Detroit, MI
Peer analysis of planned I-375 reconstruction proposes design changes
A newly released review of the planned reconstruction of Detroit’s Interstate 375 proposes several alternate designs, including making the area more walkable once the freeway is removed, minimizing displacement and economic impact, while recognizing harms done to Black neighborhoods by the original construction.
The analysis, detailed in a 104-page report for the Detroit Downtown Partnership and funded by the Kresge Foundation, includes several recommendations different from what the Michigan Department of Transportation has proposed. Among them: eliminating the currently planned median in favor of more pedestrian space along the road; putting trees in population-dense areas; and creating an interchange that includes room for homes and businesses rather than just vehicle traffic.
“The I-375 Reconnecting Communities project is at a critical moment of design development,” the peer analysis states. Testing alternative roadway and interchange designs, along with land use scenarios and economic and reparative impact, “has unearthed several near- and long-term opportunities that can inform how project partners and the community can maximize restorative, reparative and reconnective impacts and outcomes created by the removal of the highway.”
MDOT plans to tear up the sunken I-375, update the Interstate 75 interchange and replace I-375 with a street-level boulevard connecting Jefferson Avenue and I-75, lined with businesses and homes. The agency’s goal is to begin work late in 2025, and MDOT has held a series of public meetings about the project.
MDOT Spokesman Rob Morosi didn’t comment on whether the peer analysis will change any of the agency’s plans for 375 but said it appreciates the Downtown Detroit Partnership’s efforts. The partnership oversees the city’s downtown parks.
“Overall, this was a very positive process that yielded tangible improvements to the conceptual design,” said Morosi in an email. “We appreciate the efforts DDP and all our partners put forth on this endeavor. We are aligned in our goal for a project that prioritizes pedestrian safety and connectivity while providing equitable access to neighborhoods and downtown destinations.”
The analysis was conducted by three firms: Urban American City, or urbanAC; Toole Design Group; and HR&A Advisors.
When I-375 was built in the 1960s, 28 local street connections were removed between Mack and Jefferson that connected the city’s historic Paradise Valley and Black Bottom neighborhoods to downtown and adjacent communities. It displaced roughly approximately 2,600 residents and families.
Eric Larson, CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership, which ordered the peer review analysis of the plans for 375, said he recognizes the need to minimize losses for businesses in the shadow of the project’s construction, a concern raised at public meetings held by MDOT.
“You never, ever want to lose any ground, especially having come off of some of the really challenging years that we have not so distant in our rearview mirror,” Larson said. “And so from a partnership standpoint, we are going to be working just as hard as we do every day on making sure that the destination that downtown has become, the very robust opportunities that downtown represents, continue to be top of mind.”
The analysis details five key recommendations for the possible redesign of 375. They include: designing the boulevard that will replace 375 “for people and vibrant street life, rather than high-speed vehicles”; putting trees where people are; and considering eliminating the median in favor of enhancing pedestrian spaces.”
The partnership’s report also lays out three hypothetical land use scenarios along the reconstructed boulevard, with estimates for the economic and social benefits from each, in terms of measures such as job creation, income taxes and new housing units. One vision prioritizes housing, another focuses on a cultural heritage district and a third designed around sports and recreation.
The analysis estimates a housing-focused scenario, for example, could lead to more than 3,200 units in the heart of Detroit.
The report also includes a 2022 quote from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg about the historic harm done to Black communities by transportation projects, which the Buttigieg said has sometimes been deliberate, and which the downtown partnership said is critical to address.
“…Some of the planners and politicians behind those [transportation] projects built them directly through the heart of vibrant, populated, communities — sometimes in an effort to reinforce segregation. Sometimes because the people there had less power to resist,” Buttigieg said in the report. “And sometimes as part of a direct effort to replace or eliminate Black neighborhoods. … There’s nothing sacred about the status quo.”
Detroit, MI
Former employee accused of stealing over $215,000 from Metro Detroit moving service business
A former employee of a Metro Detroit moving service business is accused of misappropriating funds and transferring the company’s money to her personal accounts.
