Downtown Royal Oak welcomes Bianchi's Salon & Spa
Source: metromode, 3/26/2009
It's not the tallest building in downtown Royal Oak, but the new home of Bianchi's Salon & Spa is the newest addition to the urban wall street on Main Street.
Workers are putting the finishing touches on the single-story building at 710 N. Main, across the street from Main North Lofts and a short distance north of the Main Art theater. An opening could happen as soon as June.
"It's
being drywalled," says Jim Schneider, president of Royal Oak-based
Schneider+Smith Architects, who designed the structure.
The
building is built up to the lot line like a traditional downtown
storefront, extending the street wall from downtown to a little further
north. These types of details are essential to helping make downtown
more pedestrian-friendly, by putting more eyes on the street and more
feet on the ground.
The 4,200-square-foot structure will be used
primarily for commercial space. About 3,000 square feet of the space
will be occupied by the salon. The rest is up for lease. The building
is a normal storefront, but it does have a mezzanine that overlooks the
salon portion, giving the structure 17-foot ceilings in some areas.
"That's a very cool space," Schneider says. "I'm sure someone will lease it."
The exterior is mainly brick, and modern in appearance, Schneider
says. This allows it to fit in easily with the surrounding architecture
on Main Street and the rest of downtown. Schneider+Smith Architects,
which also designed the renovations of the Luke and Tribune buildings in downtown Royal Oak, is responsible for a bit of that work.
Source: Jim Schneider, president of Schneider+Smith Architects
Writer: Jon Zemke
Arab American Civil Rights Center hopes to start again this summer
Source: metromode, 3/26/2009
Work on the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee's new building in Dearborn could start again relatively soon. Organizers behind the project hope to begin work again in a few months and finish up soon after that.
"We're working on a few projects right now," says Nadia Fadel, director of policy and community affairs for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. "We hope to start again this summer."
The project stalled late last year after hitting a funding snag. Fadel estimates that about 75 percent of the $5 million project is completed. She said her organization needs a small amount of money to get it started again, but declined to say how much.
The 10,000-square-foot building is going up at the intersection of Ford and Chase roads. The two-story structure will feature office space, a reception area, an auditorium and meeting space for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. It will also feature design elements rich in Arabian history.
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee is the largest civil rights group for Arab-Americans. More Arabs call Metro Detroit home than anywhere else in the world outside of the Middle East. For information, call (313) 581-1201.
Source: Nadia Fadel, director of policy and community affairs for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
Writer: Jon Zemke
Oakland Community College invests $4 million in campus upgrades
Source: metromode, 3/26/2009
Another $4 million is going into upgrades for three of the campuses for Oakland Community College.
The
college plans to do repairs and renovations at its Royal Oak, Auburn
Hills, and Highland Lakes campuses. These projects range from making
the campuses more pedestrian-friendly to routine repairs to the
existing buildings.
The Royal Oak campus will get the most
money, $1.5 million, to build vestibule entrances to the building's
four exterior doors. Some of the money will also go towards improving
exterior lighting and surrounding landscaping.
About $1.2
million will make the Auburn Hills campus more walkable by replacing
some sidewalks and adding lighted walkways. Another $1.2 million will
be used to make the Highland Lakes campus friendlier to cars by
repaving parking lots and streets.
Source: Oakland Community College
Writer: Jon Zemke
Rentals help drive growth in vintage downtown Mt. Clemens
Source: metromode, 3/26/2009
Ted Schoellenberger didn't start out
trying to be a landlord when he built lofts in downtown Mt. Clemens,
but he's glad he's one today.
The developer and chair of the Mt. Clemens Downtown Development Authority
is the man behind the River and New Street lofts. Both projects were
started with the intent of turning them into for-sale condos. They
became rentals as a last resort when Schoellenberger realized last year
that nothing that wasn't a foreclosure would sell.
"It was certainly better than selling them at foreclosure prices," Schoellenberger says.
Actually,
it turned into something much better. All of the units in both projects
(about two dozen) have been rented for fairly high prices. He now
realizes that the rental market is strong enough that he doesn't have
to worry about them sitting empty for long.
