View Larger Map Ann Street showing the Robert Long House (left), garden, and Preservation Society (right) The Preservation Society of Baltimore is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is “to preserve and renew Fell’s Point and Federal Hill as areas of historical and architectural significance for the benefit of local residents and businesses and … Read more
Started in Portland, Oregon, by Brent Wojohn, depave is a volunteer effort to remove hard surfaces and reestablish permeability to allow for absorption of ground water and to create more green space in communities.
We are pleased to report that our State Historical Marker application for the Ford Motor Co. Lamp Factory in Flat Rock was recently approved. The marker should be fabricated and delivered for installation in the next three months. The marker text follows… FORD MOTOR COMPANY LAMP FACTORY This complex was part of Henry Ford’s “village … Read more
Formation of GLUE – the Great Lakes Urban Exchange network is a happy new news item. Founders Abby Wilson and Sarah Szurpicki are of Pittsburgh and Detroit respectively. The purpose of this organization is to foster and support online networking and help to build regional identity and share information among young urban leaders in the … Read more
The MotorCities Automotive National Heritage Area recently launched a new website which includes a crisp and refreshing graphic layout and design, improved interface and usability, and some exciting new interactive content. The “MotorCities Interactive Region Map” which is accessible by clicking a title with that name in the upper right-hand corner of the site, is … Read more
How pleasant that Detroit (#40) is ranked above New York (#53) in a ranking released by the New York Times on Sunday. Detroit and the DIA reopening are given prominent billing, both in the images on display, between Tehran and Namibia interestingly enough. That this place has the same cachet as these and other better … Read more
This past week I had an opportunity to participate as an audience member on a panel discussion regarding the tenure of Dr. Irvin Reid and president of Wayne State University on WDET 101.9FM. A few thoughts I was unable to express on the air, follow in text. Dr. Reid has probably made the greatest impact … Read more
Recently the American Institute of Architects (AIA) released a listing of the most important 150 buildings built in the 150 years since the organization was founded. http://www.favoritearchitecture.org/ From the list only one building in all of Michigan is included. The Cass Gilbert design for Battle Hall at the University of Texas is included, but not … Read more
The Flat Rock Ford Motor Co. Lamp Factory was the product of a unique collaboration between industrial genius Henry Ford and his lead designer, Albert Kahn. Ford systematically acquired land, an existing dam, and water rights in the area where the old Metler and Diekman Mills stood. These rights along with over 200 acres (0.81 … Read more
It may seem the Tomb of the Unknowns is a little far afield for a blog based in Detroit. This is a nationally important issue, however, for it goes to the heart of how we memorialize our war dead and what an appropriate treatment is for monuments as the twin elements of time and weather … Read more