Downtown Ferndale upgrades appearance with façade work

The exteriors to several buildings in downtown Ferndale are getting a new lease on life. The long list includes big names like Blumz, Foley Mansfield and soon-to-be-opened Loving Touch.

The latest in that line is Sneakers Pub. The longtime staple of downtown a few doors down from The Woodward Avenue Brewers is about to have its old front torn off so workers can restore the original building beneath.

New exteriors had been added to the building over the years, including some concrete that ruined the original brick. Workers will remove the layers of changes and replace a brick façade that emulates the original. The front windows of the building will also be enlarged to their original size.

“It will be a nice simple improvement,” says Cristina Sheppard-Decius, executive director of the Ferndale Downtown Development Authority. “It isn’t a major investment but it will make a huge impact.”

The exterior renovation is taking advantage of the city’s façade improvement program. That initiative pays for part of approved exterior renovations, usually 20 percent of the cost up to $15,000.

Source: Cristina Sheppard-Decius, executive director of the Ferndale Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke