Michigan Central Station by MikeRyu

On Saturday about 4000 extra people dropped by Michigan in Pictures. The impetus was a New York Times story on Michigan Central Station. Although the Detroit City Council voted to demolish MCS last year, a massive budget hole, a lawsuit, and new council members who aren't quite as bulldozer-happy:

“I don’t want to bulldoze it, then find out later there could have been a viable use for it,” said Charles Pugh, a newly elected member who took over as Council president in January.

Now preservationists, business owners, state leaders and community activists are taking what feels like a last stab at saving the 97-year-old building before it goes the way of New York’s Pennsylvania Station or, more locally, Tiger Stadium and countless other pieces of old Detroit that have fallen to the wrecking ball in recent years. Among the recent proposals have been to turn the cavernous brick, steel and stone facade into an extreme sports castle; a casino; a hotel and office park; a fish hatchery and aquarium; an amphitheater; or a railway station again, with high-speed trains.

Just Another Sofa on the Streets
of Detroit by Cherie S.

While the story didn't have anything new for people who've been following the sad saga of Detroit's largest ruin other than a link to the Michigan Central Station Preservation Society, it does provide a nice lead-in for another national story. Last week in Examining Data That Would Downsize Detroit, NPR reported that with a quarter of Detroit's 350,000 buildings vacant or in shambles, Mayor Dave Bing wants to reshape the city by getting rid of them and relocating residents who live in desolate neighborhoods, saying it's too expensive to provide city services in areas that are like urban deserts. Bing's proposal is based on data collected by demographer Kurt Metzger, director of Data Driven Detroit, who explains the data:

"We had surveyors go out and actually collect information in every single parcel in the city of Detroit. And just to give you the real quick analysis, we found better than a third of the land - and that's of 139 square miles - we estimate better than a third of the land in the city of Detroit is either vacant land right now or contains buildings that need to be torn down. It's amazing. I mean, New Orleans is about 70 square miles. We're talking that better than 40 square miles, better than half of New Orleans is vacant land.

Now, of course its interspersed around the city, so that's where the issues about going into neighborhoods where there's a lot of vacant land. But a lot of one or two homes still left on streets. These are neighborhoods that are going to have to be gone into and trying to think about how do we start to move people into other areas."

An effort like this was discussed in Flint, but according to an article on mLive that contrasts the response of Flint & Detroit to population crash, Flint is no longer planning to do neighborhood relocation.

You can learn much more about Michigan Central Station on Absolute Michigan and Michigan in Pictures, and check out the Michigan Central Station slideshow from the photographers of the Absolute Michigan pool.

Approaching Spring by mayerdavid1978

Our Michigan event calendar for the month of March features all kinds of signs that spring is just around the corner with some cautious reminders that objects around the corner may be further off than they appear.

Quotes

"March is a tomboy with tousled hair, a mischievous smile, mud on her shoes
and a laugh in her voice." - Hal Borland

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade." - Charles Dickens

"Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn." - Lewis Grizzard

"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush." - Doug Larson

"Spring is nature's way of saying, Let's party!" - Robin Williams

Fast Facts
March's birthstone is Aquamarine and Bloodstone. They symbolize courage.

Its birth flower is the Narcissus.

March in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of September in the Northern Hemisphere.

Daylight-Savings time occurs on March 14, 2010, at 2:00 a.m.. Time to spring ahead!

Think spring! The vernal equinox occurs on March 20, 2010 at 1:32 PM EDT.

Things to Do, Places to Go

March 1 - April 30
Foremost's Butterflies Are Blooming - Grand Rapids
Foremost's Butterflies Are Blooming is Meijer Gardens most popular annual exhibition and the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibit in the nation. March 1–April 30, visitors can escape the Michigan winter and mingle with more than 6,000 tropical butterflies flying free in the 15,000-square-foot Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory.

March 4 - 7
Metro Times Blowout - Hamtramck
Metro Times presents the 13th annual BLOWOUT music festival. BLOWOUT showcases over 200 of metro Detroit's most influential, unique and celebrated bands, djs and solo artists. These 200 acts perform at 15 venues over 4 nights creating the largest local music festival in the U.S. Past performers include: Eminem, The White Stripes, The Von Bondies, The Hard Lessons, The Sights, The Go, His Name is Alive, Obie Trice, The Dirtbombs, Detroit Grand Pubahs, Howling Diablos, Paradime, Motor City R&B Pioneers, Blanche, The Detroit Cobras and many more.

March 4 - 7
West Michigan Home & Garden Show - Grand Rapids
West Michigan's largest Home & Garden show is back and better than ever! Over a dozen gardens, three free seminar stages, floral arrangement classes and a standard flower show, plus tons of other attractions you can't miss! With over 350 exhibitors featuring every product and service you'll ever need for your home, garden or landscaping, all under one roof, this is the show to attend!

March 5 - 7
The Michigan Golf Show - Novi
This year marks the 19th anniversary of the largest consumer golf show in the nation.
Come experience the best golf deals in the Midwest. The Michigan Golf Show kicks off the golf season highlighting over 400 exhibitors with great deals on every aspect of the golf game! Retailers! Resorts! Travel Destinations! Over 100 Michigan Golf Courses! And a variety of "hands-on" activities will get you ready for this season.

March 6
Quiet Water Symposium - East Lansing
The Quiet Water Symposium celebrates non-motorized outdoor recreation and a shared concern for our Great Lakes Environment. At the Symposium visitors will find presentations by world famous authors, photographers, and expedition travelers. Other presentations may cover skills, safety, local and distant destinations. There may be presentations on bicycling, sailing, diving, and history.

