Axios Detroit

May 22, 2024
It's the middle of the week, and you know what that means?
- That means it's Wednesday. Were you expecting something ... more clever?
⛈️ Today's weather: Showers and thunderstorms possible this morning and after 2pm. A high of 85.
Situational awareness: The Wayne County clerk determined that Detroit's Adam Hollier didn't file enough valid voter signatures to challenge U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar in the 13th Congressional District's primary, the Free Press reports.
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Today's newsletter is 897 words — a 3.5-minute read. Edited by Delano Massey and copy edited by Cindy Orosco-Wright.
1 big thing: New-build homes may be coming
New construction of single-family homes is exceedingly rare in Detroit, but a recent project could be an indicator of whether that's about to change.
The big picture: Detroit issued only 18 permits for new house construction last year. Among those testing the waters of new-build demand is developer Greatwater Homes, which recently completed three homes in East Village.
- It has two more nearing completion and plans 18 additional homes in the area.
State of play: Mayor Mike Duggan called Greatwater's development "the beginning of a trend over the next couple years … I think you will see more and more people building market-rate houses in neighborhoods."
By the numbers: Greatwater's homes are priced at $339,000, $439,000 and $459,000, advertising amenities including garages and air conditioning. The developer aims to give buyers who don't want to undertake the difficulty and unpredictability of a fixer-upper an option, Greatwater co-founder Matt Temkin tells Axios.
- "[The project] was a risk, but our goal was to deal with that risk by just making a great product, and leave it out there for the market to respond, and it did," Temkin says.
- Two of the first three homes have sold, and a made-to-order home has been presold.


Some real estate professionals in Detroit are monitoring this development closely.
What they're saying: If successful, it could "drastically change the investment landscape in the city" by creating a rush of similar projects, says Sami Abdallah, a Detroit real estate investor and owner of Re/Max City Centre in Southfield.
- On the flip side, though, Greatwater's homes aren't "very affordable," which could present challenges, Abdallah tells Axios.
Context: Preserving old homes by rehabbing them is an essential part of retaining neighborhoods' culture.
- New construction is also a "necessary component" of community development to fill in vacant land, says Angela Carlberg, senior director of community development ecosystem building for Community Development Advocates of Detroit.
- Yet, affordability and other factors remain major concerns. "It's a really big leap to presume that what's being built, as far as new construction, is going to serve who's here," Carlberg tells Axios.
2. Detroit City FC stadium plans
Detroit City Football Club wants to demolish an abandoned Southwest hospital for the site of the club's "forever home."
Driving the news: The club held an owners meeting at Supergeil in Corktown on Monday to celebrate plans for a new stadium and answer questions from part owners.
- Detroit City announced last week after Crain's broke the news that the club plans to build a soccer stadium at the site of the abandoned Southwest Detroit Hospital.
Catch up quick: The team, founded in 2012, played its matches at Cass Tech before moving to Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck.
- Executives said bringing a new stadium to Southwest is "the ultimate way to give back to the city."
- The hospital, which opened in 1974, closed in 1991 and has been abandoned for two decades after it reopened as United Community Hospital from 1997-2006.
What they're saying: "We took a different approach to how you build a professional sports team in America and we're viewing how you build a stadium in the same light as well," CEO Sean Mann said.
Zoom in: Executives said they hope the stadium works as a bridge to connect communities. The stadium on the 7-acre site will unite activity on Michigan Avenue and in Mexicantown so that match days involve second places, they said.
Between the lines: But club officials said they have been careful not to overdeliver.
- "We're sports fans in this town and we understand that you don't talk about things until they're done right and until they're going to happen," chief commercial officer Alex Wright said.
3. The Grapevine: You heard it here
🐯 The Detroit Zoo finally revealed the new design for its nearly century-old water tower, as well as a full rebrand, after more than two years in the works. (WXYZ)
🥙 Omar Anani, owner of popular east-side restaurant Saffron De Twah, plans to open another restaurant and offer subsidized housing above it on East Warren Avenue. (BridgeDetroit)
🚨 U of M police and security removed a tent encampment protesting Israel yesterday, citing fire hazards. A group of student organizers reported three arrests. (Free Press)
4. 🏈 Michigan reloads for title defense
U of M's national title defense this fall will be without many of last year's star players and former coach Jim Harbaugh.
The big picture: College football programs across the country are seeing big changes this offseason.
- Players are changing schools more frequently due to a combination of relaxed transfer rules and their ability to get paid through NIL deals.
State of play: The big question in Ann Arbor is who will succeed quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings.
- The frontrunner is junior Alex Orji, whose mobility is reminiscent of that of Denard Robinson, the Free Press reports.
The latest: The Wolverines tapped into the transfer portal, adding four defensive backs in a three-day span last week, the Detroit News reports.
What's next: The season opener against Fresno State is Aug. 31 at 7:30pm at Michigan Stadium.
- Alcoholic beverages will be on sale inside the stadium.
5. Egg sammies incoming
A fast-casual breakfast franchise called Effin Egg plans to open in the former Treat Dreams building in Midtown in August. The chain's closest current locations to Michigan are in Illinois.
- Egg sandwiches are the main event, but there also are doughnut balls, waffles, breakfast tacos and burritos.
Our picks:
🚘 Joe is worried there won't be many good, affordable manual-transmission cars on the market when his 2010 Honda Accord needs a replacement.
🙂 Annalise enjoys driving stick shift — thanks, Dad! — but hasn't done so in many years.
😐 Sam is going to be without a car once his 2012 Honda Civic stops running because saving money has become impossible…
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