Downtown Living

Forget traditional notions of affordable housing. If Metro Detroit wants to end the brain drain, attract new economy workers and revitalize its communities it needs to pay better attention to the housing needs of 20 and 30somethings. What does that mean? Affordable rentals, downtown condos and hip, walkable neighborhoods. (more >)

An Artistic Vision: The Red River Artists Center

By: Jon Zemke, 9/30/2009

Like many rustbelt communities River Rouge has seen better times. But one man's urban decay is another man's opportunity. Enter urban pioneer Rick Manore, co-founder of the former C-Pop gallery in Detroit. Working with municipal leaders, he's converted the former offices for U.S. Steel into the Red River Artist Center. The goal? To build an arts incubator that helps revive the city's downtown. (more >)

The High Life

By: Terry Parris Jr., 8/27/2009

You don't have to go to New York City or Chicago to get top-of-the-world views. Urban professionals are rethinking the traditional big house, big yard template of living, and moving into downtown high rises. From Royal Oak to Birmingham to Ann Arbor, Metromode gives you a sense of what it means to be "movin' on up" in Metro Detroit. (more >)

Jeff Wattrick: Don't Demo Detroit's Future

By: Jeff Wattrick, 8/20/2009

With all the buzz around the fate of Tiger Stadium and Detroit's Lafayette Building, Model D asked two outspoken members of the preservation and development communities to share their points of view. Metromode believes the city's historical identity and legacy are issues that are important to all of Metro Detroit.
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Cheap Ways To Revitalize Your Downtown

By: Jon Zemke, 7/30/2009

From households to businesses to city government, everyone is in belt-tightening mode. But if there's one thing Metromode believes, it's that necessity is the mother of invention. A few Metro Detroit communities have come up with innovative and inexpensive ways to revitalize their downtowns. Time to take notes! (more >)

Blog/Megan Owens

Ironically, early auto workers once rode the streetcar to work in factories. This new model year, facing a crumbled rail system and plant closings, the communities of greater Detroit are assembling a regional transit authority. Megan Owens, the executive director of Transportation Riders United, outlines a timeline of transit and what's needed to make the jump from jalopy to streamlined bus service and regional light rail.
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Video/Welcome To The Hill District

Located on a small bluff is Grosse Pointe's Hill District, a welcome slice of walkable pie, where you can find everything from boutiques to bistros, espresso to jazz. Why not take a three minute tour with Metromode's ace videographer Tom Hendrickson.
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