Wonder what Detroit’s next big real estate trend is? According to experts, it’s micro-apartments.

Popular especially among young professionals moving into cities, these ultra-small apartments are a low-cost alternative to the climbing rent in more expensive cities.

According to the Detroit Free Press, two developers are responsible for spearheading the micro-apartment projects. They plan to build them in downtown Detroit, in addition to one in Kalamazoo.

Compared to normal-sized, one-bedroom apartments, micro-apartments are 20% to 30% lower in rent and are typically around 350 square feet. But despite their small size, these apartments still have full kitchens and bathrooms.

And while they are built for one person, roommates or couples who don’t mind sharing space utilize these micro-apartments also.

Considering the state of Millennial real estate statistics, it isn’t surprising that young people in cities are flocking to these micro-apartments. A recent survey showed that 50% of all Millennials rent their homes, a 13% increase from only five years prior.

Additionally, statistics show that the number of Millennial homeowners has decreased since 2010: 26% of all Millennials owned homes in 2015, compared to 35% in 2010.

But micro-apartments mean massive cost hikes for many conventional apartment rents in Detroit.

As development projects blossom in Detroit, landlords are raising rent anywhere between 3% and 10% in some neighborhoods. Not everyone can afford these new rents, and these price hikes might boot long-time residents out of their apartments.

“The rents are going up to the point that many people now renting are converting over to ownership,” said Austin Black II, founder and president of City Living Detroit brokerage. “At $2 a square foot that is $2,000 a month for a 1,000-square-foot unit, and you can get a decent condo with that kind of money.”

This momentum is also carrying over to Detroit’s condo market, an industry that was once stalled during the recession.

Detroit might not seem like an obvious location to launch a clothing like, at least compared to cities like Los Angeles or Milan, but a number of up and coming Detroit designers are exploding in popularity this year. This new class of designers are as diverse as the city they represent, and many are designing clothes with a uniquely Detroit attitude.

Designers like entrepreneur Tommey Walker Jr., who just secured a license from Chevrolet to prroduce a new clothing line called “Camaro vs. Everybody,” based on his locally popular “Detroit vs. Everybody” collection.

“Detroit vs. Everybody started as a way to express pride in my hometown,” Walker said. “Camaro vs. Everybody serves the same purpose for Camaro fans, who know their favorite sports car is second to none.”

Walker is selling a men’s T-shirt for $34.99, and hoodies, sweatshirts, long- sleeved T-shirts, and women’s clothing are available on his website.

Also this December, Detroit designer Terrence Jones launched his first-ever men’s winter collection, called First Class Committee. Jones is also designing mostly hoodies and T-shirts, but he handcrafts each item by hand. T-shirts were invented in the U.S. almost a century ago, but have evolved into a $2 billion market. In surveys, fully 90% of Americans say they own at least one shirt they keep for sentimental reasons.

“The main reason why I created this clothing line is so the middle-class could be able to express their sense of fashion just like the way the first class could, hence the name of the company,” Jones told the Chronicle Online. “Not only do I want people to be able to express themselves by wearing my clothes, I want them to be able to have the utmost confidence and live the first class lifestyle when they wear my clothes.”

In November, the start up Ash and Anvil launched in Detroit, specializing in selling clothes for short men. And even Detroit transplants are finding success. Detroit native Chisa Iwuagwu has made a name for herself in Los Angeles after starting one of the first popular ugly sweater websites, known as Shop Ugly Sweaters.

Oliver Francois — the lauded “Don Draper” of Chrysler Motors — has done it again. In a partnership with Disney and Lucasfilm, the automaker began rolling out a series of “Star Wars”-themed YouTube commercials. According to Chrysler, the new ad series is the largest co-promotional partnership with a movie studio in recent history.

Of course, “recent history” are the operative words here.

Francois, Chrysler’s chief marketing operator, has pulled off a series of memorable automobile commercials that have elicited conversation and have ultimately resonated with viewers. Named a Grand Brand Genius for 2012 by Adweek and Marketer of the Year by Advertising Age, Francois is known for selling cars through a brand, rather than trying to simply create a brand through Chrysler’s cars.

His biggest marketing success is easily his 2011 Super Bowl commercial that teamed up with Eminem for the first two-minute Super Bowl commercial in history, with the infamous tagline: “Imported from Detroit.”

While nearly a third of people claim they would base a purchasing decision on what kind of impression they got from a vehicle, Francois challenges this, making the buyers’ decision making based on a feeling, an idea, or a means of excitement.

