Detroit, MI
Nine Detroit neighborhoods targeted for sewer repairs, basement backup fixes in 2024
Detroit’s Basement Backup Protection Program to help stop flooding
The city of Detroit has been allocated $15 million to help residents who have been stuck dealing with massive flooding whenever we get the strong, heavy downpours.
DETROIT (FOX 2) – The second phase of a homeowner program in Detroit that pays for installing backwater valves in basements begins this week.
The Basement Backup Protection Program, which was launched in two Detroit neighborhoods in 2023, will cover residents in nine more neighborhoods that are prone to flooding. Along with the backwater valves, contractors will also repair sewer lines for homes that have cracked or leaky pipes.
The program is free to homeowners that live in one of the 11 neighborhoods selected by the Detroit water department that are the most prone to flooding.
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department spokesperson Bryan Peckinpaugh said the city learned a lot during its program’s pilot year, including some of the challenges that contractors ran into and what sort of funding would be necessary.
Among the biggest surprises was the number of homes that needed their sewer lines replaced or repaired, which more than doubled the cost of getting a home up to working condition. About 40% of homes needed repairs to the sewer lines in phase one and the department expects a similar percentage of homes will also need sewer line repairs for the second phase.
Homes that needed both the valve installation and the pipe repaired cost about $15,000, a pricey repair the homeowner won’t need to cover and aims to stop basements from flooding.
“It’s a quality of life difference maker for (homeowners’) livelihood and their health and safety,” he said.
Other challenges included finding enough contractors and requiring homeowners pay a deposit. In response, the city council has approved six contractors and removed the homeowner pay portion, Peckinpaugh said.
“We want to take away any burden to get into the program,” he said.
Each repair takes about three days if a valve is being installed, and around five days if the sewer line needs fixing.
Last year, homes in the Aviation Sub and Victoria Park neighborhoods were first on the list to get repairs. The program used $2.4 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to install 382 backwater valves in the two neighborhoods.
For phase two, the program will prioritize homes that didn’t get valves last year before moving on to the other nine neighborhoods, which include Barton-McFarland, Chadsey Condon, Garden View, Warrendale, Cornerstone Village, East English Village, Jefferson Chalmers, Morningside, and Moross Morang.
Approximately 2,000 homeowners were approved for the program, which plans to use $60 million from various funding sources to pay for the repairs. The city council allocated $4 million that will be used specifically for homes in Jefferson Chalmers, which is one of Detroit’s most flooded neighborhoods.
Another $56 million is expected to come from federal Housing and Urban Development department for flood mitigation; the bulk of which will go toward the basement backup protection program.
If any funding is leftover after those who applied get their repairs, the application process will reopen for others to apply.
Learn more here.
Detroit, MI
Detroit Lions rule out All-Pro safety, list 7 others as questionable vs. Rams
ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions will be without safety Kerby Joseph again this weekend, while listing seven other players as questionable.
Joseph and fellow safety Brian Branch were the only players ruled out ahead of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Branch is out for the season due to an Achilles injury, but has not been placed on injured reserve yet. And Joseph, who will now miss his eighth straight game, suffered a setback and could be a candidate for injured reserve, per Dan Campbell.
The Lions listed tight end Shane Zylstra (knee), running back Sione Vaki (thumb), wide receiver Kalif Raymond (ankle), guard Christian Mahogany (fibula), safety Thomas Harper (concussion protocol), left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder/rest) and guard Kayode Awosika (foot) as questionable.
Decker has not practiced this week. But he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury all season and is coming off playing three games in less than two weeks. Awosika missed last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys due to his foot injury. The veteran guard has practiced in a limited capacity all week long.
Trystan Colon and Miles Frazier split duties at left guard last week for Awosika. The Lions will have a decision to make there between those three options, but perhaps for only another weekend.
Mahogany returned to practice this week. He seems like a longshot to play this weekend based on his injury. But the Lions are listing him as questionable after logging three limited practices in his first action back on the field.
Zylstra has been back at practice for two weeks in his return from injured reserve. Heading into the weekend, the Lions have only one tight end on their 53-man roster (Anthony Firkser) and hope to get Zylstra back.
Campbell said Harper has a chance to play against the Rams despite spending the week in concussion protocol. The Lions could sure use Harper, with Branch and Joseph both out, to hold things down at safety with Avonte Maddox against the high-powered Rams.
“Harper will be out there at practice today, so feel pretty good about him, but we’ll see,” Campbell said on Friday morning. “There again, I can’t give you definitives right now, but that’s kind of where we’re at.
“So, we’ll be good. Look, (Erick) Hallett’s been taking reps, (Daniel Thomas) DT’s been taking reps, Maddox has been taking reps. We’ve got plenty of guys. They’re getting valuable reps, so we’re good.”
Raymond has missed two consecutive games due to an ankle injury suffered against the New York Giants. He has a shot to return after working back into practice, and should reclaim his role returning punts.
Vaki has continued to play through his thumb injury. He hasn’t returned kickoffs since suffering the injury, with Tom Kennedy and Jacob Saylors taking over.
Detroit, MI
Oilers turn in smart, defensive game and Hyman hat trick for 4-1 win over Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades
CONNOR McDAVID. 9. In a quiet first minutes of this one McDavid had the most dangerous shot for, glancing off Talbot’s shoulder and out. Terrific patience on the doorstep before dishing to Hyman for the 1-0. Nearly outwaited Talbot again later in the frame. Dished the disk back to Ekholm on the 2-0. Pranced in and rifled a backhand off Talbot. Hi-lite reel assist on the 3-1, where he knocks down a puck then puts a backhand through his own legs to a waiting Hyman alone in the slot. An assist on the 4-1, for his forty-third four-point game. 63% on faceoffs. Second Star.
Detroit, MI
SAY Detroit unveils plans for new play center on city’s west side
Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown on ankle injury recovery
Amon-Ra St. Brown said he started feeling better two days before the Detroit Lions’ game against the Cowboys, after injuring his ankle Thanksgiving.
SAY Detroit had a surprise in store during its 14th annual fundraiser.
The charity founded by Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom announced plans for a new SAY Detroit Play Center on the city’s west side during its annual radiothon, taking place on Thursday, Dec. 11. The after-school educational center will be built on the campus of St. Cecilia’s church, which includes the historic St. Cecilia gym, also known as the Mecca of Detroit basketball.
The new facility will be called the SAY Detroit Play Center at St. Cecilia.
This will be the organization’s second play center, with the first opening in 2015 along Van Dyke Avenue on the city’s east side. The center provides educational and recreational opportunities for kids from 8-18 at Lipke Park.
The announcement was made during the foundation’s 15-hour radiothon, which raises money for SAY Detroit and other affiliated charities. Last year’s radiothon raised a record $2.23 million, with the fundraiser bringing in over $16.5 million in total since it was launched in 2012.
SAY Detroit was founded in 2006 by Albom and operates the play center and free family health clinic, along with providing a housing program for Detroit families and other direct efforts with the community.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
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