Tobacco, Alcohol and ....

While driving down this section of Michigan Avenue, I noticed a billboard...

If one can ignore the message being sent to this neighborhood...

If we can accept that the tobacco and alcohol industries target black neighborhoods because "blacks have higher consumption indices for these products"...

If we accept the fact that lung cancer rates among blacks have increased four times faster than among whites in the last 30 years...

If we accept the fact that black men have a 70 percent higher death rate from cirrhosis of the liver than whites.

If we can tolerate that in 2010, 20.8% of African-Americans had no form of health insurance (as compared to 11.8% of non-Hispanic Whites)...

Then one should take notice of this Billboard's remarkable low price.

------------------------------------------------
"THE MEDIA BUSINESS; An Uproar Over Billboards in Poor Areas", New York Times (Business Section), May 1, 1989

US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health

Phoenix Rising: Part 1-1/2

The Phoenix has begun to rise over Jefferies East.  The seeds of Cornerstone Estates have taken root. Water pipes and sewers are now charged with sustaining the new life injected into this mixed-income public housing townhouse development.

In the shadow of Motor City casino a reborn housing development springs to life.

Parkman Library Update

Parkman Library is rejuvinated as a 21st century library.
Opened on April 16, 1931 as the eighteenth member of the Detroit Library system, in 2012 it's new technology and literacy center serves 400 patrons a day with free Internet access and technology training.

Circa 1931

Circa 1931

Judging an Old Book with a New Cover

The exterior improvements at Detroit Housing Commission's Warren West apartments are complete. It's new colors shining cheerfully over the I-94 horizon.

Bronze energy efficient slider aluminum windows compliment a three tone exterior coating.  Towering over its sister buildings along this section of Warren Avenue, its new skin dominates the Core City neighborhood skyline.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

21st Century Libraries

Public libraries began popping up on American soil during the 18th century. Their purpose was simple, to give its citizens access to information through the free circulation of books. In the case of Ben Franklin's Library Company of Philadelphia, to serve the civic good of giving people a means through which to settle arguments.

The first public library arrived in Detroit in 1865. And on April 16, 1931, the doors of the eighteenth member of the Detroit Library system opened in honor of American historian Francis Parkman.

Today, libraries are evolving to serve a new modern-day purpose: to bridge the digital divide.

• For 66% of Americans, libraries are their only source for free access to the internet.



• 70% of Americans depend on library computers whether or not they have a computer at home.



• 55% of retail companies require online job applications.



• Between 2008 and 2009, libraries have seen a 110% increase in career service usage.

In attempt to bridge the digital divide, the Knight Foundation awarded a $866,000 grant to the Detroit Public Library to expand free Internet access at the Parkman Branch library by building a new technology and literacy center. The library will now be able to serve an additional 400 patrons a day with access to the Internet and an ever-growing range of activities including job searches and resume building.

Continuing to serve its original goals, this historic library is now being restored with a 21st century purpose.

Work began in the summer of 2010.

Awaiting the Rising of a Phoenix

A fenced in vacant field of wild flowers awaits a rebirth. Motor City casino looms in the background as the land formerly known as Jefferies East, re-named Cornerstone Estates, awaits the rising of a Phoenix. Crouching in a corner of the field each morning, I hope to capture a picture of this rare legendary bird.

The Egyptian Phoenix has two long feathers fixed atop its head with a white crown of ostrich feathers. Its rising is associated with the rise of the Nile river and creation. Its cry marking the beginning of time.

The Arabian Phoenix is said to be as large as an Eagle with brilliant scarlet and gold plumage and a melodious cry. At the end of its life it sets its nest on fire, is consumed by its flames, and after three days rises from its ashes.

The Chinese Phoenix is described as having the beak of a cock, the face of a swallow, the neck of a snake, the breast of a goose, the back of a tortoise, the hindquarters of a stag and the tail of a fish. It symbolizes high grace and virtue. If used to decorate a house, it represents the loyalty and honesty of the people who live there.

The Japanese Phoenix, known as the Ho-Oo, resembles the Chinese Phoenix. It descends from the heavens only at the birth of a virtuous ruler and the beginning of a new era. Its symbol represents justice, fidelity and obedience.

A Phoenix is about to rise over Jeffries East. One can only hope that its rising can be captured in pictures.

Releasing Some Steam

A full two levels below the public areas of the Detroit Public Library lies Sub-Level B. Containing most of the mechanical equipment heating and cooling the Library, I recently spent an afternoon surveying its condition with a mechanical engineer. I liken the area to the inner organs of a human body. The temperature rises as you descend into an artery of steam pipes and pneumatic controls. Loud random pieces of equipment cycle on and off, giving the unfamiliar reasons to pause and access the level of danger.

The life blood of the room is steam, pumped in from a network that loops its way around the center of Detroit. Multiple valves control its pressure like the sections of a submarine use water to control its sinking and rising. It’s summer, so only one section of steam piping remains open for the production of hot water. When winter returns, it will take 45 minutes to manually turn the complete system back on, as steam slowly re-animates the multiple limbs of the library's heating system and provides warmth through the winter.

When we talk of greening cities, these are the systems that require our surgical attention. These renovations are the primary challenge of the urban architect and engineer. And though restored facades can make wonderful first impressions, success is equally measured by keeping a building user thermally comfortable and utility bills to a tolerable minimum. Plans include significantly improving equipment efficiency, installing a heat recovery unit and installing computer controlled electronic monitoring devices.