It doesn’t hurt that Fiat Chrysler’s new ad campaign is partnered with one of the most anticipated movies of the past 10 years. Premiering worldwide Dec. 18, the latest “Star Wars” installment is expected to break sales records.

And while other car companies will be breaking out the year-end sales advertisements, attempting to sell cars on the basis of their affordability, Francois and his team with Fiat Chrysler will be taking a more unique route with their advertising campaign.

“This is an incredible marketing opportunity,” said Marissa Hunter, director of FCA US brand advertising. “We think that we will have an advantage in terms of being able to break through because it will be very different.”

Considering the specificity of the “Star Wars” brand, it was a challenge for the automaker to piece together commercials for vehicles like Chrysler’s Jeep, Fiat, and Ram.

But by identifying with common themes, such as performance, endurance and speed, the team at Chrysler managed to go beyond just making it work.

“You are definitely not going to see any of our vehicles in that galaxy far, far away,” Hunter said. “But it was a very fun, creative assignment.”

In 2014, a small group of scientists with West Virginia University made a startling discovery: Volkswagen was lying about their emissions. That tiny $50,000 study would have impacts all over the world, and bring one of the world’s oldest and most successful automobile manufacturers to its knees.

Now, the raft of U.S. lawsuits against the company could be coming to Detroit courtrooms.

On Thursday, Dec. 3, a panel of New Orleans judges heard arguments over exactly where the “flurry of civil lawsuits” should be transferred. The Department of Justice, Volkswagen itself, and other prominent lawyers argued that the federal court in Detroit was the ideal location for the civil cases to be overseen.

Detroit Chief Judge Gerald E. Rosen has extensive experience with complicated and technical automobile litigation; moreover, the Detroit area is home to many auto engineers and other expert witnesses likely to play a major role in the suits. Outside of Detroit, Virginia was the most popular choice among the various lawyers in court Thursday.

“The indisputable facts establish that all roads lead to the Eastern District of Michigan as the center of gravity for this litigation,” wrote E. Powell Miller, the attorney representing VW drivers.

Charles S. Zimmerman, the plaintiff’s lawyer added, “Naturally, the Motor City’s federal court is a subject-matter expert in automotive litigation, a trait mirrored by its chief judge, the Hon. Gerald E. Rosen.”

In the U.S. alone, the Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board, and New York state officials are all investigating VW for cheating official emissions tests. On top of that, class action lawsuits filed on behalf of VW owners are in the works as well.

Stricter emissions and air quality requirements have put new pressures on car companies in the past decade. While hybrid vehicles can usually reduce emissions by about 25 to 30%, Volkswagen promised both consumers and regulators that their new diesel-fueled engines would also meet lower emissions targets in North America and Europe.

Instead, the auto company has since admitted to cheating the tests.

On September 18, the EPA announced that VW had violated air-quality standards, and that investigations are still ongoing. The EPA vehicle-emissions testing lab is located in Ann Arbor, another sign that one of the biggest legal cases in corporate law history could soon be en route to Motor City.

Dental work is not exactly an activity that people gather in hordes to receive. But on Sunday morning, a long line formed outside the door of Gateway Dental in Mundy Township — made up of people waiting to receive free dental work.

The office offered free dental care the entire weekend, from November 27-29, with Dr. Bobby Grossi and two additional dentists volunteering their expertise free of charge. The dental services that were offered included extractions, cleanings, and cavity fillings.

In addition to the three dentists, both past and current employees were present to help during the annual event, now its fourth year.

“I believe in giving back, in being a positive force in my community. I don’t just want to give people better smiles, I want to give them a reason to smile,” said Dr. Grossi.

Indeed, a healthy smile goes a long way. Not only does it help to promote and proliferate better oral and overall health, but almost 100% of all adults feel that a healthy smile is one of best social assets they can have.

For many without dental insurance, even a single filling can cost as much as $300. Oral health care isn’t just about pretty smiles; yearly oral examinations and other preventative care measures can help to prevent serious oral issues such as periodontitis, gingivitis, tooth decay, and more.

Yet high costs for procedures can keep patients away. In 2013, only 62% of adults between the ages of 18 and 64 paid a visit to the dentist. Percentages were significantly higher with children, at 83% in 2013.

For Dr. Grossi and his team, the free dental care is a means of giving back to the community, contributing to both their happiness and health.

Dr. Grossi added, “My staff and I look forward to this event all year and are more than happy to give back to those who have given us so much.”