Detroit unveiled the final designs for the first three Solar Neighborhoods on Thursday.

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Each neighborhood provided input on the landscaping for the solar fields in their area. Neighbors chose between trees, decorative fences, and whether to plant urban farms or wildflowers beneath the panels. 

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says community input on the design was the top priority. 

“We are not going forward unless each of these neighborhood associations signs off on a neighborhood agreement with the design of the solar fields that they want,” Duggan said. “This has been a neighbor driven project from the beginning.”

Construction for the fields is expected to begin in spring of 2025. 

 Other headlines for Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024:

• Detroit now has its very first rage room, where people can destroy objects like old electronics, glass, or furniture as a means of therapy for releasing pent-up anger or frustration. The business, called the Damage Zone, is a recipient of the city’s Motor City Match program.  
• A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit filed by a Muslim worker against U.S. Steel can move forward. Jalal Muflihi says while working at the company’s Great Lakes location he faced harassment and retaliation and was denied access to training and advancement. U.S. Steel had asked the court to dismiss the charges, arguing there was not enough evidence. Muflihi, a Yemeni American, says coworkers called him a terrorist and a shoe bomber – and that management was aware of the harassment and took no action. He filed the suit in 2022.
• The Detroit Parks and Recreation Department is recruiting youth for its basketball and Olympic handball programs in the new year. The Get Bucketz Basketball program provides four weeks of fundamentals on basketball for 7-14 year olds. The program is $25 and will be held at the Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Rd. Handball sessions will be held at the Tindal Activity Center at 10301 W & Mile Monday evenings starting Jan. 27. The department says handball is like combining soccer and basketball. The four-week program is for 8-12 year olds and costs $10. Register for both programs at dprdathletics.com. 

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