"Good clientele are renting them," Schoellenberger says. "If someone leaves I can find a replacement quickly."
That
means more foot traffic downtown, adding to the vibrancy. That foot
traffic usually has a bit of spring in its step since younger people
have been going after units in the unique buildings.
The New Street Lofts
is an old church that had burned and been used as a warehouse before
Schoellenberger took it over last year. Now its six lofts are arguably
the most architecturally interesting residential space in the city. He
did a similar thing with the River Lofts a few years ago, renovating an underutilized building overlooking the Clinton River and adding a new wing to it.
Source: Ted Schollenberger, developer of the River and New Street lofts
Writer: Jon Zemke
Lofts nearly filled in Dearborn's West Downtown
Source: metromode, 3/26/2009
Living space is becoming a little scarce
in Dearborn's west downtown, now that the Horizon and Gateway lofts are
nearly completely leased.
Only four are still available,
including the two penthouse units. That means 28 of the lofts in the
two developments are occupied by residents walking downtown's streets
and patronizing its businesses.
Gateway Lofts,
on the southwest corner of Michigan Avenue and Military Street,
features eight lofts above ground floor retail space in the 2-story
building. The lofts range in size from 1,100-1,500 square feet. They
all have a bedroom and den and rent for $1,000-$1,550 per month.
Horizon Lofts
has 24 lofts in four stories of new construction overlooking the corner
of Michigan and Howard Street. It also offers live-above ground floor
retail spaces. These lofts range from 1,000-1,700 square feet. Rents go
from $1,300-$1,900 a month. There is also a fitness center and roof-top
deck.
Free wi-fi will be available throughout both Horizon and
Gateway lofts. Downtown also has a free wireless system installed by
the guys behind Wireless Ypsi.
Source: Amer Zahr, leasing agent for Horizon and Gateway lofts
Writer: Jon Zemke
43 green schools in Macomb receive green honors
Source: metromode, 3/26/2009
Students at Fraser Public Schools don't learn in their classrooms as much as above them.
The
school district recently built a green roof above the maintenance
building between its middle and high schools. Teachers plan to start
using it as a teaching tool so students can study things like the water
quality of the rain runoff that ends up in the Clinton River watershed
as compared to runoff from a tar roof. They're also going to study how
the sedum grass grows and adapts to the environment.
"It has a
great bloom in the summer and spring," says Stacie Salsbery, a seventh
grade teacher and green school coordinator for Fraser Public Schools.
"We have noticed a lot of animals going up there like birds and
insects."
Fraser Schools have five of the 43 schools in Macomb
County that achieved status as a Green School through the Michigan
Green Schools Program. The program encourages both public and private
schools to become more environmentally friendly through a variety of
different ways.
Participating schools can participate
by starting recycling programs, becoming more energy-efficient, or
building natural wildlife habitats. All of the schools met at least 10
of the 20 criteria to achieve the designation.
Other schools have gone above and beyond: The Macomb Mathematics, Science & Tech Center in Warren recently built a wind turbine, while Austin Catholic Academy found a number of ways to make the new building in Macomb Township energy-efficient.
Macomb County plans to recognize the schools with awards on April 22, Earth Day.
Source: Macomb County
Writer: Jon Zemke
Oakland County teaches foreclosure prevention
Source: metromode, 3/26/2009
Many metro Detroit communities are counting their federal foreclosure money these days as they find ways to get people into wayward houses. Oakland County is trying to nip that problem in the bud with its "My Future Home Ownership Retention" seminar.
The free event, to be held in Royal Oak, is focused on intervening and preventing foreclosures in Oakland County. It will offer information and assistance, such as making modifications to mortgages, budgeting, and the devastating impact a foreclosure will have on credit reports.
The idea is that keeping people in their homes will help to maintain property values, stop the displacement of families, and keep property taxes up to date. Many foreclosures have turned into neighborhood blights, dragging down nearby property values.
Among the agencies there to help will be the Oakland County Community & Home Improvement Division, Lighthouse Community Development, and Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency.
The seminar will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in the Royal Oak Public Library, 222 E. Eleven Mile Road. For information, call (888) 350-0900 ext. 85402 or click here.
