West Village residents say flooding has been a recurring issue in their neighborhood and that the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s (DWSD) backlog on maintenance is forcing them to take matters into their own hands — and pockets.
Posted inDetour
With few permanent spaces to call their own, queer Detroiters forge community to ‘live our truth’
Queer Detroit spaces allow people to have a place to safely be themselves — and they have taken it upon themselves to create those spaces.
Posted inThe Dig
Hundreds of demolition sites in Detroit filled with untested dirt from cemeteries
Two years after it assumed oversight of the beleaguered demolition program, the City of Detroit still relies on contractors’ promises of soil safety.
Posted inThe Dig
10 things to know about Detroit’s largest landowner
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the Detroit Land Bank Authority, the city’s largest landowner.
Posted inThe Dig
Land Bank homebuyers claim Detroit’s water department misled them about missing water lines
Several Detroit Land Bank Authority homebuyers say they were given misleading information by DWSD about missing water lines, resulting in thousands of dollars of unexpected repair bills.
Posted inDetroit
Dear Detroiters — from a reporter who has returned to the city to cover local government
“To be back home is a blessing and a privilege, and to report for my city as a Report for America corps member is an even bigger honor,” reporter Malak Silmi writes in her love letter to the city.
Posted inThe Dig
Put in hotels after eviction, these Detroiters now have nowhere to go
The state placed dozens of people in hotels to stave off homelessness because pandemic assistance didn’t come fast enough to prevent eviction. A tight rental market means many are still there but only have until the end of the month to move out.
Posted inHow-to Guide
How to buy a house on a land contract in Detroit
So you’re thinking of buying a house in Detroit using a land contract. Congrats! This guide will help you navigate the process: The dos, the don’t, and the major red flags.
Posted inThe Dig
If you’re sold a Detroit Land Bank house without water, who’s responsible?
Jermain Paines was angry and demoralized. The Detroit resident showed up in person to two meetings of the Board of Water Commissioners over the last month to detail his experience purchasing a house in northwest Detroit from the Detroit Land Bank Authority (DLBA). “I thought I bought a dream house. I thought I bought a […]
Posted inReport for America
Outlier Media names full-time reporter to cover Detroit, Wayne County governments
Outlier Media is pleased to announce its newest hire — Malak Silmi — as a city and county government reporter in Detroit.
Posted inThe Dig
Your rights, responsibilities regarding sidewalks, alleys near your Detroit home
Last April a letter showed up in the mailboxes of numerous residents in northwest Detroit’s Bagley neighborhood saying the alleys behind their house could be converted into “public utility easements.” What that meant was that the city was relinquishing ownership of the alley behind their homes and giving it to residents. The letter went on […]
Posted inThe Dig
Tax delinquency in Detroit is falling. Are new policies actually working?
For the first time in recent Detroit history, homeowners are both getting out of tax foreclosure risk and exiting the delinquent tax system in substantial numbers.
Posted inThe Dig
Photo essay: On borders, boundaries in Southwest Detroit
Photographer Erik Paul Howard captures the borders and boundaries across Southwest Detroit.
Posted inNews
Detroit flood season is coming – here’s what we know after 2021’s ‘rain event’
Detroiters are still struggling to recover from last summer’s extensive flooding. Here’s what to know before 2022’s flood season.
Posted inThe Dig
New Detroit food truck rules may spur livelier street food scene
Southwest Detroit is arguably the food truck capital of the city. It’s a robust ecosystem, nurtured by a mostly Latino immigrant street food vendor community that has flourished over the past decade or so, despite what some would call antiquated policies that regulate these businesses. In the mood for a tostada loaded high with citrusy […]
Posted inNews
Thousands of Detroit flood victims still waiting for aid 9 months later
Financial help from the government may never materialize for some Detroit victims of last summer’s devastating flooding while thousands of others have been denied recovery aid. Federal data shows that nearly 39,000 households in the city had gotten some money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as of March 1 for flood damage. But another 8,204 families are […]
Posted inNews
How land swaps have become a large part of redevelopment deals with City of Detroit
This story has been updated to clarify that the need for Detroit City Council approval for land sales of nine or more parcels applies only to DLBA-owned land. For years, Pashon Murray had been looking for land in Detroit for her composting business. The Michigan native founded Detroit Dirt in 2010. Working closely with someone from the […]
Posted inThe Dig
Detroit Housing Commission silent on plans to rehabilitate Villages at Parkside housing complex
Detroit’s Parkside Homes was the first federally funded public housing project in Michigan when it opened in the 1930s. Now called The Villages at Parkside, most of the 276 units in the development are vacant or in disrepair despite the significant need for affordable housing in the city.