March 6 & 7
Detroit Kennel Club Benched Dog Shows - Detroit
The DKC is one of just six American Kennel Club benched shows in the United States. The overwhelming majority of dog shows are unbenched, at which dogs are judged at an appointed time, then are free to leave the show grounds. At a benched show such as the DKC, dogs stay on the bench with their owners for the entire day when they are not in the ring. This means that the public has a rare opportunity to meet with just about every breed of dog, chat with the owners, and consult with breeders to discover which breed is right for them. Since almost everyone loves to talk about his or her dog, breeders are more than happy to share information with those interested in their particular breed. And almost all of the dogs enjoy the extra attention they receive from the spectators.

March 13
Annual Great Bear Chase Ski Marathon - Calumet
A laid-back, skier-oriented weekend in Calumet on the beautiful Keewanau Peninsula. You can choose between 26-km and 50km distances including a separate category for 26-km classic skiers. The Junior Bear Chase is a youth Nordic ski race for skiiers up to 16-years-old.

March 13
Brew-Ski Festival - Harbor Springs
Suds and snow. Is there a better combination? Our first annual Brew-Ski Festival features 100+ craft brews, entertainment and an evening of parties. We'll be pitching a big ole' tent at the base of the slopes where you and friends can purchase tickets and sample a variety of brews. The frothy samples are served up by brewery representatives while you enjoy music, brats and spring conditions.

March 12 - 14
Flushing Walleye Festival - Flushing
The event features:

• Outdoor Show Exhibits

• Fish Fry
• Trout Pond
• Outdoor Show
• Firefighter’s Pancake Breakfast
• Guest Speakers
• Texas Hold’em Tournament/Poker Night
• Youth Group
• Chili Cook-off

March 16
St. Patrick's Day Parade - Detroit
Sponsored by the United Irish Societies in metro Detroit, the parade runs along Michigan Avenue in the area known as "Corktown", so called because of the many immigrants that came and settled here from County Cork. The parade travels down a dozen or so blocks passing by historic Tiger Stadium and the Gaelic League/Irish American Club.

March 18 - 21
Lansing Home & Garden Show - East Lansing
The strongest Home & Garden show in the Mid-Michigan area fills the MSU Pavilion on the campus of Michigan State University. Incredible gardens, extensive landscaping projects, a Standard Flower Show and three free seminar stages surround hundreds of exhibits featuring construction, remodeling, kitchens & baths, retail garden centers, pools and spas and home services.

March 18 - 21
Ultimate Sport and RV Show - Grand Rapids
Michigan's finest tradition for the avid fisherman, hunter or outdoor loving family! Over 350 exhibitors will be at the show with the latest outdoor gear, travel information and fishing boats. The features are famous: World Class Taxidermy, Antique Lures, Trout Pond, Woodcarvers, Pellet Range, Fishing Simulator, Rock Wall and Fly Casting Instruction. Nearly 100 fishing and hunting semainrs will be held on 4 stages, including "Lake Ultimate," the 110,000 gallon indoor lake. Michigan sportsmen never miss it!

March 19 - 21
Carnival Weekend at Boyne - Boyne Falls
It's party time once again. Boyne Mountain pulls out all the stops as Mardi Gras moves north for the weekend. How can I get some of those beads you ask, come to Boyne Mountain and find out. Bands, costume competitions, the slush cup and parties all over the resort make this a weekend to remember. You might want to plan on using a sick day for Monday.

March 20
Krazy Daze at Boyne - Harbor Springs
Fun for the whole family awaits during this spring tradition. Kid's events include a Silly Slalom, costume judging, Nastar and more. Is it true they build a pond and let people ski and snowboard across? You bet it's true. So dress up or dress down, just make sure to be a part of the fun.

March 20 - 21
Kalamazoo Living History Show - Kalamazoo
The largest, nationally recognized, juried show in the Midwest devoted to pre-1890 original or reproduction living history supplies, accouterments and related crafts. More than 10,000 historical re-enactors from pre-Revolutionary through the Civil War, history buffs, collectors, and the general public from 18 states and Canada come together for a festive weekend to buy, sell and trade. The event attracts over 270 of the finest craftsman and dealers of living history supplies and related crafts from throughout the United States.

March 23 - 28
Ann Arbor Film Festival - Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Film Festival is internationally recognized as a premiere showcase for creative, inspiring, and influential films of all types: avant-garde and experimental, story-based narratives, documentaries, and animation. As the longest-running film festival of its kind in North America, the AAFF is steeped in a rich tradition of ground-breaking cinema.

Did we get them all? Not likely!! Add ones we missed (with links) in the comments below!

Enrico Fermi 2 by daryl.larkin

Michigan Solar Solutions says that Michigan is Poised for 'Solar Explosion' in 2010:

According to company President Mark Hagerty, the year is shaping up to be "a perfect storm for solar" in the state.

"Many people think that solar won't work in Michigan because it's too cold and it doesn't get as much sun as other places, but that's misconstrued," Hagerty said. "Michigan has an average of 4.2 hours of peak sunlight per day each year. Florida, the 'Sunshine State' only has about five hours. Solar panels are less efficient the hotter they get and actually produce more power when it gets cooler. While the Southwest may get more hours of sun, the panels produce less voltage per peak hour because of the heat." He added that in 2008, his company's solar panels produced 1.2 times the rated output at 10 degrees below zero.