Deborah Beaudoin is facing a federal charge of wire fraud, according to a criminal complaint filed on Dec. 10, 2025.
Homeland Security began investigating the case on Sept. 4, 2023, when the Van Buren Township Police Department requested support for an ongoing investigation into alleged fraud at a small business called Rose Moving and Storage.
According to the criminal complaint, the business accused former financial controller, Beaudoin, of misappropriating over $215,000 from Rose Moving and Storage by ordering company debit cards, transferring business funds to the cards and then transferring the business funds to her personal accounts.
On Oct. 5, 2023, authorities interviewed the chief financial officer of the parent company of Rose Moving and Storage, and he explained that the business is a moving company that contracts with owner-operated truck drivers. He then said the drivers use their own cars and pay their moving crews to service customers at Rose Moving and Storage. However, the truck drivers typically did not have the financial capital to front their costs. So, the business would “front” the truck drivers about $4,000 to $5,000 to cover initial expenses, including gas and the payment of the moving crew.
The employees, including Beaudoin, would order the company debit cards issued in the name of the driver, load them with company funds and give them to the truck driver to pay their initial costs and complete the moving transactions. After the job is complete, the amount “fronted” by the business would be deducted from the final payment to the truck drivers.
Beaudoin is accused of devising a scheme to misappropriate funds by ordering and obtaining unauthorized company debit cards from the company’s provider, typically using names that contained different iterations of the company name, including” R. Rose Moving,” “R. Storage” and “R. Rose Moving ST,” then using company monies to fund them in amounts ranging from just over $1,000 to as much as $3,000 before withrawing the funds in cash using ATMs at different banks.
After withdrawing the funds, she allegedly deposited the cash into her personal accounts.
Beaudoin allegedly created fake entries on the company ledger for expenses such as “repairs” and would allocate the money she had appropriated from the company to these fake expenses to legitimize the costs.
Homeland Security found that Beaudoin obtained over 60 fraudulent company debit cards from 2017 to 2023.
According to federal authorities, her use of Huntington Bank’s ATM machines to withdraw funds she had allegedly misappropriated from the business “caused the transmission of wire communication in interstate commerce,” leading to her facing a federal charge.
Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
Detroit, MI
Detroit police officer shoots himself in foot during dog attack
Inside Michigan’s policing: History, diversity, overview
Explore the evolution of policing in Michigan, from the early days of the Michigan State Police to modern community initiatives, advanced training, and efforts to ensure accountability and diversity within the force.
A dog is dead and a Detroit police officer is injured after police stopped to investigate vehicles blocking the roadway on Tuesday, Dec. 23.
Officers from the 6th Precinct were responding to a ShotSpotter report in the 14400 block of Rockdale Street at approximately 9 p.m. when they encountered two vehicles blocking the road, according to a statement from Detroit Police Department on Wednesday, Dec. 24.
One of the vehicles was discovered to be wanted out of Livonia. As officers approached the wanted vehicle, a dog jumped out of it in the direction of the officers and the driver fled the location, according to DPD.
“The dog charged towards the officers and began to attack one officer,” according to DPD. “The officer fired shots to stop the dog from attacking them and accidentally struck himself in the foot.”
The officer was treated at a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He is out of the hospital as of Wednesday evening. The dog is dead.
Review of body-worn camera and camera assets in the area determined the driver, who was wanted by Southfield police, attempted to stop the dog from jumping out of the vehicle, according to DPD. The driver was arrested and taken into custody by Southfield police.
“Detroit Police Department is not pursuing charges on the driver as we do not believe the driver intentionally threw the dog at our officers,” according to DPD.
Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.
Detroit, MI
Detroit Sandwich Week is arriving: What local restaurants are doing
7-Eleven’s Japanese-style egg salad gets a taste test from food writer
Free Press food writer Susan Selasky tries out the new 7-Eleven Japanese Style Egg Salad sandwich.
After Thursday’s Christmas holiday, it’s time to get ready for what’s become an annual tasty Detroit event.
This Friday starts the week sandwiched between Christmas and New Year’s.
