchor for further development in The District Detroit, and we look forward to complementing the academic building with our planned developments and green space," Related and Olympia said in a statement.

What they're saying: "We are the first building that will be moving forward in the entire District Detroit development. We don't want to be the last," U of M Regent Sarah Hubbard tells Axios. "We believe it's all going to go forward; we wouldn't be doing this if we didn't."

The project's approval was delayed by the board, but Regent Jordan Acker says intensive due diligence was required for something so "monumental." He's confident UMCI and its work with the District will have an "incredible impact" on the city.

Context: The $1.5 billion District Detroit plans have been met with skepticism by critics after the Ilitch family failed to keep some of the previous promises it made for developing languishing property around Little Caesars Arena, supported by tax breaks.

Plus: Olympia and U of M's regents have been under a mutual five-year confidentiality agreement since early 2022 over certain information exchanged about the UMCI property.

The agreement — standard for such real estate deals — came together alongside a property access agreement that allowed the university to perform due diligence on the formerly Olympia-owned parcel that's being donated for UMCI.

The agreements pushing the U of M Center for Innovation forward

Making UMCI a reality requires a heavy lift from public and private parties.

While the U of M <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Center for Innovation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/10/20/uofm-center-innovation-250million-downtown-education" data-vars-content-id="9550b268-8e58-4374-a8f0-e76eafc9b5c3" data-vars-headline="The agreements pushing the U of M Center for Innovation forward" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/10/20/uofm-center-innovation-250million-downtown-education" target="_self">Center for Innovation</a> (UMCI) is separate from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="District Detroit&#x27;s development plans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/04/26/district-detroit-public-subsidy-brownfield-615million" data-vars-content-id="9550b268-8e58-4374-a8f0-e76eafc9b5c3" data-vars-headline="The agreements pushing the U of M Center for Innovation forward" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/04/26/district-detroit-public-subsidy-brownfield-615million" target="_self">District Detroit&#x27;s development plans</a>, the two downtown development projects are still intertwined.Why it matters: The relationships behind <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="UMCI" data-vars-click-url="https://detroit.umich.edu/umci/" data-vars-content-id="9550b268-8e58-4374-a8f0-e76eafc9b5c3" data-vars-headline="The agreements pushing the U of M Center for Innovation forward" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://detroit.umich.edu/umci/" target="_blank">UMCI</a> are laid out in agreements among U of M, private developers and the state. They&#x27;re moving forward next Thursday with the $250 million development&#x27;s groundbreaking, ending its time crunch to get started by an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="end-of-2023 deadline" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/09/28/um-umich-center-innovation-new-building-when" data-vars-content-id="9550b268-8e58-4374-a8f0-e76eafc9b5c3" data-vars-headline="The agreements pushing the U of M Center for Innovation forward" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/09/28/um-umich-center-innovation-new-building-when" target="_self">end-of-2023 deadline</a>.

Development

Detroit City Council is urging an affordable housing developer to consider adding market-rate apartments to its plan for redeveloping the Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center site.

Why it matters: Low-income options are needed, especially around greater downtown, in the city with a critical affordable housing shortage.

But resident associations in the Brush Park area are concerned that "the plan would create a concentration of poverty as opposed to a preferable mixed-income development" for the "benefit of all residents," per the City Council resolution proposed by President Mary Sheffield that passed without opposition last week.

State of play: The developer, MHT Housing, is seeking state financing to help fund its project.

Plans include three residential buildings designated as "affordable," plus a fourth supporting youth transitioning from foster care. MHT is also renovating Brewster Wheeler to reopen the rec center.

Council's resolution asks MHT to do more community engagement and try to change its state tax credit application to include some market-rate units.

MHT said in the resolution that it'll work with city officials to "explore potential options" for adding units not designated as affordable.

The resolution states council's position and MHT's intentions without binding parties to a specific outcome.

What they're saying: Donavan Davis, a Brush Park CDC board member who wrote a letter to council opposing the project's income limits, emphasized the site is an important gateway to Eastern Market and to Brush Park continuing its "economic and cultural diversity."

"I have been a homeowner in Brush Park since 2012," Davis wrote. "Since then the City has promoted a model of Mixed Income/Mixed Use that has led the neighborhood out of poverty while creating a lasting change accessible to all."

Between the lines: Linda Campbell, director of activist group Detroit People's Platform, tells Axios all Detroiters "deserve to live in vibrant and vital, health-sustaining communities" created across neighborhoods.

She says MHT's planned income limits ranging from 30%-80% of our region's median income sounds like mixed income, which is "what we want" — a neighborhood offering amenities across class and generation.

Of note: Last week, City Council also approved amending an agreement to transfer the site and its responsibilities from a past developer — whose Brewster Wheeler project never materialized — to MHT.

MHT didn't respond to our request for comment.

Detroit City Council weighs in on Brewster Wheeler affordable housing debate

A resolution urges an affordable housing developer to consider adding market-rate apartments.

Renderings of MHT Housing's plans for the Brewster Wheeler site. Courtesy: MHT Housing via a public presentation

Detroit City Council is urging an affordable housing developer to consider adding market-rate apartments to its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plan for redeveloping the Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/11/20/brewster-wheeler-affordable-housing-plans-rec-center" data-vars-content-id="f34f8d88-108e-4513-ab69-8a32022b67f9" data-vars-headline="Detroit City Council weighs in on Brewster Wheeler affordable housing debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/11/20/brewster-wheeler-affordable-housing-plans-rec-center" target="_self">plan for redeveloping the Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center</a> site.Why it matters: Low-income options are needed, especially around greater downtown, in the city with a critical affordable housing shortage.

Annalise Frank

Stories

The agreements pushing the U of M Center for Innovation forward

How Wayne County's electric vehicle use measures up

Detroit's most-streamed Spotify artists

Detroit City Council weighs in on Brewster Wheeler affordable housing debate

Displaying "Intimacy" at Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit

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🗞️ Our news deserts

🕺🏽 Dancing in Detroit