One reason Hagerty says Michigan is the place for solar power in 2010: rising electricity prices and increasing state and federal incentives mean that renewable energy has never been cheaper.

Now you have to figure that a company called Michigan Solar Solutions is going to be pretty bullish on solar energy, but we did a little checking and found that Michigan is a lot better than you might think for sun power:

• Solar Power Rocks lists Michigan State Solar Power Rebates, Tax Credits, and Incentives (there's a lot of them)
• The Michigan Dept of Labor & Economic Growth's Wind & Solar pages are packed with info including the Michigan Renewable Energy Program and this Solar Power Tour of Michigan (pdf)
• Michigan Advantage lists some success stories and talks about Solar Incentives for businesses
• If you're looking for someone to help you explore solar at your home or business, try the Solar Energy Businesses in Michigan (almost 60 listed).
• ...and every June there's the Michigan Energy Fair.

I'll bet there's a lot more solar energy info for Michigan out there - share it in the comments!

Abandoned Richardsonian Romanesque House in Detroit
( Former James Scott Mansion )
by Derek Farr

Michigan has 29 land bank authorities - more than any state. The Detroit News reports that Michigan is going to try to use these land banks to spur redevelopment and garner nearly $300 million:

With the federal money expected to come in January, cities such as Detroit and counties such as Oakland are starting land bank agencies for the first time. The state filed for the Housing and Urban Development funding through a coalition that includes 12 city governments and eight counties. It's a national competition, and the overall fund totals $1.9 billion. Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Pontiac, Saginaw and Wyandotte also would be targeted for revitalization.

The Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority would provide land bank services in Detroit; Oakland County, including Pontiac; and Kent County, including Grand Rapids, until local land banks are ready to take over.

Under the plan, the Michigan land banks aim to buy and redevelop more than 6,000 foreclosed, abandoned and vacant properties. The land banks also envision razing 2,500 structures and rehabilitating or building 1,500 homes.

There's also an effort to encourage urban gardeners to develop empty city lots and allow homeowners to buy inexpensive vacant lots next to their property. "We expect (Detroit's land bank) to be the most aggressive developer in the city," said Douglas Diggs, interim director of the city's land bank office.

Good news for Michigan cities! Check out the Abandoned slideshow from the Absolute Michigan pool for some likely suspects for the money!

Abandoned Pontiac Silverdome by Derek Farr

The Detroit News reports that the long-shuttered Pontiac Silverdome has been sold for a mere $583,000 as the home for a soccer league. However, with a cost over $55 million to construct:

"This was a giveaway," said David J. Leitch, a broker with an Auburn Hills based realty firm.

"The property alone, at $10,000 an acre, should have gone for more than that. And you have the Silverdome, its contents, and the infrastructure already in place. I had estimated it would probably go for between $1.2 million and $3 million. I can't believe it."

Such sentiments weren't uncommon Monday, after city officials unsealed bids showing the property that was home to the Detroit Lions was sold at auction to an unnamed Canadian company that plans to bring a soccer league to the stadium. The company's name will be released when the sale is finalized within 45 days, said Fred Leeb, the city's emergency financial manager. Leeb acknowledged the sale "is not a windfall," but said the Silverdome's $1.5 million upkeep drained the beleaguered city's finances.

Go to about 1:20 in the video to get past the auction promo. Much more about the Pontiac Silverdome on Michigan in Pictures!

The Nature Bar by SCOTTS WORLD

Time, Inc. bought a house in Detroit:

Why would we ever do such a thing? Because we believe that Detroit right now is a great American story. No city has had more influence on the country's economic and social evolution. Detroit was the birthplace of both the industrial age and the nation's middle class, and the city's rise and fall — and struggle to rise again — are a window into the challenges facing all of modern America. From urban planning to the crisis of manufacturing, from the lingering role of race and class in our society to the struggle for better health care and education, it's all happening at its most extreme in the Motor City. (Read TIME's Detroit stories.)

As a story, Detroit has been misunderstood, underreported, stereotyped, avoided and exploited for decades. To get it right, we decided to become stakeholders. Over the next year, we intend to flood the D-zone with journalists, photographers, videographers and bloggers from TIME and TIME.com, Fortune and Fortune.com, CNNMoney.com, Money, even Sports Illustrated. Some will live in the house — dubbed the "D-Shack" after Detroit-area native Kid Rock dropped by with a housewarming gift of a Gothic D (for the mantel) plus a keg of his Badass Beer — and others will stay there while reporting.

Beautiful View - MCS by MikeRyu

With questions such as "How do you survive in Detroit" (below) and What do you love or hate about Detroit answered by city residents and profiles from the Telway Diner's 85 cent burgers to urban farming supported by the kind of in-depth reporting (and national audience) that one of the world's largest news organizations can bring, I really think we'll find Assignment Detroit to be a phenomenal boon for Detroit and all of Michigan.

Be sure to visit Assignment Detroit to watch and read and explore Michigan's largest city through fresh eyes.

You might also stay tuned to AbsoluteMichigan.com/Detroit for features on the Motor City and definitely check out the Detroit Slideshow from the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr (most recent).

Today I'm at the Michigan Downtown Conference in Lansing. This morning I'll be posting some updates from the conference as I'm able. This afternoon I'm on a panel with Julielyn Gibbons, Ryan Knott and Bigby Coffee co-founder Bob Fish, talking about new media marketing and promoting our downtowns.

capital evening by cmu chem prof

Downtown Lansing

Flash back to last night at 9 PM. I checked into the Radisson and then went out to walk around downtown Lansing. I spent some time talking to a guard at the city jail about the "vibe" downtown (or lack thereof).  She said that when there are events, the area is humming but that on nights when there's no planned festivities, it's ghostly.

