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How do you fit quarter of a million people into 14 blocks of Warren Avenu? Ask the organizers of Dearborn's Arab American Festival, the nation's largest... and a shining reflection of the city's unique and growing diversity.
Oakland County's most prominent legal employee is about to get a new soapbox to stand on in downtown Pontiac.Restoration of the Lady Justice statue in front of the Oakland County Courthouse began last year after foul weather tore away her scales and cracked her arm. She was set to return in May, but county officials discovered that her cinder block and stucco base was also cracked and needed work. A new marble base that not only matches the courthouse's exterior but came from the same stone quarry has been ordered. "The statue turned out so fantastic we wanted to put it on a better pedestal," says Steven Sanford, an Oakland County project coordinator for facilities engineering.The county bought the 9-foot-tall statue in 1904 from W.H. Mullins, a Salem, Ohio-based company that manufactured statues. 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 until last year's storm exposed the cracks that had been weathering on her for years.The Fine Arts Sculpture Center in Clarkston recently conducted a $40,900 restoration of Lady Justice, but a century of life deteriorated her pressed zinc frame to the point that it needs to be indoors to survive. She will be installed in the courthouse and a new bronze copy of the statue will replace Lady Justice at the courthouse's south plaza. Both are expected to be installed by the end of the summer.Oakland County is currently trying to raise money to restore the statue and to buy a new one. For information, contact Penny Knope at knopep@oakgov.com or call (248) 858-1208.Source: Steven Sanford, project coordinator for facilities engineering at Oakland CountyWriter: Jon Zemke
Phase one of the restoration of the historic Main House in Oakland Township is done and the second phase is set to get underway this fall.The first phase, courtesy of Stephen Auger + Associates, consists of an interior restoration of the 2,000-square-foot mid-19th Century home. That includes intricate plaster work and an Arts and Crafts-style fireplace. Work on the rest of house in the Cranberry Lake Farms historic district is expected to begin again by early this fall once the historic district approves the plans.The Greek Revival-style house was built in 1840 by the Axford, Taylor, and Kline families, who farmed the land until 1908. Arts and Crafts-style additions were constructed in the early part of the 20th Century. It became the summer home of former U.S. Congressman and oil executive Howard Aldridge Coffin between 1939 and 1951.The historic district is inside the 233-acre Cranberry Lake Park. The house is now vacant but the township is deciding whether to turn it into a museum or open it for public use. Source: Christopher Aller, principal of Stephen Auger + AssociatesWriter: Jon Zemke
Most people would look at 120 E Hudson St. and think it doesn't have a future in downtown Royal Oak, but Jim Schneider and Jim Johnson are prognosticators of better times.The building is one of a set of unremarkable industrial structures bookended by B&B Collision and the railroad tracks on the south side of downtown. Think plain-jane brick and cinder block edifices that have been rebuilt and expanded time and time again since their first incarnations as machine shops in the early 20th Century. These are not the buildings people want to hug. That hasn't stopped Schneider and Johnson from giving 120 E Hudson a new lease on life. They are at the tail end of transforming a "down-and-dirty industrial building," according to Schneider, to trendy loft-style office space, adding some much needed foot traffic and renewal to a sleepy side of downtown. And they're not the first ones to do that. Two others on this block have already made the transition. Another one is on its way."Realistically, this is what Royal Oak needs," says Jim Johnson, developer of 120 E Hudson. "There are enough bars and restaurants around here. We need more office workers."What is now 120 E Hudson used to be much bigger. Schneider, president of Royal Oak-based Schneider+Smith Architects, literally cut the building in half and put a small parking lot in between the two structures, creating what is now 120 and 200 E Hudson. Both are in the process of becoming offices. 120 E Hudson, which is nearly finished, doesn't even look like a light industrial building. Its exterior is now clad in brick, concrete, aluminum, and glass, giving it a modern, contemporary look. It looks like the developer listened to the architect when it came to the design, instead of the other way around.The interior is similar in appearance, with an open floor plan flanked by a couple walls of offices on the ground floor. The L-shaped mezzanine with its steel staircase, railing, and caged fans above give the open area the feeling of a factory floor. Its metallic look and brushed concrete floors complement its aesthetic and history.An advertising co-op of about 25 people is set to occupy the 7,000-square-foot building later this month. Johnson is still looking for a tenant for 200 E Hudson. That structure is still in the down-and-dirty industrial phase, but set to come online looking like its neighbor before the end of the year."It is a great use for these old buildings," Schneider says. "It's really green architecture if you think about it."Source: Jim Schneider, president of Schnieder+Smith Architects and Jim Johnson, developer of 120 and 200 E Hudson St.Writer: Jon Zemke
