Shinola Hotel only hotel in Michigan to be named to "It List"

The Shinola Hotel | Photo by Wild Wind Studios

Earlier today, Travel + Leisure magazine announced its 15th annual “It List”. This is an editor-curated list of the best hotels in the world with only 72 new or recently renovated destinations in the entire world making the cut.

Only one of those 72 hotels to make the “It List” happens to be in Michigan. The Shinola Hotel in downtown Detroit has the distinction of representing not only the Motor City but all of Michigan.

“The beauty of staying at a hotel is that you can drop both your physical and emotional baggage and be the best version of yourself,” explained Jacqueline Gifford, editor in chief of Travel + Leisure in a prepared statement. “With over 70 honorees — including a Loire Valley château and a series of lodges in Bhutan — our annual It List is packed with hotels that make you feel spoiled, nurtured, and seamlessly connected to the outside world.”

The Travel + Leisure 2020 It List includes 19 hotels across the United States including four in California, three in New York, and two in Hawaii, as well as in places such as Asbury Park, Detroit, Miami, New Orleans, and Philadelphia.

Guest room in the Shinola Hotel | Photo by Nicole Franzen

The Shinola Hotel, which is a boutique property that opened in downtown Detroit in early 2019 from local companies with a love for the city, Shinola and Bedrock. It has become a meaningful gathering place for visitors and locals alike. With 129 rooms and suites, a thoughtfully curated art collection by Library Street Collective, and six restaurants and bars from award-winning Andrew Carmellini of NoHo Hospitality.

There are a lot of Detroiters who have worked incredibly hard and taken some big risks to make the Shinola Hotel a premiere destination.

The other 11 American properties that made Travel + Leisure’s It List this year are Asbury Ocean Club in Asbury Park, New Jersey as well as:

• Four Seasons Hotel Lanai at Koele, a Sensei Retreat in Lanai, Hawaii;
• Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection on the Big Island, Hawaii;
• Soho Warehouse in Los Angeles, California;
• Palihouse Miami Beach in Miami, Florida;
• Maison de la Luz in New Orleans, Louisiana;
• Equinox Hotel in New York, New York;
• The Times Square EDITION in New York, New York;
• Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
• TWA Hotel in Queens, New York;
• Santa Monica Proper Hotel in Santa Monica, California;
• MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa in Sonoma, California;
• Willow House in Terlingua, Texas;
• Posada by the Joshua Tree House in Tucson, Arizona;
• Blackberry Mountain in Walland, Tennessee;
• The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection in Wanship, Utah;
• Captain Whidbey Inn in Whidbey Island, Washington; and
• Canyon Ranch Woodside in Woodside, California.

The list of wonderful things in Detroit keeps growing. Each new development means more jobs and more tax revenue for a city that, quite frankly, is still in dire need of both things. The fact that a major media outlet like Travel + Leisure notices their work is always worth celebrating.

I congratulate each and every person who played a part in this accomplishment. I look forward to seeing even more great things in the near future.

Detroit police complete another week of targeted enforcement

Police officer | Stock photo by Coco Parisienne/Pixabay

The Detroit Police Department has completed a third week of targeted enforcement with the goal of decreasing violent crimes associated with the black market sale and purchase of marijuana and other illegal narcotics. Police precincts across the city began conducting targeted enforcement actions on January 27 in response to a spike in violent crime.

This initiative’s third week ran from February 10 – 17. During this time period, police officers reported the following preliminary results across Detroit:

• 78 felony arrests were made;
• 36 misdemeanor arrests were also made;
• 21 firearms were seized , which includes 16 handguns and five long guns;
• 918 citations were issued;
• 68 vehicles were impounded; and
• Two stolen vehicles were recovered.

Police officers also confiscated a variety of narcotics. This included 54.5 grams of cocaine, 307 pills of various types, 151.5 grams of marijuana, and 18 grams of heroin.

"Our goal is to keep our communities safe, and this effort is to focus on the buyers and sellers who are illegally carrying guns," explained Chief James Craig of the Detroit Police Department. "I am thankful for the good work my officers are doing to rid our streets of illegal weapons associated with the sale of illegal narcotics so law-abiding residents can go about their lives free from fear."

While these operations are by no means confined to the Warrendale neighborhood, it is afterall a citywide operation, the fact that so many felons and firearms are off the streets of Detroit is a promising fact, in my opinion.

As the Detroit Police Department continues this initiative, additional details will be reported on this blog and on its Facebook page.

Boxing class at the library and more

There are several challenges to running a hyperlocal blog like this one. For example, Google’s search rankings tend to rank sites lower if most of their articles are less than 500 words. That might not be a problem for those blogging about some topics. When one is blogging about one particular neighborhood, though, there are a lot of stories that I simply cannot stretch out that long without becoming redundant or boring.