Over on Facebook, Bill Palladino noted that in his travels, state capitols are seldom (Austin TX, go get a drink of water)  happening places. Richard pointed out several others that were doing well. In any case, I think there's something a little sad about a city that is supposed to be the heart of Michigan with shuttered storefronts, perpetually torn up sidewalks and lack of life.

Durant Hotel by detroitsky

Dan Kildee, Keynote Speaker

"Our ability to make progress is determined in large part by our ability to work together"

Dan Kildee is the Genessee County Treasurer and director of the Genessee County Land Bank who has worked to use Michigan's new foreclosure law for community development and neighborhood stabilization. He's also pretty proud that he drew Rush Limbaugh's ire for his plan to reduce the size of Flint (and ultimately cities across the country) to reduce their size and increase the ability to deliver services.

Dan notes that even in our terrible economy, it's easier to build on a green field than to reinvest in our cities. He says that Michigan's foreclosure system had a large role in creating our downtown problems by setting up a system that rewarded speculators. Now, he says, the system allows cities to treat urban land as if it has value and to apply community values and vision.

He had a very interesting talk in which he looked at the toolbox that is available to Michigan downtowns and some success stories from Flint including the redevelopment of the Durant Hotel in Flint as rental housing for students and young professionals. He notes that 70% of Michigan's population lives on 8% of the land and that an overwhelming 97% of Michiganians feel that redevelopment in existing urban centers is preferable to building new. With a decent set of tools, he says all that's missing is a bias on the part of lawmakers and our laws to support this pattern of development.

Lansing Mayor Virg Benaro asked us to close our eyes and imagine when the auto industry was in its heyday and how we built great cities during that time. Now, as the auto industry contracts we are still left with these great cities, but what are we doing to preserve and restore them. He then talked about how East Lansing and Lansing - two one horse towns driven by MSU and the Capitol could be 10 times the city if they worked together. He also called for cities and their surrounding communities to cooperate and build the brand of Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit and other cities.

Why Live in Detroit? by Derek Farr

Niche Marketing: Success through creativity and collaboration

A panel with Elissa Sangalli Hillary (Executive Director of Local First in Grand Rapids),
Claire Nelson (Co-Owner & Operator of the Bureau of Urban Living & cofounder (with Liz Blondy) of Open City Detroit) and Liz Blondy (Founder of Canine to Five Detroit Dog Daycare) talking about what they do and how small business can be a driver of vibrant downtowns.

Elissa noted a commonly cited statistic (view graphic) that shows 73% of dollars spent at a local business stay in the community as compared to 43% if you spend your money at a national chain. She discussed some strategies they are using to give small businesses access to pooled advertising and purchasing.

Claire talked about her small business and how Detroit offered an opportunity to start a business that would have been impossible in New York City where she moved from. She talked about the importance of creating a climate that's business friendly and also - through events and collaboration - draws folks to burgeoning downtowns. She also drew a laugh by noting that small business in Detroit doesn't face too many threats from national chain stores.

When Liz Blondy came on I lost wireless, making me again think that about the best thing a downtown can do is to deliver a free wireless cloud. She explained her philosophy of focusing on free networking and and promotional efforts rather than exclusively advertising. Small actions like referring waiting customers to another business to pass the time cost nothing and reap big rewards. Wireless is apparently back.

Slows by farlane

A few weeks ago NPR had an interesting feature titled Despite Tough Times, Some See Opportunity In Detroit that looked at how Detroit's dramatic downturn has created some amazing opportunities for starting businesses.

Phil Cooley says the city is wide open for new ventures and is tolerant of his mistakes and successes. "It's lovely to be able to afford to do that here, one, because the community is so forgiving. And two, because it's less expensive than other places. So it's affordable," he says.

Music producer Chris Koltay was drawn to Detroit from Cincinnati by the vibrant music scene and the cheap real estate. He says he knew he could afford a whole building. He found one across the street from Slows for just $38,000. The recording studio is packed with guitars, keyboards and microphones.

Koltay has made a loft in the back of the building and for a year lived there without hot water. "It was gnarly, but whatever. Now I'm golden. And it's so wide open, and I think that's beautiful. I've never seen a city that has this kind of opportunity for growth, and I think that's beautiful," he says.

Check out some Detroit commercial real estate listings from Loopnet, follow the Detroit rebirth via Model D and get links from Absolute Michigan's Real Estate & Development section for Southeast Michigan.

Investors find real estate gold in Detroit from CNN explores a similar phenomenon in the Detroit housing market.

The Mason House c 1872 in Carriage Town by mansardroofsf

The New York Times has taken note of an area in Flint called Carriage Town that is making a comeback due to some industrious and motivated homeowners. In the midst of an otherwise impoverished area and dire economic circumstances these people are taking advantage of real estate deals and restoring the beautiful old homes that make up the area. The article Faded Glory: Polishing Flint’s Jewels also notes that as people move in businesses follow and once again becomes a community.

In a city that is synonymous with faded American industrial and automotive power, Carriage Town’s success is both unexpected and inspiring. A persistent group of long-term urban homesteaders — along with newer arrivals eager to live near a downtown showing signs of life — has restored dozens of Victorian-era houses and buildings in the last 20 years. While many Flint neighborhoods feel all but abandoned, in Carriage Town home ownership has increased 10 percent over the last decade, according to Census data.

