For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Della Cassia
248-305-3770
dcassia@dptv.org
DPTV Celebrates Premiere of This Old House-Detroit with Community Conversation & Toolkit Party Featuring hosts of show/homeowners & PBS President, Paula Kerger
March 24, 2017 6:30 p.m.to 7:30 p.m. (One Detroit Roadshow)
8 p.m.- 10 p.m. (Toolkit Party)
Campus of the University of Detroit Mercy
DETROIT (March 7, 2017) – In less than three weeks, fans of This Old House around the country will see firsthand how the team transformed a small abandoned house in Detroit into a beautiful home for the Polk family and, in the process, put a stake in the ground for neighborhood revitalization in the city.
In celebration of the broadcast premiere of This Old House-Detroit on April 3, Detroit Public Television (DPTV) will hold a community conversation followed by a Toolkit Party on March 24, 2017 on the campus of The University of Detroit Mercy, featuring the talent from the show: host Kevin O’Connor along with Tom Silva and Richard Trethewey, and a special visit to Detroit by PBS’ President Paula Kerger. More than 450 people have already registered to attend.
Earlier in the day, Kerger will address members and guests of the Detroit Economic Club in a speech to the Club, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham. Tickets to that event and more information are available at www.econclub.org.
The event at University of Detroit Mercy will kickoff at 6:30 p.m. with a presentation by Kerger on the important role that the public media plays in providing citizens with trusted and reliable information, followed by a One Detroit community conversation on rebuilding Detroit’s neighborhoods moderated by award-winning journalist, Christy McDonald and Detroit 67 Project Director, Marlowe Stoudamire, along with the talent from This Old House, Frank & Tamiko Polk; Craig Fahle, Director of Public Affairs at the Detroit Land Bank Authority; realtor Lolita Haley; and a representative from Mayor Duggan’s office. DPTV will turn the livestream into a special This Old House broadcast premiere airing on March 30 at 9 p.m.
At 8 p.m., guests will be invited to the Toolkit Party to meet This Old House talent and enjoy Detroit-made food and refreshments.
For the first time in the history of the show, This Old House traveled to Detroit last summer to work with retired firefighter Frank Polk as he and his family renovates a classic brick home. The 1939 two-story property was one of thousands of abandoned structures owned by the Detroit Land Bank. The family recently purchased the Russell Woods neighborhood house at auction with the promise they would make improvements and move in.
Expected work includes a new roof, kitchen and baths, plus new mechanicals to replace vandalized equipment in the basement. The team will look to preserve historic details such as leaded stained glass windows and archways as the homeowners blend their modern aesthetics with the home’s historic details.
Leading up to the broadcast premiere of This Old House on April 3, viewers are invited to check out a special “Detroit. One House at a Time” digital series and get to know the inspiring people—and city—behind TOH’s newest project. Episodes are available now on www.dptv.org/toh.
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About Detroit Public Television
Detroit Public Television (DPTV) is the non-commercial, viewer-supported PBS-member station watched by more than 1.5 million people in Detroit and Southeast Michigan and another 1.2 million people throughout Canada. DPTV also manages WRCJ 90.9 FM, Detroit's classical and jazz radio station, in collaboration with the license-holder, the Detroit Public Schools. The radio station is located in the Detroit School of Arts. DPTV is licensed to the Detroit Educational Television Foundation and governed by a volunteer board of trustees from the local business, civic, and cultural communities.