Therefore, I’ve decided to start merging some of these stories into longer posts; creating one long post that the internet search engines like rather than three or four shorter articles that they rank lower automatically.

Boxing | Stock photo by Harut Movsisyan/Pixabay

Boxing classes at the library
The Edison Branch (18400 Joy Rd.) of the Detroit Public Library will host a boxing class this coming Saturday, March 8 from noon to 2 pm. This event is open to all ages. It’s a great way to build self-esteem and physical confidence.

More details about this class are available on the library's website, which is located here.

Pizza | Stock photo by Igor Ovsyannykov/Pixabay

Free slice of pizza

This Sunday, March 9 is National Pizza Day, which is one of those social media holidays that is near and dear to my heart. I look forward to celebrating at Sbarro's inside Fairlane Town Center where you can buy one New York slice and a beverage and get another slice of New York cheese or pepperoni for free.

Details and coupons are located here.

Rouge Park | Photo by Frank Nemecek

Rebirth of the nature trail?

The Friends of Rouge Park are exploring the possibility of reestablishing the original Wild Nature Trail. This trail was constructed in Rouge Park in the 1930s but has been in a general state of disrepair for quite some time.

I will have more on this story as it develops, especially if the nonprofit group decides to push forward with it.

Girl in a garden | Stock photo by Rudy and Peter Skitterians/Pixabay

Community garden launches fundraiser

The In Memory of Community Garden (6551 Minock St.) is attempting to raise $500 to support their ongoing operations. If you are willing and able to so, please consider making a donation over on this website.

The garden will provide children and families a place to learn about nutrition and the benefits that fruits, vegetables and exercise provide. Community gardening is a healthy, inexpensive activity for youth and adults that can bring them closer to nature and allow them to interact with each other in a socially, meaningful and productive way. Produce from the garden will help supply nutritious locally grown produce to low-income families in need and all surplus will be donated to our local food banks and pantry's. The Garden will add beauty to the community and heighten people’s awareness and appreciation for all living things.

Detroit police release new recruiting video
The Detroit Police Department, like most police departments in this nation, has more openings for police officers than it does people applying for those jobs. In order to boost its numbers, they have released a new recruiting video for social media and television.

Quite frankly, I think this video is kind of badass. It’s embedded above. I encourage everyone to watch it and share with anyone who you think would make a good Detroit police officer.

Interested parties can also get started on their career pathway by clicking here.

Please subscribe to the Warrendale Detroit Blog by entering your email address where is says “receive email alerts” in the upper right hand column of this page.

GM makes $2.2 billion investment in Detroit

Governor Gretchen Whitmer speaks at press conference in Detroit | Photo courtesy of GM

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan were on hand with GM executives this morning to announce a $2.2 billion investment in the company's Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. This plant will produce a variety of all-electric trucks and SUVs.

GM’s first all-electric truck will be a pickup with production scheduled to begin in late 2021. This will be followed soon after by the Cruise Origin, a shared, electric, self-driving vehicle unveiled by Cruise in San Francisco last week. Detroit-Hamtramck will be GM’s first fully-dedicated electric vehicle assembly plant.

“Through this investment, GM is taking a big step forward in making our vision of an all-electric future a reality,” said Mark Reuss, GM president, during a press event at the plant with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other local and state officials. “Our electric pickup will be the first of multiple electric truck variants we will build at Detroit-Hamtramck over the next few years.”

When the plant is fully operational, this investment will create more than 2,200 good-paying U.S. manufacturing jobs. GM will also invest an additional $800 million in supplier tooling and other projects related to the launch of the new electric trucks.

Since the fall of 2018, GM has committed to invest more than $2.5 billion in Michigan to bring electric vehicles to market through investments at Orion assembly, GM battery lab in Warren, Brownstown and today’s announced direct investment in Detroit-Hamtramck. 

The plant’s paint and body shops and general assembly area will receive comprehensive upgrades, including new machines, conveyors, controls and tooling.

GM’s joint venture with LG Chem – which is investing $2.3 billion to manufacture battery cells in Lordstown, Ohio – will supply battery cells for the electric vehicles manufactured at Detroit-Hamtramck.

A key driver behind GM’s decision to make the commitment to Detroit-Hamtramck was the support this project received from the state of Michigan.

“The support from the state of Michigan was a key element in making this investment possible,” added Reuss. “This investment helps ensure that Michigan will remain at the epicenter of the global automotive industry as we continue our journey to an electrified future.”

Detroit-Hamtramck currently operates on one shift of production and builds the Cadillac CT6 and the Chevrolet Impala. Approximately 900 people are employed at the plant. As previously confirmed, the plant will be idled for several months beginning at the end of February as the renovations begin.

