Friday, April 5, 2023     |     www.detroitmi.gov

Mayor, local leaders celebrate rehabilitation of The Claire apartment building

Mayor Mike Duggan joined City leaders and partners this week to celebrate the beginning of the rehabilitation of a new multi-family affordable housing development.

The Claire is a $9.17-million project that will bring another 42 units of new affordable housing to Detroit.

Vacant for almost 25 years, the Claire, a 1920s vintage apartment building formerly called The Clairwood, will undergo extensive rehabilitation to offer studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment units.

The renovations will result in a National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Silver certification, with on-site parking including six EV charging stations. Design elements include a modern aesthetic with granite countertops, a fitness center, and art preservation in the lobby featuring works from local Detroit artists Matt Corbin and Yvette Cole.

Of the 42 units, a total of 27 will have rents set between 50 to 80 percent of area median income (AMI). Under the agreement, affordability of the apartments is guaranteed for the next 11 years.

City of Detroit announces Phase 2 of road closures in advance of NFL Draft

The City of Detroit announced the next phase of road closures in advance of this year’s NFL Draft. The event is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors and customers to downtown.

Phase Two closures will begin April 8 at 9 a.m., and last until May 5. It will encompass the roads around Campus Martius and the south side of the NFL Draft Theater space in the area formerly known as the Monroe Midway:

• Northbound Woodward Avenue from Congress Street to State Street
• Eastbound Cadillac Square from Woodward Avenue to Randolph Street
• Westbound Cadillac Square from Randolph Street to Bates Street
• Bates Street from Cadillac Square to East Congress Street

Phase One closures from now until May 7 include:

• Randolph Street between Monroe Street and Fort Street
• Monroe Street between Woodward Avenue and Randolph Street
• Farmer Street between Randolph and Bates (Garage access only)
• Bates Street (no through traffic)

The QLine will continue to provide service to the Congress Street station through April 12.

All road closure updates will be posted on the NFL One Pass app, visitdetroit.com, detroitmi.gov, Google Maps and Waze. Fans are encouraged to register on the NFL One Pass app in advance to attend the NFL Draft, which is a free event.

Mayor joins former Lion Matt Stafford to celebrate expansion of Detroit Play Center at Lipke Park

Mayor Duggan joined former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and wife Kelly to celebrate the expansion of the east side’s S.A.Y. Detroit Play Center at Lipke Park, a repurposed after-school/athletic facility started nearly 10 years ago by founder Mitch Albom.

With the 15,000-square-foot enhancement, the state-of-the-art center at 19320 Van Dyke will add more academic and enrichment programs for hundreds of Detroit youth (ages 8 -18). The new Kelly and Matthew Stafford & Friends Education Center also features a black box theatre, multi-purpose classrooms and will now serve adults through GED, vocational training, and workplace readiness programs.

The Staffords provided an initial $1million toward the expansion with partners offering additional support.

Learn more at sayplay.org.

For more information, email DTSC@detroitmi.gov, or visit the DTSC page here.

The City of Detroit, in collaboration with Bedrock, Michigan Central and the State of Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), announced plans to pilot a two-way, 10.8-mile autonomous vehicle (AV) shuttle route, called the Connect.  It will run from Michigan Central to Bedrock’s 200 Walker Street on the riverfront.

The Connect pilot service will open to the public this summer and run at no cost to riders.

This shuttle service pilot is an example of future transportation innovation taking place in Detroit and the Michigan Central development area, with the goal of setting a new standard for sustainable, efficient, and community-centric mobility.

The project leaders are working to ensure the sustainable extension of the pilot shuttle service for years to come, complementing existing Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) services. Guided by the City’s Office of Mobility Innovation, Detroit will lead community outreach initiatives with residents before deployment.

Deadline for FEMA disaster assistance for 2023 storms extended to May 8

Homeowners and renters in Wayne County with uninsured or underinsured damage caused by the August 24 – 26, 2023 severe storms are encouraged to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The deadline to apply for assistance has been extended to May 8, 2024.

Residents can apply for FEMA assistance online or in person:

• Go online here, use the FEMA Mobile App, or call 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service such as video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service.
• Visit one of the following Disaster Recovery Centers in Detroit:
  • Kemeny Recreation Center, 2260 S. Fort St.
  • Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval
  • Samaritan Center, 5555 Conner

Individuals can visit a Disaster Recovery Center or call the FEMA Helpline if they have questions or need help with the process or would like to file an appeal.

For more information about the disaster recovery operation in Michigan, visit fema.gov/disaster/4757.

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

The City of Detroit Media Services Department 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.

City of Detroit’s credit rating upgraded two levels to Investment Grade, first time since 2009

Mayor Duggan and local leaders celebrated the return to Investment Grade for Detroit with bottles of black ink, signifying the City’s positive financial growth.

The City of Detroit received an upgrade in its Moody’s Investors Services credit rating, returning to investment grade for the first time since 2009.

Not only did Detroit achieve an investment grade credit rating in just ten years out of bankruptcy, but Moody’s Investors Services upgraded the City’s credit rating two levels at once, a rare and exceptional occurrence.

As a result of the improved credit, the City of Detroit can now approach large investors (pension funds, mutual funds, insurance companies) that only purchase investment-grade bonds, lowering interest rates.

With Detroit’s increasing tax base, revenue growth, and strong management, Moody’s expects the momentum to continue.

Mayor Duggan, community partners, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan President and CEO Daniel J. Loepp gathered on Detroit’s east side to celebrate the completion of $1.5 million in renovations to Balduck Park.

Renovations include improved park entries and signage, installation of new walkways, playground upgrades and expansion, a new picnic shelter and dog park. Enhancements have been made to Community Hill for sledding.

This work further highlights the ongoing commitment to enhancing Detroit’s recreational spaces.

Digital kiosks provide information on City programs and events

Residents and visitors can learn more about the 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