Superbowl2.Qxd 8/14/2006 2:57 PM Page 1 DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 08-21-06 B 16,18 CDB 8/14/2006 3:39 PM Page 2

Home , Kales Building, Orchestra Hall (Detroit)

SuperBowl2.qxd 8/14/2006 2:57 PM Page 1 DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 08-21-06 B 16,18 CDB 8/14/2006 3:39 PM Page 2

Living and Investing in the D: Nonprofit developers CDCs: Groups rebuild city neighborhoods ■ From Page 16

Association on 45 residential units for NorthStar CDC in Uni- units and LASED on 12 more versity Grove, southeast of Liv- WHAT IS LISC? units plus 7,000 square feet of You can save ernois and Puritan avenues. It commercial space. “ has 40 more units underway for Detroit Local Initiatives is a nonprofit Tim O’Brien, president of buildings, and NorthStar northeast of Liver- Support Corp. corporation that is an affiliate Pontiac-based O’Brien Construc- nois and Puritan in four three- of a 26-year-old national tion Co. Inc. it can be rewarding , said that revitaliz- story buildings. organization with offices in 38 ing Detroit neighborhoods is to see people O’Brien said that almost al- cities across the country. “on the backs of the CDCs, to ways on renovation jobs, the LISC aids community- make it happen, and they have moving in. buildings are in such poor development corporations and been pretty successful at it.” ” shape and disrepair that with- other such agencies with O’Brien’s company, with a Tim O’Brien, out tax-credit financing, they technical assistance, Detroit office in on West Vernor O’Brien Construction Co. Inc. would have to be torn down. operating funds, project Highway, is general contractor “After years of fires, rains and financing and training. and construction manager for exposure, it ranges anywhere Detroit LISC helps community several nonprofit community Richard Academy for the Bagley from a typical rehab to taking revitalization work of the CDCs development corporations. Housing Association, he said. out everything except the shell with grants, loan guarantees O’Brien said he started work- This year, O’Brien’s company and facades. But you can save and lines of credit, as well as ing in southwest Detroit around completed work on 27 single- buildings, and it can be reward- zero-interest and low-interest 2000 when his company built a family homes southeast of East ing to see people moving in. loans. 65-unit Rio Vista seniors apart- Warren Avenue-Alter Road for “Today you walk down Ver- LISC also works as a liaison ment complex for Cooperative U-SNAP-BAC in Morningside nor and see mothers pushing between CDCs and Services Inc. O’Brien Construc- Commons III; 30 in Homes at St. strollers and kids on bikes.” government, foundations and tion also converted the former Anne’s for Bagley Housing on Robert Ankeny: (313) 446-0404, financial institutions. St. Anne’s school to Casa Porter Street; and 45 townhouse [email protected] — Robert Ankeny

LOOK & LISTEN: A DIA-DSO COLLABORATION DSO Opening Weekend,Tickets on Sale Now! ThePassionPower Performance of the DSO is Back! UIF!EFUSPJU!TZNQIPOZ!PSDIFTUSB LANG LANG PLAYS MOZART vs. SALIERI RACHMANINOFF Sep. 15 at 10:45 a.m. and 8 p.m. Sep. 7 & 8 at 8 p.m. Sep. 16 at 8:30 p.m. Sep. 9 at 8:30 p.m. Sep. 17 at 3 p.m. Sep. 10 at 3 p.m. SALIERI BEETHOVEN Overture to Don Quixote at Overture to Fidelio Camacho’s Wedding CHOPIN MOZART Andante Spianato et grande Polonaise Clarinet Concerto RACHMANINOFF SALIERI Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Variations on “La Folia” september 24.2006 – january 7.2007 BEETHOVEN MOZART For tickets visit www.dia.org or the DIA Box Office. Symphony No. 7 Symphony No. 36, “Linz” Members receive FREE tickets. Join today! 313.833.7971 One of the preeminent pianists of A deadly rivalry as depicted in the our time, Lang Lang brings his film Amadeus or simply an artistic competition for the hearts of the ANNIE LEIBOVITZ: AMERICAN MUSIC is organized by Experience Music Project, Seattle, and all works boundless energy to Rachmaninoff’s are courtesy of Annie Leibovitz. In Detroit, the exhibition has been made possible by a generous grant own signature piece – the notoriously audience? Regardless of which side from LaSalle Bank. Additional support provided by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the City of Detroit. difficult “Rhapsody,” which is followed you choose, you’ll be inspired by by Beethoven’s spirited Seventh. the music of these two influential Signature Series Sponsor: DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund composers. Select Series Sponsor: JPMorgan Chase Emmylou Harris, Franklin, Tennessee, 2001. Copyright © 2001 by Annie Leibovitz. Psdiftusb!Ibmm!bu!Uif!Nby 424/687/6222!ps!xxx/efuspjutznqipoz/dpn

Page 18 FALL 2006 FALL 2006 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS SuperBowl2.qxd 8/7/2006 5:51 PM Page 1

SEEING IS BELIEVING.

