Business & Development

Published May 16, 2016

Study names Eastpointe second-most affordable city in state

EASTPOINTE/ ROSEVILLE — A New York-based financial technology firm has found Eastpointe and Roseville to be among the most affordable cities in Michigan to buy a house.

Under the study done by SmartAsset, Eastpointe came in second, narrowly missing the top spot to Holly. Roseville was listed in seventh place on the list, which factored in average closing costs, property taxes, housing insurance, annual average mortgage payment and median income.

Published May 16, 2016

Mount Clemens - Clinton - Harrison Journal

Turning Point head honored by state

MOUNT CLEMENS — Turning Point Macomb CEO Sue Coats has received multiple awards in her career, but she said she has a special affinity for her most recent award, the National Visionary Voice Award.

“What we do here is look forward,” said Coats, who was nominated to receive the award by the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. “I’m very honored to have been selected. It’s always nice when your work gets recognized.”

Published May 13, 2016

Warren Weekly

One hotel development deal ended in Warren

WARREN — If they build it, will they come?

That remains to be seen, but they won’t be coming to a new “first-class hotel,” sought by Warren Mayor Jim Fouts and built in the city’s Civic Center by the Lansing-based Boji Group, because the two sides have parted ways.

Published May 11, 2016

Rochester Post

Business is in bloom in downtown Rochester

ROCHESTER — Daffodils and tulips aren’t the only things popping up this spring in downtown Rochester. A number of new businesses have opened their doors over the past few months.

East Street Home, at 300 East St., is a home décor and interior design studio that opened at the end of January. Merry Stephenson, who owns the store with her husband, Bob, said the couple wanted to open a neighborhood shop close to home that blends reclaimed antique goods with modern homewares and accessories.

Published May 10, 2016

Woodward Talk

Ferndale Chamber of Commerce selects new executive director

FERNDALE — The Ferndale Chamber of Commerce has hired a new executive director who hopes to reach out to the people and businesses of the city.

Kim Hart was appointed to the position on April 11, where she replaced Ashleigh Laabs, who left the position in October 2015, and Carol Jackson, who had served in the interim.

A University of Michigan-Dearborn graduate, Hart has worked at Detroit Country Day School and the Drayton Avenue Cooperative Preschool.

She has experience in fundraising and event planning.

Published May 9, 2016

Birmingham - Bloomfield Eagle

Amid construction, Hamilton hums

BIRMINGHAM — When the work is done, Hamilton Avenue will have a fresh set of sidewalks and streetlights, not to mention a newly paved road with updated water and sewer systems underneath.

But it can be hard for some to look that far ahead, past the dirt, barricades and excavators blocking the street right now. The city is hoping to change that.

Published May 4, 2016

Royal Oak Review

Commissioners to residents: Central Park Development is not a done deal

ROYAL OAK — City commissioners had a message to convey during their April 25 meeting: The more than $100 million Central Park Development Group proposal including City Hall, the Police Department and a park is not a done deal.

Published April 27, 2016

Royal Oak Review

Central Park development preview draws big crowd

ROYAL OAK — Nearly 250 people filled City Hall and nearby overflow rooms April 18 to see firsthand the more than $100 million plans for a Central Park development.

Real estate professional Ron Boji held the floor during the meeting, which lasted more than three hours, to describe the plans for the center of the downtown that would include a new City Hall, Police Department, promenade, parking structure and park. The park would include a splash pad, amphitheater, green space and seating.

Published April 20, 2016

Macomb Township Chronicle

Dog park site approved by Planning Commission

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Several Macomb Township residents have voiced their concerns about a proposed dog park that would be located on the south side of 21 Mile Road and a half-mile west of Romeo Plank, behind Macomb Township Fire Station No. 2.

Discussions for the park have been ongoing for several years, but due to the recent construction of a bypass lane on 21 Mile Road near the entrance of where the park would be, plans have heated up with construction scheduled to begin on the park this summer.

Published April 20, 2016

Rochester Post

Automotive firm plans $15 million expansion in city

ROCHESTER HILLS —Jenoptik Automotive plans to create a new campus-style facility on Hamlin Road, between Crooks and Livernois.

Company officials aim to purchase city-owned land for a new office, engineering, manufacturing and warehouse building campus on the north side of Hamlin Road for a three-phase project totaling $15 million.

Jenoptik Automotive manufactures metrology and laser processing systems for manufacturing processes, according to company officials.

Published April 20, 2016

Shelby - Utica News

2015 was a big year for development in Shelby Township

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — At an April 5 Board of Trustees meeting, Planner Glenn Wynn presented a comprehensive overview of the Planning and Zoning Department’s activity in 2015.

“It was indeed a busy year for our department, and we were probably involved with more projects than I can remember in my 19 years here at the township,” Wynn said.

In 2015, Wynn said his department processed 384 applications, including 54 site plans, which he said take the most time and effort and represent significant development activity.

Published April 18, 2016

Farmington Press

I-275 reconstruction underway in Farmington Hills

FARMINGTON HILLS — Get ready to see some changes on Interstate 275, if you haven’t already.

A $75 million project is underway to fix 88 lane miles between Five Mile and the Interstate 96/Interstate 696/Michigan Highway 5 interchange in Wayne and Oakland counties, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The project began this spring and is scheduled to be completed by mid-September.

Published April 18, 2016

Royal Oak Review

Beaumont announces razing of Northwood Shopping Center

ROYAL OAK — Beaumont Health System officials confirmed last week that it will begin demolition of the Northwood Shopping Plaza by the end of 2016.

The announcement comes after years of discussion on what exactly Beaumont decision-makers would do with the 212,908 square feet of property located at the southwest corner of Woodward Avenue and 13 Mile Road. Beaumont has owned the the shopping center property since the 1980s.

Published April 13, 2016

Royal Oak Review

Detroit Zoo offers peek inside $30 million penguin center

Nearly 70 penguins made an appearance April 13 during a sneak peek of the $30 million Polk Penguin Conservation Center inside the Detroit Zoo.

The 33,000-square-foot center is scheduled to open to the public April 18.

Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director and CEO Ron Kagan expects the new attraction to draw heavy attention, as it is the largest penguin habitat in the nation.

Published April 13, 2016

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

City approves brownfield plan for senior development

ST. CLAIR SHORES — The developer building a new senior living complex on the site of the former St. Gertrude Church will receive a tax break of up to $700,000 under a brownfield redevelopment plan of the property, which the city has deemed blighted and functionally obsolete.

Published April 13, 2016

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Petitpren thanked for its work in the city

ST. CLAIR SHORES — For more than a quarter-century, a Macomb County business has made sure the sounds of summer return to St. Clair Shores.

The St. Clair Shores City Council issued a proclamation of thanks to Petitpren Inc. April 4, expressing gratitude to the distribution company for its 26 years of sponsorship of the city’s Concerts in the Park series.

Published April 13, 2016

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Restaurant to get new look

ST. CLAIR SHORES — More renovations are proceeding down Harper Avenue, with another fast-food chain requesting to update its look.

With a brand new Taco Bell down the street, Burger King in the 24000 block of Harper Avenue, near Stephens, has requested to make improvements to its facade as well, bringing the restaurant in line with more modern iterations of the franchise.

Published April 13, 2016

West Bloomfield Beacon

State of Township highlights new businesses, promotes environmental program

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste held the seventh annual State of the Township address April 4, at which she welcomed new and future businesses, promoted the township’s RiverSafe program and highlighted the public safety departments.