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Jer here. Hi! We've spiffed some things up around here for our weekender edition of the newsletter. Let's dive in with some stories...
Officers in the Detroit Police Department are getting raises as part of a new union contract.

The Detroit Police Officers Association ratified an agreement Wednesday that now goes before city council for final approval. If approved, officers would be covered with a new contract until 2022. The contract was re-opened two years early, reflecting Detroit’s better finances after bankruptcy. 

Here’s the high-level breakdown. 

All officers are getting a 2% raise, and a 2.5% raise for officers on patrol with 5 or more years of experience. Corporals at 15 years of service will get a raise as well.

The contract also restores four paid holidays that were taken away during Detroit’s Chapter 9 bankruptcy.

There have been recent improvements to police officer base bay in the city. Starting officers in Detroit were getting paid a bit more than $29,000 in 2014. According to the mayor’s office, that rate is now more than $39,000. 
In downtown Detroit real estate news, auto supplier Lear Corporation has sold a seven-story building in the recently renamed Paradise Valley and Cultural District, which is targeted for a multimillion-dollar redevelopment.

The 50,000 square-foot Hemmeter Building sold for $13.2 million to an entity linked to developer Linden Nelson, who has also been acquiring several properties in Eastern Market. That’s more than double the $5.9 million that Lear paid for the building three years ago.

Paradise Valley is the name of a bustling African-American neighborhood and commercial district that was almost completely destroyed by the construction of I-75 and 375 during the middle part of the last century. The planned redevelopment will highlight African-American arts and culture. It includes plans for a boutique hotel, jazz club and other amenities.

The Hemmeter Building sits in the triangle-shaped neighborhood previously known as Harmonie Park and formerly housed the sports bar Coaches Corner and residential units. It’s now mostly empty following more than $3.5 million worth of renovation that Lear completed last year, when it anticipated using it as office space for itself and partners.

Lear still owns the six-story building that houses its Innovation Center in nearby Capitol Park, but the company recently said it’s re-evaluating all of its real estate holdings. Lear’s stock has fallen around 35 percent since peaking in June.
If you use ride-sharing and want to help with a little change that goes toward Detroit schools, Lyft might just be the app to tap.

If you catch a Lyft anywhere in Metro Detroit, you’ll have the option of rounding up your fare and donating it to the Detroit Public Schools Foundation. The foundation provides grants to other nonprofits, schools and teachers doing work in the public schools for programs and materials. 

This is Lyft’s first “round up and donate” program  in Michigan. Nationally, the program has raised more than $8 million for charities.

Lyft has committed a minimum of $10,000 to the foundation in the first year. For each donation during the first month, Lyft will match it by donating a school uniform.
Corktown is getting a new MoGo bike station thanks to help from the Ford Motor Company. 

This will be MoGo’s first so-called “light” station. That means it will not have a payment kiosk. Riders can purchase a Daily pass or get a a code to unlock a bike by using the Transit app. 

The new station is located on the corner of  Rosa Parks Boulevard and Michigan Avenue, near one of their buildings called “The Factory.” Its location will help connect people to Corktown, Downtown, and West Riverfront Park. 

This is the 44th station for the bike sharing program that recently announced expansion outside of greater downtown to the Six and Livernois area — and into Ferndale and Royal Oak in the suburbs.
Here’s a little business news from the eastside suburb of Fraser. 

Healthmark is expanding its global headquarters and adding 139 jobs as part of a $12 million private investment. If you hadn’t heard of them, don’t worry, I hadn’t either. The company makes products that clean and store surgical and medical devices.

The company, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, will get a $1 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant from the state. They’re also going to get a property tax abatement from the city of Fraser.

Michigan was chosen over competing sites in Washington, D.C., Arizona and Florida. Oh, and they’re hiring here: www.hmark.com/careers.php
This Sunday the Detroit Vintage Market Bazaar will be in Shed 5 at Eastern Market. There will be a bunch of different vendors with all of their treasures for sale.

You never really know what you’re going to find at a market like this. Maybe you’ll find that perfect piece of antique glass that will fit into your collection. Or maybe you’re looking for a beautiful piece of midcentury modern furniture.

The event is free to attend, but I’d still bring cash for the vendors.

Date and Time: Sunday, October 21 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Eastern Market is located at 2934 Russell Street Detroit, Michigan 48207
A favorite story from somewhere else: The Tower Center, a shopping center at Greenfield and Grand River, is going to see a new anchor tenant in Forman Mills [Freep].

There's a couple things I like about this "mall." One, it's very urban in layout. It has a cool tower, and it's something walkable and not set far back from the street.

And two, as a neighborhood resident, I love to see action outside of downtown.

It's too simplistic of a narrative to say that "nothing" is happening in Detroit's neighborhoods. After all, Detroit is big, especially in the context of the set of fiefdoms that is Metro Detroit. I was discussing this over coffee earlier this week. Many suburbanites do not have a sense of scale in the city, as many neighborhoods are the size of a small suburb, and council districts are the size of larger ones. 

Although there is a ton happening in downtown, some neighborhoods across the city are starting to see investment. Some progress. There's more to do, but it's good to see. 
Excerpts:

PODCAST: Police To Get Raises, Greektown Changes, Body Positive Cycling Studio To Open

Our feature interview today is with Amy Latawiec. She’s the founder of a new body positive indoor cycling (or spin) studio on the east side of the city called Rebel Cycle Studio. More: https://www.facebook.com/RebelCycleStudioDetroit/ Our stories: – Officers in the Detroit Police Department are getting raises as part of a new union contract. – The old Joe Louis […]
Read on »

New MoGo Bike Station Going In At Rosa Parks Boulevard And Michigan Avenue

Corktown is getting a new MoGo bike station thanks to help from the Ford Motor Company. This will be MoGo’s first so-called “light” station. That means it will not have a payment kiosk. Riders can purchase a daily pass or get a a code to unlock a bike by using the Transit app. The new […]
Read on »

The Old Joe Louis Arena Seats Drop In Price To $50

This might be your last chance to take home a piece of Joe Louis Arena, home to the Red Wings and countless concert memories from 1979-2017. The old Joe seats are being sold starting at $50 for the next two weeks. There are fancier seats available for a bit more money. This is quite the […]
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Your City 5 Things To Do This Weekend In Detroit: October 19-21

Let’s look ahead to this weekend in Detroit. There are a ton of fun things happening around Detroit. I have a feeling I might be at the Senate Theater on Saturday night. So if you see me, be sure to say hello. Scary Classic Movies Can I tell you a secret about myself? I really […]
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Local Organizations To Receive $20 Million In Grants

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan announced $20 million in grants this week that will be awarded to a variety of local organizations. Some of the highlights include: $225,000 to expand the partnership of the University Musical Society and Michigan Opera Theater to offer dance performances to Detroit. $70,000 to Gleaners Community Food Bank for […]
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PODCAST: Detroit Riverfront Gets Huge Grant For Park, Michigan Leads Nation In Identity Theft Complaints & More

Your stories for October 17, 2018: – Detroit’s riverfront just took another major step forward. The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is making a $50 million grant to redevelop West Riverfront Park. – Keeping with the theme, here’s a second story about foundations making an impact. The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan announced $20 million in grants […]
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