Posted inNews
The obscure utility tax Detroiters pay each month to fund the police
Detroit residents pay a little-known “utility users tax” on their gas and electric bills, funneling millions to the Detroit Police Department each year.
Posted inDetroit
Explainer: The magnitude of DTE Energy shut-offs in Detroit
Here’s an explainer on DTE Energy’s high rates and shut-offs in metro Detroit — and a look at other models for more affordable utility bills.
Posted inThe Dig
Q&A: What Latinx growth Downriver means to Detroit City Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero
Detroit City Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero knows full well the impact of Latinx residents in Detroit moving Downriver. She represents District 6, which includes Southwest Detroit. That’s long been the heart of the city’s Latinx community. Plenty of her relatives have moved Downriver. Louis Aguilar: How long has your family lived in Southwest Detroit? Gabriela Santiago-Romero: […]
Posted inThe Dig
In Detroit, gentrification. But Downriver, let’s call it ‘la gente-fication’
Expanding Latinx influences into new territory is what Lincoln Park and parts of Downriver is all about these days. My niece, who grew up there, was eager to show me all the Latinx small businesses in Lincoln Park. “That’s my dentist’s office. He always speaks Spanish to me,” Frances said, as we drove past an […]
Posted inNews
Detroit’s heavy burden: High electric rates, tens of thousands of shut-offs and a looming price hike
DTE Energy shut off accounts more than 200,000 times since the pandemic began and 1.2 million times before that. A regulatory system built to prioritize investors over affordability let it happen.
Posted inThe Dig
Opinion: Detroit learned how to reduce evictions during COVID. Let’s make those changes permanent.
After more than 76 million COVID-19 cases in America and nearly 1 million deaths, the push is on to return to “normal.” But with respect to housing issues in Detroit and Wayne County, advocates are hoping for anything but “normal.” Prior to COVID-19, Detroit saw annual eviction filings of around 30,000 cases a year — […]
Posted inThe Dig
Attorney: Detroiters facing eviction deserve right to counsel in courtrooms
By Ted Phillips Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield and other councilmembers are considering introducing a new ordinance that would provide Detroit residents facing eviction with a right to legal representation. These types of ordinances, known as right-to-counsel laws, have been enacted in cities throughout the country, including New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Toledo. […]
Posted inNews
Community organizing tactics spark economic development on Detroit’s east side
Joe Rashid is a Detroiter. And lest you get it twisted, he’s not, “New Detroit,” either. He was born here and never left, except for a few years in Vermont for college. “My family goes back,” he said, “just in that [LaSalle Gardens] neighborhood, over 120 years.” Rashid makes a point of telling people about […]
Posted inThe Dig
What does sustainable development look like in today’s Detroit?
“Sustainability is constantly a whitewashed narrative. They say in order to be sustainable, you have to drive an electric car,” Calandra Jones, Eco-D Program Coordinator at EcoWorks Detroit, said. “But Black folks have been doing sustainability their whole lives—we reuse containers, we save our plastic bags, we wrap our furniture in plastic, we put plastic […]
Posted inThe Dig
Tapping into people power to plant trees on vacant neighborhood land
When Tharmond Ligon Jr., 42, moved back to Detroit from Southfield in 2013, his childhood neighborhood near the former Michigan State Fairgrounds, “wasn’t being cared for as it could be,” he recounted. At the time, he was 33. His move was motivated by an interest to tackle problems in the neighborhood. “We know nature provides […]
Posted inNews
12 Detroit libraries to reopen in July after 2-year closure; 3 locations to remain shut
The Detroit Public Library system has a plan to reopen 12 neighborhood branches in July, making this summer the first time the public can visit these branches in person since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. It is welcome news for the 3 million annual visitors the city library system had prior to the […]
Posted inThe Dig
Local historian, author in search of who gets credit for Detroit Style Pizza
On March 20, 1929, a 21-year-old man named Agostino Guerra sailed to New York on the Augustin, leaving his beloved San Marino, a microstate within north central Italy. Guerra had three things going for him: He was powerfully built at around 5 foot, 6 inches and about 180 pounds. He had $70 in his pocket […]
Posted inNews
Old Outlier Media checking account with Capital One used in attempted check scam
Outlier Media has learned that one of its formerly used checking accounts was compromised in two attempts of fraud. Checks bearing the correct account number and Outlier’s former mailing address were issued to at least two people in November. Two targets of the attempted fraud—one person in Arizona, the other in Missouri—contacted Outlier to verify […]
Posted inThe Dig
Low property values, high renovation costs create cycle of closed doors for small-scale rehabbers living in Detroit
A little more than 25% of housing units in Detroit are vacant—a staggering 92,000 units. For longtime Detroiters bearing witness to this in real time, a number of this magnitude carries complex weight. Few would fault residents for feeling compounded emotions after years of population decline, overtaxation, and foreclosure followed by land bank auctions, property […]
Posted inThe Dig
Development of beloved downtown Dearborn comes with complicated feelings
