Mayor, leaders celebrate Pensole Lewis College’s new footwear design studio

Mayor Mike Duggan joined local leaders to celebrate the grand opening of the Pensole Lewis College (PLC) Detroit’s new Foot Locker Footwear Creation Studio at 200 Walker St.

The new design studio offers a level of access and opportunity that is unmatched in the design field through shoemaking workshops, sample making services, small footwear production capabilities and more.

The PLC is the only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) designated school in Detroit, and the first HBCU in the country to focus on design.

The new studio was founded with the support of the Gilbert Family Foundation, which provided $10 million over five years as part of its ongoing efforts to provide Detroit residents with pathways to job opportunities in high-demand industries.

City Council approves $3-billion project with health care, commercial and housing developments

The Detroit City Council approved a $3-billion investment by Henry Ford Health, Michigan State University, Tom Gores and the Detroit Pistons this week, marking a historic investment in health, health education, housing and recreation in the city of Detroit.

The monumental project consists of integrated parking plans, health care/research/laboratory space, retail/commercial space and mixed-income residential units.  The project includes:

• Major expansion of Henry Ford Hospital with a new patient tower, expanded emergency department, support services, and utility infrastructure
• New cutting-edge research center for Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University Health Sciences
• Creation of over 600 housing units and community space in two new residential/mixed-use buildings and the conversion of One Ford Place to a residential/mixed-use building. Planned residential housing will include an affordable housing component
• Two new parking structures with about 2,000 spaces
• New public recreation and green spaces

Health Department updates guidance to protect against COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses

The Detroit Health Department is recommending all Detroiters take the following steps to help stay healthy from all forms of respiratory illness, including COVID-19, flu and RSV.

The recommendations follow guidance issued by the CDC that unites and streamlines recommendations for avoiding a range of common respiratory viral illnesses:

• Stay up to date with vaccinations to protect against serious illness, including vaccines that prevent flu, COVID-19 and RSV if eligible
• Continue to practice safe hygiene, including hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes (in arm), and disinfecting high-touch surfaces frequently
• Take steps to breathe cleaner air: open a window, use an air purifier, and gather outdoors when possible

The Detroit Health Department offers vaccinations for COVID-19, flu and RSV at its Immunizations Clinic at 100 Mack Avenue, from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The clinic has late hours on the first and third Thursday of each month, from 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

The Detroit Health Department also provides COVID-19 testing at 100 Mack Avenue, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Further details are available at detroitmi.gov/health.

Detroit Fire Department adds six EMS vehicles, response times improving

The Detroit Fire Department (DFD) added six new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicles into service as part of its continued efforts to serve the community and improve response times.

During the presentation of the new vehicles this week, Detroit Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms reported the average response time had improved to seven minutes and 30 seconds, down from an average of seven minutes and 57 seconds.

With the new vehicles, the Department aims to continue improving response times.

Another reason the DFD’s response times have improved is firefighters now are trained as paramedics. If firefighters are the first at a scene, they can begin life-saving measures right away. Overall DFD’s response times are at the best they have been in years and are better than the national average for departments of similar size, officials say.

Mayor joins Senator Stabenow for Matrix Center renovation project announcement

Mayor Duggan joined U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow and local leaders in celebrating the groundbreaking for a $2-million renovation project at the Matrix Center.

The Matrix Center project, made possible through federal funding by Senator Stabenow, marks a monumental step toward supporting and expanding the critical programs and services provided to the Detroit community, including the homeless and those in need.

The renovations will enhance the capacity of the Matrix Center to serve over 20,000 local individuals and families annually, including the 1,600 children enrolled in its Head Start program.

Matrix is upgrading its facility to provide multipurpose use for the community and support small businesses with getting the resources they need to build on their vision, grow their business and thrive in Detroit. The renovations are expected to be completed later this year.

Detroit Fire Department, local partners train 1,000 residents in CPR

More than 1,000 people took part in the Detroit Fire Department/WDIV free Hands-Only CPR training session at the Northwest Activities Center this week.

Hands-Only CPR, which involves only chest compressions, has emerged in recent years as an alternative to standard CPR, which involves both chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths.

The aim of the event was to train Detroiters on a quick way to assist others in case of a medical emergency. Learning how to do Hands-Only CPR can help save a life in the case of cardiac arrest.

In addition to WDIV Channel 4, the DFD was joined at the event by Detroit Health Department, Henry Ford Health, Wayne Health and University of Michigan Health.

Residents may sign up for future Hands-Only CPR training sessions provided by the Detroit Fire Department at DFD Academy Calendar.

Join the virtual meeting on March 11 at 5 p.m. on Zoom here. Learn more at detroitmi.gov/parkconversions.

The City of Detroit’s Housing Services Office (DHS) is has expanding its scope to include direct assistance and referrals for several additional services, including utility assistance, transportation, and social services. The office was launched as part of Mayor Duggan’s $203-million Affordable Housing Plan in June 2023 to provide a single point of access for all housing-related needs,

Those services now will be managed through the Detroit Housing Services Office, which includes the Housing Resource HelpLine call center and a case management team, who assess resident needs and connect them to the network of services and programs designed for each specific need, including Detroit at Work for job openings, training and supportive service-related needs.

The goal is to streamline access to vital services, provide case management when needed. The DHS Housing Resource HelpLine staff of more than 100 is ready to assist residents at 866-313-2520.

City, contractors offer sneak-peek at Detroit Gateway sign

Workers at Fairmont Sign Company on Detroit’s northeast side are creating billboard style Welcome to Detroit signs, along with the new gateway sign spelling out DETROIT with seven, 10-foot-tall letters.

The company last week gave the public a behind-the-scenes look at the signs and letters as they take shape.

The DETROIT sign will be installed on the eastbound I-94 Freeway between Central and Cecil avenues.

Rendering of Detroit freeway sign

Digital kiosks provide information on City programs and events

Residents and visitors can learn more about a variety of City of Detroit and other local programs, events and policies on 28 interactive digital kiosks, including 17 downtown and 11 in neighborhoods across Detroit.

The locations of the neighborhood kiosks are:

• Greydale & W. Grand River
• Evergreen & Joy roads
• Livernois & W. Outer Dr.
• E. Seven Mile & Van Dyke
• E. Jefferson & Chalmers
• Russell & Winder (Eastern Market)
• W. Grand Blvd. & Milwaukee
• W. Warren & Woodward
• Cass & W. Canfield
• Trumbull & Michigan
• Bagley & 24th St.

The locations of the downtown kiosks are:

• E. Adams & Witherell
• Witherell & Madison
• Brush & Beacon
• Grand River Ave. & Madison
• Monroe & Beaubien
• E. Lafayette & St Antoine
• Cadillac Square & Woodward
• Griswold & W. Fort
• Washington Blvd. & Larned (Convention Center)
• Washington Blvd. & W. Congress
• Cass & Michigan
• Shelby & Griswold (Capitol Park)
• Griswold & State
• Library & Farmer
• Broadway & John R
• Bagley & Third Ave. (MGM Grand)
• W. Fisher Service Dr. & Woodward

Sign up for Detroit Connected app, gain access to local channels

The City of Detroit Media Services Department’s app, Detroit Connected, allows Detroiters to watch City Channels 10, 21, 22, and 68 on their phones and devices, without a cable connection.

The new app is available on Roku, Amazon Firestick, Google Play, and the Apple App Store, and can be used on televisions and smartphones. The linktree for all the services is here.

With Detroit Connected, residents can view live television, including City Council meetings, press conferences, groundbreakings and public events. The channels can also be viewed on the City’s website.

Detroiters with the app can also watch videos of previous live events.