The plant has built more than 4 million vehicles since opening in 1985. Hourly employees at Detroit-Hamtramck are represented by UAW Local 22.

Gas prices continue to fall across Michigan

Gas station at night | Photo by Sergio Souza/Pexels

Gas prices in the Great Lakes State are down 8 cents compared to a week ago, according to a report out this morning from AAA of Michigan. Drivers are now paying an average of $2.40 per gallon for regular unleaded. This price is 6 cents less than this time last month and 23 cents more than this time last year.

Motorists are paying an average of $36 for a full 15-gallon tank of gasoline. This is a discount of $8 from when prices were their highest in Michigan last July.

In its latest weekly report, the Energy Information Administration revealed that total domestic stocks of gasoline continue to grow. According to EIA’s data, stocks grew by 1.7 million bbl last week, bringing the current total to 260 million barrels. This current level is in line with the level seen in mid-January 2019. For gasoline demand, EIA estimates that it grew slightly from 8.56 million b/d to 8.66 million b/d last week, but the current demand level is lower than last year’s 8.87 million b/d at this same time.

"Increase stocks and low demand have helped push pump prices lower," said Howard Hughey, spokesperson, AAA - The Auto Club Group. "As these trends continue, motorists will likely see pump prices decline through the week."

Compared to last week, Metro Detroit’s average daily gas price decreased. Metro Detroit’s current average is $2.47 per gallon, about 5 cents less than last week’s average and about 34 cents more than this same time last year.

Fuel prices in the Warrendale neighborhood are a bit higher than local averages with the cheapest gas being Marathon (18142 W. Warren Ave) at $2.54 per gallon. Although, I expect that to fall soon to bring them closer to what other stations in the area are charging.

The most expensive gas price averages in Michigan are Ann Arbor with an average of $2.49, Metro Detroit with an average of $2.47, and Marquette at $2.43. The cheapest gas price averages in the state are Saginaw with an average per gallon prices of only $2.29, Grand Rapids  with an average of $2.30,  and Traverse City at $2.32.

Tech training in Detroit

Computer technology - Photo by Daniel Agrelo/Pixabay

Early this morning, the folks at WalletHub released a report that named Detroit the worst city in America to find a job in. I posted my analysis and commentary about it over here. A few minutes after that post went live, I received an email announcing that one of the country’s largest free tech training programs, NPower, is launching in Detroit this month.

NPower providing free tech work training to minorities, former felons and veterans right from their location in the New Center area.

They have already empowered neglected communities in Baltimore, Harlem, Brooklyn, Jersey City, St. Louis and Dallas. They offer programs that teach basic coding skills, cyber security, and tech fundamentals. The nonprofit has had so much success in these cities, they’ve now launched in Detroit.

In Detroit and Southeast Michigan, NPower will connect young adults from some of the most dangerous and impoverished neighborhoods to the fast-growing companies in the area who are in urgent need of tech workers. Equipping these students with tech skills will also help bring new business into the city.

NPower’s new Executive Director - Camille Walker Banks - is a Detroit native. She has more than 20 years of experience creating 5,000 new jobs and generating $5.5B in capital investment for the city.

Anyway, the fact that all of this happened right after that other was report was released about the job market in Detroit’s inner city. Quite frankly, I think this re-enforces my earlier point that Detroiters need to keep plugging along. If we do that, I’m confident that the improvements that we need to happen will happen.

Housing market to remain a seller’s market in 2020, experts predict

Key in the front door to a home - Photo by PhotoMIX Ltd/Pexels

The housing market is likely to remain a seller's market throughout the United States, according to a survey of 500 of the top real estate agents across the nation that was conducted by HomeLight. This is largely consistent with other forecasts for the local market in Detroit.

Several other experts predict a generally positive housing market forecast in Detroit for 2020. While some skeptics argue that a real estate crash is imminent, the Warrendale neighborhood and other parts of Detroit simply do not have properties that are overpriced to anywhere near the degree that are cited in their alarming predictions.

The housing market is likely to remain a seller's market throughout the United States, according to a survey of 500 of the top real estate agents across the nation that was conducted by HomeLight. This is largely consistent with other forecasts for the local market in Detroit.

There is one cautionary note in the data released yesterday. While it is still a seller's market, with demand significantly outpacing supply in many parts of the country, there is a danger in overpricing a home that is for sale. No matter how hot a market is, there is always an upper limit to what buyers are willing to pay.

Individuals who are looking to sell an existing home in 2020 still have to balance their own desire to get the highest possible price with a realistic understanding of what the real estate market will bear. This is one of the key areas where the advice of an experienced real estate agent who knows the Detroit market can be invaluable.