The line at Qahwa House is long on a (worryingly) warm Friday night in December—but that’s normal basically any night of the week, even amid a COVID-19 surge. The coffeehouse in West Dearborn was thrumming with life, dozens of people laughing over plates of sabayah and kids sneaking sips of lattes. There is an unmistakable […]
Posted inThe Dig
How to buy a house in cash
Paying cash for a house might, for some, conjure up images of bidding wars and deep-pocketed investors who can easily dip into fat bank accounts. But in Detroit, a majority of homes are bought in cash. Even people who could really use a loan or a mortgage are instead forced into riskier cash transactions. We’ve […]
Posted inThe Dig
A look back at The Dig’s top 2021 stories
It’s been a big year for The Dig—and the newsletter is barely over a year old. In 2021, Outlier Media became our publisher (which earned a mention in a New York Times article this year). I’ll be forever grateful to Detour Detroit, which launched The Dig last year. The newsletter’s move to Outlier has provided […]
Posted inThe Dig
Wayne lags behind all Michigan counties processing emergency rent help requests
Near the beginning of the pandemic, Mary Hamilton was laid off from her job as a nurse assistant. Health complications related to kidney disease made it hard to find work and she was having trouble paying for rent. So on May 15, she applied for COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA). Her situation is precisely the kind […]
Posted inNews
Michigan poised to slash some industrial electric rates by up to 60%, even as residential bills jump
As Michigan’s residential electric rates have increased even since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the state appears poised to approve plans that could slash costs for large industrial manufacturers by as much as 60%. A new program proposed to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) by Consumers Energy would reduce rates for new industrial customers using […]
Posted inThe Dig
The Dig’s gift guide has Detroit all over it
Searching for gift ideas for a special person? Well, if they love Detroit, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together this list with a variety of options for people with all kinds of interests and needs. Whether they’re into books, home goods, art, architecture or the environment, we’ve got you covered. Here are […]
Posted inThe Dig
As wait times grow, DDOT leaves it to others to build bus shelters
Jonathan Peters rides the bus nearly every day, commuting from his home in Detroit’s Warrendale neighborhood near the Dearborn border to his job in Pontiac. It’s a long ride—over an hour when the buses arrive on time. And he’s fortunate that the first stop on his commute on Warren Avenue has a bus shelter. “During […]
Posted inThe Dig
Why housing scams in Detroit frequently go unpunished
Last Wednesday, Outlier Media published a piece in partnership with NBC News about a scam where people rent out or sell houses they don’t actually own. The residents I interviewed struggled to hold the scammers accountable. Many lower income Detroiters are forced into parts of the housing market that are less formal because mortgage companies, […]
Posted inNews
The ‘fake landlord’ scam destroys lives in Detroit. But culprits rarely face consequences.
This article was published in partnership with NBC News DETROIT — The day she made the final payment on her house last spring, June Walker could barely contain her jubilation. “I was running around the house, just thanking God,” said Walker, 65, who had scrimped and saved for more than two years, setting aside most […]
Posted inThe Dig
Detroit home repair program proves helpful—for the few who qualify
Over the last decade, tax foreclosure and abandonment were the main drivers of blight in Detroit. But today, residents are struggling to prevent the deterioration of the aging homes they own and live in. Tens of thousands of residents live in crumbling homes that are bad for their health and steadily losing value because owners […]
Posted inThe Dig
7 low-cost ways to winterize your Detroit home
As the temperature drops outdoors, many Detroiters have undoubtedly been looking at their thermostat and wondering when they should turn up the temperature indoors. The thought of rising utility bills has that effect on us. Detroiters live in older homes—a majority of the city’s housing stock was built before 1950—which are much more likely to […]
Posted inThe Dig
COVID funding to get Michigan’s homeless into rental housing has reached fewer than 100 families. What’s the problem?
COVID-19 rental relief dollars can be spent to help people who have become homeless or stayed unhoused because of the pandemic. But an Outlier investigation has found that fewer than 100 people statewide have so far been able to access that relief. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) changed their policy this summer to […]
Posted inNews
Settlement reached in lawsuit against Detroit property owner Michael Kelly
In the spring of 2020, Alita Crowley fell behind on her land-contract payments. It was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The now 59-year-old was dealing with a toxic sewage leak in her duplex’s basement. Concerned about her health, she redirected some her limited funds to fixing the problem; it was her responsibility as part of […]
Posted inThe Dig
New coffee table-style book reveals Detroit’s inequities—in maps
Maps do a lot more than just help us navigate physical space. They also help us navigate the social, economic and political dynamics that have shaped places. “Detroit in 50 Maps” by Alex B. Hill ($30, 144 pages), published by Belt Magazine, is a clear demonstration of this ability. Detroit is a geographically flat city […]
Posted inNews
Are Michigan’s investor-owned utilities driving away auto jobs and investment?
