Cranbrook has surpassed its $150 million fundraising goal one year early, bringing in $181 million that will be used for a combination of projects, including major renovations to the school's campus.

About $75 million will be spent on new construction or renovation projects at the Bloomfield Hills school. Among those projects are the construction of a new Girls Middle School and the renovation and expansion of the Boys Middle School. The Quads and Kingsford copper roofs will also undergo a restoration.

The Cranbrook Art Museum is scheduled for a complete renovation, including the addition of a new Collections Wing to will provide public access to the museum's entire collection.

The Cranbrook Institute of Science will receive a new group entrance and parking structure. The Planetarium will receive a technology upgrade while classroom space is renovated and two new anthropology halls are added.

More than 28,000 people gave to the fundraising campaign. For information, click here.

Source: Cranbrook Schools
Writer: Jon Zemke

The word sustainability isn't regularly used with a sprawlburg suburb like Novi, but the municipality recently won the first Oak Land Award at the 2009 Oakland County Green Infrastructure Celebration.

The awards recognize communities that contribute and demonstrate successful efforts toward the planning, promotion, design, development, and support of green infrastructure in Oakland County. Novi won for its interconnected network of open spaces, natural areas, and waterways.

"They really have a whole host of natural resources that nicely blend the natural environment with development," says Jim Keglovitz, a senior planner for Oakland County Planning and Economic Development Services.

Novi employs a number of conservation initiatives, including a wildlife habitat plan, a linear greenway system, and wetland protection plan, among others. For information about the county's Green Infrastructure Vision, click here.

Source: Jim Keglovitz, a senior planner for Oakland County Planning and Economic Development Services
Writer: Jon Zemke

When it comes to downtowns, Ferndale and Rochester came home with all of the hardware at the annual Main Street Oakland County Awards.

The awards recognize excellence in downtown revitalization in five categories, including organization, promotion, design, and economic restructuring.

Ferndale took awards in all five of the categories. The judges recognized the city for its outstanding public relations outreach and special events for the DIY Festival. Two of its businesses, Pinwheel Bakery and Elegance by Design, were recognized for their facade renovations.

Rochester won awards for promotional design for its In Town magazine and for its community commitment.

Source: Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke

They're getting ready to stretch the ribbon in Farmington so it can be cut on the downtown streetscape project next weekend.

The city recently finished paving and striping the $3.2 million project. Construction workers are putting the final brick pavers, lamp posts, and signage in place this week.

"They're wrapping up the final details," says Annette Knowles, executive director of the Farmington Downtown Development Authority.

The project rebuilt Grand River Avenue between Farmington Road and Warner Street, making the byway friendlier to pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. It also expanded the sidewalk area, adding bump-outs around parallel parking spaces and installing new sidewalks, crosswalks, benches, bike racks, trash cans, and decorative streetlights.

City officials are now applying for grant funding to complete the original scope of the project, which called for doing the same sort of work on Grove Street between Grand River and Orchard Street and adding a boulevard.

"We're very hopeful that will happen," Knowles says.

Source: Annette Knowles, executive director of the Farmington Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke

Oak Electric is walking the walk by installing the product it sells.

The 11-year-old firm recently installed a wind turbine at its Waterford headquarters. The Swift Wind Turbine (made in Grand Rapids) is the same one that Oak Electric sells and installs, along with other renewable energy products.

"We wanted to test the data for ourselves," says Gary Pipia, president of Oak Electric.

The turbine is expected to produce 2,000 kilowatts of clean energy each year. To put that in context, an average home consumes 400-600 kilowatts of energy, so the turbine could satisfy the energy needs of up to five homes. The turbine costs $12,000 installed.

Oak Electric has installed a number of these throughout Metro Detroit, especially in the Ann Arbor area. It also installs other wind turbines and solar energy systems. It's in the process of installing a five kilowatt solar system at its headquarters, where it already has energy efficient lighting. All of these are products the 11-person firm sells.

"We've got some jobs out there," Pipia says.

Source: Gary Pipia, president of Oak Electric
Writer: Jon Zemke

Oakland County has applied for a hefty sum of money to make buildings more energy efficient.

Excerpt:

Oakland County has applied for $4.8 million in federal grants to make county buildings more energy efficient through technologies such as LED lights, geothermal heating and cooling and solar panels to heat water.

The county has been working on its application with the U.S. Department of Energy to ensure projects qualify and expects to confirm the grant soon.

"We're going to get it," Deputy County Executive Phil Bertolini said. "We've been working with them very closely."

About 20% of the money would go toward a new terminal project at the Oakland County International Airport in Waterford.

"The idea is to use the terminal to showcase all of the green technologies," said Art Holdsworth, director of facilities management.

Read the entire article here.

The Nine Mile bridge across I-75 has put a dent in businesses in the area but once it is rebuilt it'll be bigger and better for everybody.

Excerpt:

After slapping on a hard hat and donning a reflective vest, I recently took an MDOT tour of the project to replace the Nine Mile Bridge over Interstate 75 in Hazel Park.

As you remember, the bridge was destroyed when a gasoline tanker crashed and exploded beneath the span in July.