With a cautionary note about overpricing duly given, the overall outlook for the housing market in Detroit for 2020 is a positive one. Existing homes that are in good condition and reasonably priced should continue to sell well. Moreover, the prices that these homes are sold for should continue to climb at rates that significantly outpace inflation.

My note about existing homes being in good condition is an important additional caveat. One of the things that the recent data also showed is that, as prices continue to climb, buyers are beginning to insist on more repairs being done to the home before they take possession.

This trend at the national level continues to be seen at the local level. Homes in the Warrendale neighborhood that are in good condition continue to command top dollar. Meanwhile, existing homes that are in poor condition and need many repairs are languishing unsold for months at a time.

Again, one of the things that an experienced real estate agent can help sellers with tremendously. They can point out what repairs are most likely to be an issue for the buyer and where to best invest a home improvement budget.

This, course, is simply a summary of their 43-page report. The full forecast of the housing market for 2020 is available in its entirety here.

Mayor Duggan celebrates the Stategic Neighborhood Initiative

Mayor Mike Duggan of Detroit recently commemorated the one-year anniversary of the Stategic Neighborhoods Initiative. This is a public-private partnership to improve some of the neighborhoods in our city, such as Warrendale.
This initiative got a large boost recently. The Ralph C. Wilson Foundation announced a $10 million grant to support the neighborhoods in Detroit. Those funds will go towards citywide development of our ten targetedneighborhoods on streetscapes, commercial corridors, and parks.

"We are improving neighborhoods in Detroit for Detroiters," Duggan commented.
They and our other corporate partners have already made an incredible impact, and it is my hope that others will join us in continuing our mission of creating a stronger Detroit for everyone. Mayor Duggan's team posted a video of his remarks about the Stategic Neighborhoods Initiative to his Facebook page.

I have embedded this video above. I encourage everyone to take a moment to watch it.

Mayor of Taylor among those indicted

Mayor Richard Sollars of Taylor - City of Taylor photo

A 33 count indictment was unsealed this afternoon chargingMayor Richard “Rick” Sollars of Taylor, Michigan, Shady Awad, and Taylor Community Development Manager Jeffrey Baum with conspiracy to commit bribery in a scheme spanning from 2015 to 2019, United States Attorney Matthew Schneider announced.  The indictment also charges Sollars and Awad with seven counts of bribery each, and charges Sollars and Baum with 18 counts of wire fraud.

According to the indictment, Sollars helped Awad’s real estate development company Realty Transition LLC obtain scores of tax-foreclosed properties owned by the city of Taylor.  In return, Awad lavished Sollars with thousands of dollars in cash and over $30,000 in renovations to Sollars’s home, over $11,000 in renovations to Sollars’s lake house, and over $12,000 in new household appliances.  The appliances included a refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher, a $1,600 cigar humidor, a vacuum cleaner, and a clothes washer and dryer.  The free renovations provided to Sollars by Awad include hardwood floors on every level of Sollars’s Taylor residence, hardwood floors at the lake house, a garage door, a new front door, cabinets, and a refurbished lake house deck.  The Indictment also alleges that Jeffrey Baum received bribes from Awad and another developer, in exchange for Baum’s help in obtaining tax-foreclosed properties from the City.

Text messages between Sollars, Awad, and Baum cited throughout the Indictment document the bribe scheme.  In one text, Awad states as follows: “My relationship with Rick is worth $1 million so whatever it takes I’ll pay for it” in telling a contractor to do free work on Sollars’s lake house.  In another text, the Indictment states that Awad told Sollars that Sollars was Awad’s “silent partner” in Awad’s real estate development business.  Sollars, 45, is a resident of Taylor.  Awad, 39, and Baum, 44, are both residents of Allen Park, Michigan. 

The indictment also charges Sollars and Baum with 18 counts of Wire Fraud, alleging that Sollars and Baum defrauded donors to Sollars’s campaign fund in three ways.  First, Sollars would take checks from his campaign account and write them payable to a particular market, purporting to pay for catering for one of Sollars’s events.  Instead, the market owner would cash the campaign checks and give the cash back to Sollars, with no catering provided.  Second, Sollars and Baum would direct Sollars’s supporters to write checks directly to the market for events that never occurred.  Sollars would get cash and scratch-off lottery tickets from the market owner.  Third, Sollars and Baum would solicit and accept thousands of dollars in cash contributions to Sollars’s campaign.  Instead of depositing the funds into his campaign account, Sollars would simply keep the cash and use it for personal expenses.

The Indictment also seeks forfeiture of $205,993 in cash seized from Sollars’s home on February 10, 2019.

Schneider was joined in the announcement by Steven D’Antuono, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“The unearthing of allegedly blatant corruption at the top levels of government in the City of Taylor should disturb every citizen of our state,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider.  “Federal law enforcement will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute any public officials who choose their personal greed over their public oath.”

