For details about Michigan Modern: Design that Shaped America, visit michiganmodern.org.

Physical design/walkability is one of eight assets the Michigan Municipal League has identified as making desirable and vibrant communities for the 21st Century. But strong physical design didn't happen by chance.

Michigan Modern: Design that Shaped America is a symposium and exhibit hosted by Michigan's State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) that will show how innovative, chance-taking designers and architects left an indelible mark on the American cultural landscape. The event is to tell the story of Michigan designers and architects who met the challenge of a new century with optimism and spirit. They defined the look of the twentieth century with iconic pieces like the Eames Lounge Chair by the Herman Miller Furniture Company, the expressive styling of automobile details like the fins on a Cadillac, and the corporate campus image and office environment of the General Motors Technical Center.

The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is hosting a symposium June 13-16 that will bring together national experts in design and architecture who will provide their own unique insight on the people, places, and events that populated Michigan’s design world and about why Michigan should take its rightful place as a twentieth-century design powerhouse alongside New York City and Los Angeles. The SHPO is also partnering with MPdL Studio of Ann Arbor and Cranbrook Art Museum on an exhibition that will showcase Michigan’s outstanding contribution to Modern design. The exhibition will be open to the public June 14-October 13, 2013.

For details about Michigan Modern: Design that Shaped America, visit michiganmodern.org.

Matt Bach is director of media relations for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 and mbach@mml.org.

Eastpointe Mayor Suzanne Pixley has written a new book about her community now available online.

Michigan Municipal League board member Suzanne Pixley has written a new book about the people who helped make her community - Eastpointe - what it is today.

Legendary Locals of Eastpointe was written by Pixley, mayor of Eastpointe, and published by Arcadia Publishing. It's available at area bookstroes, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888) 313-2665 or online.

According to a news release about the book, Eastpointe was first settled in the early 1800s by Irish and German immigrants, who had traveled to a new country to find a better life. The inherent values of strong education, hard work and love of home and family have continued throughout the city's history into modern times.

In the past 200 years, many locals have become legendary as they strived in various ways to pursue excellence. As notable as the achievements of hometown hero astronaut Jerry Leninger and the athletic power of All-American Ron Kramer, there are also the stories of unsung heroes, which are now told. Legendary Locals of Eastpointe celebrates some of the individuals who have left their mark on the city.

Highlights of Legendary Locals of Eastpointe: Showcases the rich heritage of active citizens that have contributed their time and efforts on local, state and even national causes to make this region viable; and Includes business leaders, cultural leaders, medical leaders, military leaders, political leaders, sports leaders and community founders and leaders.

Pixley’s interest in local history comes naturally having grown up in the city where her grandfather first purchased a farm in 1910. Her knowledge of local businesses, high school programs and alumni accomplishments make her a natural to record the history and the people who were part of the development. As the current Mayor of the City of Eastpointe, she has also become keenly aware of the historical background of the many aspects of municipal government. She graduated from Henry Ford Hospital School of Nursing in 1961, advancing her education with additional Bachelor and Master’s Degrees from the University of Michigan in the 70’s, followed by Doctor Studies in Community and National Development.

She is an active volunteer with various community service organizations and has been recognized at state, county and local levels for her volunteer actions. She has received the National Daughters of the American Revolution award for Historical Preservation, as well as a Keep Michigan Beautiful Award for individual volunteer landscaping projects in Eastpointe’s Downtown area. She has also received awards from the Michigan Municipal League where she now serves a three year term on the Board of Trustees.

Matt Bach is director of media relations for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 and mbach@mml.org.

A rendering for the long-term vision for Capitol Park as outlined Thursday by Dan Gilbert. Source: Quicken Loans and the Detroit Free Press.

Quicken Loans Chairman and Founder Dan Gilbert announced his continuing commitment to revitalizing Detroit at an “Opportunity Detroit” event Thursday, that included Fred Kent of Project for Public Spaces. The plans, which included an announcement of a Papa Joe’s grocery store opening in the heart of downtown, are very consistent with the League’s placemaking message. In fact, a good portion of the two-hour session had Kent discussing the elements of placemaking and how to create lively urban places to live, work and play.

Kent told the audience at the event that Detroit has major assets and a passion for redevelopment that he has not see elsewhere, according to a Detroit Free Press article by John Gallagher.

"Downtown Detroit’s geographic location and particularly the half mile from the Detroit River to Grand Cricus Park is the most concentrated diversity of urban assets and placemaking opportunities anywhere in the world,” Kent said.

Many of the changes envision for downtown Detroit are reminiscent of a European capital, including sidewalk cafes, retail kiosks, food stands in parks, lawn games, beach volleyball in parks, traffic-calming devices such as raised crosswalks, retail storefronts open to the sidewalk, boutique hotels and pedestrian walks protected from traffic. They also called for a narrowing of Jefferson Avenue near Hart Plaza because the current eight-lane boulevard leaves a feeling of disconnect between downtown the Detroit Rivewalk. This narrowing of major roads is also something League CEO Dan Gilmartin has called for in his Economics of Place blog.

Media reports from the Opportunity Detroit event were truly exciting and League members will get to see many of these changes taking place first hand when they attend the League's 2013 Convention in Detroit this September. Learn more about our event here.

"We're all in," Gilbert told an audience of about 400 business and civic leaders invited to the City Theatre at the Hockeytown Café. "It's more than fluff ... A big chunk of this is going to happen this summer. It's agreed, funded."

Matt Bach is director of media relations for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at mbach@mml.org or (734) 669-6317.

Another rendering of Detroit's future. Source: Quicken Loans and the Detroit Free Press.

What defines a community? It’s the common ground where people gather – from housing, squares, streets and plazas to parks, green spaces and waterfronts.

The Michigan Municipal League believes that by revitalizing communities and rebuilding neighborhoods, we can strengthen the entire state. Together with our many partners, we invest in Michigan communities to enhance the quality of life of our residents – and to attract and retain businesses, entrepreneurs and workers throughout the state.

This approach is commonly described as creating a “sense of place” or just “placemaking.” It’s a simple concept really, based on a single principle – people choose to settle in places that offer the amenities, social and professional networks, resources and opportunities to support thriving lifestyles.

Michigan can attract and retain talent – especially young, knowledge-based talent – by focusing on how best to utilize our regional communities’ unique placemaking assets.Michigan is seen these days as leading the national movement for "placemaking". Downtowns and neighborhoods, cities, and regions see the importance of “place” to attracting talent, inspiring entrepreneurship, and encouraging business.

Recently, the League, along with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), the MSU Land Policy Institute, and other statewide organizations launched the MIPlace Partnership Initiative and a companion ‘Placemaking Curriculum’ with the goal of helping Michigan communities learn more about and implement placemaking as a strategic economic development.  The six-module curriculum from the MI-Place Partnership can jump-start your community’s placemaking creativity.

At the League's upcoming Capitol Conference you'll have the chance to more about the curriculum and learn what your community can do to help restore prosperity to Michigan and enhance the quality of life for everyone in your community. For more information about the MiPlace Partnership Initiative and Placemaking Curriculum Training being offered in the spring of 2013 by nonprofit placemaking partners such as Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) and Michigan Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA) visit the MIPlace website at miplace.org.

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or at aweinfeld@mml.org.