Dear Detroit: New look, new features, same great Model D

For our 215th edition of Model D (but who’s counting?), we unveil our new look. The new look also comes with new features.

One very cool new feature: the Development Database. We’ve mined the past 10 years of Detroit development and put together a searchable database of the downtown core’s major projects — including those completed, planned and under construction. We looked for projects that brought at least $1 million in investment. In addition to details and descriptions, the database includes photos of each project. We’ve also linked videos and stories we’ve produced. We hope this tool will be useful to developers, neighborhood groups, leaders, students, researchers and others interested in the city’s growth and investment opportunities.

The Model D makeover also comes with some basic but nonetheless exciting features. It’s now simpler to print, e-mail, Facebook and tweet our stories. The tool is in the upper right corner. So please, click and share. Many of you — including one editor’s mom, ahem, hi mom — have asked for this over the years, and we thank you for your patience.

The Buzz section, formerly the Detroit in the News section is
essentially the same creature, although we will include more about what
bloggers and social media users are saying about Detroit. The
definition of news is changing, and we could go into a dissertation
about the state of media, but we’d be digressing. Also, look for
innovation and job news items in this section.

We have more upgrades and additions planned, so stay tuned. As we transition 4 1/2 years worth of news, photos, videos and information to our new design, there may be glitches. Please pardon us as we continue to work on the site. And do e-mail us with your thoughts and feedback.

Above all, thank you for your support and reading Model D. We invite you to celebrate the redesign with us next week, Nov. 12, at the Majestic Cafe after our Speaker Series event. For more information, click here.

Cheers,

Clare Pfeiffer Ramsey, editor, Model D