>> ... Next Generation ...
run In
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College students
tour Detroit and
meet with experts.
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Students who joined CommunityNEXT's "Live! Work! Play! in the D" tour
his was an assignment I didn't mind taking
on. CommunityNEXT was holding an event
for college students in Metro Detroit called
"Live! Work! Play! in the D." Did I want to
go?
Sure!
So on June 20, I joined approximately
30 other students as we were taken to
the Compuware, Chase and M@dison
buildings for behind-the-scenes tours
led by Bruce Schwartz, Quicken's Detroit
relocation ambassador. We also attended
a panel discussion with five Detroit
moguls and ended the night at the Tigers
vs. Cardinals game at Comerica Park.
Tough job I have sometimes!
It would have been a perfect day if the
Tigers won, but the event was incredibly
eye-opening, even for a born-and-raised
Metro Detroiter like myself. Like many
of my peers, I go into the city for sports games and
other special events, but I don't think of the city when
deciding where to go for dinner or drinks. That's where
CommunityNEXT comes in; it's working to change our
perceptions of Detroit.
Touring Webward Avenue
First, we checked out one of Quicken's floors in
the Compuware Building. Schwartz took us to the
basketball court for a birds-eye view of Campus
24
July 5 • 2012
Martius and a brief history of Quicken's recent efforts
to build up the city. Though the court is decked out
with Cleveland Cavaliers paraphernalia — Quicken's
chairman, Dan Gilbert, is majority owner of the Cays
— the company is all about Detroit.
About six years ago, Quicken decided that
it would move its offices to the city from the
suburbs. "Since we've moved down here,"
Schwartz said, "we've seen production and
innovation increase." The process of moving
the family of companies Downtown is still
under way; Title Source is next.
He pointed out locations along the street
where new businesses such as coffee
shops and restaurants are moving in, visual
confirmations that this area of the city
is transforming. "Our 'sweet spot' is the
area north of Campus Martius," explained
Schwartz. "There aren't many cities in America
where you can buy space like this and build
it up. We're looking to create the urban vibe people
are looking for, that people move to Chicago and New
York for. We want to get that to happen here so we can
keep people here."
On the 10th floor, there is a room Schwartz called
the "war room." Inside, the walls are covered with
maps of sections of the city and foam boards with
details of buildings and city blocks. This room is where
the company focuses on and organizes its vision and
plan for the city.
Ruth Neuman and Daniel Samet watch the
Tigers at Comerica Park.
College students Michael Baum, Kevin
Pearlman, Joel Mitter and Cooper Ziecik