"Any time an allegation of corruption is brought to our attention, the FBI's Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force will investigate it thoroughly. Public corruption at any level undermines the community's faith in their elected officials and does long-term damage to government institutions," said SAC D'Antuono. "With that in mind, we encourage anyone who believes they have information about corruption to contact the FBI at (313) 965-4545 or tips.fbi.gov."

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dawn Ison and R. Michael Bullotta.

An indictment is only a charging document and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Detroit-area toy company teams up with Toys for Tots

With the the holiday season in full swing, Magformers of Canton, Michigan announced its partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Designed to assist the less fortunate, Toys For Tots is a top-rated charity that distributes millions of gifts to less fortunate children every holiday season. Magformers will be participating by donating over $25,000 worth of toys through a buy one give one program available now on  Magformers.com.

“As an industry leader in magnetic building toys, we believe it is vital for children to develop through creativity. The importance of giving back and being kind is not overlooked when it comes to our mission. This partnership is the perfect opportunity to introduce children to our products and teach them lessons in STEM early on. We hope our work with Toys For Tots inspires others to pay it forward this holiday season.” says Chris Tidwell, CEO of Magformers.

The Marine Toys for Tots Program has been delivering hope to less fortunate children since 1947. The foundation helps bring the joy of Christmas to kids in a variety of ways, by delivering a message of hope, by helping kids build and restore self-esteem and by inspiring children to give back. Last year, with the help of team members, partnering businesses and volunteers the Marine Toys for Tots donated over 18.5 million toys, games, and books to over 7 million children in need.

During the partnership, Magformers will contribute over $25,000 worth of toys to the Toys For Tots foundation. Furthermore, Magformers will be participating in a buy one give one program for select products purchased on the Magformers website. The toys include products from the STEM.org authenticated plush line, Dolce and Clicformers lines. Consumers can help the cause this holiday season by purchasing top-selling Magformers products such as the Amazing Construction 70pc Set, the Dolce Mouse Backpack and many more.

Magformer’s partnership with the U.S. Marine Toys For Tots foundation will run until December 31, 2019. For more information on Magformers, Clicformers, and Dolce visit, magformers.com. To learn more about Toys For Tots and how you can donate visit toysfortots.org.

Mayor Duggan holds annual meeting with Detroiters

On November 19 of this year, Mayor Mike Duggan of Detroit held his annual meeting with the residents of District 7. This, of course, is the area that includes the Warrendale and adjacent neighborhoods in our city.

Thee mayor's annual meeting with residents, by the way, is required by the City Charter, Mayor Duggan is required to have a scheduled community-wide meeting with residents in each of the Detroit's seven City Council districts at least once each year.

While the City Charter does not specify a particular day or time for these meetings, Mayor Duggan has traditionally held these meetings in the fall each year since he assumed office in January 2014. He normally begins these meetings with a short presentation. After that, each and every Detroit resident is invited to ask him any question that he or she wants.

Senior members of his administration are generally present as well. This enables them to add additional details and to resolve problems that residents bring to him.

Councilman Gabe Leland, who represents District 7 on the Detroit City Council, also attended this meeting. He also spoke at it and addressed concerns raised by local residents.

Video from this meeting is embedded above.

Job readiness workshop to be held tomorrow in Detroit

Training workshop - Illustration by Mohammed Hasan on Pixabay

The City of Detroit will host a job readiness workshop to better prepare unemployed and underemployed residents for the career that they desire. This important event will begin tomorrow, November 12 at 6 p.m. and will run until 7:30 p.m. that evening. This will happen in the St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center (19321 West Chicago), which is approximately one mile north of the Warrendale neighborhood.

One of the things that this workshop will discuss is the Detroit at Work program. That’s a program that provides job training and job placement assistance to Detroiters. It focuses on growing sectors such as construction, healthcare, hospitality and retail, information technology, and manufacturing.

They will also talk about financial education for Detroiters. Finally, during this workshop they will  provide advice on two other important details that are essential for getting the job you want. This is advice on how to interview for the job you want and how to dress for that job interview.

The Detroit at Work program currently has 7,249 job available in our area. More job opportunities are added all the time.

There is no charge to attend this workshop tomorrow. However, those wishing to attend are asked to RSPV by either calling Eric Fowlkes at (313) 236-3516 or emailing fowlkese [at] detroitmi [dot] gov. His email address, of course, is presented in a way that humans should be able to understand but that spam robots should find difficult.

The job readiness workshop is presented by the City of Detroit and Huntington Bank.

The state of Detroit's real estate market in 2019

The internet is losing its mind - Photo by Mandyme27/Pixabay

I posted an article to this blog yesterday pointing out that a home on Greenview Street was up for sale. This was part of my Featured Place to Live series where I highlight some of real estate opportunities in Warrendale neighborhood in Detroit. The asking price for this home I reported, was $79,900.

