Unity Studios breaks ground in Allen Park
Source: metromode, 8/27/2009
Shovels are set to go into the earth today, breaking ground on Unity Studios in Allen Park.
The
ambitious project plans to turn about 100 acres of mostly industrial
area into a movie-making Mecca for Metro Detroit. The first phase of
this construction will be happening fast.
Unity Studios plans
to have four sound stages and its media school up and running by the
end of October. More production space is set to come online a few weeks
later. The second phase of more movie-making space and a village area
is set to begin in the spring.
"We are anticipating to start on additional stages," says Jimmy Lifton, president of Unity Studios. "That is almost a certainty."
The
first phase calls for renovating a 600,000-square-foot building to add
four feature-size soundstages on 10 acres. Each measures out at 25,000
square feet. The building (which sits on 40 acres) will house space for
the Lifton Institute of Media Schools and room for production support
vendors.
The second and third phases will include developing the
64 acres into Unity Village, a tourist destination with housing,
retail, and complimentary commercial business. The whole project is
worth $146 million.
The new City of Allen Park municipal building complex will be built south of the existing city offices around the same time.
Source: Jimmy Lifton, president of Unity Studios
Writer: Jon Zemke
Oakland County dedicates new, old Lady Justice statues
Source: metromode, 8/27/2009
The sheet will come off Oakland County's Lady Justice, both the new and old versions, on Tuesday in a public ceremony.
The
Oakland County Courthouse will unveil the new statue that will stand
guard at the court's entrance in downtown Pontiac. It will also feature
a new marble base that will support the piece of public art.
"We'll
have the original out there as well," says Steven Stanford, an Oakland
County project coordinator for facilities engineering.
The
year-long project began last year when harsh weather damaged the
original 105-year-old statue, ripping off the scales and cracking her
arm. The Fine Arts Sculpture Center in Clarkston recently conducted a
$40,900 restoration of Lady Justice.
A
long life outdoors has weakened her zinc statue frame to the point that
it must be indoors to survive. The original statue will be kept on
display inside the courthouse for the remainder of its life.
A
new bronze copy of the statue will replace the original in the
courthouse's south plaza. The county also replaced the stucco base with
one of marble to match the courthouse's exterior.
The county
bought the 9-foot-tall statue in 1904 from W.H. Mullins, a Salem,
Ohio-based statue manufacturer. She stood guard in front of the old
Oakland County Courthouse until 1962, when the building was demolished.
After spending the next two decades in storage, she was returned to the
plaza in front of the new courthouse.
Source: Steven Stanford, project coordinator for facilities engineering at Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke
Michigan International Speedway begins green expansion
Source: metromode, 8/27/2009
The last of the three old suites at the
Michigan International Speedway are falling this week, making way for
the new sustainable expansion of the raceway's facilities.
"We're recycling all of the material that is being torn down," says Sammie Lukaskiewicz, director of communications for Michigan International Speedway.
MIS
is rebuilding its 31 suites and media center, adding 8,000 square feet
of solar panels. The panels, provided by Auburn Hills-based Uni-Solar,
will produce 70,000 kilowatts per hour of alternative energy, making it
one of the largest producers of alternative energy in U.S. sports. The
electricity will be utilized by MIS, which is also looking at adding
wind power next year.
The $17 million eco-friendly project
is expected to complement the rest of the facility's green features,
such as an expansive recycling program that covers the entire complex.
Work is expected to finish by June of 2010.
Source: Sammie Lukaskiewicz, director of communications for Michigan International Speedway
Writer: Jon Zemke
Secure-24 cuts ribbon at new tech center in Plymouth
Source: metromode, 8/27/2009
The ribbon is cut and the servers are humming at Secure-24's new data center in Plymouth.
The
new 18,000-square-foot facility will house operations for both the
Southfield-based information security provider and Wayne County. The
new tech center will create 250 new jobs, according to Wayne County
Executive Robert Ficano.
"It's a new direction for Wayne
County," Ficano says. "It's something that sends a signal that we want
you to come and invest in the area."