The Detroit riverfront transformation is real. And it is happening before our eyes.

Already, more than one-half mile of RiverWalk is open for the public to enjoy. And more is coming. By the end of 2006, 75% of our East Riverfront project will be complete, including plazas at Rivard and Gabriel Richard Park, and nearly two miles of continuous RiverWalk, stretching from the General Motors headquarters to Mt. Elliot Park.

Detroit will be home to an active, beautiful, safe and accessible waterfront. Residents and visitors will enjoy programming, public events and volunteer and membership opportunities. We invite the entire Detroit community to come and walk the water’s edge.

It’s Real. It’s Happening. The Detroit International Riverfront. light tower at the new Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor 63-foot

www.detroitriverfront.org DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 08-21-06 B 20,22,24 CDB 8/14/2006 4:59 PM Page 1

Living and Investing in the D: Schools Where’s a good school?

BY SHERRI BEGIN city’s schools’ reputation for high ‘HIGH-PERFORMING’ Program CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS dropout rates and low test scores, but the Skillman program aims to avid Ellis Academy in De- highlight the good schools in the CRITERIA troit pays students city — and bring improvement to Schools deemed “High- aims when they come to schools that need it. Performing” by the Skillman D class. “Our public schools are chal- Foundation must meet the to offer The charter academy gives lenged, there’s no question about following minimum standards. each of its K-8 students a ficti- it,” said Carol Goss, president “Improving” and “Aspiring” tious $25,000 salary at the begin- and CEO of the schools must meet similar, answers ning of the school year that they Detroit foun- though lower, standards: must use to pay an imaginary dation. “But ■ At least 75 percent of the mortgage, car payment and utili- there are some students meet or exceed ties and to cover any real-life ex- good things go- Michigan standards on MEAP or for parents other acceptable achievement penses they make or influence at ing on.” home, such as DVDs or ice cream standards in two of three Over the academic subjects: cones. past two years, mathematics, science and GOOD SCHOOLS Students role-play in the class- Skillman has reading/language arts. In the room, becoming bankers, mort- made grants to third subject, 60 percent of For a list of the schools gage loan officers, utility compa- students must be at or above Goss more than 100 Skillman rates as “High- ny personnel and payroll schools that standards. Performing,” see the map employees. And they earn incen- are showing best practices or ■ The school must be accredited following Page 17. tive pay and raises for getting making progress on improving, by Michigan Education Yes, a good grades. Goss said. state education accountability They can use the increases to Skillman launched the initia- system, as either grade A or B; or be in the top two categories of upgrade their imaginary car or tive in 2005 to identify the best el- house or buy real items like T- other nationally recognized ementary schools, regardless of accreditation programs. shirts and notebooks in the school whether they were public, pri- ■ store. The school must meet its vate, parochial or charter. The state-appointed target under the “It teaches fiscal responsibili- foundation has made an initial No Child Left Behind program or ty at a young age and also en- commitment to continue it for meet state “adequate yearly courages students to attend to five more years. progress” targets. their studies to boost their GPA,” “For a long time, we gave mon- ■ 90 percent of all of the said Machion Morris, director of ey to the school system and tried students and of any racial or school operations. to influence change. We made a other subgroup such as special The innovative program has strategic decision a couple years education have to be in school earned Ellis Academy a $100,000 ago to focus on individual schools for 95 percent of teaching hours. grant from the Skillman Founda- because we thought we could tion and designation as one of the have more of an impact, and push Three of them were also deemed city’s high-performing schools in an agenda for innovation and high-performing in 2005. Skillman’s “Good Schools: Mak- change,” said William Hanson, Schools must meet minimum ing the Grade” initiative. director of communications and requirements for the program. Any parent considering living technology at Skillman. Once admitted, they must be- in Detroit has to contend with the This year, Skillman allowed gin a self-assessment that takes middle schools to apply for the about 60 hours to complete. They Machion must document student services; Morris, program and a chance to earn grants totaling up to $100,000 every programs aimed at providing a director of safe, clean, respectful and racial- school three years. Next year, the founda- ly tolerant culture; data used to operations at tion plans to open the program to influence strategic decisions; David Ellis high schools, Lewis said. Last professional development for Academy, year, the foundation gave $1.4 mil- staff; and partnerships with the says the lion to 24 elementary schools and school’s community and parents. this year $1.5 million to 32 elemen- incentive The responses must be a mini- tary and middle schools. program mum of 21 typed pages, said Skillman also has supplied encourages Sharon Lewis, executive director technical assistance or coaching children to of the Good Schools Resource boost their to 52 other elementary schools Center at Marygrove College, GPAs. the program deems “aspiring.” which provides technical sup- Sixteen high-performing port for the program. schools this year received grants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. See Schools, Page 22