And the internet promptly lost its mind.

Within minutes of that article going online, my social media notifications started to blow up as one person or another wanted to comment on how delusional it was for a home in this part of Detroit to command such a price. Even asking for such a price, some individuals argued, was preposterous.

There were a few people who took this news in stride. They may have expressed a healthy amount of skepticism or been cautious in their optimism. What they did not do, though, was argue that homes in Detroit aren’t worth anything, that no one wants to live here, or any other such thing.

At this point, I should say that I had a completely different article planned for today. I was going to talk about some of the best places to go trick-or-treating since we are so close to Halloween at the moment. However, with so many people reacting so strongly to the idea of a home in the Warrendale neighborhood of going on the market with an asking price of $79,900, I felt it best to put original article aside for a moment and focus on this.

In the space below, I will provide some of the various reasons why one person or another was indignant at the such real estate pricing. While my comments are about the Warrendale neighborhood in particular, I feel that most of this applies to much of Detroit as a whole.

The comments in bold below are summary of a point that someone tried to make yesterday. Those comments are followed by my rebuttal.

The neighborhood is nothing like it was at some point in the past.
While it’s true that Warrendale and the other neighborhoods in Detroit have declined since their heyday, it’s also true that there have been substantial improvements in the quality of life here in recent years and that all signs point towards this trend continuing.

To put this in perspective, 20 years ago, a three-bedroom home in Warrendale would go for what in today’s dollars is roughly $140,000. Detroit still had a multitude of problems in the late-1990s and homes in the area were still able to command a six-digit price.

While the area was hit hard during the mortgage crisis of 2007-2008 and hasn’t fully recovered, I have to ask: is it really unreasonable that a house today should command a price of half of what it was prior to the mortgage crisis?

Personally, I don’t think so.

Detroit isn’t as good as [fill in the blank with some other city]
Again, Detroit has its problems. A piece of real estate in much of the city isn’t as valuable as a similar property in other parts of the country or even other parts of Michigan. However, I feel I should point out one key detail: the median selling price of a single-family home in the United States is $240,000, according to the January 2019 edition of Kiplinger.

If the outlying neighborhoods of Detroit were as good of a purchase right now as some of your other communities then that house on Greenview would have an asking price around $240,000; not $79,900.

[Fill in the blank crime] happened recently at a location nearby
First, crime happens everywhere.

Everywhere.

The only communities that don’t have a certain level of crime present are the ones who don’t have a certain number of people present.

Second, while crime is still a very serious issue in Detroit and the city is still one of the most dangerous in the United States, the crime statistics do show a slight slowdown. I would also say that this community’s current levels of crime and poverty are a large part of why that home on Greenview is asking $79,900 and not a figure much closer to national averages.

Warrendale is still a part of Detroit
Yes, it is. And you know what?

This home nine miles away in the Midtown neighborhood that’s selling for $319,900 and this one 11 miles away in downtown that’s selling for $430,000 are both also in Detroit. Oh, and this one eight miles away in the Corktown neighborhood that’s selling for $364,900? Yeah, that one is in the city of Detroit as well.

Does this mean that homes in Warrendale will soon be selling for $300 - $400,000 anytime soon?

Probably not.

It does, however, establish that the mere fact that a home is within the Detroit city limits does not mean that it’s worthless.

Oh, and then there’s my favorite criticism of all. The one that I deliberately saved for last.

It’s just not worth it
There are a thousand or so homes in the Warrendale neighborhood that are currently occupied on a rental basis. The landlords, generally speaking, have relatively little trouble finding people to rent those houses. They have, in fact, been getting around $850 per month for those homes and they’ve been getting that price for several years now.

And here’s why that is important.

If someone bought a home in Detroit for $102,250 and financed it entirely with no money down then, between his or her mortgage payment, property taxes, and homeowners insurance, he or she would pay approximately $850 per month, according to the mortgage calculator at Quicken Loans. It stands to reason, therefore, that home is this area should be selling for somewhere in the vicinity of $102,250.

Screengrab from Quicken Loans by Frank Nemecek

But the purchase of a home in the area for $79,900 is preposterous? I don’t think so.

Time will tell whether or not the home on Greenview really does sell for $79,900. I believe that it’s more than worth it and there are programs out there to help with the financing of such a purchase.

For now, I simply wish that folks were better able at accepting a little bit of good news every once in awhile.

Governors in Detroit to talk infrastructure + cybersecurity

Detroit is hosting a series of high-profile meetings that revolve around infrastructure and cybersecurity. The first of these meetings happened this past Thursday and Friday when the National Governors Association met at the Westin Book-Cadillac (1114 Washington Blvd.) downtown.

