According to a PRNewswire release today, DTE Energy is installing 16 public electric vehicle charging stations in Southeast Michigan. Six of these PEV (plug-in electric vehicles) stations will be places in Detroit Metro Airport’s main parking decks, McNamara Terminal lot, and in the Big Blue Deck by the North Terminal. Public charging stations in Ferndale, Mount Clemens, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, and Saline will also be installed.

It reports that the PEV charging stations will be free of charge. “There will be no cost for PEV drivers to use the charging stations,” it promises.

Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) Interim CEO Genelle Allen makes a strong argument for why it is necessary to build infrastructure for the use of electric vehicle in Metro Detroit. “With the assembly line for the Chevy Volt just 20 miles down the road, we want our customers to know that we’ll soon be ready to accommodate such alternative-powered vehicles when they’re parked at Detroit Metro Airport,” she is quoted as saying.

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info

Let's face it. when the rest of the country and the world thinks of Michigan, they think of Detroit. So no matter all the great things going on in communities across our state, the Detroit story makes a difference. And, slowly but surely, the stories coming out of Detroit these days are encouraging and worthy of spreading.

Take for instance this Detroit news article on how young people are seeing Detroit as the place to be.  Esepcially if you're in the arts. And businesses and foundations are picking up on it.  As the article notes, "It celebrates the city's gritty appeal to youthful adults and the artistically inclined — think of Chrysler LLC's "Imported From Detroit" slogan that debuted in a Super Bowl commercial featuring Eminem — as the source of a raw creativity that makes Detroit unique."

Top that off with the recent announcement that the Woodward Avenue light rail project has taken a huge step forward, now that the city and federal governments have signed off on a final route for the service.

Embracing art and culture and transit  as place-based economic development drivers, are two critical assets of any vibrant, 21st century city, as noted by the League through our "Center for 21st Century Communities" program.

So no matter where you're from in Michigan, the next time someone says that there is nothing going on in Detroit, make sure to tell them the truth... Detroit is once again a city on the move.

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives and Federal Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.

The Detroit News announced today, "Moroun's company hires architectural firm to restore Michigan Central Station," a historic depot, "which has sat empty for the past 23 years and become the centerfold of Detroit ruin porn," reporter Jonathan Oosting writes. According to the article The Detroit International Bridge Company, owned by businessman Manuel "Matty" Moroun, has hired Quinn Evans Architects of Ann Arbor to "design a restoration plan for the windows and roof."

Although the depot might look likes it's falling down, it is actually "structurally sound." Elisabeth Knibbe of Quinn Evans Architects told the Windsor Star that the dilapidated building "doesn't really scare me. The bones of the building are solid and we can do something with it. There is a lot of potential there," she said. Moroun's son and vice chairman Matt Moroun thinks; "It is an important first step to helping return the building to its rightful place among the great Detroit landmarks."

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info

The Detroit Free Press featured a great piece that talks about how a few Detroit neighborhoods are seeing the return of investors and young professionals to the city. The article, entitled “Detroit’s profile grows as investors, young professionals return to city,” says there is good news for Midtown, New Center, and Woodbridge. Investment in the community, new businesses, art and culture, and revitalization efforts in these neighborhoods are bringing people back to Detroit. 

“Hotels, theaters, art galleries, charter schools, condos and dozens of restaurants have opened, primarily in abandoned buildings, in the past year or are to open this year in Midtown, New Center and Woodbridge neighborhoods,” the article states.

One of the best parts of this article is feedback from two 29 year olds who recently moved to Midtown from New York City and Washington, D.C. They talk about why they love living in Detroit and why they prefer it over places like New York City and D.C. It’s nice to hear; “Instead of finding the dangerous wasteland often depicted on TV and in the national media, the best friends discovered a city with friendly people, eclectic hangouts and great potential,” according to the article’s author Steve Neavling.

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info.