Page 20 FALL 2006 FALL 2006 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS SuperBowl2.qxd 8/7/2006 6:25 PM Page 1

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Brownfield Redevelopment

0LFKLJDQ¶V%URZQ¿HOG5HGHYHORSPHQW efforts are considered the premier model for the country. Properties that, in the not-so-distant past, were considered lost forever are now being actively pursued for revitalization. This program offers investors the chance to receive tax credits on developments and is aimed at strengthening market conditions in high-risk areas to improve the local economy. +HUHDUHDIHZ%URZQ¿HOG 5HGHYHORSPHQWSURSHUWLHV\RXPD\ recognize:

• Kales Building • 0HUFKDQWV5RZ • The Vinton Building • The Park Shelton )RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQRQWKH%URZQ¿HOG 5HGHYHORSPHQWSURJUDPSOHDVHYLVLW Michigan State Housing Development Authority www.michigan.gov/mshda

Equal Housing Lender

MSHDA is proud to be a sponsor of Model D. To learn more about model sm D neighborhoods across Detroit, visit www.modeldmedia.com DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 08-21-06 B 20,22,24 CDB 8/14/2006 5:00 PM Page 2

Living and Investing

UNIQUE PROGRAMS Interesting programs at schools identified by the Skillman Foundation as “high performing”: ■ Students at Samuel Gompers Elementary, a public school in northwest Detroit, have a courtyard with a pond and a butterfly garden, shrubs, flowers and indigenous plants that they, parent volunteers and the Greening of Detroit nurture. “We hope the children learn respect for the Exlcusive Caterer of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, environment (and) teamwork,” said The Diamond Center at the Rock Financial Showplace, Principal Gale Lewis. “Even though my Cranbrook and the Charles H. Wright Museum, school is located in an area that is and the finest in Off-Site Catering • 248-735-7222 economically disadvantaged, there’s no vandalism. No one even picks flowers.” ■ Friends School, a private, independent school in Lafayette Park, has a leadership- building organization akin to a student council Tribute, Farmington Hills • 248.848.9393 that puts students in charge of real, results- oriented projects as early as kindergarten. Last year, as members of the “Positive Energy Team,” Nicole Lewis’ second-grade son and about eight other students were 248.594.7300 charged with overseeing collection of Forté, Birmingham • recipes from each family in the school for a recipe book sold as a fundraiser. BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY BY OCTOBER 1ST AND RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT. “You really see how the children pull together as a team and lead the initiative,” said Lewis, vice president, supplier diversity, at Troy-based Kelly Services Inc. The school also stresses an early introduction to the arts and a flexible learning approach, she said. “I pulled my oldest out of parochial school because he needed a more flexible and more nurturing learning environment,” For Sale or Lease Lewis said. “He’s doing great.” Residential / Office Loft Opportunity Schools: High 735 Griswold 30,000 Sq. Ft. 751 Griswold performers 22,000 Sq. Ft. ■ From Page 20 A three-person panel of community and business leaders then reviews the narra- tive. Each application receives a score from the reviewers. If scored high enough, the high-performing and improving schools get a site visit to verify the application. “The schools that didn’t apply this year that now have their MEAP scores are calling already for next year’s program,” Goss said. The foundation is seeing more high-per- First floor retail in both buildings. Great for LOFT CONVERSIONS! forming schools in places it didn’t expect Adjacent to a 950-car parking deck. to, she said.“We expected schools like (Alon- Call Bob Mihelich zo W. Bates Academy), Burton International 3000 Town Center, Suite 2800 and (Nataki Talibah Schoolhouse of Detroit) to Southfield, MI 48075 be doing well because they have that repu- 248.936.6800 tation, and they have been doing well for a www.trammellcrow.com while,” Goss said. “But what we didn’t expect was in neighborhood schools that had high numbers of children receiving free and reduced lunch See Schools, Page 24 Page 22 FALL 2006 FALL 2006 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS SuperBowl2.qxd 7/20/2006 10:07 AM Page 1