During this meeting in Detroit, Governors from across the United States as well as infrastructure policy and technology experts discussed emerging trends and best practices for securing vital infrastructure against man-made and natural threats. This is the second of four National Governors Association stakeholder summits in support of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s 2019-20 NGA Chair’s Initiative.

“While no public policy can prevent all disasters, governors and leaders across America can show real leadership, and work together to find innovative new ways to withstand disasters better, and to respond and recover more quickly,” Governor. Hogan said. “Throughout this bipartisan summit, we discussed the most effective measures that governors can take to fulfill our most important responsibility: protecting our states and our citizens.”

Governors Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Bill Lee of Tennessee joined Governor Hogan in Detroit for this meeting.They were joined by other state officials as well as executives of energy, transportation and water companies. This group explored ways to reduce threats of cyberattacks and to deal with challenges posed by extreme weather.

“As the climate changes, we must continue the work to mitigate the effects of natural disasters on our infrastructure and our communities,” explained Governor Whitmer. “Michigan is home to tough, innovative people who are stepping up and helping prepare our state for the future, whether it’s by joining in on efforts to combat climate change or keeping us safe from cyberattacks. I’m proud to work together with my fellow governors and leaders from across the country who are taking bold steps to protect us from harm.”

Climate change, the nation’s governors discovered, poses a threat to America’s critical infrastructure. Energy systems, water and stormwater facilities, and the transportation sector are all vulnerable to increasingly large and more frequent storms.

“Infrastructure connects everyone in our states,” stated Governor Lee. “From roads, to water, to electricity, to cybersecurity, we need a comprehensive and thoughtful approach to addressing these many challenges. Thanks to my colleagues Governor Hogan and Governor Whitmer for hosting this event and helping us continue to find ways to help our states solve our most pressing infrastructure needs.”

This summit was the second of four planned U.S. convenings in support of Governor Hogan’s NGA Chair’s Initiative, Infrastructure: Foundation for Success. He was joined by fellow governors and experts in Boston this past September to study measures to relieve traffic congestion. He also a study tour in Australia later that month to explore innovative funding models.

The next high-profile meeting regarding infrastructure to happen in Detroit will be the North American International Cyber Summit, which happens Monday, October 28. This will be followed by the U.S. Army Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence Symposium that will meet November 20-21. Both of these events will happen at the TCF Center (1 Washington Blvd.) downtown.

Thinking about Rimah Fakih

Rimah Fakih-Slaiby at Wrestlemania Fan Axxess - Photo by Simon Q/Flickr

I wrote a series of posts about Rimah Fakih back in 2010 after she became the first Muslim Miss USA as well as the first Miss USA from Michigan in almost 20 years. It seemed appropriate because she grew up only a couple of miles from the Warrendale neighborhood and was gaining national and international prominence.

If you're curious, you can see my five posts about her by clicking here to see them in the archives of this blog. I wrote four posts about her in 2010 and a fifth in December, 2015.

Even though I haven't written a word about Rimah Fakih in several years, Google Analytics tells me that a couple of people visit the Warrendale Detroit Blog every day after searching for her in one of the various internet search engines.

The same software package also tells me that the southern United States is the most common place for this traffic to come from. I don't know why southerners in particular are so fascinated by her. I find this part of the data to be mildly odd because I thought she would be more popular in the Midwest.

Anyway, since there are so many people who are coming to my blog looking for information about Rimah Fakih, I figure that I may as well give those individuals are few quick details. After all, I always aim to please by readers.

Since completing her time as Miss USA 2010, Rimah Fakih converted to Maronite Christianity in April of 2016. This, by the way, is a branch of the Eastern rite of the Catholic Church. Her conversion to Christianity happened shortly before her marriage to Wassim "Sal" Slaiby, who is a Lebanese-Canadian music producer and is also The Weeknd's manager.

The Weeknd even performed at their wedding. I imagine this to have been one of the coolest wedding performances of all time.

I mention Rimah Fakih's conversion to Christianity because Google Analytics again tells me that many of those searching for information about her include Muslim somewhere in their seach terms.

Rimah Fakih-Slaiby and her husband Sal currently have two children, a son and a daughter. The couple is also expecting their third child soon.

For those who are still interested in what's going on in her life, I recommend checking out Rimah Fakih-Slaiby's Instagram account.

Anyway, I wonder what weirdness I will discover as I continue to dig through the analytics data. To find that out, I suppose you will just have to subscribe to this blog by entering your email in the box at the top of this blog's righthand column or by adding it to your favorite RSS feed..

