Published August 17, 2016
FERNDALE — After months of searching, the city of Ferndale has hired a new community and economic development director.
Jordan Twardy’s first day on the job was Monday, Aug 8, and he was introduced as the new hire at the City Council meeting later that night.
He replaces Derek Delacourt, who left in March to become Ann Arbor’s community services administrator.
Twardy previously served as the executive director for the Eight Mile Boulevard Association, where he had worked since 2012 and as director since 2014.
Read MorePublished August 17, 2016
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Rehabilitation of Prince Drewry Park is set to commence after Clinton Township approved its tabulated bid offers.
On July 20, the Clerk’s Office received and processed three bids for the project, with the low bidder being James P. Contracting Inc. Bids were reviewed by Giffels Webster, the Clinton Township Public Services Department and the Clinton Township Planning Department.
Read MorePublished August 17, 2016
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The reconstruction of Clinton Township’s Civic Center parking lot is currently in full swing, and some additional changes will be added to the process.
The third phase of the current construction schedule is proceeding in timely fashion, according to Scott Chabot, senior project manager with Giffels Webster — the township’s engineering firm.
Read MorePublished August 17, 2016
The Troy Planning Commission sent a developer back to the drawing board again Aug. 9 after taking a second look at plans for a five-story, 140-unit apartment building on McClure Drive, just north of Big Beaver Road, east of Crooks Road.
The 2.5-acre, three-parcel site currently contains one single-family home.
Read MorePublished August 17, 2016
FARMINGTON HILLS/MARQUETTE — You may have heard of the former Holy Family Orphanage.
Some say it’s haunted, others see dilapidation, while some use the historic landmark as content for the blogosphere.
For Farmington Hills-based Home Renewal Systems, a redeveloper of historic properties, they see an opportunity to turn blight into beauty by creating the Grandview Marquette, a 56-rental-unit affordable housing space come 2017.
Shannon Morgan, of HRS Communities, said that the building has quite a bit of history.
Read MorePublished August 16, 2016
SOUTHFIELD — Following a public input session and a recent presentation in front of City Council, OHM Advisors — the firm selected to develop a conceptual, market-driven master redevelopment plan for Northland Center, 21500 Northwestern Highway — is again looking for Southfielders’ suggestions.
The city will host the public input session 6-8 p.m. Aug. 23 in the auditorium of the Southfield Public Library, 263000 Evergreen Road.
Read MorePublished August 16, 2016
ROCHESTER — Rochester’s oldest business, the Rochester Elevator Co., could soon bid farewell to its home at the corner of University and Water streets in downtown Rochester.
Read MorePublished August 12, 2016
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — “It was named after me: Executive Drive,” joked Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel.
Not really. Executive Drive was constructed four decades before Hackel was voted into his position as county leader, but that didn’t mean a celebration wasn’t necessary on Aug. 10 as local officials and business leaders flocked to the middle of the 1-mile stretch of road to mark its grand reopening following some major improvements.
Read MorePublished August 12, 2016
STERLING HEIGHTS — The American Islamic Community Center recently filed a 54-page lawsuit against the city of Sterling Heights after the city rejected the center’s mosque proposal in 2015.
The AICC, based in Madison Heights, announced Aug. 10 that it had filed its lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against Sterling Heights. In addition, the religious group is asking for the federal government to get involved — particularly the U.S. Department of Justice.
Read MorePublished August 10, 2016
GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Growing up in a tennis-playing family, Grosse Pointe Farms resident Matt Kornmeier has fond memories of games and tournaments with family and friends at the Tennis House.
Read MorePublished August 9, 2016
FERNDALE — The Ferndale City Council unanimously approved a special land use permit at its July 25 meeting for a new restaurant that will be installed at 23250 Woodward Ave.
The permit is for a quick-to-serve Mediterranean restaurant that will take the place of the former B&L Automotive.
The special land use application is for a seasonal outdoor property that will be located at the front of the building as part of the renovation of the existing building. Inside the restaurant will be a service counter and limited seating.
Read MorePublished August 3, 2016
GROSSE POINTE CITY — Whether you shop there or have driven in the area of Fisher Road and Grosse Pointe Boulevard in recent months, you know that Fresh Farms Market is undergoing a major expansion and renovation that will give a new look to the City’s Fisher Road business district.
Read MorePublished August 3, 2016
FARMINGTON — The Farmington Downtown Development Authority is slated to host a community gathering/open house this month to learn what the public is looking for in updating the city’s downtown master plan.
The event is slated for 5:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at Mike Greer Photography, on the second floor of 33316 Grand River Ave.
During the event, participants will see a sneak peak of master plan design concepts and may discuss their opinions with a member of the DDA Steering Team, according to a press release.
Read MorePublished August 3, 2016
LATHRUP VILLAGE — A new TV show produced by city officials and Downtown Development Authority officials is showcasing the medley of cultures that make up Lathrup Village.
The half-hour program, called “Global Village,” showcases six Lathrup Village business owners, ranging from restaurants and nail salons to a shelter.
According to Ken Marten, Lathrup Village Main Street manager and executive producer of the program, the show highlights what makes Lathrup Village unique.
Read MorePublished August 3, 2016
After the Troy Planning Commission asked a developer to overhaul plans for a fast-food restaurant, a fitness spinning room and business offices earlier this month, the commission unanimously approved the new, improved site plan July 26.
The Planning Commission had concerns about design issues when the developer first presented plans for the two-story development on 43,000 square feet of vacant property on the west side of Crooks Road, north of Maplelawn, at a July 12 meeting.
Read MorePublished August 3, 2016
UTICA — In the less than 2-square-mile city of Utica, it is no secret that parking has been a long-standing issue. The introduction of a ballpark with a total capacity of 4,500 fans per game has fanned the fire.
On July 12, the Utica City Council unanimously approved Mayor Jacqueline Noonan’s proposal to create a parking committee to review all parking in the city, including on-street and undeveloped lots.
Read MorePublished August 1, 2016
ROYAL OAK — Beaumont Health officials said construction is on track to transform the hospital’s Rose Cancer Center.
“The new cancer treatment center canopy and vestibule exterior work is scheduled to complete in mid-October,” Beaumont Construction Project Executive Art Eckert said in an email.
Eckert said the team has completed the required rerouting of traffic from the south parking deck and has demolished the existing roadway, completed the rough grading and installed the caissons.
Read MorePublished August 1, 2016
BERKLEY — At its most recent meeting on July 26, the Planning Commission announced plans for a new amendment to its master plan to replace one that has angered residents.
The meeting for this new amendment, which would supersede the last amendment to the 2015 master plan passed in August 2015, is scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug 23, at the Berkley Community Center, 2400 Robina Ave.
Read MorePublished July 27, 2016
TROY — The city master plan will focus on the needs of an aging population that wants to stay in Troy, more density in strategic locations, more housing and transportation options, walkable locations and protection of existing neighborhoods.
“It seems like a long time ago that we started this project,” said Troy Planning Director R. Brent Savidant at the June 28 Planning Commission meeting.
Read MorePublished July 27, 2016
TROY — A Troy-based machine tool company is the first manufacturer in Michigan to finance energy upgrades through a 2010 state-authorized program that allows municipalities to fund energy-efficiency improvements through a special assessment on a property.
This past February, the Troy City Council voted unanimously to join Lean & Green Michigan’s Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, program.
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