The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has approved new air permits for Marathon Petroleum’s Detroit refinery after a public comment period earlier this year.
The permit changes will allow Marathon to operate the refinery — located at 1001 South Oakwood — at “full capacity,” and set new pollutant emission caps for the facility. Previously, the refinery was limited to producing an average of 140,000 barrels a day.
Andy Drury, an environmental engineer with EGLE, says the department will require Marathon to continue air quality monitoring through at least 2030.
“One of the bigger things is Marathon has been doing ambient air monitoring at their facility, and they have agreed based on the comments to continue for at least six more years,” Drury said.
Key updates to the permit include the removal of outdated regulatory references, an extension of the air monitoring program, and increasing the height of a refinery stack to 35 feet.
Jeff Tricoff, a relief operator at Marathon’s Detroit refinery and a member ofTeamsters Local 283, was among several residents who expressed concerns about increased capacity at the facility at a public hearing hosted by EGLE in May.
“As workers, we know that operating everything at 100% has to be done effectively and efficiently and done by experienced people,” Tricoff said at the meeting. “Right now we are in a labor dispute with our current contract having expired on Feb. 1, and Marathon is preparing to bring in temporary workers to take our position.”
Marathon also operates an asphalt terminal at 301 S. Fort St., and a light products terminal at 12700 Toronto St., both in Southwest Detroit.
WDET’s Jenny Sherman contributed to this report.
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Windsor’s AM 580 radio station, known for its nostalgic playlist of hits and deep tracks from the 1950s, ’60s and beyond, has undergone a surprising format change this week.
The station, with the call letters CKWW, has pivoted to a focus on local Windsor news and information following its acquisition by Toronto’s CINA Radio Group.
Al Pervin, the new general manager of AM 580, says the previous music-heavy format was not achieving high ratings in the market.
“We had the chance to buy it, so we did and we’re changing the format to focus more on local information for Windsor and also play some music from the ’70s and ’80s,” said Pervin. “But the local information is really our prime focus.”
The station launched a new morning show this month, with plans to introduce even more local programming in the near future.
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WDET’s CuriosiD podcast answers your questions about everything Detroit. Subscribe to CuriosiD on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
In this episode of CuriosiD, we answer a question from WDET listener Theresa May:
“There’s a park in Indian Village named after my Uncle Tommy, who passed away in World War II as a very young man. My family has always wondered — why was the park named after him?”
The short answer
Thomas Mollicone was an American soldier and war hero who was killed on March 4, 1945, while on a dangerous mission with the 95th Infantry Division during World War II. Mollicone was awarded several honors for his service, including both the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
A beloved neighbor and friend to his community, Mollicone’s death led residents in Indian Village to petition the city to have the park renamed after him.
The park, located on Detroit’s east side, was named in his honor on Sept. 4, 1951.
The Thomas Mollicone Park and playground is located on Goethe Street and Burns Avenue, across the street from Nichols Elementary-Middle School.
Who was Thomas Mollicone?
Thomas Mollicone was 23 years old when he joined the U.S. Army during World War II. He lived with his mother and three sisters in Detroit’s Indian Village neighborhood after their father died. The family had immigrated from Italy to Detroit when Mollicone was a child.
Mollicone’s family immigrated from Italy to Detroit when he was a young child.
“He got his draft notice on the day of my parents’ wedding,” Patricia Antonelli, Mollicone’s niece, says.
Despite being the only wage earner for the household, Mollicone was drafted into military service.
A young Thomas Mollicone, before getting drafted into the U.S. military.
“Uncle Tommy should not have been drafted because he was the sole provider [for] three girls and his mom,” Antonelli said.
Family lore suggests that Mollicone’s mother attempted various methods to keep him out of the war.
“My grandmother apparently paid someone to keep him out of the service,” Theresa May said of her uncle. Antonelli added: “I’m not sure if she paid, but there was a scam.”
Mollicone’s family believes that a politician’s son avoided service because Mollicone went in his place.
“She made lots of chiffon cakes to keep him out. Bribery. But there was a [local] politician whose son did not go, and Tommy went in his place,” May said.
Mollicone earned several honors while serving in the military, including a Silver Star and Purple Heart. However, the exact circumstances of his death remain unclear.
The last letter Thomas Mollicone sent to his family back home during World War II before he was killed in the line of duty.
“He was asked to participate in a mission that they kind of knew he wasn’t going to come out of,” said May, recounting a story her mother shared with her. “He went into combat and did what he was asked to do for his country, and he died.”
Mollicone served in the 95th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army during World War II.
The evolution of Mollicone Park
Mollicone Park, an open space with mature trees in the historic Indian Village neighborhood, remained largely unused for many years after its dedication.
In 2011, Callie Sullivan — a resident of Indian Village — noticed the lack of local recreational spaces for her children.
Construction on the Mollicone Park playground in the spring of 2019.
“I had one child at the time; I now have four,” Sullivan said. “We were always being creative with the places we would go to play. There wasn’t a nearby park.” Sullivan and her neighbors began canvassing the area, asking, “How could they make the park better?”