Source: Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke
U-M Museum of Art to open after extensive renovations
Source: metromode, 3/26/2009
The University of Michigan's newly refurbished Museum of Art has become an artistic gateway.
Excerpt:The
people behind the newly refurbished University of Michigan Museum of
Art weren't so much trying to make a better art museum as much as they
were trying to make a better Diag.
They wanted to turn the
Museum of Art into an indoor version of the Diag where students, staff
and community members would gather and interact. In essence, the new
facility would serve as a gateway of sorts for the university.
"Philosophically,
we were thinking how can me make the art museum a more essential part
of the university and the community," says James Steward, director of
the U-M Museum of Art.
Read the rest of the story
here.
Progress report: Regional transit's 406-mile walk towards reality
Source: Model D, 3/26/2009
The mass transit train is gaining steam in Detroit!
Excerpt:
On
March 18, John Hertel addressed a group of New Center stakeholders as
to his progress on the regional transit front. As the Director of the
Regional Transportation Coordinating Council for the past two years, he
reports directly to the so-called Big 4 -- the county executives from
Wayne, Oakland and Macomb and the mayor of Detroit -- and is charged
with pushing a regional transit agenda forward.
In December
2008, the Big 4 unanimously approved a regional transit plan that calls
for 406 miles of transit. Its estimated cost is $10.5 billion and
Hertel projects that it will take 25 years to implement.
First
up is arterial rapid transit, a.k.a. an improved bus system. There will
be hybrid buses "honeycombing" the three counties. The improvements
will include more lines serviced more often and stops with shelters
that provide actual information.
Read the rest of the story here.
Ypsilanti Freighthouse gets $100,000 renovation grant
Source: Concentrate, 3/26/2009
One of Ypsilanti's oldest and most historic buildings recently got a $100,000 shot in the arm.
Excerpt:The
folks trying to save the Ypsilanti Freighthouse are ready to do the
heavy lifting required to breathe new life into the historic structure
in
Depot Town.
The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation has given a $100,000 grant to the
Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse.
That money will be spent on engineering and architectural drawings that
will be used to collect bids for a full renovation project.
"It's the most important thing that need to be done to open the doors," says
Bonnie Penet, co-chair of the Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse. "It will be from the foundation up."
Read the rest of the story
here.
Urbane Apts readies old Ferndale building for new opening
Source: metromode, 3/19/2009
The newest addition to Urbane Apartments' impressive lineup of downtown dwellings is about to open in Ferndale.
The first wave of units in the Urbane on Breckenridge building is set to open later this month. The first residents in the rehabilitated structure are expected to move in shortly afterward.
"We'll have half of the units ready within two weeks and the balance within six weeks," says Eric Brown, principal of Urbane Apartments.
The Royal Oak-based firm bought the historic Breckenridge Apartments late last year. The 1930s-era building had fallen on hard times before Brown and his crew were able to come in and start rehabbing the building's 22 units.
Urbane Apartments owns 15 apartment buildings in southeast Oakland County's vibrant downtowns, such as Royal Oak and Berkeley. Its M.O. is to buy undervalued apartment buildings in need of renovation, rehab them, and add unique touches. The end result is a unique product that separates itself from the humdrum Metro Detroit apartment commodity.
Urbane on Breckenridge is one block west of Woodward Avenue and two blocks north of 9 Mile Road. Woodward and 9 Mile is the epicenter of Ferndale's lively downtown.
Urbane also plans on adding some environmentally friendly features to the structure, too, such as fluorescent lighting, bamboo floors, recycled carpet, motion detector light switches, and energy efficient temperature controls.
Source: Eric Brown, principal owner of Urbane Apartments
Writer: Jon Zemke
What to do with the historic Mellus Building in Lincoln Park?
Source: metromode, 3/19/2009
The future is up in the air for one of downtown Lincoln Park’s historic structures - the Mellus Newspapers building.
The city’s Downtown Development Authority is in the process of purchasing the building at 1661 Fort St, and the adjacent Pollak building, for $90,000. The DDA plans to commission an assessment of the structure’s integrity; its future after that is anybody’s guess.
The Lincoln Park Preservation Alliance is advocating for its renovation into a small business incubator. Some city officials are looking into razing it -- which would be the end of the road for one of the city’s more notable, historic structures.