The $3.7 million facility was created as part of a public-private partnership. Secure-24
was able to build the facility, along with another 20,000-square-foot
tech center in Southfield, thanks to a $7.1 million state tax credit
over 10 years.
The idea is to consolidate IT projects between
Secure-24 and Wayne County in a state-of-the-art and secure space.
Organizers behind the project hope it will also attract more IT firms
to the area.
Source: Robert Ficano, county executive of Wayne County
Writer: Jon Zemke
Urbane Apts opens Urbane on Adams
Source: metromode, 8/27/2009
The first resident moved into Urbane on Adams, the newest offering from Urbane Apartments.
The
Royal Oak-based property manager recently turned what was once a
foreclosed old folks home into a 42-unit apartment building geared
toward young professionals. Urbane Apartments specializes in turning
old apartment properties in vibrant downtown areas into luxury
dwellings for young people.
"We're staying at a pretty high occupancy," says Eric Brown, co-founder of Urbane Apartments.
He
does concede that his 14 properties are feeling the effects of the
economy and people losing their jobs. However, Urbane Apartments is
also seeing an influx of people temporarily moving into Metro Detroit
for jobs. The company offers a freedom lease that lets tenants sign a
month-to-month lease with a refundable fee, which is a key factor in
attracting this business.
Urbane on Adams is on 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. Brown plans to create a co-working space in the club house,
which should be available later this fall.
Source: Eric Brown, co-founder of Urbane Apartments
Writer: Jon Zemke
Oakland U starts bike-share, van shuttle services
Source: metromode, 8/27/2009
It's not just the University of Michigan
and Ann Arbor that are finding new and innovative ways to get
university students, staff, and faculty around. Oakland University and
Rochester are getting into the groove, too.
"It is important to
start looking at alternative forms of transportation," Glenn McIntosh,
dean and assistant vice president for student affairs at Oakland
University, said in a press release.
Oakland University plans to
start two new alternative transportation programs this fall – a
bike-share and van-shuttle programs. These environmentally friendly
services will be available to all university patrons for free.
The
bike-share program is a student-led initiative that will depend on the
honor system. It will feature 30 bicycles for on-campus use only at 30
different bike racks across the campus. The bikes will be stored in the
winter term.
Another seven bike racks will be added to campus to
facilitate the program. Student and university officials are also
working on plans to make the commuter campus more bike-friendly by
adding bike lanes and trails throughout the campus.
Shuttle
buses, a pilot program, will enable students and staff to travel
between campus points without having to worry about losing their
parking spaces. The 12-seat vans will run in a loop between Busch's
shopping center, Buffalo Wild Wings, the Village of Rochester, and
downtown Rochester during weekends.
Source: Oakland University
Writer: Jon Zemke
SEMCOG looks for input on transit plan
Source: metromode, 8/27/2009
Most of the time a local government body
wants public input about transportation and centers of mass transit.
That's not necessarily so with the Southeast Michigan Council of
Government's latest string of transportation meetings.
SEMCOG
will host public meetings in September (and one in October) for its
Direction2035 plan, the region's next long-range transportation plan.
The idea is to figure out in which type of transportation
infrastructure to invest.
"It's not just public transit. It's the whole gamut of things," says Carmine Palombo, director of transportation for SEMCOG.
A copy of the plan can be seen here.
The
meetings will be held on Sept. 23 at 9:30 a.m. and Sept. 25 at 1 p.m.
in SEMCOG's offices, 535 Griswold, Suite 300 in Detroit. Another
meeting will be held Oct. 22 at 4:30 p.m. at the ConCorde Inn, 44315
Gratiot in Clinton Township.
For information, send an email to Direction2035@semcog.org or call (313) 324-3362 or send a letter to SEMCOG, Attn: Information Center, 535 Griswold, Suite 300, Detroit, MI 48226.
