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Celebrety Judge, Eric Novack (or is it Novak now?) was in the Detroit Free Press the other day…

“What we need to do is get the developers to address their square footage costs,” Eric Novak, head of commercial real estate and advertising at Boydel Development Group, said during Fusion’s Saturday session. With 10 loft developments downtown, Boydel has a 95% occupancy rate, Novak said, because of its rates, which he described as about $600 a month. Affordable housing is necessary not just for living space, but also for offices. Boydel is developing the 2.2-million-square-foot Russell Industrial Center into office, studio and gallery space for small businesses.

“It’s all economics,” Novak said. “It’s affordable space for people.”

Read the Rest of the Article…

(Photo courtesy of Stacy Ellis)

Stacey and Valdavia Ellis are getting ready to take off later this year by opening a store in the city, moving forward on a plan to create unique seats for automobiles and hiring three to five people.

The claim to fame of their Russell Industrial Center-based business, B Black Apparel, is a patented measuring system that allows the couple to create clothing that fits specific body types. For instance, Cindy Crawford and Tyra Banks may be about the same height and weight but they’re proportioned differently enough that some clothing would fit one well but not the other. B Black’s technology lets them create the clothing to either specifications.

Custom Denim!? That’s what’s up.

Read more about B. Black Apparel @ > Model D

(Photo courtesy of Stacy Ellis) 

Furniture and commercial buildings. Those are two things people usually don’t associate together but they are the bread and butter of Metropolitan Architecture Practice. The firm based in the Russell Industrial Center is a full service design and architecture firm but it makes its dough either designing commercial buildings or furniture.

“We lean on one or the other when one slows down,” says Roger Berent, principal of MAP.

Berent and Kyle Hulewat founded the firm a year ago after working together in another architecture firm. The Russell offered them a place to set up shop cheaply while providing a multitude of creative muses to draw from.

Great job fellas! Keep up the good work.

Read more @ > ModelD

The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit family of galleries has added a new member: MassiV, located here at the Russell Industrial Center. It opened last weekend with a solo show from Chido Johnson, the chair of sculpture at the College for Creative Studies.

The installation makes use of the large, 5,000-square foot space, which is precisely the reason CAID took on a fourth location. (told you we have big spaces available ; )

“It’s an open space with no walls and large ceilings, which will give us the opportunity to show some major shows,” says executive director Aaron Timlin. “Huge stone pieces, huge installations, anything goes.”

Read more here.

Via > ModelD 

A recent press release details legislation signed into law by Governor Granholm on May 4th that provides new tax incentives for Michigan’s creative economy.  If you own a creative company,.. you may be  eligible for state MEGA tax credits.

Creative businesses are defined as:

Architecture and design including architectural design, graphic design, interior design, fashion design, and industrial design

Digital media including internet publishing and broadcasting, video gaming, web development, entertainment technology

Advertising and marketing firms including advertising and marketing agencies, public relations agencies, and display advertising

More > Read the rest of this entry »

(From Crains Detroit)

Just 10 days after Michigan started offering incentives to film companies, the first local leases have been signed.

Boydell Development Co. signed two 7,000-square-foot leases for film companies at 45 Grand River Ave. and 1505 Woodward Ave., said leasing agent Eric Novack. Los Angeles-based producer Chuck Speed is behind both deals, though the names of the two projects were not available Friday.

Boydell, owned by investor Dennis Kefallinos, controls 400 area properties, including the 2.2 million-square-foot Russell Industrial Center in Detroit. Novak said the properties have been appealing to the film industry for their gritty aesthetics.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed legislation April 7 offering up to 42 percent tax credits for film operations.

Writer — Daniel Duggan

Who are you/What do you do?

Born in Detroit in 1965, Julie Fournier’s work explores how innovations and events of the last 40 years have impacted our lives, psyches and relationships with one another.

She founded SmilingEyes Studio in 1997, and in 2005 graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in Industrial Design, Cum Laude. Known by many for her oil paintings, she’s far from satisfied
practicing one discipline; Julie considers herself a multi-media artist, working full time as both a fine artist and designer. Her work can be seen at www.juliefournier.com.

Neo Realism best describes her style. Referred to as a “news reporter” because she is inspired by often overlooked aspects of daily life, she challenges traditional notions of beauty, social class and human interaction through her work as an artist.

Why did you choose the RIC?
The sense that it’s a mecca for artists, the rent’s perfect, and I have room to work!

people/places/things about Detroit that inspire you….
Belle Isle, the Cass Corridor, Eastern Market, my other half, Rod Campbell, & all my friends who love the city like I do.

Thanks Julie!

Got an idea for a caption? Please share. Post it in the comments section.

As I mentioned a few posts ago,.. we’re trying to put together a Co-op space here @ RIC. (msg me if you’re interested) Over @ PSFK they take a deeper look at Co-Working spaces and provide some great examples. Here are some pictures and excerpts >

Paul Taboure the owner of There (www.there.com.au) says that beyond rent he shares his space for cross-pollination of creative skills and inspiration and an opportunity to work/drink/play with like-minded highly talented creatives. He also admits it adds another string to their creative-bow and expands they offer to clients.

 Matthew Spangler, Chef Strategy Office at the Happy Corp (www.thehappycorp.com) says that although its nice to have other companies share some of the rent, there experience of co-working has helped them expand their offering. “We have found like minded companies that we collaborate with - often providing complimentary services in a close proximity that we can offer to our clients or provide as a value add to certain projects we take on,” Spangler says.

Any companies in the RIC looking for a Social Media guy to hang out with?.. Just putting it out there.

Read the rest of this post @ PSFK.