Oak Park’s Water Tower Social District celebrates new parking expansion on 11 Mile

On July 9, Oak Park cut the ribbon on two new parking lots in its 11 Mile Water Tower Social District. The new lots offer a total of 234 parking spaces, new seating areas, gathering hubs, and a collection of beautiful murals by Detroit artist Desiree Kelly for the growing district. 

Going beyond the standard ribbon-cutting, Oak Park turned the celebration into a true ParTee. The event featured golf holes, hence the name, sponsored by local businesses, live music by Sterobabe, face painting, and offerings from food trucks around the area. 

While Oak Park is known for its award-winning 9 Mile corridor, it has also been building up its Water Tower District. Running along 11 Mile, the district was previously zoned for industrial use, but as manufacturing shifted, the city was left with multiple vacancies in the area in 2014.

“We took a look at it and rezoned it to become a mixed-use district, and began to recruit the breweries, restaurants, and fitness-related businesses,” says the director of municipal services, Kim Marrone. “In redesigning it, we were very conscious in adding new pocket parks and gathering spaces for the community, because recreation is a huge item that the city is in support of.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, with support from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, the city was able to designate the area as a social district, allowing the consumption of alcoholic beverages within the area, between restaurants and breweries. 

The district is anchored by three major establishments: Mother Handsome, Dog and Pony Show, and Unexpected Craft Brewing. Each offers a unique experience to residents.

Opened in the summer of 2024 by co-owners Brooke Zadorsky and Aaron Tye, Mother Handsome goes beyond just cocktails. Offering a full-service cafe and pizzeria. Mother Handsome was named in honor of a local tavern owner from the 1800s whose savvy and toughness made her a legend in the 11 Mile and Woodward area. 

“We saw an opportunity to create something Oak Park deserved—a place where people could gather throughout the day,” Tye says. “Mother Handsome is coffee and bakery in the morning, lunch during the day, and pizza, cocktails, and community at night. Oak Park has been incredibly welcoming, and we wanted to invest in a city that was investing in itself.”

The new parking expansion is designed to attract more residents to local businesses such as Mother Handsome. The new sidewalks and accessibility options open the district up to more residents and foster a greater sense of community in the area.

“We’ve seen more people discovering the district and more collaboration between businesses than ever before. There’s a growing sense that the Water Tower District is becoming a destination instead of simply a place people drive through. It’s exciting to watch that momentum build and to be part of shaping what the district becomes,” Tye says.

The city’s continual investment is one of the reasons Dog and Pony Show Brewery owner, Kyle Gierada, is proud to be part of the district.

“It all goes back to that [Elevate Oak Park] initiative, which is the city not just putting these plans in place and then not delivering. They are really executing them,” Gierada says. “It’s been a very steady growth over five years. We’ve had customers come in and say specifically to us, ‘oh, my gosh, I can’t believe Oak Park has a brewery, let alone two.’”

Dog and Pony Show has been one of the leading businesses in the social district since 2021. Its dog-friendly outdoor area and 12 in-house taps continue to be a big draw for residents. 

“Last summer was interesting because [the construction] was inconvenient. This summer has been gangbusters. We’ve had the parking lot open, we’ve had our five-year anniversary, and we’ve had the World Cup. So, the timing of it has been perfect; we’ve had a very busy summer. And normally, July is not a busy month for the brewery, because many people are on vacation. When people can stay local and celebrate what’s going on in summertime, it helps all the businesses, too,” Gierada says.

Gierada identifies that the location on 11 Mile is one of the many perks Oak Park offers. Having a city with rich residential infrastructure means fewer hurdles for potential customers. Being close to freeways like I-696 has also attracted people from all over the state.  

According to Marrone, that synergy of commerce and community was the plan all along.

“The return on investment for the residents is that they get the new parking spaces, a place to gather, and it becomes more walkable for the local businesses and residents,” Marrone says. “We provide free events that give the families more ways to enjoy the community together. And then it benefits the businesses and attracts the residents to visit them. We want to invest in our community to give that sense of pride to our community and give them what they deserve.”

This story is part of a series supported by the city of Oak Park to highlight the people, businesses, and initiatives that make Oak Park a unique place to live.