Source: Carmine Palombo, director of transportation for SEMCOG
Writer: Jon Zemke
Hamtramck seeks developer to rehab 30 for-sale homes
Source: Model D, 8/27/2009
Hamtramck is turning the negative of its
vacant, foreclosed, and sometimes blighted homes into a positive by
pushing for their rehabilitation as the most efficient and
cost-effective way of dealing with the problem.
Excerpt:
The
City of Hamtramck is seeking a qualified developer to rehabilitate 30
homes in the city that will then be sold to qualified buyers. These 30
units will be applied to the requirements of the lawsuit Garret, et al
vs. City of Hamtramck, which came about when the development of I-75
displaced residents, primarily African-Americans, from Hamtramck. The
case was settled in 1981; of the original 153 housing units called for,
just 39 remain after this batch of 30.
The city is currently reviewing responses to the request for proposals recently issued for 35 units of rental housing.
Thirteen foreclosed homes with 20 units of housing have recently been
acquired from Wayne County. The rental project will have first dibs on
these houses, says Jason Friedmann, Hamtramck's community and economic
development director, but any remaining could be considered for this
development. Otherwise, the developer will be responsible for site
identification, although research on many of the city's foreclosed and
vacant properties is available.
Rehab, rather than new
construction, is being pursued to fulfill the terms of the lawsuit for
one reason: cost. "We were building new homes and it was costing too
much," says Freidmann. "We can offer a much more affordable home this
way."
Read the rest of the story here.
Zingerman's expands coffee options near Ann Arbor Airport
Source: Concentrate, 8/27/2009
Zingerman's continues to zig and zag while it grows in Ann Arbor.
Excerpt:
People can get a cup of Zingerman's coffee in two locations, and the newest one is in one of Ann Arbor's most unlikely spots.
Zingerman's
Coffee is opening a retail-and-processing site in an industrial area on
Plaza Drive in the Airport Plaza Business Park next to the world famous
eatery's Bake House and Creamery. The Zingerman's brand houses a family
of businesses that all specialize in creating food, such as bread or
coffee, and customer service.
Although the original deli serves
as the official face and base of the umbrella company, many of its
offshoots have facilities outside of the Kerrytown location to meet
demand. Zingerman's Coffee has had to turn down business because its
previous facilities weren't big enough. Its new 6,400 square feet is
expected to solve that problem while giving lovers of Zingerman's
coffee one more place to enjoy its product.
"One of the things
we like to say is you can buy the products where they're made," says
Pete Sickman-Garner, marketing manager for Zingerman's.
Read the rest of the story here.
Ann Arbor's underground parking deck moves forward
Source: Concentrate, 8/27/2009
Ann Arbor's new underground parking garage is preparing to break ground this fall.
Excerpt:
The
underground parking structure next to the Ann Arbor Library's Main
Branch continues its steady slog toward becoming a reality.
The
Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority approved upgrading the 6-inch
water mains along Fifth Avenue to 12-inch water mains and hired
Lansing-based Christman
to handle the pre-construction planning. It all means shovels will go
in the ground for the water mains by October and the main hole for the
parking deck will start going down by early winter.
"I think we
may start excavating in November," says Susan Pollay, executive
director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.
Read the rest of the story here.
Royal Oak theater proposes trifecta of movies, bowling, and booze
Source: metromode, 8/20/2009
Catching a movie in downtown Royal Oak could become a one-stop fun shop in the near future.
The
developer behind the Main North building wants to build a combination
10-screen movie theater complex, bowling alley, and bar. He will go
before the city's liquor commission tonight to make his case.
"You could get a drink and go see a movie or order something from the bar," says Tim Thwing, director of planning for Royal Oak.
The entertainment complex, to be similar to the Emagine Theaters in Novi and Canton, is
proposed for the large empty lot at Troy Street and 11 Mile Road. It
will feature 1,700 seats, with theaters holding from 86 to 395 viewers.
Preliminary
designs call for a one-story building, similar to modern-day cinemas
and in contrast to the multi-story theaters in downtown Birmingham. As
of yet, nothing is planned to be built above the screens.
