All Access

All-Access Weekly Digest

Standard

Detroit

blue

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Detroit.

Axios Detroit Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Axios Detroit

Detroit Alerts

Alert

Detroit Members

Membership

New grants are helping a local nonprofit get closer to opening a 20-horse equestrian center on an unused old school site.

Why it matters: Detroit is grappling with how to best use space left over from widespread demolitions.

David Silver, a former local public school teacher who started Detroit Horse Power (DHP) in 2015, calls the project an "out-of-the-box reuse" of vacant land.

The organization teaches perseverance, empathy, "responsible risk-taking" and other "critical character skills" through riding and caring for horses, Silver tells Axios.

How it works: The nonprofit averages 100 11- to 18-year-old students per summer for its free weeklong camps.

DHP also hosts an October-May after-school program teaching social-emotional skills sans horses, plus weekend trips to barns.

Between the lines: Students learn to ride and lead horses, but also about their nutrition, related careers and how their emotions and actions affect the animals.

"When students are riding, we talk a lot about your posture, your attitude, self-belief to control a 1,200-pound animal's speed and direction," Silver says.

DHP student Cheriah Johnson, 15, rides in a training ring at Willowbrooke Farm.

State of play: DHP buses participants as far as Saline and Holly to partner barns for the summer camps.

With all the travel, it doesn't have the capacity to take on more participants — but with its own campus, it could serve hundreds more.

The nonprofit has around $4.3 million toward the $8.1 million cost. It aims to break ground within a year on a campus with classrooms, stables, an indoor arena, outdoor riding area and pastures on 14 acres leased from the Detroit Public Schools Community District in the Hope Village neighborhood.

The Kresge Foundation announced last week it granted the nonprofit $500,000. Another $400,000 comes from an anonymous donor and $1.8 million from the state.

What they're saying: Jeffrey Jones, executive director of nearby Hope Village Revitalization, tells Axios the stable will be a "game-changer" for the community.

The  lifelong neighborhood resident and DHP board member says the organization has "been here" getting buy-in and feedback from the neighborhood, "they didn't just helicopter in."

The bottom line: Past participant DaVion Sherman said in the Kresge news release: "It's amazing … It's like you're on a different playing field, like you're in a different dimension."

Detroit Horse Power has unique land use plans

The nonprofit wants to open a 20-horse equestrian center.

Cassidy Johnson, 11, grooms a horse at Willowbrooke Farm in Plymouth last month for the Detroit Horse Power program. Photos: Courtesy of Lon Horwedel via the Kresge Foundation

New grants are helping a local nonprofit get closer to opening a 20-horse equestrian center on an unused old school site.Why it matters: Detroit is grappling with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="how to best use space" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/09/12/detroit-first-urban-agriculture-director-tepfirah-rushdan" data-vars-content-id="619edc9b-42d8-43e0-8c48-a0dea5ff18bb" data-vars-headline="Detroit Horse Power has unique land use plans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/09/12/detroit-first-urban-agriculture-director-tepfirah-rushdan" target="_self">how to best use space</a> left over from widespread demolitions.

News

Jefferson Chalmers hotspot Norma G's shutting its doors represents a wrinkle in the already slow development progress along a major commercial corridor targeted for revitalization.

Why it matters: While the East Jefferson business district near the Grosse Pointe Park border is home to businesses like Yellow Light donuts and Marshall's Bar — and a nearby rec center under construction — many buildings remain empty.

When it opened in 2018, Norma G's was heralded by officials who expected more revitalization coming soon. Its loss, at least for now, reflects that the area still has challenges.

The latest: The Caribbean restaurant "suspended" dine-in service Sept. 1 but is still doing catering and events, owner Lester Gouvia tells Axios. He says he isn't done, "just not sure how it's going to evolve … all that's up in the air right now."

It doesn't appear likely the vacancy would last too long. But both Gouvia and Joshua Elling, CEO of nonprofit and Norma G's building owner Jefferson East Inc. (JEI), declined to disclose specifics.

Gouvia cites several reasons for closing, including growing tired from running the restaurant for five years.

He also adds: "I think there has been a stagnancy in the growth here in the neighborhood and it has made me a bit nervous."