Their efforts led to the formation of the Friends of Mollicone Park — a committee of the nonprofit Indian Village Historical Collections — with the goal of revitalizing the underutilized park. Supported by a combination of funding from the city of Detroit, Wayne County and community donations, the group was able to bring their vision to life, and the park was re-dedicated in a ceremony attended by Mollicone’s closest remaining family members in June 2018.
Today, Mollicone Park features a playground, swings, walking paths and picnic tables, providing a much-needed space for the community.
Thomas Mollicone Park today features a playscape, swing set, spider climber, picnic tables, a walking path and more.
A community hero
Mollicone was known in his neighborhood for his generosity and reliability. He was often seen helping others by providing transportation to and from work during tough economic times.
“He would make rounds. He was like the local bus of the neighborhood where he would make sure whoever needed to get to their job was going to get to work,” Antonelli said. “He was a really great giving neighbor that everyone really loved, and it was the community that felt the loss of him.”
Thomas Mollicone poses with puppies.
Other parks named after World War II heroes
Mollicone Park is one of several parks in Detroit named after fallen soldiers from World War II. Other parks include Dueweke Park — named after Sergeant Sylvester L. Dueweke, who died in 1945; and Krainz Park, named after Captain John Krainz — who was killed in action in 1944. Lipke Park, also known as SAY Detroit Play, honors the Lipke Brothers — Nicholas and Clarence — who both died during the war.
While the Mollicone family may not have all the details of Thomas Mollicone’s final moments, they remember him as a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
About the listener
Mollicone’s extended family, including WDET listener Theresa May, poses for a photo at Mollicone Park.
Theresa May is a New Baltimore resident and a longtime WDET listener. She says her family has always wondered what precipitated the Indian Village community’s decision to dedicate a local park in Millicone’s honor.
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Detroit’s efforts to improve non-motorized transit were highlighted at this week’s Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) Annual Conference, where local and national experts discussed the city’s evolving infrastructure.
Since adopting a non-motorized plan in 2010, Detroit has focused on adding bike lanes and cycle tracks as part of broader efforts to make streets safer and more accessible.
“It’s been a big difference,” said Michael Darga, a partner at Detroit-based engineering firm Giffels Webster. “Even in the Motor City, we have like 30% of our population without a car, so we have to look at options.”
Listen:Detroit showcases green transit wins at annual conference
Key projects include the Dequindre Cut, Joe Louis Greenway and bike lanes on streets like Jefferson, Cass and Livernois.
“The bike lanes in Jefferson are just their first pass,” Darga said. “But it’s infrastructure that can be built on over the years.”
The concept of “road diets” was a central topic at the conference, referring to the practice of reducing vehicle lanes to provide more space for pedestrians and cyclists.
“We’re just reducing the amount of active lanes without harming auto traffic, but giving more options for peopleto get places,” Darga explained.
While the changes have been largely positive, Darga acknowledged some resistance from drivers.
“Anytime you’re taking something away from somebody, even if it’s not hurting their travel, it’s still perceived as ‘us versus them,’” he said.
The 2024 conference was held in Detroit and aimed to showcase the city’s balance between maintaining its car culture and expanding non-motorized transit options.
“We can still be the Motor City and provide non-motorized options for pedestrians and cyclists,” Darga said.
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The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is investing more than $50 million in Detroit to upgrade federal buildings with climate-friendly improvements.
The Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building will receive about $34 million to enhance the building’s façade, upgrade parking garages and install electric vehicle charging stations.
Listen:Detroit to receive $50M in federal funds for green infrastructure upgrades
GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan said the initiative supports multiple goals of the Biden administration, including job creation, innovation and cost savings.
“The first is because it is creating good-paying American jobs. It’s supporting innovation,” Carnahan said. “The second is it’s saving money for taxpayers because we’re lowering energy costs by reducing consumption. We make these buildings more efficient. They use less power, we save money, and then the third, of course, is that we’re making our communities healthier.”
The Rosa Parks Federal Building and the Ambassador Bridge facility are also slated to receive funding for infrastructure improvements.
Construction is expected to begin in 2025.
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WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
Wayne County voters approved two ballot initiatives on Tuesday that will renew a millage to fund improvements to parks and recreational facilities and remove a requirement to find a new financial auditor every eight years.
Proposition P renews the county’s existing millage to provide continued financial support for parks and related facilities, generating approximately $14 million annually from 2026 to 2030.
The funds raised through this millage will be directed toward capital improvements and infrastructure projects in major parks, including Hines Park, Elizabeth Park, Wayne County Family Aquatic Center at Chandler Park, and improvements to municipal parks in more than 40 Wayne County communities.
For a home assessed at $100,000, the renewed millage will add around $12 per year to homeowners’ property tax bill.
The proposal passed with more than 74% of the vote.
Voters also approved Proposition A, which removes language in the Wayne County Charter requiring it find a new auditor every eight years, and instead, allow any qualified auditing firm to be awarded a contract for services when the contract is competitively bid.
More information about the proposal, which passed with 52.4% of the vote, can be found here.
Lastly, voters in Detroit also approved Proposal L, which renews the city’s Library Operating Millage for another 10 years. The 3.9943 millage renewal — which will not raise residents’ taxes — will provide city libraries with almost all of its operating budget for the next decade.