Source: Tim Thwing, director of planning for Royal Oak
Writer: Jon Zemke
Wyandotte developer to create new apts downtown
Source: metromode, 8/20/2009
Sycamore Plaza in downtown Wyandotte has
a good problem. The mixed-use building ground floor commercial space is
fully leased but its second floor is so vacant it doesn't even have
walls.
"Actually, it's just the studs," says Johno Norian, developer of Sycamore Plaza Apartments.
It
won't stay that way for long. Norian plans to create three
900-square-foot apartments with two bedrooms each on the second floor
of the building. Work should begin in the spring, now that the city has
approved a special Neighborhood Enterprise Zone for downtown.
The
new NEZ gives a large tax break for construction on the second floor
and above in the city's center. New construction is assessed only 17
mills over 12 years. The taxes stay the same if it's a renovation into
apartments.
This new policy has already spawned a series of residential development announcements to meet high demand in downtown Wyandotte.
It's a way to keep the development ball rolling at a time when gun shy
creditors and the tough economy have practically ground private
construction projects to a halt.
Sycamore Plaza was originally
built in 1932 as a split space for Kresge's and the Wrigley's grocery
store. Its ground floor now houses a variety of businesses, including
an ice-cream shop and stores for Sprint and UPS.
The
3,000-square-foot second floor was used as an office for a furniture
store until Norian bought the building in 2001. He had planned to start
construction last year, but the economic tailspin put an end to that.
"We had the full plans ready to go but the economy stopped us," Norian says.
Source: Johno Norian, developer of Sycamore Plaza Apartments
Writer: Jon Zemke
The Factory looks to build out with Zietgiest in Rochester
Source: metromode, 8/20/2009
Shane Ford and Jerry Wald weren't looking
to start their own music venue when they stumbled upon 334 S Main St.
in downtown Rochester, but that's what they got when they did last year.
Today The Factory
is one of downtown Rochester's most vibrant spots, attracting dozens of
people several times a week for performances. It started when Wald, 22,
was looking for some downtown studio space for his photography
business. Ford, a 21-year-old musician, wanted a practice space for his
band. Then Wald found the space behind Tower Pizza and both fell in
love with it.
"We just kinda fell into it," Ford says.
They
set up the space for an intimate concert venue. Their first show
attracted about 90 people to a place with a capacity of 100. Since then
they have been doing several shows a week from various music genres.
Those attending range in age from 6-60 years old.
"It all depends on who the bands are and what their fan base is," Ford says.
And
they do this without an alcohol license. Several bars are within easy
stumbling distance, so Ford and Wald direct patrons to them if they
want a drink. They make their money at the door.
It has been so
successful that they are planning on opening a retail store nearby to
complement The Factory. Zietgiest will sell shirts, music and other
music paraphernalia. The old house turned commercial storefront will
sell the merchandise and even have a smaller performance area for
things like poetry readings.
Source: Shane Ford, co-owner of The Factory
Writer: Jon Zemke
Dearborn focuses on sustainability with $250K federal grant
Source: metromode, 8/20/2009
Dearborn plans to become a lot greener, thanks to some serious federal greenbacks heading its way.
The
city just received $250,000 in federal stimulus funds to help determine
the feasibility for a number of green initiatives it is considering.
Those options include possibly establishing a waste-to-energy plant in
the city, enhancing recycling so residents can recycle in an unsorted
single-stream, and installing LED streetlights.
The federal
money may help at least one of these projects out of the infancy stage
of development. Two other cities, Flint and Grand Rapids, also received
similar grants.
LED streetlights, which use a fraction of the electricity and last longer than incandescent light bulbs, are the green cause dejour. Ann Arbor has grabbed numerous headlines with its efforts to install LED streetlights throughout its downtown. Pontiac has also installed LEDs, and a number of other cities such as Ferndale, Wyandotte, and Detroit have toyed with the idea.
Source: Mary Laundroche, director of the department of public information for the city of Dearborn
Writer: Jon Zemke
Plymouth to finish parking deck work by Sept
Source: metromode, 8/20/2009
Work on downtown Plymouth's central parking structure is gearing up to finish by month end.