The big picture: Jefferson Chalmers was targeted for investment under the Strategic Neighborhood Fund in 2018, as well as business district improvement plans.

There has been progress — for example, JEI, a major player in the area which crafted one of those plans, finished renovating two historic apartment buildings this year.

Also, Norma G's "proved a full-service restaurant could survive in Jefferson Chalmers even through a global pandemic," says Elling. That led JEI to bring in another restaurant, Detroit Soul, in late 2022.

The vacant former Platt Motor building at 14801 E. Jefferson Ave. in Jefferson Chalmers.

Yes, but: Elling says development is "still challenging" there, "where you have very large buildings with very sizable development gaps" exacerbated by rising construction costs.

One JEI project that's been delayed and had a cost increase of $700,000 is a restaurant and three-apartment building at 14522 E. Jefferson.

Another complication for some projects is FEMA's floodplain designation, making federal funding for development harder to access.

The city is working to assist JEI in getting more projects off the ground and push other private property owners in the area to make progress, says Donald Rencher, Detroit's group executive for housing, planning and development.

Plus, the city also lost out on a federal grant it pursued this year to fund streetscape improvements on East Jefferson, like those that have promoted interest in other corridors.

What's next: JEI's "next big project" is in the idea/pre-development stage — both Elling and Rencher note it'll be a tough one to finance.

The Gateway would involve rehabbing the former Platt Motor building at 14801 E. Jefferson, by the border with Grosse Pointe Park, and a ground-up development next to it with a total of up to 50 apartments with a focus on affordable housing, per Elling.

The state of slow development in Jefferson Chalmers

Revitalizing the historic neighborhood has been challenging.

The Norma G's building at 14628 E Jefferson Ave., closed for dine-in but still doing catering. Photos: Annalise Frank/Axios

Jefferson Chalmers hotspot <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Norma G&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.normagscuisine.com/" data-vars-content-id="6636840a-d4df-4d2e-bae5-b6d6e833dcd2" data-vars-headline="The state of slow development in Jefferson Chalmers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.normagscuisine.com/" target="_blank">Norma G&#x27;s</a> shutting its doors represents a wrinkle in the already slow development progress along a major commercial corridor targeted for revitalization.Why it matters: While the East Jefferson business district near the Grosse Pointe Park border is home to businesses like Yellow Light donuts and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Marshall&#x27;s Bar" data-vars-click-url="https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit-guides/an-eastside-classic-gains-new-regard-2467351" data-vars-content-id="6636840a-d4df-4d2e-bae5-b6d6e833dcd2" data-vars-headline="The state of slow development in Jefferson Chalmers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit-guides/an-eastside-classic-gains-new-regard-2467351" target="_blank">Marshall&#x27;s Bar</a> — and a nearby <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rec center" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/09/14/ab-ford-park-community-center-jefferson-chalmers-detroit" data-vars-content-id="6636840a-d4df-4d2e-bae5-b6d6e833dcd2" data-vars-headline="The state of slow development in Jefferson Chalmers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/09/14/ab-ford-park-community-center-jefferson-chalmers-detroit" target="_self">rec center</a> under construction — many buildings remain empty.

Business

Detroit is expanding its use of license plate readers (LPRs) to track down cars involved in crime.

The latest: City Council voted 7-2 Tuesday to approve a $5 million contract with Illinois-based Motorola Solutions. Members Latisha Johnson and Gabriela Santiago-Romero voted against.

Why it matters: Critics of police surveillance such as license plate reading cameras say the technology presents a privacy concern because it collects large stores of innocent drivers' data.

Ramis Wadood of the ACLU of Michigan urged the lawmakers to postpone or turn down the contract, citing "serious concerns" and lingering questions about data sharing and retention during public comment Tuesday.

The Detroit Police Department (DPD) says there are ample safeguards and that LPRs are a critical tool used to address violent crime, apprehend fugitives and locate stolen vehicles.

How it works: The camera systems survey intersections and store dates, times and locations for 90 days after taking pictures of license plates within their range. The images can include other information like makes and models, drivers and passengers and features like bumper stickers.

DPD inputs information about a wanted vehicle and then gets alerts that can be used to engage vehicles, per deputy chief Franklin Hayes.

DPD has been using the technology for five years and isn't allowed to use it for traffic laws like speeding.