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Living and Investing

Envision healthy-vibrant-livable- FINDING OUT MORE sustainable-welcoming communities. ■ When checking into the performance of a school, parents should inquire about MEAP Now make them happen with University of scores, attendance rates and supportive activities that support teaching and learning Detroit Mercy’s new Master of such as after-school programs or bringing Community Development degree. mentors into the classroom, said Skillman Foundation President and CEO Carol Goss. This one-of-a-kind program takes a compre- ■ For information on a school’s test results, hensive and holistic approach to the theory student-teacher ratio, student ethnicity, and practice of community development.The student economic-level statistics and comparison data for nearby schools, visit curriculum integrates human, organizational, www.greatschools.net. physical and economic aspects of community ■ For more information or a list of the development. An interdisciplinary faculty schools recognized by Skillman the past two provides a broad foundation for graduates to years, visit www.goodschoolsdetroit.org. Or become leaders in facilitating community check out the “Good Schools: Making the change. Grade” show on WTVS-Channel 56 airing at 6 p.m. Aug. 27, Sept. 24 and Oct. 22. This program will benefit individuals who are new to community development as well as professionals in the field. Schools: High For more information, visit our web site at www.udmercy.edu/mcd, or contact our Admissions office at 800-635-5020. We want great things for you. performers ■ From Page 22 to see as many of those schools in high-performing.” The good schools all show positive results in students’ performances on the MEAP or other standardized tests and in their yearly progress, Goss said. This fall Skillman will begin tapping high-performing schools that have already received the full $100,000 grant because they’ve achieved success in all areas to mentor another Detroit school that still hasn’t hit that mark. Alonzo W. Bates Academy and Samuel Gompers Elementary will become mentor schools and receive $25,000 a year and help from the Good Schools Resource Center at Marygrove to assist them in the effort, Lewis said. They’ll each help one other school develop a plan to improve programs. Parents Becky Dudash and her husband, John Canzano, who is a partner at Klimist, McKnight, Sale, McClow & Canzano P.C.in Southfield, say they are very satisfied with Chrysler Elementary, a school rated as high- performing the past two years by Skillman. “We feel like it’s a Detroit Public School, and she’s getting a very good education, comparable to schools in the suburbs,” said Dudash, whose daughters, ages 6 and 10, attend Chrysler near Lafayette Park. Dudash grew up in Birmingham and recently, out of curiosity, compared the MEAP scores at Chrysler with those at Birmingham Pierce. “A lot of the scores were higher at Chrysler. Chrysler is a jewel in the city that a lot of people don’t know about.” Sherri Begin: (313) 446-1694, [email protected]

Page 24 FALL 2006 FALL 2006 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 08-21-06 B 25,26,27 CDB 8/10/2006 4:40 PM Page 1