Homeowners in the city will continue to pay $3.99 per $1,000 of taxable property value. The millage renewal also includes changes to Detroit’s tax capture policies that will boost library funding by an additional $3 million next year.
Officials said if the proposal had not passed, Detroit’s 22 libraries would have closed.
Detroiters voted overwhelmingly to renew the millage, with over 85% of voters approving the measure.
WDET’s Jenny Sherman contributed to this report.
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WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
WDET’s CuriosiD podcast answers your questions about everything Detroit. Subscribe to CuriosiD on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
In this episode of CuriosiD, we answer the question:
“What is the history behind the Belle Isle Boathouse?”
The short answer
On the north side of Belle Isle, better known as the “Detroit side,” sits a 40,000-square-foot building only a few have entered in years, and almost none since last summer. It’s one of a handful of iconic landmarks on the island and also one of many buildings in the city which have faced the threat of demolition.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which acquired the boathouse in 2014, is seeking a private partner to help fund the restoration of the iconic structure.
A Historic Landmark
The Belle Isle Boathouse was built in 1902 and designed by Detroit architect Alpheus Chittenden. The structure blends Beaux-Arts and Classical Revival architectural styles, featuring intricate woodwork, including balustrades with sea horses and ornate dolphins.
Designed by Detroit architect Alpheus Chittenden, the interior structure of the boathouse blends Beaux-Arts and Classical Revival architectural styles, featuring intricate woodwork throughout.
The boathouse has been the home of Detroit’s only rowing club for more than 100 years, says Todd Platt, vice president of the board of Friends of Detroit Rowing.
“The atrium is lined with trophy cases and there’s a lot of really nice hand-carved woodwork up here,” Platt told me during a private tour of the boathouse. “There are balustrades with sea horses carved into them and incredibly ornate dolphins on each post.”
Social and athletic legacy
The boathouse’s history is far more vibrant than a simple rowing hub.
As the former home of the Detroit Boat Club, the building was a popular social center — hosting numerous events and gatherings for members over the decades.
In its heyday, the boathouse was a bustling venue, featuring a grand ballroom, dining rooms and a bar frequented by Detroit’s elite. Social events, including dances and dinners, were commonly held within its walls.
The club’s athletic achievements are also impressive, producing both Olympians and national rowing champions.
“Throughout its history, it’s been really successful,” Platt said. “We’ve had 19 Olympians, 500 national champions, and we’re probably better known nationally and internationally than we are here in Detroit.”
The Detroit Boat Club is one of the oldest boat clubs in America, and one of the oldest social organizations in Michigan.
The club’s collection of rowing memorabilia includes trophies, medals, and historical photographs, even Olympic metals donated by past members.
The Oak Room, where club members once dined in formal dress, and the Island Room — once housing a significant art collection — are just a few of the unique spaces within the boathouse. The latter’s bar room, last updated in the 1960s, was a popular gathering spot for high society reminiscent of the Mad Men era.
“This bar goes way back. Captains of industry would stop here, talk about the events of the day, and probably make some side deals,” Platt said. “This is where a lot of the elite from the city would come and congregate.”
Challenges and preservation efforts
Despite its former glory, the boathouse as it stands today faces significant challenges.
Friends of Detroit Rowing has maintained the iconic structure since the 1990s, but years of increasingly harsh weather and difficulties keeping up with repairs have taken a toll on the building.
The pool at the Boathouse is said to have been the first Olympic-length pool built by a private organization in the United States, according to the Detroit Boat Club.
“When [Friends of Detroit Rowing] kind of took over responsibility for the building, we would keep up the areas that we needed for our programming, but we also expanded our maintenance and upkeep when we started hosting events here,” Platt said.
The group has hosted several fundraising events to help their restoration efforts, with proceeds reinvested into preservation projects. However, those who want to save the boathouse say much work is still needed to ensure its survival for future generations.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources took over the facility’s lease when it assumed management of the island in 2014. In 2022, the agency deemed the building structurally unsound due to significant deterioration.
The DNR condemned the building a year later after an exterior porch collapsed. Since then, Platt says more damage has occurred due to members of the rowing club being unable to access the building for repairs.
A 2019 study by Detroit-based SmithGroup put the cost estimate for a total restoration of the building and grounds at $42 million.
A glimmer of hope
Earlier this year, the DNR announced plans to demolish the building due to limited funding for the facility’s upkeep — unless a private investor steps forward to help the agency restore it.
Since then, a movement to save the Belle Isle Boathouse has gained steam.
State officials placed an open call for proposals to rehabilitate the building in March 2024. Those proposals are currently being evaluated with a deadline of July 31 for acceptance by the DNR.
About the listener
WDET listener Erin Rose Briggs outside the Belle Isle Boathouse.
Erin Rose Briggs is a program manager at a company in the battery and electric vehicle space. She lives in Detroit and often bikes around Belle Isle. Briggs shared her experiences and thoughts with WDET about the Belle Isle Boathouse, which she bikes past every time she visits Belle Isle.
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