In a worldwide recession, development projects with more than $47 million in public and private financing are in progress or recently completed in the 30-square-block Carriage Town area, including the conversion of the derelict Berridge Hotel into lofts and the ongoing renovation of the long-vacant Durant Hotel into 93 apartments and commercial space. There are even plans for a neighborhood grocery store.

But there’s no denying that Carriage Town is a work in progress, and that those who call it home must deal with challenges like speculators, abandoned houses and lack of code enforcement by the cash-strapped city.

For more images of Flin't Carriage Town check out this slideshow from Flickr...

Waiting room, Michigan Central
Station by jeanpierrelavoie

Over on Michigan in Pictures today we featured a link to an incredible panoramic walkthrough of Detroit’s Michigan Central Station by Montreal photographer Jean-Pierre Lavoie. The Detroit News had a feature on Lavoie that explains:

In Lavoie's past, he was an electrical engineer with an interest in cameras.

Now he's a former engineer who shoots stills and panoramas for businesses, museums and his own amusement. Recently, he shot Stevie Wonder's performance at the Montreal Jazz Festival; it's on his Web site.

The side-to-side, up-and-down, 360-degree process involves a high-end camera, a fisheye sort of lens, a tripod, a computer program and patience. The computer stitches together the images, but it's up to the photographer to make sure the proportion remains correct when a nearby object gives way to a distant one.

Run (don't walk) to check this out and if you want to see what this was before time and neglect had their way, check out the video below!

Salad by by jpwbee

Taste the Local Difference says that leafy greens are ready to pick! Greens are an excellent source of iron, calcium, Vitamins A and C, and folic acid and also very high in dietary fiber and low in calories and sodium. What's not to love?? Here's a few fun facts about greens:

• Swiss chard is also known as white beet, strawberry spinach, seakale beet, leaf beet, Sicilian beet, spinach beet, Chilean beet, Roman kale, perpetual spinach, silverbeet and mangold!
• Arugula is known as “rocket” in some parts of Europe.
• Lettuce is a member of the sunflower family.

Untitled by Ken Scott

Herbed Baked Greens

2 egg whites
1 Tbsp. canola oil
1//2 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
1/3 cup lemon juice
¼ tsp. crushed rosemary
salt to taste
3 cups cooked, chopped greens
2 Tbsp. minced onions
2 cups cooked brown rice
1 ½ cups grated low-fat cheese

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Oil an 8-inch square glass baking pan. In large mixing bowl, beat egg whites with oil, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, rosemary, and salt. Gently stir greens, onions, rice, and cheese into egg white mixture, then turn into prepared pan. Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake until lightly browned, 10-15 minutes. 4-6 servings.

While we're on the topic, here's Seth Bernard & May Erlewine singing about greens!

Craftsman Home, McLean Street
Highland Park MI by pinehurst19475

A few weeks ago, the Chicago Reader had a great feature saying there's nowhere in America quite like Detroit right now. You should read the whole thing but here's a taste:

They say when the country catches a cold, Michigan gets the flu. Projects that started before the subprime crisis and ensuing global economic collapse have been either quietly completed or left to wait. New projects have shelved while the region watches the auto industry.

Yet even as GM closes plants and Chrysler faces Chapter 11, things are sprouting in Detroit. The city made the New York Times in March not for news about the Big Three but for the purchase by a Chicago couple of a house for $100, on a block being taken over by artists with plans for solar-powered art center and a vegetable garden. The city has a booming urban agriculture movement, and in April financier John Hantz, working with Michigan State University and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, proposed building the “world’s largest urban farm” on vacant and abandoned properties, starting with a 70-acre fruit and veggie patch on the east side. Also last month, a group of local businesses began printing their own currency, the Detroit Cheer, in an effort to encourage local spending. (Model D article on the currency)

...“Detroit right now is just this vast, enormous canvas where anything imaginable can be accomplished,” wrote novelist Toby Barlow, who paid $100,000 for a Mies van der Rohe townhouse in Detroit’s Lafayette Park, in the Times piece. “In a way, a strange, new American dream can be found here, amid the crumbling, semi-majestic ruins of a half-century’s industrial decline.”

Beverly's House/1874 by Mr. History

If you are looking for a home in Detroit, check out the Detroit Realtors Association and also Southeast Michigan Realtors on Absolute Michigan. The feature references Room for 2 Million More at the Powerhouse Project, which says that although there are great deals in Detroit, don't purchase something without seeing it, no matter how cheap it is. They also call out some of the organizations in the D who are working to transform the city (if you know of others in Detroit or elsewhere in Michigan, share them below):

Georgia Street Garden
Urban Farming
Model D Media
Catherine Ferguson Academy
The Yes Farm
Motor City Blight Busters

cae3/ Anita says that she's a mom, wife, registered nurse and photographer.

Check this photo out larger in her Explored slideshow and see more of her lovely flower shots.

Here's her Flickriver.

cseeman (Corey) is the Library Director at the Kresge Business Administration Library at the University of Michigan (Corey's homepage)

You'll definitely want to check this photo out background bigalicious or in his cool Tulip slideshow. His sets include Birds of Saline, Fiddlers Restrung (not to be confused with the Saline Fiddlers) and Lighthouses of Michigan (slideshow) that is helpfully broken down into Lighthouse of Lake Michigan, Lighthouses of Lake Huron, Lighthouses of Lake Erie and Lighthouses of Lake St. Clair.

You can also check out his Flickriver.

