Ferndale - Ferndale turns downtown alley into pedestrian pathway

metromode, 10/1/2009

Pedestrians are about to get one more nice place to walk in downtown Ferndale.

The city plans to turn the alley behind the new Foley Mansfield office on the southwest corner of the Woodward Avenue and 9 Mile Road intersection into a pedestrian-only zone. The Ferndale Pedestrian Alley Improvement Project will replace the concrete alley with new landscaped bed areas, benches, lighting, and space for adjacent restaurants to set up rear patios.

"This is a unique opportunity to convert an underutilized space in the heart of Downtown Ferndale into a vibrant public space," says Robert Bruner, city manager for Ferndale.

The alley stretches for about 50 feet along the west side of the new Foley Mansfield office that faces East 9 Mile Road. The law firm renovated and moved into the old Ferndale Public Schools building last year, creating arguably the nicest office space in the downtown.

The city, Ferndale DDA, and Giffels-Webster have been working on the $44,000 project. Construction is expected to begin soon and finish before the end of fall.

Source: Robert Bruner, city manager for Ferndale
Writer: Jon Zemke

Ferndale