The Dig

Belle Isle crowds raise questions about closing the park, but Detroiters need open spaces more than ever

The island is more than a favorite recreation spot -- it's one of the most important Black public spaces in…

5 years ago

Front porch revival: How social distancing shines a light on our long-neglected public-private realm

These days, quarantined Detroiters are finding ourselves drawn to the oft-neglected spaces between our private lives and the public realm.…

5 years ago

Opinion: Comerica Bank is failing small businesses like mine during COVID-19

Comerica has let down its small business customers during a time of crisis. I know, because I am one of…

5 years ago

What happens when you give people cash to move to Detroit

Can a neighborhood tackle two of Detroit's biggest problems — shrinking population and chronic disinvestment — by giving people cash…

5 years ago

Mapping urban sprawl in Detroit and the surrounding suburbs

It turns out, you can drill down and actually quantify one aspect of sprawl, thanks to the Street Network Disconnectedness…

5 years ago

Detroit Housing Commission opens rent voucher waitlist for the first time in 5 years

The rare waitlist opening underscores the incredible need for affordable housing in the city, which the public housing authority is…

5 years ago

How my ‘inflammatory’ posters sparked real dialogue between black and white neighbors in Detroit

By Rhonda J. Smith: Neighbors even reported the event to officials -- but the people who actually came left with…

5 years ago

A program to cut down back taxes for Detroiters may be too little, too late

At first glance, the Pay as You Stay program -- which would dramatically cut down on back taxes for low-income…

5 years ago

Should downtown Detroit ban more surface parking lots?

A group of Detroiters is calling for the city to temporarily ban more commercial surface parking lots downtown, arguing that…

5 years ago

Need to do home repair on the cheap? At this new Detroit library, you can borrow tools

The E. Warren Tool Library opened on Detroit's east side in July 2019, letting residents borrow tools and supplies to…

5 years ago