Changes are coming to the Shain Park renovation project, which is just getting underway.The downtown Birmingham Park is about to undergo a $2.3 million renovation and expansion project that promises to remake and enhance the greenspace. There are some last-minute changes coming for it, too, such as enhanced lighting on the Marshall Fredricks statue and War Memorial and improvements to the reading area.The current plan is a downsized version of what was originally proposed. The original plans called for a 210-space parking garage beneath the park extension onto a vacant lot across Henrietta Street, next to The Townsend Hotel. The idea was nixed when it became apparent that the cost would approach eight figures.Now the city plans to turn about two-thirds of the vacant parcel into green space. The remaining third will be maintained as parking, downsized from 150 spaces to 87, including new spots on the street. It will also pay for the addition of an amphitheater.Source: City of BirminghamWriter: Jon Zemke
Bonal Technologies took an old idea in an old industry and turned it into a green, new economy innovation.The 25-year-old Royal Oak-based firm specializes in the manufacturing industry. Over the last few years, it has come up with a sub-harmonic vibratory technology for users to save between 65 and 90 percent in costs and energy consumption. That has proven to be a boon for the company."We have been in a growth spurt for the last five years that has surpassed what we grew in the first 20," says Greg Merritt, sales manager for Bonal Technologies.That has allowed the company to grow to 17 employees and a couple of independent contractors. It just hired two staffers and hopes to hire more in the near future. Source: Greg Merritt, sales manager for Bonal TechnologiesWriter: Jon Zemke
Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano believes no city or county in Southeast Michigan exists in isolation from another. In this month's issue of EDGE Ficano lays out the importance of regional cooperation when it comes to business attraction and retention and what Wayne County is doing to promote it.
Downtown Royal Oak is known for its boutiques but few have as many unique aspects as Burn Rubber. The small business is more than a shoe store, it's a sneaker boutique. Customers don't come in to buy shoes. Sneakerheads spend days in line to buy Star Wars-style kicks that double as art and status symbols."We sell a lifestyle," says Roland Coit, co-owner of Burn Rubber. "It's more about being your own person. Most of the stuff we have they only make 1,000 pairs or 500, or even less, and they sell out fast. It's a lifestyle of exclusivity."It explains why Coit and his partner Rick Williams need only 480 square feet of space and six people to do business. It's unnecessary to have a large retail floor for shoes that come in short supply, like Nike Air Yeezys (Kanye West's shoe) and Clark Kent Air Force 1s.These shoes are often made of expensive leather and horse hair. It explains why prices can get into the $300s for a pair or even higher. Coit and Williams even know where to point people who are looking for personalized shoes with graffiti-like art."That makes a shoe that much more limited," Coit says. "It makes it one of a kind."Source: Roland Coit, co-owner of Burn RubberWriter: Jon Zemke
The money from all of those MacBooks, iPods and iPhones you see at the coffee shops and classrooms isn't just going into Steve Jobs' pockets. Macprofessionals is getting its fair share and then some.The Novi-based firm got its start in 2000, providing support for the growing contingent of Mac users. Today it employs 53 people and about 8-10 independent contractors on a consistent basis. That's up from 43 employees at the beginning of the year and it expects to hire up to five more by year-end.The firm, which is currently on the Edward Lowe Foundation's Michigan 50 Companies to Watch list, also recorded 25 percent revenue growth last year and expects to post a similar number next year. "It's been growth year after year," says Maria Eby, finance controller for Macprofessionals. "A lot of companies are coming to us now."It has been riding the Mac popularity wave and its own wave of good word-of-mouth marketing. Macprofessionals plans to focus on education this year as more schools get federal funding to provide computers and other electronics.Source: Maria Eby, finance controller for MacprofessionalsWriter: Jon Zemke
Oakland University wants to see more of its students getting their professional feet wet at local businesses. But the Rochester-based school doesn't sees it as a one-sided proposition. OU is starting a free workshop on creating an internship program for local businesses through Automation Alley. The workshop will cover the company benefits of having interns. Those incentives range from lower costs to bringing in creative young people with fresh ideas. "It's a win-win situation for both the employer and the students," says Michael Stromayer, job locator developer coordinator for Oakland University.It will also show businesses how to find, process, and treat an intern. The workshop will also detail how (in)expensive it is to keep an intern around to help out with work."It doesn’t cost a lot of money," Stromayer says. "A lot of internships are unpaid."The all-day workshop is set for July 7 at Automation Alley's headquarters in Troy. For information, call (248) 370-3250 or click here. Source: Michael Stromayer, job locator developer coordinator for Oakland UniversityWriter: Jon Zemke
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