If "We Are All Detroit," then Woodward Avenue Is Everyroad

Woodward Avenue in Michigan is as good a spot as any to think of as the birthplace of the auto-oriented development pattern. But if we can see our past there, we can also glimpse our future.

Top StoryJohn PattisonJuly 13, 2021stroad, michigan 6 Comments

Alex Alsup: Keeping People in Their Homes in Detroit

Detroit today, your town tomorrow. Here’s how we can help keep homes out of foreclosure and residents from being evicted.

Detroiters Push for Parking Reform in the Heart of Motown

Downtown Detroit has more parking today than any time in the city’s history—despite the city’s population being less than half what it once was. Now, a group of Detroiters are pushing for commonsense parking reform that can help put the Motor City back on the road to recovery.

The Vanishing Houses of Detroit: A Street View Story

How one Detroit resident is using Google Maps to chronicle the accelerating disappearance of some of that city’s neighborhoods.

Top StoryDaniel HerrigesNovember 10, 2020decline, michigan 15 Comments

The Power of Incremental Change in Detroit (Part 2)

The story of a neighborhood-led effort to address blight on Detroit’s East Side.

The Power of Incremental Change in Detroit (Part 1)

Here’s what happened when a passionate community advocate in Detroit listened to what residents actually wanted, rather than imposing his will from the outside.

"Not for Camera View"

An urban photographer reflects on the reactions he got when he started capturing what the American urban landscape is really like—parking lots, declining neighborhoods, tract homes, and all.

Top StoryJohnny SanphillippoJuly 28, 2020photos, montana, georgia, illinois, michigan, california 7 Comments

Dam Shame

For decades, we’ve built like there was no tomorrow, prioritizing short-term growth over longterm stability, prosperity, and safety. Exhibit A: 20,000 high-risk dams that are emergencies waiting to happen.

How a Student-Created Co-Living House Broke the Law Then Changed the Law

A strong town is one that can adapt incrementally over time. Here’s how a group of climbing enthusiasts helped a Michigan college town do just that.

Top StoryAaron GerryApril 28, 2020co-housing, cooperatives, incremental growth, housing, michigan 1 Comment

Church to be Demolished for Self-Storage Facility

If you want to lay up treasures for yourself in Roseville, Michigan, you’ll soon have a new option. But it comes at a high cost to the wallet (and soul) of the community.

Top StoryCharles MarohnJanuary 27, 2020churches, storage units, subsidies, michigan 59 Comments

We Are All Detroit

We want to dismiss Detroit as an anomaly. But in fact Detroit is a glimpse into the future for nearly every American city and town. Increasingly fragile from auto-centric development, for Detroit—and for the rest of us—it was only a matter of time.

Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnNovember 4, 2019suburban experiment, race, auto-oriented, michigan 23 Comments

Could Immigrants Play a Role in Strengthening Your Town?

Across the Rust Belt and Midwest, immigrant entrepreneurs and residents are helping to mitigate the financial challenges faced by declining and shrinking cities.