Between the lines: While Santiago-Romero questioned how expensive the tech is after it has led to just 64 arrests out of 25 million plate reads in the last 90 days, Chief James White said 16 of those were murderers, and it's a fair price to pay.

Of note: The number of cameras to be added wasn't disclosed Tuesday. Police didn't respond to Axios' request for additional details.

Detroit police to use more license plate cameras

Police say the readers are a critical tool to address violent crime.

Illustration of a security camera topped with police car lights

Detroit is expanding its use of license plate readers (LPRs) to track down cars involved in crime.The latest: City Council voted 7-2 Tuesday to approve a $5 million contract with Illinois-based Motorola Solutions. Members Latisha Johnson and Gabriela Santiago-Romero voted against.

A new community center is expected to open soon in Jefferson Chalmers, which has significant open park space along the Detroit River but little in terms of brick-and-mortar recreation.

The latest: The $7.2 million A.B. Ford Park Community Center's construction should finish in mid-October, Detroit construction and demolition executive director LaJuan Counts said in a statement.

Funded by Detroit and a Penske Corp. donation to the city's Strategic Neighborhood Fund, it replaces the Lenox Center that was empty for 10 years.

Details: The solar-powered building has classrooms, a library area for reading and homework, flexible space for indoor sports or parties and a community gathering room.

The building, outfitted with a battery and generator, is designed to be resilient during emergencies like floods and power outages, letting residents warm up, charge their phones and use the internet.

Weather-resilient community center nearly finished in Jefferson Chalmers

It's designed to be a gathering place during emergencies like floods and power outages.

The A.B. Ford Park Community Center under construction along the Detroit River. Photo: Annalise Frank/Axios

A new community center is expected to open soon in Jefferson Chalmers, which has significant open park space along the Detroit River but little in terms of brick-and-mortar recreation.The latest: The $7.2 million A.B. Ford Park Community Center&#x27;s construction should finish in mid-October, Detroit construction and demolition executive director LaJuan Counts said in a statement.

Instead of zooming in on a home on the market for our weekly real estate feature, we're instead checking back in on a house we showcased that's since sold.

Why it matters: This three-bedroom colonial in Bagley is a prime example of the northwest neighborhood's climbing sales and interest.

Justin Cain, the Loft Warehouse's vice president of residential sales, tells Axios the house got the highest price he's ever seen of any 1,300-square-foot home in Bagley.

"Bagley is one of those areas that's really affordable for first-time home buyers" seeking fully renovated homes, says Cain, the house's listing agent.

There's been an uptick in prices and popularity, which "long-term shows it's a good investment."

By the numbers: The home at 18660 Indiana St. was listed for $219,999 Aug. 1, per Zillow.

It sold for 6.8% more than that — $235,000 — on Aug. 29.

Cain says he got multiple offers within two days of listing.

The big picture: With low inventory and rising interest rates, Metro Detroit home sales were down 16.6% in August compared with last year, per RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan. Yet, the average price is still up 2.9% from a year ago.

Listings were on the market an average of 22 days — just under our Bagley colonial's 28 days.

But the time the home took to sell is low for Detroit specifically — its average in August was 43 days, double Oakland County's 20 days.

Detroit House Hunting: Bagley is hot

This house sold for 6.8% more than its listing price.

18660 Indiana St. in Detroit. Photo: Joe Guillen/Axios

Instead of zooming in on a home on the market for our weekly real estate feature, we&#x27;re instead checking back in on a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="house we showcased" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/08/03/detroit-house-hunting-fetching-bagley-colonial" data-vars-content-id="830033e7-5f09-4fc3-bd7e-1002d2c1499b" data-vars-headline="Detroit House Hunting: Bagley is hot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2023/08/03/detroit-house-hunting-fetching-bagley-colonial" target="_self">house we showcased</a> that&#x27;s since sold.Why it matters: This three-bedroom colonial in Bagley is a prime example of the northwest neighborhood&#x27;s climbing sales and interest.

Annalise Frank

Featured stories

Detroit police to use more license plate cameras

Detroit House Hunting: Bagley is hot

The state of slow development in Jefferson Chalmers

Detroit Horse Power has unique land use plans

Weather-resilient community center nearly finished in Jefferson Chalmers