MDOT had originally planned to replace the bridge with a duplicate span, but then decided to construct a larger bridge in anticipation of the future widening of the freeway.

Crews from Toebe Construction, based in Wixom, have been working 24/7 on the project.
MDOT is trying to have the bridge reopened by Christmas, which would be welcome news for Karim Yousif, owner of J&E Auto Service, a heartbeat or two west of the bridge.

Read the entire article here.

The 650-square-foot space for Monica Bowman's new gallery is no stranger to art. Its location above Woodward Percussion has served as studio space for artists for years and is now home to The Butcher's Daughter gallery.

"Ferndale has an established gallery syndicate," Bowman says. "It's a great, open-minded, diverse community that loves art. I want to capitalize on what it already has going for it."

Bowman named the art gallery after herself. She is the sister, daughter, and granddaughter of butchers. The Butcher's Daughter moniker just makes sense for those who know Bowman, not to mention it sounds cool.

The gallery will focus on contemporary art from emerging artists in the Detroit and Washington D.C. area. The work of Lisa Marie Thalhammer will be on view through November 25.

Source: Monica Bowman, owner and director of The Butcher's Daughter
Writer: Jon Zemke

Saab is looking at moving its North American headquarters to a small industrial-turned-chic-office building on the north side of Royal Oak.

The Swedish automaker is in negotiations to move into the home of Ronnisch Construction Group, 4327 Delemere Court between 14 Mile and Normandy Roads. It is trying to negotiate a tax credit for the move and the lease for the 13,300-square-foot building.

This building wasn't always in such demand. It was a dumpy, single-story industrial structure with a beautiful view of railroad tracks before Ronnisch took it over three years ago.

"It's a unique building in that it was an abandoned industrial building," says Janet Gekiere, business development and marketing manager for Ronnisch Construction Group. "It was a mess, to say the least."

Ronnisch rehabbed it into an edgy, modern office building to show its clients the possibilities. Impressed Saab officials from Sweden, seeing the same potential that Ronnisch saw years ago in what most people consider a tear down, requested to move in.Similar industrial-to-office conversion projects are being done by other developers near downtown Royal Oak and in Ferndale.

"Some people can't see beyond what they see," Gekiere says. "They can't see the structure."

Ronnisch plans to move its 15 employees into a new space in the Royal Oak area once the deal is struck.

Source: Janet Gekiere, business development and marketing manager for Ronnisch Construction Group
Writer: Jon Zemke

The white, err… silver, elephant in Pontiac's room appears to finally be on its way out.

The city has begun the auction for the Pontiac Silverdome. A deal for its sale and redevelopment is expected to be nailed down later this year. The online auction, which ends Nov. 12, can be found here.

The Silverdome has been a millstone around the city of Pontiac's neck ever since the Detroit Lions left it for Ford Field earlier this decade. A number of proposals have been developed and floated over the years, but all eventually floundered while the city paid millions to maintain the building.

Pontiac was taken over by an emergency financial manager earlier this year to help straighten out the city's books. One of the first things on the agenda was to move forward on resolving what to do with the 80,000-seat stadium and surrounding 127 acres.

The stadium was built in 1975 for $55 million at I-75 and M-59. It served primarily as the home of the Lions for 27 years. The Pistons also played a few seasons there. A Super Bowl and World Cup soccer matches also passed through the facility.

Source: City of Pontiac and Williams & Williams Commercial Real Estate
Writer: Jon Zemke

More parking. It's a refrain that has become the bane of redevelopment in Metro Detroit, a region still chained to four wheels.

Providing more parking often comes at the expense of good urban development, if it doesn't scuttle the project altogether. Oakland University has come up with a way to provide it without extending the sea of asphalt.

The university, which experienced record enrollment this fall, re-striped some of its parking lots in a more efficient manner. The project, which cost $2,000, created 72 extra spaces. The goal is to give a little extra breathing room for drivers at the commuter campus in Rochester.

Among the lots that received extra spaces are the lot at Squirrel Road and Walton Boulevard (26) and along the connector road between Varner Hall and Pawley Hall (23). The rest were scatted on parking lots throughout campus. All of the university's parking areas can be found here.

Source: Oakland University
Writer: Jon Zemke

Lawrence Technological University is going short and long to drive home its point about using sustainable practices in construction.

Faculty members are preaching the merits of green building as far away as Asia and here at home. The university will host a forum on the use of wood construction materials as a preferred sustainable practice on Oct. 27.

"Wood: the More Sustainable Structural System" will be held at Lawrence Tech's Southfield campus, 21000 West 10 Mile Road. It features a panel of green building experts who will talk about how using wood, a carbon neutral material, is more sustainable and energy efficient than alternatives. The experts will also discuss its aesthetic values.
 
The Detroit chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers will co-host the event with Lawrence Tech. For information, contact Elana Shelef at eshelef@drc-usgbc.org or (248) 228-3190.

On the other side of the world, Lawrence Tech Prof. Nabil Grace is leading a study called "Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainable Materials for Infrastructure." He is working with researchers from Stanford University and Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan. They are developing and testing methods for new alternative construction materials that will increase the longevity for infrastructure like bridges.

