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.