Here's the process of prairiefying a city:

1. A city is built on the river, allowing for trade and commerce and irrigation of farms.
2. The city prospers and more people move in, the city expands. Farms on the edge of town are converted to housing, forest further on the edge are cleared for farms.
3. Over a few generations this process repeats.
4. A lightening bolt of innovation strikes the heart of several men at about the same time (Henry Ford, The Dodge and Fisher clans, Henry Leland, Billy Durant and the crowd from Flint, et al), and all hell breaks loose, suddenly the timber town on the River is an industrial gold mine.
5. An insane number of people flow in from all parts of the world. Black and white folks roll in from the south. All the farms are snatched up and houses, mills, factories and shops are planted in the field.
6. Everyone wants to drive and the emotional tie of the car to an entire nation is so intense the money whooshing through the city is almost palatable. The wealth is spread around and the workers decide to spread out, move out to the “country”. They have the means to do it, these middle class kings.
7. Then one day the money flow slowed down. Innovation and competition meant fewer jobs. Factories began to close. New factories followed the workers out to the “country”.
8. Too many people left behind lacked the money and prospects to maintain their homes and in the Michigan climate a home requires money to keep it standing.
9. Slowly at first, then faster as time passed, neighborhoods were simply deserted.
10. As folks moved out, businesses and churches and such that needed them soon closed their doors. With no buyers for their stores, they stood abandoned.
11. One by one these homes, factories and stores fall victim to the elements and arson. In time entire blocks are cleared. Native grasses and trees take root.

A city is built on the river, allowing for trade and commerce and irrigation of farms.....

Morels ! by cedarkayak

The latest issue of Midwest Living feature on the Best Midwest Food Towns served up a platefull of restaurants in our region that might entice the culinary tourist. Their editors selected Traverse City as the #2 town and Ann Arbor #3. Also featured were a collection of recipes from Traverse City including Morel Mushroom Cream Sauce With Pasta and a Creme Fraiche from Shetler's Dairy.

The Detroit City Council's proposal to demolish Michigan Central Station as a means to bring in Federal stimulus dollars seemed to many to have all the brilliance of a plan to get rich quick by selling both your kidneys. Now the Detroit News reports that developer Manuel (Matty) Moroun is proposing to lease Michigan Central Station to the United States government for redevelopment. The Department of Homeland Security offices for Customs and Border Protection are seeking to lease almost 50,000 square feet of space in the Detroit area to house personnel.

Of surprise to nobody - outside of State government at least - the Detroit News is reporting that Michigan's agricultural industry is bucking the trend of decline:

The state's overall agricultural industry -- which includes not only farming but also food processing and biofuels, wineries and beer-making -- grew 12 percent to $71.3 billion in revenue in 2007, following several years of single-digit growth; 2008 figures are not yet available.

...Some 100 agri-food businesses have started in Michigan during the past five years, according to the MDA.

Imagine what we could do if we really invested in building and promoted our agricultural bounty.

Edward Vielmetti has a tasty post that includes Michigan's morel festivals and the book How to Find Morels by Milan Pelouch. Even more about morels at Absolute Michigan keyword morel!

Abandoned building in Flint - Colors by Derek Farr ( DetroitDerek)

The New York Times has a great report titled An Effort to Save Flint by Shrinking It that begins:

Instead of waiting for houses to become abandoned and then pulling them down, local leaders are talking about demolishing entire blocks and even whole neighborhoods.

The population would be condensed into a few viable areas. So would stores and services. A city built to manufacture cars would be returned in large measure to the forest primeval.

“Decline in Flint is like gravity, a fact of life,” said Dan Kildee, the Genesee County treasurer and chief spokesman for the movement to shrink Flint. “We need to control it instead of letting it control us.”

With 75 neighborhoods over 34 square miles and the immense challenge of trying to maintain infrastructure and deliver services over too large an area to too few people, it's clear that Flint - and other places in Michigan - will need to think deeply and creatively about our use of space.

Click this photo from Brooke Pennington for the Spring slideshow from our Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr!

Here's the link to Brooke's photo (which you can see bigger in his Spring photo gallery) and here is some Spring wallpaper from Michigan in Pictures.

Here's a video feature that we last showed so long ago, it should feel new to just about everyone! Thanks Jim for the reminder...

Wally Wallington of Flint has demonstrated that he can lift a Stonehenge-sized pillar weighing 22,000 lbs and moved a barn over 300 ft in this great video feature. What makes this so special is that he does it using only himself, gravity, and his incredible ingenuity. Check this out and then check out theforgottentechnology.com.

caterpillars (Laura) has a degree in anthropology and studio arts, many cameras (mostly film) and a yard full of lionhead rabbits. She will also totally shoot your wedding, event, or portrait, so contact her.

Check out her Michigan slideshow. Her photo sets include metro-detroit, MCS and SuperSampler you may just want to dive into her Flickriver.

fotek is working on a great set of Photomatix HDR photos of St. Anne's Church in Detroit (slideshow). He says that it's such a beautiful church that pictures will never do it justice, but I think he may be wrong.

Some of his other sets include Detroit and Mt. Clemens and you should check out his Flickrriver too!

Weird Wednesday already? Nope. Huge piles of ice were pushed by NE winds into homes along Linwood Beach (just north of Bay City), forcing evacuations and causing damage. Linwood Beach residents return to find ice piled around, inside and atop their homes from the Bay City Times begins:

"I was making a grocery list in the kitchen and the next thing you know, we had this," said Angie Hughes, nodding at the ice resting inside her kitchen.

