Here are a few of the stories we've been reading recently.

The Platform starts unloading properties

The Platform has been one of the biggest developers in the city in the past 10 years, with prominent projects mainly around New Center. The group has taken on a lot in recent years, and now they're cutting back on their plans. Two developments are now canceled - the second phase of Baltimore Station in Milwaukee Junction and the long-planned development next to the Dequindre Cut in Eastern Market. The group is also selling two sites that could be very appealing to developers - the former Big Boy site on East Jefferson across from Belle Isle, and a parcel of land next to the new residential tower on the West Riverfront. The properties have been listed by O'Connor Real Estate. They've also recently sold the large office building at East Grand Boulevard and Woodward. A statement from the company says they're going to "focus on our core assets with the greatest potential." Crain's Detroit Business

How an historic agreement can help SW Detroit into the future

A few weeks ago, the city announced an agreement between the Ambassador Bridge company (owned by the Morouns) and the Hubbard Richard Residents Associations. For years, the company and neighborhood group have gone back and forth over what expansion of the plaza - and another bridge - would mean for the people of the neighborhood. City Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero and Sam Butler, president of the Hubbard Richard Resident Association, write about how this will prevent encroachment in the future, and bring benefit to the community with vacant parcels that can be developed.  Bridge Detroit

The Lost Subways of Detroit

Plans have come and gone for many transit projects around Metro Detroit. Designer Jake Berman has created many hypothetical maps in the past, and has gathered his maps from cities around the country in a book called The Lost Subways of North America. Our friends at Daily Detroit talked to Jake recently about transit and urbanism in Detroit. Below is one of the maps from a 1918 plan.

Jake Berman/The Lost Subways of North America