And in Detroit, that means it’s time to get ready for what’s become a Detroit tradition, founded by a Detroiter: Detroit Sandwich Week.
The annual Detroit Sandwich Week celebrates five days and seven events of sandwiches at local restaurants.
It’s been a dozen years since local sandwich and overall food enthusiast Carlos Parisi came up with the idea of Detroit Sandwich Week to help support local businesses during a slow time.
Doing so also allowed Parisi to take sandwiches to another level.
“It’s beautiful because what Sandwich Week has done is given me a chance and an opportunity to do so much more,” Parisi said. “I started a podcast and was able to host TV shows and now the sandwich party, the Detroit sandwich party, which is insanely successful. It all stems from sandwich week.”
Parisi is also the owner and founder of Aunt Nee’s, whose products include Detroit-made tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole sold at Eastern Market and several metro Detroit stores.
Detroit Sandwich Week started out while Parisi worked at a corporate job. During the holiday season, Parisi and others were able to take longer lunch hours and got the idea to help support local businesses during the period between Christmas and New Year’s.
While over the years the event grew, it’s stayed true to its mission of supporting local businesses. Each year, the event typically draws hundreds of people to stop in a select group of sandwich shops.
Parisi said that while Sandwich Week was something he first started with friends, it’s now taken on a life of its own.
“It’s really cool because in the lexicon of Detroit, you hear other people say sandwich week,” he said. “That’s so amazing because we know that what that means is, it’s the week between the two holidays where we go and support small business. And celebrate it by eating sandwiches.”
Events this year include a ticketed dinner and the final Detroit Sandwich Week party.
This year’s Detroit Sandwich Week kicks off noon-3 p.m. Friday at Mudgie’s Deli & Wine Shop on Brooklyn Street in Corktown.
Founded by the late Greg Mudge, the famed Corktown spot is known for its hearty sandwiches piled with fresh-cut meats and cheese, soups and its wine shop. Mudge, who died in September 2021, name is now officially on a secondary street sign above the Brooklyn Street sign in Corktown.
Other sandwich stops are:
- Vesper, 5001 Grand River Ave., Detroit, noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27. A wine bar and cookbook store, Vesper is in a former bank building in Detroit’s Core City. Ayiti Spaghetti, a pop-up, joins Vesper.
- Ladder 4 Wine Bar, noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28. Located in a Detroit neighborhood, Ladder 4 Wine Bar is in a restored former 1910 Detroit Fire Department house. In 2023, Ladder 4 Wine Bar was named the Detroit Free Press/Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Restaurant of the Year.
- Dakota Inn Rathskeller, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on Dec. 28. Featuring a 15-foot sandwich, this ticketed event takes place in the basement of the 90-plus-year-old Dakota Inn on John R. Tickets, available through a link on the Detroit Sandwich Party Instagram page, are $65 each. They include access to the sandwich, sides and two drinks. A cash bar is available.
- Rocco’s Italian Deli, 3627 Cass Ave., Detroit, noon, Dec. 29. This Midtown deli is known not only for deli sandwiches, but cocktails, specialty wines, cured meats, cheeses and olives.
- Tall Trees Café, 817 Livernois, Ferndale, noon Dec. 30. Tall Trees Café is a sandwich shop and lunch counter.
- Batch Brewing, 1400 Porter Street. On Dec. 30, a sandwich party starts at 6 p.m., and there’s a raffle with merch, gift cards and other items at 7 p.m. at the Corktown brewery.
Aside from the above specific events, places like Bev’s Bagels in Detroit’s Core City, Gonella’s in southwest Detroit, Last Chance Saloon and Pietrzyk Pierogi are participating with special sandwiches during the week.
Parisi also founded Detroit Sandwich Party, which once again drew thousands for last September’s event, its second, at Eastern Market. The sandwich festival is taking place again this year at Eastern Market and pays homage to the humble sandwich, featuring lots and lots of sandwiches, plus music and drinks. Parisi said he expects the event to be bigger this year.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press. Subscribe to the Eat Drink Freep newsletter for insider scoops on food and dining in metro Detroit.
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