Both buildings, dating to the 1940s, are single-story storefronts in the traditional downtown style. The Mellus Newspapers structure is on the National Register of Historic Places.
For decades it served as the home to Lincoln Park's local newspaper, The Lincoln Parker. Both the paper and the building were owned by local newspaper magnate William Mellus (the building's namesake) who was also a good friend with automotive entrepreneur Preston Tucker. The Pollak building was once the home to Pollak Jewelers.
The Mellus Newspapers building still has its original porcelain-enameled Moderne commercial building exterior and curved glass block entrance, while the Pollak building retains its terrazzo entrance sidewalk.
Source: Leslie Lynch-Wilson, president of the Lincoln Park Preservation Alliance and Steve Duchane, city manager for Lincoln Park
Writer: Jon Zemke
Grosse Pointe approves Kroger redevelopment project
Source: metromode, 3/19/2009
Redevelopment work on the Kroger in downtown Grosse Pointe is poised to happen in the near future.
The City Council recently approved the plans to reconfigure the traditional supermarket on Kercheval, Grosse Pointe's main drag. Work is expected to begin in January.
Kroger plans to double the square footage of its store at the corner of Kercheval and Notre Dame by adding a second floor. The supermarket is also proposing to build a 177-space parking garage on a surface lot to the rear. Designs for the new structure show a spiffy brick-and-stone exterior that complements the rest of the traditional downtown architecture.
For years, Kroger was the only downtown supermarket; that changed a few years ago when Trader Joe's announced it was coming to downtown. Not long afterwards, plans surfaced to revamp, expand, and improve the Kroger store.
Trader Joe's has been open for about a year and has been doing a brisk business despite being tucked away between a parking garage and storefronts for other businesses on Kercheval.
Source: Peter Dame, city manager for Grosse Pointe
Writer: Jon Zemke
Urbane Apts closes in on opening new Birmingham property
Source: metromode, 3/19/2009
The paint isn't quite dry on Urbane Apartments' newest building in Birmingham, but workers are gearing up to start slathering it on the walls.
The crews at the Royal Oak-based firm are just a few weeks away from opening up the first units, which should be online within 45 days. The remaining 42 units are to open shortly afterward.
"We'll be completely finished by early July," says Eric Brown, co-founder of Urbane Apartments.
This is Urbane Apartments' most recent purchase, and first foray into Birmingham. It has 14 other buildings in southeast Oakland County's vibrant downtowns -- Royal Oak, Ferndale and Berkley.
Urbane on Adams is on, surprise, Adams Street, just north of Birmingham's Rail District. It will consist of 42 luxury one-bedroom rentals and a 2,000-square-foot club house-turned-office space.
The building is an old senior center that was a vacant foreclosure property when Urbane bought it. The C-shaped structure also has a maintained courtyard.
Source: Eric Brown, co-founder of Urbane Apartments
Writer: Jon Zemke
Metro Detroit mass transit gets a lift from Omnibus bill
Source: metromode, 3/19/2009
Mass transit systems that have been underfunded or non-existent for year after year got a healthy infusion of federal funds from the Omnibus act.
Omnibus means Omnibus Appropriations Act, which is an annual run-of-the-mill Congressional budget bill. These are notorious for earmarks (federal dollars set aside by members of Congress for projects in their districts); while only a fraction of the overall bill, they can add up to big-time controversy.
Metro Detroit's mass transit program scored a number of these earmarks to make a lot of small but effective improvements to existing systems and to help get new ones off the ground.
"That's definitely money the system has needed for a very long time," says Megan Owens, executive director of Transportation Riders United, a local mass transit advocacy group. "The bus system has been run on a very minimal budget."
Some of those small-but-important earmarks include:
- $1.425 million for a new fare collection system for Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) buses
- $712,500 to replace DDOT buses
- $3.924 million for maintenance and engine replacement of Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transit (SMART) buses
Money for popular rail projects, such as:
- $950,000 for the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line
- $475,000 for the Detroit Transit Options for Growth Study to put light rail on Woodward Avenue
The Omnibus bill also includes language directing the Federal Transportation Administration (the agency that doles out funds to build mass transit lines) to give "priority consideration" to the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line. That project is expected to come online in the fall of 2010.
