2003 Annual Meeting
December 2003. Jim Townsend, Executive Director of the Michigan Suburbs Alliance, was the keynote speaker at the meeting. The MSA is a public policy group that researches, educates and lobbies for older cities, primarily Detroit suburbs. It promotes tax policies and public expenditures that are fair for cities that are built up - all across the state - and not greenfield development. Cityscape business such as election of boardmembers and treasurers report were also done, along with socializing over food afterwards.

Compuware Building Tour led by Gino Rosetti
November 2003. Construction workers were still putting the finishing touches on parts of the building when Cityscape members got an exclusive tour of this large, marvelous building. Gino Rosetti, who designed the building, led the tour. He first gave a background talk about the theory leading into its design and layout. Then everyone went on tours of the 16 story tall atrium, gym, child care facility, cafeteria, a typical office floor, and the executive areas on the 15th floor. It was a great opportunity to ask questions, critique and learn.

Lansing's Urban Agenda
March 2003. State Rep. Steve Tobocman, Dem. 12th District (Southwest Detroit), talked about what the urban issues are in Lansing and how they are being dealt with. These issues include the newly elected Granholm administration, the Land Use Council, using the issue of urban sprawl to gain consensus between the east and west side of the state and Detroit and the suburbs, the state's powerful homebuilding lobby, and more.

2002 Annual Meeting
November 2002. At 1515 Broadway, downtown Detroit's only "black box" theater, Walt Watkins, one of the heads of the City of Detroit's Planning & Development Dept. (P&DD), spoke about different development projects going in the city. There was socializing over hor d'vours afterwards.

Tourism in Detroit
November 2002. William Connellan is the region's newly appointed "tourism czar." He spoke about tourism industry, its current state in Detroit, the newly created Tourism Economic Developent Council's 10 year plan to make the tri-county area a better tourism destination, how a place needs 18 hours of activities before people will go there as a vacation destination (and Detroit currently has 12), the proposed gondola over the river between Detroit and Windsor, and more.

2001 Annual Meeting
November 2001. Keynote topic: mass transportation. Carmen Palombo, Director of Transportation for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), spoke about mass transportation modes like subways and buses, the politics surrounding them, their costs and their benefits. There was a question and answer session after that. There were board elections and then socializing over food.

The National Heritage Area Initiative
March 2001. Jon Lane presented the rationale begin the development of the National Heritage Area initiative to the Cityscape Detroit membership and the development of MotorCities National Heritage Area's implementation plan. National Heritage Areas are affiliated with the National Park Service, and each one is dedicated to preserving and interpreting a significant national story, like the creation and growth of the American auto industry in SE Michigan.

2000 Annual Meeting
November 1999. "Revitalizing Our Riverfront: The River East Project" was the title of the keynote given by John Blanchard of GM and Chuck Waters of Hines. With General Motors having purchased the Renaissance Center for their new headquarters, they talked about GM's plans for the building, the cement berms out front, a glass enclosed Wintergarden, a riverfront promenade, and the surrounding land. There was socializing afterward.

1999 Annual Meeting
November 1999. Gil Hill, Detroit City Council President and head of City Council's Task Force on Commercial Strip Revitalization, spoke about the Task Force's efforts to bring retail stores back to Detroit's neighborhood commercial districts. There was a question and answer session and a reception afterward.

Forum: "The Civic Benefits of Public Space."
October 1999. Melanie Hare, a Toronto-based City Planner with Urban Strategies, Inc. who has developed many physical and economic development plans for areas including the New Center area, the Greater Downtown area and Wayne State University, illustrated the ways that well-designed public spaces can benefit city residents, businesses and visitors alike.

There was a panel discussion afterward that included Anthony Benevides, charter member and Supervisor for the Clark Park Coalition.; Robin Boyle, Chairman of the Geography & Urban Planning Department at Wayne State University; Dorian Moore, Vice President of the architecture firm Archive DS; and Kurt Weigle, Director of Economic Development and Planning for New Center Council, Inc. There was a reception after the discussion.

Brush Park Tour
March 1999. This event began with representatives from Crosswinds Communities outlining their development plans for Brush Park. Then there was a walking tour of the historic area followed by lunch at the 1882 mansion Bill Atwood is restoring.

1998 Annual Meeting
November 1998. Held at the 1515 Broadway theater/artspace downtown. Paul Bernard, the newly appointed head of the City of Detroit's Planning and Development Department, was the keynote speaker and also fielded questions. Also food and socializing.

The National Theater
September 1998. Cityscape members, in conjunction with Preservation Wayne, The City of Detroit, and Concept East II, went inside and helped clean up this beautiful, historic, abandoned theater in downtown Detroit. It may be rehabilitated and this work helped determine how much the job will cost.

"The Kraemer Design Group Tour."
October 1997. Featuring the works of this architecture firm located in Harmonie Park. The day began with a tour of their loft/office space. Then there was a tour of their Parker Webb Building rehab project and the Ja Da restaurant (with barbecue!).