Attention Kayakers: New Paddling Guide Available for the Detroit River

There is a stereotype of environmental lawyers as your typical outdoorsy person, and I definitely fit the mold. And with the winter ice finally melted, I am excited to begin the annual rituals of kayaking and canoeing trips.

For outdoor enthusiasts looking to plan their paddling trips along the Detroit Heritage River Water Trail, I wanted to share this great new resource. An updated Detroit River Paddling Guide was unveiled last week.

You can download or view the updated map here:

http://www.downrivergreenways.org/home/reports-and-products

The document also includes guidance for local municipalities who are interested in developing paddling amenities, and it highlights opportunities for infrastructure improvements along the Detroit River.

The new guide offers detailed descriptions of each location, a key feature in designing your outdoor adventure. The guide also features the newest launch sites, updated information on existing locations, safety suggestions, and resources for local paddling groups. Recommended paddling routes are also highlighted, presenting not only mileage, but water time and possible conditions as well.

I have downloaded my guide, and I highly recommend it for other paddlers looking to see the Detroit River and the rest of the Heritage River Water Trail.

Learn more here:

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/new_paddling_guide_available_for_metro_detroit

Paul Bohn, partner at Fausone Bohn, LLP, has established a strong reputation in Michigan as a leading practitioner in environmental law. Mr. Bohn has been selected as a Michigan Super Lawyer since 2010 and was named one of the Top Attorneys in Michigan in 2014 by Crain’s Detroit Business. If you need consultation, don’t hesitate to contact us at (248) 468-4536 or online at www.fb-firm.com.

The Good News About Detroit

Paul Bohn

Has this happened to you: You’re out of town, maybe on vacation, and nobody knows where you’re from….so you say, “I’m from Detroit.” And then you get that look, the one that gives you the sense the person is sorry for you.

It’s not surprising, as the mainstream media constantly feeds negative stories of Detroit, from crime, to government mismanagement and corruption, to bankruptcy. A lot of Michiganders even have negative sentiment about Detroit.

The city’s motto states, “We Hope for Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes.” And better things are already happening, and Detroit is “rising from the ashes” of what is, admittedly, a scarred past.

I encourage everybody to check out two great websites: Curbed Detroit and Eater Detroit, which track positive development and rejuvenation, and the great eats and drinks, around the city.

Curbed: http://detroit.curbed.com/

Eater: http://detroit.eater.com/

And here’s a link to the latest piece of big news out of Detroit. Dan Gilbert is buying the historic One Detroit Center, and Ally Financial will be moving in (and it will be renamed Ally Detroit Center). Link: http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2015/03/dan-gilbert-buys-fills-and-rebrands-one-detroit-center.php

Paul Bohn is a partner at the law firm of Fausone Bohn, LLP, and was named one of the Top Attorneys in Michigan in 2014 by Crain’s Detroit Business. Paul is a huge fan of Detroit and encourages everyone to check out the good news happening around the City.

Rebuilding Detroit

Mike Ilitch, owner of the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers, has proposed a $650 million development plan for a new hockey and multipurpose events center in the city of Detroit: “From the time we bought the Fox Theatre, I could envision a downtown where the streets were bustling and people were energized.”

The Ilitch family’s Olympia Development arm presented the plan Tuesday to the state Senate panel, who, in a 5-0 vote, approved the proposition. According to Rep. John Walsh of Livonia, the Senate panel’s approval will allow Olympia Development to apply for almost $13 million in funds from the Detroit Downtown Development Authority.

John Walsh, an attorney at Fausone Bohn, LLP in Northville, Michigan, is the legislative sponsor.

The development plan would include a new hockey arena for the Detroit Red Wings, one to replace the Joe; however, the arena would be combined with a multipurpose events center. Walsh stated that the proposed center would be located near the Fox and Comerica Park – creating a new retail, residential, and mixed-use commercial district.

The proposed project is estimated to have quite an impact on Detroit’s economy, both during its construction and after its opening. The project would create approximately 5,500 jobs for the arena construction, while construction of the mixed-use commercial district would create another 2,750 jobs. After its opening, Olympia Development estimates that the multipurpose events center would bring 1,100 jobs and upwards of $210 million in annual economic impact to the city of Detroit – a boost the city seems to so desperately need. Detroit Mayor Dave Bing states that the proposed project could be “a vital contribution to a more vibrant downtown,” one that could lead to a stronger economy.

The project, however, is dependant upon the approval of $12.8 million from Detroit’s Downtown Development Authority. Detroit’s DDA taxes businesses for such bond and development projects. The “repurposing of existing revenue” is not a tax increase, Walsh said.

The project, especially its long-term impact, could positively affect the city. The proposed project could increase the desirability of living in Detroit, drawing more residents into core areas of the city. The Ilitch family may be onto something in an attempt to revitalize the city of Detroit.

To learn more and read the original article, please visit: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121205/BIZ/212050366/Ilitch-proposes-650M-arena-district-project?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p