Here are a few of the stories we're reading this week.
Culture demolished
One of the buildings at Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum on Grand River was demolished last week. Museum founder Olayami Dabls had filed an appeal with the city after a demolition order was given due to the partial collapse of the building. But the process moved quickly, and the city demolished the building on Tuesday.
“While the artistry and potential renovation of 6559 W. Grand River were expressed by the claimant, the claimant stated their inability to make the necessary renovations or confirm the funds for necessary renovations,” Hearing Officer Joilynn Hunt said in the document.
Dabls has a GoFundMe page open with the intent to rebuild. Bridge Detroit
Lee Plaza on hold again
Plans for the renovation of the long-vacant Lee Plaza were announced a couple years ago, and now developers need another extension. The Roxbury Group, who's leading the redevelopment, need additional time for gap financing and purchase of the property. When completed, the building will have both market-rate and affordable senior housing. The building has been vacant since 1997, with various attempts at redevelopment since. It stands 16 stories tall along West Grand Boulevard near Grand River. Detroit Free Press
Car insurance still sky high in Detroit
If you've lived in Detroit, you know certain bills can be higher than other cities. One of those is for car insurance. In 2019, the state passed a law prohibiting factors like zip codes when insurers are setting rates. Has that changed? Not really. The average price of car insurance in Detroit is $5,300 per year. Outlier worked with an insurance agent to compare rates for three Detroit residents, using their Detroit address, an address right outside the city, and one further into the suburbs. The difference was stark - from $650 per month for full coverage in the city to $265 per month in a suburb. How? While the law prohibits using zip codes, they can use census tracts. Outlier Media
