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The Future Design of Detroit

The front desk at DCDC is covered with examples of what Detroit could do with its abandoned buildings (Photo by Jennifer Guerra)

The front desk at DCDC is covered with examples of what Detroit could do with its abandoned buildings (Photo by Jennifer Guerra)

by Jennifer Guerra

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You’re going to hear the words asset and opportunity a lot in this story. And frankly, that’s a pretty welcome surprise. It’s not often you hear those words associated with Detroit these days.

But don’t tell that to Charles Cross, Chandra Moore, and Virginia Stanard. They all work at the Detroit Collaborative Design Center. The firm is associated with the University of Detroit Mercy. And most of their work focuses on Detroit’s abandoned spaces.

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New Photo Essay on Michigan Radio Picture Project

Michigan Radio manages another site called the Michigan Radio Picture Project with the editing help of photographers Eric Smith and Doug Aikenhead. This week we published a photo essay entitled “Home,” containing photos by Michigan photographer Austin R. Hermann.

Hermann describes the collection as “a pictographic examination of Michigan’s current economic housing crisis, with interviews from each participating member.” He visited houses and buildings in Berkley, Ypsilanti and other Michigan communities to capture the scene and speak with homeowners.

Visit the Michigan Radio Picture Project to view the photo essay.

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Program Helps People Buy Foreclosed Homes

Patrick Molloy sits in his new house in Clarkston, which he bought with the help of NSP funds.

Patrick Molloy sits in his new house in Clarkston, which he bought with the help of NSP funds (Photo by Jennifer Guerra)

by Jennifer Guerra

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The federal government doled out nearly $4 billion towards the Neighborhood Stabilization Program last year. The program was designed to stabilize communities hardest hit by foreclosures. Michigan got more than $98 million in NSP money. As part of our Facing the Mortgage Crisis series, Michigan Radio’s Jennifer Guerra checks in with one county to see how it’s spending its NSP money.

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An Artistic Approach to Neighborhood Stabilization

by Jennifer Guerra

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The inside of the foreclosed house Charlie O'Geen bought for $3,300 (Photo by Jennifer Guerra)

Earlier this year Michigan Radio’s Jennifer Guerra introduced us to an artist named Mitch Cope. He and his wife live in a working-class neighborhood in Detroit. It’s pretty mixed: Polish and Ukranian families, lots of Bangledeshi immigrants. Not to mention quite a few drug dealers. Here’ s what Cope had to say about it back in March:

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The Greening of a City

by Jennifer Guerra

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Bobby Jackson talks with someone from the Land Bank about his urban garden at the Mission of Hope

Joanne Palek and her brother, Richard, have lived on West Court Street in Flint for 10 years. A few years ago, the abandoned house next door burned down. So they bought the empty lot from the Genesee County Land Bank for exactly $1.00, and then they started to plant.

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Aging Out of Foster Care and Into Affordable Housing

by Jennifer Guerra

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The Vista Maria campus in Dearborn Heights (Photo by Jennifer Guerra)

The Vista Maria campus for girls has gorgeous brick buildings spread out over 37 acres. You could easily mistake it for a boarding school out east. There’s the big lawn out front. Volleyball courts behind each hall. Inside, you’ll find some girls watching a movie, others are working out, and some are getting ready for the big Fall dance.

But that’s where the similarities end.

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Special Reports and Town Hall Event

Ann Arbor, Mich.—As part of the “Facing the Mortgage Crisis” community engagement initiative, Michigan Radio will air a series of special reports dealing with southeast Michigan’s foreclosure situation, and also host a free mortgage foreclosure town hall event in Oakland County.

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Upcoming Town Hall Meetings

If you are a homeowner concerned about foreclosure, join us for one of these upcoming Facing the Mortgage Crisis town hall meetings. You can talk with experts about the foreclosure timeline and process, and find out resources available to help prevent foreclosure.

Tuesday, Oct. 6 – 7pm
William P. Faust Public Library of Westland
6123 Central City Pkwy,
Westland, MI 48185

Tuesday, October 27 – 7pm
Bloomfield Township Public Library
1099 Lone Pine Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

Update: The Bloomfield Hills town hall meeting will take place at 7pm on Thursday, November 12.

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MSU Extension Seminars

MSU Extension has three upcoming seminars where you can get housing advice. RSVP for all three events: (734) 997-1678. To schedule a housing counseling appointment, call (734) 222-9595. Download the PDF Flier.

1) Tuesday, September. 29, 2009
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Where: American Red Cross
4624 Packard St, Ann Arbor, MI

2) Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Ypsilanti District Library
5577 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti, MI

3) Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Pittsfield Charter Township Admin Bldg.
6201 W. Michigan Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48108

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Rebroadcast of Special Show on DPTV

Detroit Public TV will rebroadcast their special program for Facing the Mortgage Crisis at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8. DPTV is WTVS Channel 56.

For more info about the program and guest panelists, please click HERE.

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