Living and Investing in the D: Walkability Walking to city health

BY MARTI BENEDETTI top executive said. hoods. Group SPECIAL TO “We’ve done a lot here in De- Leinberger said he and the part- CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS troit over the last several years. nership are looking at zoning and We are approaching a tipping planning rules, or regulatory re- works to ifteen hundred feet. point (in walkability),” says Ann form, that could help. The strate- That’s the maximum dis- Lang, president and CEO of the gy is expected to be complete at F tance people will walk to a downtown partnership. the end of October, and he expects create destination under most circum- Lang says walkability is an im- it would take three to five years to stances, and getting people to ex- portant step in a city’s revitaliza- carry it out. ceed it is the big tion. “If you He said street layout is the key strategy challenge as De- look at great to walkability, and Detroit’s is troit seeks to in- cities such as “quite exquisite. Downtown De- crease the walk- Chicago, it’s troit has one of the finest ability of its true: Great streetscapes in the country. It was downtown, said cities are great modeled after Washington, D.C.” Christopher walkable When Augustus Woodward was Leinberger, a cities.” appointed the Michigan Territo- WALKABLE professor in the She says De- ry’s first chief justice in 1805, the University of troit is becom- territory’s capital, Detroit, was in DOWNTOWNS Michigan’s grad- Leinberger Lang ing educated ruins from a fire the same year. uate real estate about how to re- Woodward, using planner Pierre A host of nationally program specializing in walkable renowned real estate vitalize downtown and push im- L’Enfant’s Washington plan as a cities. provements out to city neighbor- model, is responsible for the wide experts will participate Leinberger, also a fellow at avenues that were built jutting in the 20th annual the Washington-based Brook- from circular plazas much like University of ings Institution and founding spokes from a wheel’s hub. Michigan/Urban Land partner of Arcadia Land Co. in Leinberger said downtown Institute Real Estate Wayne, Pa., is leading a pro- Detroit has “good bones” and Forum Oct. 26-27 at ject of the Detroit Downtown the density it needs to be walk- Cobo Center in Detroit. Partnership, UM and Brook- able. “Walkability is about The forum will focus on ings to develop a strategy for connectivity. People need to be creating walkablility in revitalizing downtown De- able to walk to places that are troit. suburban and meaningful,” he said. “With Leinberger, who lives in Detroit’s great historical traditional downtowns Washington, coined the buildings, you can see the and will use the phrase “walkable urbanity” wealth of a previous genera- redevelopment of and created a paper for tion on display.” downtown Detroit as a Brookings called “Turning He said racial tension case study. Around Downtown: Twelve stymied downtown revitaliza- The keynote speaker is Steps to Revitalization.” tion, but that is being over- Albert B. Ratner, He believes “people will come by a group of people who Cleveland-based Forest walk 1,500 feet or more only have the intention and will to City Enterprises, the if they have an interesting make positive changes. Lein- 2005 recipient of the and safe streetscape and peo- berger sang the praises of George Jackson Jr., president ULI J.C. Nichols Prize ple to watch along the way — and CEO of Detroit Economic for Visionaries in Urban a mix of sights and sounds Growth Corp.; Walt Watkins, Development. Panelists that can make a pedestrian forget that he is unintention- former Bank One of Michigan include Detroit president and former Detroit ally getting enjoyable exer- Renaissance Inc. CEO chief development officer and cise.” Doug Rothwell, director of the city Planning Asked if downtown De- Taubman Centers Inc. and Development Department; troit has a walkable future, CEO Robert Taubman and Dale Watchowski, presi- he responded, “Yes, no ques- dent and CEO of Redico L.L.C., and Detroit Riverfront tion. We are working on a who know how to get invest- Conservancy Executive strategic planning process ment done in the city. Director Faye Alexander that will focus on myriad Nelson. “We’re a long way from crit- things that need to be done M.J. MURAWKA, WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHY ical mass downtown,” he said. To register, visit to make that happen.” Wide, open pathways and construction of new “But the beauty of where we www.umuliforum.com. Downtown is on its way, student housing are two of the ways Wayne State the downtown partnership’s University is encouraging people to walk. See Walk, Page 26

CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS FALL 2006 Page 25 DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 08-21-06 B 25,26,27 CDB 8/10/2006 4:40 PM Page 2

Living and Investing in the D: Walkability Walk: Layout is key Denny and Richard Freitag ■ From Page 25 Midtown Denny Freitag moved to Detroit The top two floors and the are today is there is a pent-up university has added trash and six years ago based on a basement haven’t been demand for walkable urbani- recycling bins; lush, green recommendation from her son, occupied in more than 30 years, ty.” courtyards; outdoor seating, who was looking for a place to but Freitag aims to fully Many of those who work and tables and chairs; and lighting. live near Wayne State University. redevelop the once “muddy pit.” attend school at Wayne State It’s also added people to walk “My son was saying, ‘We found She is renovating the top two University share his hope. The around. In a bid to shed at least the perfect place. It’s cheap. floors in the three-story home university has created an ex- some of its history as a com- You gotta come and and is converting it back to a pansive and walkable campus muter school, Wayne State has see it,’ ” she said. single-family home added residence-hall units for She would live in the from a two-family for its students and visitors. Its residence. streetscape improvements and more than 1,700 students since condo for three 2003. years, and it served Freitag holds recently added retail also have season tickets to Ghareeb said the area around as a springboard to had a positive effect on adjoin- the Detroit Lions, Anthony Wayne Drive is becom- her current home on ing areas, such as the Cultural West Willis in Detroit Tigers, the Center and Woodbridge. The ing the school’s retail and hous- Midtown. Freitag, Detroit Symphony area is embracing its Midtown ing center. New to the street are 54, and her Orchestra and the moniker, and a mass of enter- Starbucks, a satellite Barnes & No- husband, Richard, The Freitags’ home Fisher Theatre. She tainment, housing and retail is ble, Jimmy John’s, TCBY and Ein- 60, found the urban said Midtown starting to emerge. stein Bros., among others. setting they wanted, and their provides her almost everything she needs to “We are encouraging walk- “We want more activities so sons were able to keep their get by and enjoy herself. ing by the placement of our students don’t need to drive Dearborn home, which has been in the family for four generations. “I can walk to everything I need new parking structures,” said away from here,” she said, … except the grocery store,” she Nabelah Ghareeb, WSU assis- adding that more students are Freitag, a conference planner at Toyota Technical Center in Ann said. She hopes that options tant vice president of business choosing to stay on campus or besides the one on West Warren live nearby rather than com- Arbor, and her husband live in a and auxiliary operations. “In- 4,500-square-foot Federal-style near Wayne State come soon. side our campus, our walk- muting. home built in or before 1904. — Bowdeya Tweh ways are wide and open.” The See Walk, Page 27

