Welcome back. I’m still Malachi Barrett.
The final City Council formal session of the year was a big day for Detroit sports.
The council approved tax breaks and other procedural steps needed for the Detroit City FC soccer stadium and a riverfront WNBA practice facility. The two projects, valued at nearly $300 million when combined, reflect successes and limitations of the city’s community benefits process.
The City Council unanimously authorized tax breaks and a community benefits agreement for Detroit City FC’s planned AlumniFi stadium in Corktown.
The $198 million project includes a 15,000-seat stadium, 421-space parking deck and 76 apartment units. It will be located on the site of the former Southwest Hospital at 20th Street and Michigan Avenue after the aging building is demolished.
DCFC’s benefits agreement includes a commitment to invest $1.2 million over the next 12 years in community organizations. Other commitments include a $17 minimum wage and union neutrality for arena workers, 3,000 annual free tickets for residents, a new youth soccer mini pitch and a $50,000 investment in art installations, among other things.
The City Council unanimously approved a site plan and $4.4 million tax break for the $50 million WNBA headquarters along Detroit’s east riverfront.
The former Uniroyal site would house a practice facility and headquarters by 2029 for Detroit’s incoming WNBA team. A youth development academy is planned for a second phase of the project, with multiple outdoor athletic fields that can host regional tournaments.
Detroiters expressed support for the DCFC project and WNBA facility because both create opportunities for youth sports. Unlike the DCFC stadium, the WNBA project won’t undergo an intensive community benefits process.
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What page are we on?
Today’s newsletter covers the Nov. 25 formal session. Sheffield and Council Member Mary Waters were absent.
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Dig into the agenda, read Detroit Documenter notes or watch the recording for more details.
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Overheard in CAYMC
The last council meeting stretched late into the afternoon, a reflection of all the business they needed to finish before the end of this year’s term.
Here’s a few things to know:
- Council President Pro Tem James Tate led Tuesday’s meeting in Sheffield’s absence, leading some colleagues to call him “Mr. President.” Tate is lobbying for the position, decided by a vote of the council, next year. He said the honorific only reflected that he was presiding over the meeting, but said it does have a nice ring to it.
- Detroit’s bus fleet will receive new video cameras through a $4.3 million contract with Luminator Technology Group Global. New buses will be provided through another $10.9 million grant. Mayor Mike Duggan announced this week that 53 new buses will be purchased using a $50 million federal grant.
- Community Violence Intervention groups had contracts extended to continue their work to reduce shootings in select neighborhoods. The council authorized $1.72 million contracts with Detroit People’s Community, New Era Community Connection and Detroit Friends and Family through January 2027. Centers for Family Development secured a $1.5 million contract to take over for Detroit 300 through September 2026. Tate said community groups have done a “tremendous job” reducing gun violence, but he’s seeking additional metrics to track progress in the new year. Tate said a statistical drop in shootings may not solely reflect their work, and he wants more clarity on how initiatives impact violence.
- No vote on salary increases this year: The City Council decided last week to postpone a vote on salary raises for the council, city clerk and mayor, until next year.
- The Belle Isle Boathouse will be leased to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources as part of a plan to renovate the historic building. The lease expires in 2073.
- Sheffield-backed federal legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib to help musicians who say they aren’t fairly paid by streaming services like Spotify. The Living Wage for Musicians Act would create a new streaming royalty fee. Musicians currently make a fraction of a penny per stream ($0.003). Marcus Miller, founder of Menace Media and a member of The Creative Union, thanked Sheffield and Santiago-Romero for fighting “predatory rates that musicians have endured.”
- Labor agreements were authorized with unions representing various kinds of city employees. Agreements were reached with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 26, Service Employees International Union, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324, DDOT Foremen’s Association of America Local 337, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and Assistant Supervisors of Street Maintenance and Construction.’
- Detroit officials expect to lose $23 million in federal funding used to support homelessness services. Members of Detroit’s homelessness solutions team said federal cuts will make it harder to move people out of emergency shelters into supportive housing.
- The council authorized $11 million in contracts for private sewer repairs using disaster recovery funding. The city program was expanded to 75 more neighborhoods this year, aiding residents who were impacted by severe flooding in June 2021.
- Invest Detroit Foundation gave a $1.25 million grant to improve Jayne Field. The funding will be used to build a multi-sport court and park plaza and improve neighborhood connectivity with new walkways. Additional amenities considered for the plaza space include picnic areas with barbecues, benches, trees and a dog area.
- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources gave a $400,000 grant to upgrade Intervale-Roselawn Park. Funding will help install concrete plazas, signage, new trees, renovate the playground and multi-sport court, add a new picnic shelter and bike racks.
Land bank agreement renewed for 1 year
An agreement has been reached between the Detroit Land Bank Authority and City Council to work together on stabilizing neighborhoods for the next year.
A memorandum of understanding outlining each party’s responsibilities and services was first reached in 2014 and renewed in 2020. The land bank has been working for nearly two years without a formal agreement in place; the prior agreement expired in December 2023.
The agreement is active for one year. It declares a “blight emergency” in Detroit and says the land bank is “ideally situated to dispose of property” under unique power it has under state law to expedite clearing of titles and negotiating sales.
Spirit Plaza upgrades underway
Spirit Plaza is under renovation again.
The City Council authorized proposed alterations to the public space between Woodward Avenue and Hart Plaza outside the Spirit of Detroit sculpture. Plans call for new umbrellas, seating, a covered stage, artificial turf lawn, and new playground enclosed with planter boxes.
The layout is similar to how Spirit Plaza had been arranged before, but new amenities are meant to be more permanent through winter months. An asphalt fire lane would remain along the east boundary of the site between CAYMC, and a similar lane would be provided along the west boundary for food trucks. The United Way Torch in the middle of the site will remain.
The City Council previously approved a $2.9 million contract with Michigan Recreational Construction. The work was paused after city officials learned additional City Council authorization was needed.
Farewell, City Council
Council members shed a few tears while reflecting on the official end of their terms.
Most will be back to work as usual in January. It was the final meeting for Durhal and Sheffield, who vacated their seats to run for mayor.
Durhal didn’t advance from the primary and was replaced by Denzel McCampbell, who will be sworn in next year to represent District 7. Sheffield was replaced by Renata Miller in District 5.
Council members took time at the end of Tuesday’s meeting to thank Durhal for his work over the last four years. The former state lawmaker said his colleagues “operated with decorum even if we agreed to disagree.”
Five and Dime project comes to Cass Corridor
Developers behind the Detroit Shipping Company are embarking on a new project to build more space for food vendors and apartments in Midtown.
The Five and Dime is a $2 million joint project of Detroit Rising Development and Facilities Management Group. They’re seeking to redevelop a vacant building at 3700 3rd Ave. into a multi-tenant food and beverage collective with 10 single-unit apartments on the second floor.