Instead of creating around 11,000 new jobs and investing $11 billion in its backyard, Michigan-based Ford Motor Co. went south, deciding in September to invest in two new electric vehicle battery plants in Tennessee and Kentucky. Ford CEO Jim Farley repeatedly cited lower energy rates as part of the motivation but never explained why those […]
Posted inThe Dig
Is housing an environmental justice issue? In Detroit, yes.
Outlier Media’s The Dig has published this story in partnership with Planet Detroit. Nora Rodriguez has lived three places in her life, all in Southwest Detroit. Nearly everything she needs is nearby—her job, friends and family, grocery stores, restaurants and more. But every house is also close to factories or highways. Where she lives now, […]
Posted inNews
Yearslong struggle with community land trust ends in homeownership for Detroiter
After six years, a housing dispute between a nonprofit and one of their tenants and vocal critics has finally come to a conclusion. “I’m happy because I got my divorce,” said Geraldine Smith-Bey, who is 58. “I finally got the deed to my house.” The “divorcing” couple was Smith-Bey and Storehouse of Hope, a nonprofit […]
Posted inNews
No clear path forward to compensate overtaxed homeowners in Detroit
Before COVID-19, one of the most talked about issues was news that the City of Detroit collectively overtaxed homeowners by at least $600 million between 2010 and 2016. And, at least 53% of the assessments were in violation of Michigan’s Constitution. The sense of urgency about redressing the overtaxed has faded, but many policymakers, activists […]
Posted inThe Dig
Bay Area developer looks to address mass incarceration with Detroit buildings
Update: An earlier version of this story indicated that the Love Building is formerly known by that name. The building name has not changed. The developers and designers behind a Core City building that has faced controversy are expanding on that project. But, they also say they are determined to create a multi-building campus that ultimately advances […]
Posted inNews
Russell Industrial Center raising rent, skimping on repairs, tenants say
In recent months, the Russell Industrial Center, one of the largest remaining artist spaces in the city, has been sharply raising rents on some of its tenants, even doubling or quadrupling rates in less than a year and a half. The increases are putting pressure on the tenants—mostly artists and craftspeople like painters, photographers, glassmakers […]
Posted inNews
Property values are rising. But these longtime Detroiters say they are missing out because of the Land Bank.
The city told residents of East Davison Village that they’d get access to the neighborhood’s vacant property. Instead, most of those homes have gone to newcomers.
Posted inNews
HIRING: Outlier Media seeks an Operations and Development Manager in Detroit
We’re hiring an Operations Manager to work with our small, but powerful team as we expand to serve more Detroiters and reimagine local news as an essential service. Our newsroom will grow over the next several years and we need a skilled and thoughtful business manager who can help us manage today and plan for the future.
Posted inNews
How Detroit’s Built environment has changed since summer 2020
The Dig has reached an exciting milestone: it’s two years old! When our newsletter on housing and real estate launched with Detour Detroit in August 2020, I really had no way to know how long this beat would last. I was looking for a new gig after being laid off from Curbed Detroit, and Detour […]
Posted inNews
City Council’s last-minute walk on avoids debate
Detroit City Council used a controversial process called a “walk-on” agenda item to bring the Bedrock tax abatement up for a vote.
Posted inDetour
Want a new way to explore Detroit? Try a rental from Motown Mopeds
Motown Mopeds opened in the Eastern Market neighborhood of Detroit this spring, with mopeds that residents and tourists can rent for city sightseeing.
Posted inNews
Will the city’s plans save the Canal District or destroy what makes it unique?
As “The Venice of Detroit,” there’s no other neighborhood in Detroit like the Canal District. The city has said it may close off some canals to keep flooding at bay.
Posted inThe Dig
How the $1.1B program for COVID rental assistance succeeded, fell short for Detroiters
The COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) program is ending. Here’s how it worked — and fell short — to stave off evictions in Detroit.
Posted inElections
Get to know the candidates: How to research the people on your ballot
Learn more about how to research the candidates on your ballot for the Detroit primary, so you’re prepared to vote.
Posted inElections
Why a primary election matters so much
Voters in Detroit are about 90% Democrat, so most of the competition for candidates in partisan races actually happens in the primary.
Posted inElections
Vote with confidence: Start with the issues
It can be overwhelming to decide where you stand on all the issues a public official influences. This guide will help you figure out your priorities.