Page 26 FALL 2006 FALL 2006 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 08-21-06 B 25,26,27 CDB 8/10/2006 4:41 PM Page 3

Living and Investing in the D: Walkability Walk: Focus for future is safety, cleanliness ■ From Page 26 Such news is music to Ken neighborhood around. “Our Davies’ ears. The 67-year-old focus was on clean and safe. real estate attorney has lived We believe if you make a in a Victorian house on West community clean and safe, Canfield, near Wayne State, people and their capital will since 1958. He and his wife come and invest.” They raised their three children worked with the police and there. They have stayed in the Department of Public Works the neighborhood through to fight crime and blight. thick and thin. By 2000, their efforts paid “My dream was that the off. The streets of Midtown neighborhood would be like became cleaner and safer, the east side of New York Davies said, and real estate City,” he said. “I’ve been developers began investing. struggling to make that hap- Davies started seeing moth- pen.” ers with their baby car- He and Bill Marsh, a real riages, dog walkers and peo- estate broker and city prop- ple chatting on his street. erty owner who owns Renais- “People came out of their sance Investment Co. Inc., were houses, and month after tired of seeing prostitutes month, it became more walk- and crack dealers on their able,” he said. streets. So in 1989, they “It is at a point now where REBECCA COOK formed the Midtown Alliance making Detroit walkable is Real estate attorney Ken Davies has lived in a Victorian near Wayne State and held meetings to discuss an advanced level of clean since 1958, striving to make the neighborhood a pleasant, safe place to live — how they could turn the and safe,” Davies added. and walk.

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Living and Investing in the D: New arrivals Are newcomers redlined?

BY MARTI BENEDETTI gerous. I can’t live there.’ Some say SPECIAL TO “There are 30,000 people living CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS There are 30,000 in our historic districts, and it’s “ just not communicat- steering to elocation redlining” — people living in ed to people. Those re- the notion that execu- locating here are dis- R tives and professionals our historic couraged by suburbs who move to the Detroit area are employers to live in steered to live in the suburbs — districts, and the city,” Schroeder is still going strong, according to said. “They think it is persists; some city boosters. But Detroit it’s just not barren here, and it’s a area relocation specialists say misconception.” change is in the air. communicated Brian Boyle, co- others see “Yes, we know relocation founder of the Issue JOHN F. MARTIN redlining exists,” said Kim to people. Media Group, which Schroeder, past chair and cur- ” owns Detroit-oriented Model D change rent board member of the Detroit Kim Schroeder, Media and similar e-zines that Historic Neighborhood Coalition, a Detroit Historic promote city living in Grand group of more than two dozen Neighborhood Coalition Rapids and Pittsburgh, said he afoot Detroit neighborhoods that hears many stories that reloca- coined the redlining phrase a troit was not discussed as a tion specialists steer new ar- year ago. “Last year, we called place to live, and people were rivals away from the city. “The relocation (experts), directed to the sub- constant theme is reloca- and they said De- urbs. People say, tion teams are not en- ‘No, it’s too dan- gaged in the city. They are not selling the city effectively. Un-

derstanding Detroit is different than understanding Chicago or Boston.” Thanks to greater exposure related to Super Bowl XL and a rapid ex- pansion in sources of information about city living in Detroit, some relocation experts and De- troit boosters say that situation is changing. Leslie Raetz, retired GM manager of relocation and a Livonia-based relocation consultant, said people are looking to live in the city more now than any time she can re- member. “Since the positive exposure of the Super Bowl, people are becoming aware of the city as a place to live rather than just IMAGEZOO/IMAGES.COM work.” She said for See Redlining, Page 30