Source: Offices of senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow and Megan Owens, executive director of Transportation Riders United
Writer: Jon Zemke
State Rep. Ebli introduces LEED mandate legislation
Source: metromode, 3/19/2009
Lots of communities in Metro Detroit would like to mandate that all new buildings be environmentally friendly, but state law prohibits them from doing so. That could change soon, thanks to legislation introduced by state Rep. Kate Ebli, D-Monroe.
Her recently introduced legislation would allow local governments to mandate LEED standards for new buildings. LEED is the green standard by which environmentally friendly construction is measured.
Currently cities like Ann Arbor, Ferndale, and Birmingham have played around with local ordinances that encourage developers to use sustainable principles in their projects. However, the ordinances lack any teeth, serving as little more than a suggestion.
Source: Office of State Rep. Kate Ebli
Writer: Jon Zemke
Macomb uses $10 M to help homeowners buy foreclosures
Source: metromode, 3/19/2009
Macomb County is using about $10 million in federal funds to attack the vacant, blighted foreclosures in its neighborhoods.
It is helping to put working-class families (read: family of four with an income less than $83,900) into these homes. Families are expected to bring these problem homes back into the neighborhood fold -- erasing blight, promoting home ownership, and preserving the tax base. Demolition does none of these things.
The Macomb County Dept. of Planning & Economic Development will quarterback this new Neighborhood Stabilization Program. It hopes to help at least 200 families to buy these homes by helping with down payments and necessary repairs in the form of zero-interest loans.
About 60 percent of the money will be spent in Eastpointe, Center Line and Mount Clemens. The rest will be spread throughout the county. Warren, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, Roseville and St. Clair Shores have received their own separate federal foreclosure funding.
For information on the program, send an e-mail to: Federal.NSP@macombcountymi.gov or call (586) 469-6285.
Source: Macomb County
Writer: Jon Zemke
Eastern Market plan calls for $50M in investment over 10 years
Source: Model D, 3/19/2009
The long-term plans for Detroit's Eastern Market calls for $50 million in investment.
Excerpt:
As work proceeds on Eastern Market's Shed 3, planning and fundraising for more capital improvements to the rest of the neighborhood continue. At two town hall meetings last week, Eastern Market Corporation (EMC) president Dan Carmody presented an overview of his organization's comprehensive plan, "Eastern Market 360", for the entire district.
Shed 4 will be a new two-story market hall built on the lot just north of Shed 3. It will host approximately 14 food processing vendors on the ground floor -- think artisanal cheese, organic tortillas and pasta -- and a teaching kitchen and classrooms on the second level. Plans call for Shed 4 and Shed 3 to share a geothermal heating and cooling system.
Read the rest of the story here.
Where to put the train station in Ypsilanti?
Source: Concentrate, 3/19/2009
Before the train pulls into the station, Ypsilanti's residents need to figure out where to put it.
Excerpt:
Ypsilanti is gearing up to make a decision on a project that has enormous potential to improve the city’s prospects -- both short and long-term.
City officials are trying to figure out on which side of the tracks to put Ypsilanti’s stop on the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line. The city’s Planning Commission is holding a public meeting on that subject Thursday, along with explaining the potential impact this stop could have on economic development.
“This is one of the best things that can happen in any city,” says Brian Vosburg, director of the Depot Town and downtown development authorities. “This will be a huge boost to Depot Town and Eastern Michigan University.”
Read the rest of the story here.
Ann Arbor orders new solar-powered parking meters
Source: Concentrate, 3/19/2009
Parking a gas guzzler is becoming more sustainable in Ann Arbor.
Excerpt:
Paying for parking in Ann Arbor is about to become a bit more sustainable now that the city’s Downtown Development Authority has order a pilot set of solar-powered parking meters.
The DDA ordered 25 of these solar meters and expects to install them within the next six weeks. They will be placed on Main, Liberty and State streets as the first test phase of replacing the meters for all of downtown’s 1,500 parking meters.
“They’ll be in the most visible places so people get used to using them,” says Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.
Read the rest of the story here.