"Once we saw the first two piles of ice coming over the seawall, we just ran," Steve Hughes said Monday, returning to assess the damage. "I just remember hearing the kitchen window explode and the kitchen table getting thrown back.

"It was just incredible to see. It's got to be about 50 tons of ice that came up here in less than a few minutes."

It has some great photos from this latest ice incursion from Saginaw Bay and also from a similar incident in 1946 when Lake Huron ice devastated homes along the bay.

snowy field by PepOmint

Here's a page where you can say "hello" and tell everyone a little bit about your Michigan business, nonprofit, community organization, or other web site or blog. Feel free to add a comment below and definitely include a link to your web site!

If you already introduced your business on Volume 1 of this page, please jump over to Michitwitter and give a shout-out there!

And if you haven't already, be sure to add a free link to your business or organization and/or check out our newest links!

Here's the previous version of this page with all the comments!

One of Those Moments by MAGICDUDE PHOTOGRAPHY

The New York Times reports that 30 states are looking at running out of funds to pay unemployment compensation in the next few months. Two states have already run out. One is Indiana. One guess as to the other:

Michigan, which has been borrowing money from the federal government for the past few years to replenish its fund, is now $508.8 million in the hole and unable to repay it. Next month the state, where the unemployment rate is more than 9 percent, will begin levying a special “solvency tax” against some employers to replenish its trust fund.

If you're like me and saying: "What? Solvency tax?" here's a Detroit News article explaining that the solvency tax will apply to  "negative balance" firms - companies whose employees have received more in unemployment benefits than the companies have paid in unemployment insurance taxes (about 34,000) and also the scintillating description of the Solvency Tax from the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.

Speaking of news that was news to me; yesterday while checking out a startling story I learned that Ford Field in Detroit will host the 2009 NCAA Final Four (also see the official site). An amazing coup for Ford Field, University of Detroit Mercy and the city of Detroit to be sure.

The Roof, the Roof, the Roof was on Fire by pairadocs

That story (via the Freep via Michitwitter) begins:

Detroit's thinning population is vividly -- some would say disturbingly -- illustrated in a new map that is creating a buzz in local planning circles.

The map shows how to tuck the land mass of Manhattan (23 square miles), San Francisco (47 square miles) and Boston (48 square miles) -- and their combined populations of nearly 3 million people -- into Detroit. All three urban areas fit snugly within Detroit's 139 square miles with room to spare.

It ends with this map showing how you could fit Boston, San Francisco and Manhattan into Detroit and conclusions that if Detroit were to think about all that space - 30% of the city - differently, the results could be truly amazing. Please take the time to read Acres of barren blocks offer chance to reinvent Detroit in the Detroit Free Press.

the creative big three by vanessamiller
(John Howkins, Charles Landry & Richard Florida)

We'll lead off with a quick plug for an upcoming conference and a look back at one from the recent past. The Conference on Michigan's Future takes place in a few weeks (Nov 14-16) at Crystal Mountain with a focus on peak oil, energy & transportation choices, local food, climate change and planning. Two weeks ago the Creative Cities Summit 2.0 in Detroit brought folks from all over the world to Detroit to talk about what cities could and should be. Check out Model D's great report from the conference.

The future is kind of a scary concept these days with talk now that the Big Three might very well become the Not So Large Two, so I suppose we in Michigan can be forgiven for closing our eyes and hoping that it will all come out all right in the end.

Up in Northwest Michigan, folks (including myself) are working on a project for Absolute Michigan sponsor The Grand Vision. It's a six county effort that is seeking input on the ways that the region should grow - something that should be useful for those from all over the state. The Grand Vision "Scorecards" are due this week and you can get all sorts of information and fill yours out at thegrandvision.org/scorecard. There's also a video below.

'Peaking' at the 'Future' (one gallon at a time) by PhotoLab507

mLive has a guest blog from MSU Karl Guenther about the role of agriculture in the Michigan's future. He notes that while manufacturing in this state is big and getting smaller, agriculture is big and getting bigger. Karl says that MSU's Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs) is a tremendous investment. He references their excellent annual report to the Legislature (PDF) to say:

We have about 10 million acres of farmland, or 53,200 farms averaging 190 acres each. Our farmers produce more than 200 commodities commercially, making Michigan second in diversity of production only to California, which has citrus. We export about a third of all that, generating a billion dollars and supporting 13,000 jobs. (and contributes $63.7 billion to the Michigan's economy!)

From the "You really think so?" files is the Detroit News' Nolan Finley saying Michigan should root for warmer earth because although we have 3,288 miles of coastline - more than any other state except Alaska -  cool weather leaves the beaches empty for half the year. Add 5 or 10 degrees and he can imagine Florida's sun and surf worshippers packing up for our shoreline or trading the broiling sun of Arizona for Michigan's golfers paradise. His tongue is probably partway in cheek as he says it may be our only way out of a dark economic hole, but it begs the question of "what's wrong with marketing what we already have?"

Starting October 1st these light bulbs will be available at an unbeatable price: 99 cents at participating Meijer, Kroger, and Menard’s stores, as well as seven Lansing-area and three Upper Peninsula Ace Hardware stores. At that price, these bulbs are sure to fly off the shelves.

Thanks to grants by the Michigan Public Service Commission to various organizations, these discounted light bulbs will get into the hands of more and more Michigan homeowners. That will mean lower bills for customers, reduced need for additional electric generation, and a cleaner environment.