The
city had hoped to complete the $150,000 project earlier this summer,
but the discovery of new problems with the deck prevented that. The
project includes recoating, redoing seals and joints, and repairing
cement. The stair tower also has been painted and the heating pipes
insulated to help save energy.
The deck, built in 1983, is
located behind the commercial storefronts of the square block bordered
by Main Street, Penniman Avenue, Ann Arbor Trail, and South Harvey
Street, a stone's throw from Kellogg Park.
Source: Plymouth Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke
Oakland Comm College approves $3.4M in campus upgrades
Source: metromode, 8/20/2009
Improvements and upgrades are coming to
Oakland Community College now that its Board of Trustees has approved
$3.42 million in projects.
The renovations will take place at
the Highland Lakes and Orchard Ridge campuses. The electronic signage
at all five campuses will also be upgraded.
Work on the Highland
Lakes Campus includes the replacement of ventilation equipment in High
Oaks Hall at a cost of $2.9 million. The workers will also install an
interior, sound-proof wall in Building J on the Orchard Ridge Campus
for $55,300.
Oakland County voters in 2001 approved a 0.8-mill property tax to pay for these projects.
Source: George Cartsonis, director of college communications for Oakland Community College
Writer: Jon Zemke
Michigan Film Office lets loose movie location call
Source: metromode, 8/20/2009
Hollywood knows all about Michigan's big
filming attractions, like the Michigan Central Station and Book
Cadillac Hotel. Now the Michigan Film Office wants to clue them in about the special little places only residents know about.
The
film office is looking for Michiganders to submit their home or
business or even their cornfield to their location database. Those who
submit a property can expect it will be entered into a database so
Hollywood filmmakers can potentially use it in a movie shoot.
To
do so, applicants should go to the Submit Location tab on the film
office's website and post a 10 jpg photo of their property. All
submissions must be approved before they are posted on the website, and
there is no guarantee of usage.
For information, call (800) 477-3456, fax (517) 241-0867 or send an email to info@michigan.org.
Source: Michigan Film Office
Writer: Jon Zemke
Friends of Alger Theater chug along with restoration plans
Source: Model D, 8/20/2009
The Alger Theater is going to need every friend it can get to bring it back into the spotlight in Detroit.
Excerpt:
The Alger Theater is an art deco gem that is considered to be the anchor of the E. Warren business district. The goal of the Friends of the Alger Theater
(FOTAT), is for the facility to be fully restored in order to host
film, theater, and concert events as well as community arts and
education programs, youth development programs, and neighborhood
association activities.
So far, the organization's Board of
Directors has achieved historic designation for the theater, cleaned
and reinforced the marquee's steel structure, and reinforced and
weather-proofed the roof.
Read the rest of the story here.
Chelsea's kitchen incubator opens in new space
Source: Concentrate, 8/20/2009
Not all of Washtenaw County's business incubators are in Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti, or even based in the new economy.
Excerpt:
The Chelsea kitchen incubator will march on, even if it's to another kitchen, or two.
The
culinary incubator originally proposed for the Washington Street
Center, the old Chelsea High School, now has a new home at the kitchen
in the First United Methodist Church. Organizers plan to start offering
cooking and kitchen safety classes there by the end of the month once
they have zoning approval.
"It's likely we'll have multiple facilities," says Victoria Bennett, one of the lead organizers behind the Chelsea kitchen incubator. "It allows us to serve more people in the same amount of time."
Read the rest of the story here.
Washtenaw Road Commission puts final touches on East Delhi Bridge
Source: Concentrate, 8/20/2009
One of Washtenaw County's oldest bridges is now one of its newest bridges.
Excerpt:
The long-running rehabilitation of the East Delhi Bridge is coming to an end this month.
The
Washtenaw County Road Commission will put the finishing touches on the
project within the next two weeks. The new timber railing and decking
are already in and nailed down. The approaches to the bridge are built.
Even the ornamental traffic signals on both ends of the bridge are in
place.
Read the rest of the story here.