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Living and Investing in th Redlining: New a ■ From Page 29

years there was not much downtown housing to show GM transferees. But that is changing. “Whether they live in the city depends on where they transfer from. If they are used to a short drive to work and lived in an urban setting, they don’t want to drive 40 minutes each way to work and live in the suburbs,” Raetz said. She said GM’s headquarters location has more employees thinking about living downtown, while some already have moved to the city. The traditional definition of “redlining” has roots that go back to the 1930s, when loan and insurance companies mapped and color-coded neighborhoods based on their ethnic mix. Black and low-income neighborhoods were characterized “Type D” and outlined in red on the map. Such practices are now illegal. Many factors influence where people choose to live — wanting to be close to work, preferring a country or lake setting with acreage or choosing a suburb based on its excellent school district. “I’m not going to live in Novi or Farm- ington if I’m working in Sterling Heights. I might live in Macomb County, but it is not because of people being anti-Detroit,” said An- drea Schroeder, a member of the Detroit Regional Relocation Council and a “Detroit’s Best Italian!” relocation consultant. “Now there is regional cooperation. I see people in the suburbs more re- ceptive to going down- Schroeder town, especially since the Super Bowl.” Schroeder, who lives in Clarkston, co- owns two Riverfront condos, which she rents to companies for use by their extend- ed-assignment employees. “We wanted to be a part of the downtown resurgence.” Several of her clients are European, the group she said is most interested in living downtown. “I have a 30-year-old renter At the water’s edge in the spectacular Renaissance Center GM Wintergarden from Sweden who is working on an assignment for Volvo at Ford,” she said. She markets her properties to human-re- sources departments at downtown companies and manages the lease for them. She said sometimes companies encourage new employees to live in a suburb because the Telephone 313 567-6700 or visit www.andiamoitalia.com company owns a house that was used by an employee who moved for a new job. Most major downtown employers do not have a system in place that helps people with relocation. The Detroit Medical Center, for example, does not partner with anyone

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in the D: New arrivals w awareness of city living gives boosters hope

in helping employees find a place to live, downtown but still aren’t the suburbs. DMC spokeswoman Sue Capatina said. getting the whole story. “But it wasn’t good in the suburbs. In When a doctor moves to the Detroit area “We are on the cusp of 2003, I came back to the city and bought a from out of state, he or she may be encour- something,” she said. condo in Midtown. I believe it is a good in- aged to attend the Wayne State University De- “People are aware of vestment,” she said. troit Orientation Institute to learn about the more going on down- Model D’s Boyle, who lives in the city’s city, she said. But, typically, newcomers town, but what they have University District with his wife and three figure out where to live through word of not heard about is the young sons, said that 10 years ago, it was mouth. neighborhoods. People nearly impossible to find out where to live “With the Internet, people already have are surprised to see mid- in Detroit. “In Chicago, people knew to live information on where they want to be,” Slawnik dle-income neighbor- in Lincoln Park or Wicker Park.” said David Foess, Southfield-based vice hoods. They are fascinated and excited by Model D’s Web site, which celebrated its president of sales for Relocation America, a the changes.” first anniversary in July, highlights the division of Real Estate One. Sonya Delley, senior vice president, com- growth and development of the city and its Certain suburbs have a positive national mercial real estate and urban community neighborhoods through feature stories and reputation, he said. “Birmingham has a big development for LaSalle Bank Midwest in De- photographs. It also includes neighborhood name, and people often gravitate to the troit, said most people still don’t know what maps. “Such information has not existed north side of town,” Foess said. “We have housing is available in the city. “Model D until now,” Boyle said. “Model D has filled offices in Detroit and every community. and other stakeholders are changing the the information gap and how it relates to We’ll show them two or three cities.” image of Detroit,” she said. the city.” He said he sees more interest overall in When she took a job in Detroit, it took Boyle sees more effort and energy being the city, in the buildup and aftermath of Su- several moves for Delley to figure out expended collectively to promote the city. per Bowl XL. where she wanted to buy real estate. She “A number of organizations point to Model Ann Slawnik, director of the Detroit Ori- initially moved into the suburbs, then D as a tool to understand the city better. entation Institute, said people are becom- moved to Detroit. But she did like her liv- The theme I continue to hear is (Model D) ing more aware of positive developments ing situation in the city and moved back to has connected a lot of disconnected things.”