Governor Granholm has gotten into the spirit, too, by declaring today “Change a Light Day.”

The folks at Energy Star are encouraging people to "change a light." Be sure to take the pledge and visit their Web site. And remember to give the "State of Michigan" credit as the pledge drive-sponsoring organization. It’s a friendly competition that Energy Star hopes will generate more energy savings and enthusiasm.

ReEvolving to Green by mdprovost

It seems as if there's a wave building, one that could help to float Michigan out of our long economic doldrums. All across the state, businesses that leverage wind, sun and alternative energy are starting or expanding. Adding to the momentum is a recently approved Renewable Energy Package that raises rates but also provides incentives to offset that increase through purchase of compact fluorescents and other energy saving devices.

There is justifiable concern that we're raising energy prices at a time when we can ill afford it, but this is balanced by concern that we can't afford to fall any further behind in efforts to attract next-generation businesses to Michigan or to keep exporting our energy dollars out of Michigan. The Michigan Energy Overview from the Michigan Public Service Commission explains that:

Michigan imports 97 percent of its petroleum needs, 80 percent of its natural gas and 100 percent of coal and nuclear fuel from other states and nations. These imports account for about 70 cents of every dollar spent for energy by Michigan's citizens and businesses. Michigan spent a total of $37 billion on all forms of energy in 2007 and of that amount $26 billion was for the energy resources imported from other states and nations.

Events & Action

Green Jobs Now has designated Saturday (Sep 27) as a national day of action in support of jobs in renewable energy and other green industries. Here's a list of Green Jobs Now Events in Michigan.

You might also be interested in the Conference on Michigan's Future which will be held November 14-16, 2008 at Crystal Mountain Resort. It explore how rising oil and energy prices are crippling Michigan's economy and propose solutions to prepare Michigan for the economy of tomorrow.

Links & Beyond

• In addition to listing events, the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association has an amazing list of links to educational & scientific resources and organizations.
• Michigan GREEN (Group for a Renewable Energy Efficient Nation) is a non-profit group comprised of energy companies and consultants, governmental agencies, schools & individuals that champion renewable energy and energy efficiency in Michigan.
• The Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (MAREC) in Muskegon is a research and development facility that is exploring new technologies and applications including an offshore wind energy pilot project.
• NextEnergy is a Detroit-based nonprofit that research catalysts and business accelerators for alternative and renewable energy
• The Michigan Energy Office manages state programs like Green Lodging, Rebuild Michigan, Biomass and Clean Cities.
• The Michigan Advantage from the MEDC is a site created to help companies seeking to relocate or invest in Michigan and alternative energy is one of their targeted industries for expansion.
• Urban Options has some Michigan Renewable Energy Success Stories that you might want to read.
• TEACH Great Lakes at the Great Lakes Information Network has a lot of resources for alternative energy education.
• Absolute Michigan keywords like wind energy, alternative energy and solar are great places to find articles and companies.
• As always, we need you to share links to companies, organizations, web sites and stories that we've missed in the comments!

Bethany (riot jane) says she's a vegetarian, romantic, explorer, singer, voyager, wonderer, crossword puzzler extraordinaire and young at heart.

She's also a talented photographer and photo processor, bringing a unique view of life in rural Michigan through photo sets like love is a river raisin battlefield, maybee, michigan and her great photos of her favorite place within 50 miles of her house, Crosswinds Marsh (slideshow).

On her Sunny Days set (slideshow), Jules says that if you keep your face to the sunshine, you cannot see the shadows.

Some of her other sets include Eastern Market, In Bloom, People, Places and Things.

Hope your face gets plenty of sunshine this weekend!

Gracefully situated high on the banks of the Grand River, this National Historic Place is a fine example of Classical Revival style architecture and is noted for its exceptional hand-crafted oak woodwork, French leaded glass windows, classical entrances, elegant Ionic columns, five fireplaces, and 12 foot embossed, tin ceilings. It was authentically restored in 2002 to the 1903 period.

The grand old home is part of Lansing's historic and artsy Old Town at the north end of Lansing's Riverfront Park and Trail System. Stroll, hike or bike along the eight-mile (13-km) scenic path bordering the Grand River. You can also visit the beautiful Turner-Dodge Heritage Garden which includes one of the four Women’s Temperance Union fountains in the state.

The original home was built in 1858 by Marion and James Turner who came here in 1847 from Mason to create a city in the forest in just seven months so that the legislature could meet here on January 1st of 1848. In 1903, architect Dauris Moon enlarged the house to its existing grandeur for daughter Abby Turner and her husband, Frank Dodge. James Turner helped found the Republican Party in 1858, while son-in-law Frank Dodge was a leader of the Democratic State Central Committee for many years. Both were legislators and champions of the common people. Marion Turner was interested in organizations that worked to help people who were suffering from the effects of the industrial revolution and a member of the Pioneer History Society while Abby was a gifted pianist and cultural leader whose piano was sent by railroad car to Washington D.C. when she was eight to play for the President.

The 8,500 square foot house and surrounding 8.5 acres of park land are now owned by the people of Lansing and maintained and operated by the Lansing Parks and Recreation Department as a cultural center.

Turner-Dodge House offers historic tours, heritage lectures and programs, school tours, teas, children's birthday parties, a Heritage Badge Program for Scouts, special events and receptions. A unique history camp, designed for elementary age children and Harry Potter Days for kids are offered in the summer. The house is also available for rental for weddings and special occasions.

The Turner-Dodge web site offers a great deal of historical information about the Turner-Dodge House & Heritage Center.

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