Community meeting next Wednesday

Home in Warrendale - Photo by Frank Nemecek

The City of Detroit will host the community meeting for District 7 next Wednesday, October 9. This event will take place in the Adam Butzel Recreation Center (10500 Lyndon St.) from 6 - 8 p.m. District 7, of course, is the section of Detroit that includes Warrendale and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Items on the agenda for this meeting include the Detroit Water & Sewage Department as well as Halloween in the D. Representatives from all of the other departments in city government will also be on hand. This is an excellent opportunity for residents to express any concerns about city city services because the people you need to talk to will be right there.

I look forward to seeing lots of Warrendale residents at this meeting on Wednesday, October 9.

Bridging Neighborhoods brings its 20th homeowner to Warrendale

It was a bright sunny day when neighors, dignataries, and TV cameras joined together to welcome the 20th Bridging Neighborhoods familty to Warrendale. Mayor Mike Duggan and Council Member Gabe Leland, who represents Warrendale and the surrounding neighborhoods in Detroit, were both on hand for this event.

I wrote about the Bridging Neighborhoods program back in December of last year. The program is a simple yet powerful idea.

Homeowners who are impacted by the new Gordie Howe International Bridge in Del Ray to move to more stable neighborhoods in Detroit like Warrendale. Those who participate trade their existing home for a completely renovated, energy-efficient one in a better neighborhood. The City even provides them with a stipend to cover their moving expenses.

Detroiters who partiicipate in the Bridging Neighbors program benefit from a better home in a better neighborhood. Residents in neighborhoods like Warrendale because it means that a few previously vacant homes are renovated and occupied by a new owner.

The city as a whole benefits because greater population density in the neighborhoods makes it easier to attract new residents and businesses. A more dense population also makes it easier for the local government to provide city services to all who need them.

I'm glad that this program is continuing. I join many others in welcoming these Detroiters to Warrendale.

One more reason to build a municipal speeedway in Detroit

Ferrari 458 Spider - Photo by Toby Parsons/Pixbay

In May of last year, I published an article that argued for five different reasons why the Detroit Grand Prix should be moved off Bells Isle and over to a municipally-owned speedway. Those reassons boiled down to money, more money, even more money, still more money, and Detroit's image.

I still stand behind every one of those reasons. They are just as true and just as important today as they were in 2018, if not more so. Regardless, I would like to add one more reason why Detroit should build a municipally-owned speedway and move the Grand Prix to it: saefty on our residential streets and in the parks.

If there's one thing that everyone soon realizes living outside of the more gentrified neighborhoods of Detroit, it's that this city has a huge problem with thrill-seeking speeders. Whether they are in cars, on motorcycles, or anything else that moves, there is a large section of the (almost always) male population in Detroit who have a strong desire to drive really, really fast.

Right now, those individuals drive through our residential streets or, ocassionally, through Rouge Park and some of the other larger parks in Detroit. In doing so, these thrill-seeking motorists not only put themselves in danger but also everyone else who share those same roads. Plus, they create one heck of a nuisancee as they tear through neighborhoods at all hours of the night.

If there was location where they could safely do all of this - like, for example, a municipally-owned speedway - then they would have a much better alternative to speeding through residential streets in Detroit. The speedway could charge them few bucks for the privilledge to cover their costs. I'm sure most of these guys would rather pay a few bucks to some speedway than risk having to pay a few hundred dollars in fines for reckless driving; not to mention having their ride impounded by the police.

And with them elsewhere, the residents of Detroit's neighborhoods can enjoy a quieter, safer community.

So, there it is.

My now six reasons why Detroit should move the Grand Prix off Belle Isle and over to a municipally-owned speedway are money, more money, even more money, still more money, Detroit's image, and safer neighborhoods.

Body found along Dearborn - Detroit border

Crime scene - Image by Gerd Altman/Pixabay

Police officers found the remains of a 34-year-old deceased woman from Taylor, Michigan at 7:45 a.m. this morning. Her body was discovered in the vicinity of Paul Street and the Southfield Freeway, which is near the border between Dearborn and Detroit's Warrendale neighborhood.

Everyone who lives in that area is asked to check their security cameras for any images that might be useful to the police in their investigation.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to called the Dearborn Police Department at (313) 943-2241.

The identity and exact cause of death of this woman is currently being withheld by police officers, pending notification of her family.

Speed trap near Warrendale

Speed trap along Mercury Drive - Photo by Frank Nemecek

For the benefit of anyone driving near the Dearborn/Warrendale border, the Dearborn Police Department has a speed trap set up on Mercury Drive. Officers are in a marked vehicle between Ford Rd. and the Southfield Freeway. Their presence is partially concealed by the long construction trailer on the south side of the road.

I don't have a problem with the police setting up and watching for speeders. In some of the more severe cases, I'm profoundly thankful for when they do. I only like to level the proverbial playing field by letting people know where they are.