LOCAL INITIATIVES LISC IN DETROIT SUPPORT CORPORATION LISC has always been about rebuilding LISC opened its Detroit office in 1990, in communities. The process begins by providing response to a recommendation from the 1987 high-quality, affordable housing. But it by no Detroit Strategic Plan. Since 1990, Detroit LISC means ends there. Communities need safe has invested over $80 million and leveraged streets, accessible healthcare, affordable an additional $350 million in funding for the childcare, vibrant shopping districts, good revitalization of Detroit. Over the past 16 years, schools, decent parks and quality recreational Detroit LISC has worked with over 30 CDCs opportunities. That’s why LISC has helped to develop nearly 3,000 housing units and 2,800 community development corporations 300,000 square feet of commercial space. (CDC) create more than 160,000 new homes These investments represent increased neighborhood and nearly 27 million square feet of 660 Woodward Ave. Suite 1111 stability, family security and individual opportunity. commercial, retail and educational space. Detroit, MI 48226 phone: 313.596.8222 In Detroit, as we are across the county, LISC is fax: 313.596.8237 helping neighbors build communities. www.lisc.org/detroit

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Living and Investing in the D: Investment and community ‘Almost like a fairy tale’

BY BRENT SNAVELY the community. Fort Street consists of a 176,000- Big bet by CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Delray, in the heart of De- square-foot manufacturing troit’s industrial southwest plant that opened in 2001 as ince ArvinMeritor Inc.’s side, was originally settled by well as an 80,000-square-foot of- ArvinMeritor largest division German immigrants but be- fice complex and a 16,000- opened its new head- came a racially diverse work- square-foot research lab that on southwest S quarters in southwest ing-class neighborhood about a both opened in 2004. Detroit two years ago, the com- century ago. Its boundaries The $46 million project em- pany has become an active and generally stretch from Fort ploys about 230 at the manufac- Detroit vital part of the neighborhood, Street to the Detroit River and turing center community leaders say. from Clark Street to just be- and about 182 in “It’s almost like a fairy tale yond Dearborn Avenue. the office com- pays off for of the way things ought to hap- The area has been hit hard plex. pen,” said Southwestern High by job losses, struggles with About 80 per- School Principal Robert Hodge. poverty and has poor air quali- cent of the pro- hard-hit area “We have opened up a whole ty due to the large number of duction employ- new relationship between the manufacturing plants in the ees come from school and industry. This is a area. the two nearest model that I hope we can some- Insidesouthwestdetroit.com, ZIP codes, said day take to other schools and a Web site dedicated to present- Jerry Rush, Jerry Rush, businesses.” ing information about the vari- ArvinMeritor’s ArvinMeritor senior director of government and community affairs. The office complex serves as the global headquarters for ArvinMeritor’s Light Vehicle Systems division, which ac- counted for $4.8 billion, or 54 percent, of ArvinMeritor’s sales last year. ArvinMeritor’s corporate headquarters is in Troy. The light-vehicle division supplies emissions systems, roof and door systems, and suspension and wheel products to automakers from 73 locations worldwide. At the Detroit plant, ArvinMeritor makes sunroofs, suspension modules and shock-absorber assem- blies. Back in 1999, Rush said, Arv- inMeritor considered North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. But the company picked Michigan after the state came through with a financial incentive package that matched ArvinMeritor’s decision to build the other states, Rush said. its Light Vehicle Systems Hodge and State Rep. Steve ous neighborhoods in south- “All things being equal, we headquarters in southwest Tobocman, D-Detroit, give Arv- west Detroit, describes Delray selected Detroit to be near the Detroit provided jobs for the inMeritor credit not just for as “a struggling community Big Three,” Rush said. “We se- surrounding area and offered an providing jobs in the belea- with a huge heart. Though the lected this site because we want- opportunity for the company to guered Detroit neighborhood neighborhood has seen better ed to be next to a high school.” become involved in high school of Delray, but for becoming in- times, and possibly none worse ArvinMeritor received $13.4 education programs and than now, there is suggestion million in tax breaks over 18 community leadership. volved in high school education programs and for filling a of revitalization.” void of corporate leadership in ArvinMeritor’s presence on See ArvinMeritor, Page 34

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