RealT sells pieces of hundreds of Detroit rentals, often in cryptocurrency, to overseas investors. Tenants are the guinea pigs
Outlier Media
Posted inHousing
What is property speculation — and who’s doing it in Detroit?
Property speculators have wreaked havoc on Detroit over the last decade. Some of the effects are easy to see: blighted properties that fall apart bit by bit for years. Some are easy to feel: historic buildings that sit vacant. Others are easy to measure, like lost tax revenue and publicly funded demolitions on a scale unrivaled anywhere else in the country.
Posted inHousing
Dennis Kefallinos: Detroit’s most notorious speculator
He may be one of the most well-known speculators in Detroit, but he’s hardly alone. Tax overassessments by the city and no-holds-barred policies by Wayne County contributed to the foreclosure of tens of thousands of Detroit properties, which were sold at bargain-basement prices to basically anybody.
Posted inPolitical and Public Policy Information
Primary voter guide: Proposition A, Wayne County ballot proposal
Proposition A would remove a requirement in the Wayne County charter that it find a new financial auditor at least every eight years.
Posted inPolice & Public Safety
SW Detroit residents upset by police response hold community hearing
Tristan Taylor from Detroit WIll Breathe said the police’s response was to restrict people’s ability to congregate in their communities.
Posted inCivic and Community Information, Political and Public Policy Information
Mural contracts spark ethics investigation into Detroit planning director
Detroit’s Board of Ethics launched an investigation into Antoine Bryant’s actions amid reporting from BridgeDetroit and Outlier Media
Posted inArts & Culture, Civic and Community Information
Emails: Murals meant to promote Detroit ended in controversy. Here’s how it happened
Emails reveal how Detroit officials sidestepped city rules and strategized to tamp down blowback after murals were painted without permits.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
Detroit’s census lawsuit could have big ramifications for the city — and beyond
Experts agree that Detroit’s population has been undercounted, costing millions annually.
Posted inPolice & Public Safety
What should you do if your child goes missing?
A guide for Detroit parents if their child is missing, including steps to take and what to expect from police.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
Detroit FY2025 budget hearings: What you need to know
The City Council has 46 budget hearings scheduled this month with hundreds of hours of testimony. We’re going to cover all of them.