The research will show how spending a little more up front will make for a much longer lifespan for such installations, ultimately saving on materials and money for those tax payers.

Source: Lawrence Technological University
Writer: Jon Zemke

The Zeitgeist has arrived in Rochester as part of one of downtown's most vibrant nightspots - The Factory.

Shane Ford and Jerry Wald, the early 20-something creative entrepreneurs behind The Factory, opened the Zeitgeist as a complement to their music venue at 334 S Main St. behind Tower Plaza. Zeitgeist is the retail portion of the operation.

"We're open," Ford says. "We’re just getting some art in and loading it up."

The Zeitgeist sells shirts, music, and other music paraphernalia. The old house turned commercial storefront across the street from The Factory will sell merchandise and even have a smaller performance area for events like poetry readings.

Future expansion is possible but not in the immediate future.

"We're always looking at new things so we can expand, but we're all over the map right now," Ford says.

Source: Shane Ford, co-owner of The Factory and Zeitgeist
Writer: Jon Zemke

Another nook and cranny is being planned for downtown Northville, now that city officials are planning to create a cut through.

A cut through is a pedestrian-only path, and in this case it would connect Main Street and the parking lot behind the Marquis Theatre. The $800,000 project would cut through one of the bays of the old Girly Daze building. Think something similar to Nickels Arcade in Ann Arbor, or a decorative walkway.

The idea is to make downtown more pedestrian friendly by giving foot traffic another option to get around. It would connect the vibrancy of Main Street to a 200-spot parking lot.

"That lot is the most utilized lot in the downtown primarily because of its central location," says Lori Ward, director of the Northville Downtown Development Authority.

The city has hired Ann Arbor-based Cooper Design to create the cut-through and is planning to nail down the design this winter and start construction next spring.

Source: Lori Ward, director of the Northville Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke

One of Metro Detroit's greenest restaurants is now organic – certified organic.

Mind Body & Spirits has been certified USDA Organic by Oregon Tilth, a third-party nonprofit organization. The downtown Rochester-based firm is now Michigan's first fully certified organic restaurant. There are fewer than a dozen certified organic restaurants in the U.S.

"It's a third party source that ensures that what we say we're doing, we're doing," says David Youngman, director of marketing and communications for Mind, Body & Spirits. "A lot of businesses are making claims of organic products."

Mind Body & Spirits had already been embraced by the tree huggers when it opened last fall. It took a 100-year-old building, renovated it, and added 2,000 square feet and a load of sustainable features.

These include the largest bank of solar power panels in Michigan, used to generate clean energy and to heat water. The restaurant also has a geothermal heating and cooling system. It also used VOC-free paint, bamboo flooring, and sustainable furnishings. A greenhouse was built along Third Street to provide fresh herbs and produce for the kitchen and to beautify the sidewalk.  

Source: David Youngman, director of marketing and communications for Mind Body & Spirits
Writer: Jon Zemke

A study looked into the best practices of entrepreneurial cities in Michigan and two honored this were were in Oakland County. Additionally, three OC cities will be honored for their continual practices in the entrepreneurial spirit.

Excerpt:

Marquette, Midland, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights and Wixom were identified as communities that are "2009 top performers at attracting and retaining entrepreneurial firms" in a study by researchers at the University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Business.    

Additionally, the village of Dundee and the cities of Auburn Hills, Southfield and Troy -- communities who were also recognized in the 2008 study -- will be honored for their continuing efforts at supporting entrepreneurship.   

...

"The communities we are recognizing this year have identified existing strengths to use as a starting point to help new and growing businesses," said Tim Davis, director of iLabs. 

Read the entire article here.

The designs for the old Kmart headquarters in Troy are drifting away from the neo-urban principles of the original plans and more towards typical suburban sprawl.

Grand Sakwa Properties recently presented city officials with its intentions for the large parcel on Big Beaver Road just west of The Somerset Collection mall. It's now official that the Farmington Hills-based developer sees the future of that site as principally commercial.

"They are clearly saying in today's world they can't build residential and market it," says Mark F. Miller, assistant city manager for Troy.

The previous design, called the Pavilions of Troy, called for a large, dense, mixed-use village. The $300 million development entailed 500,000 square feet of retail space, 300,000 square feet of office space, a 250-key hotel, 750 residential units (lofts and townhouses), a 3000-seat theater, grocery stores, restaurants, and a public ice skating rink. Both the current and the former concept call for razing the former Kmart headquarters.

Grand Sakwa Properties has made an offer on the property and could close on it as soon as December. It has pulled a PUD (planned-unit development) revision application and is looking at pursuing a public-private partnership with Troy.

Source: Mark F. Miller, assistant city manager for Troy
Writer: Jon Zemke

i3 Detroit, a new space for creatively inclined people, is about to open in downtown Royal Oak.

The cooperative is a communal space for makers, inventors, and entrepreneurs. The 1,500-square-foot location at 322 E Fourth St. has room for heavy tools, electronics, and a studio/lounge. It's comparable to Detroit's Russell Industrial Center, but members don't have individual work areas.

"We're more like a locker, less like a small office," says Nick Britsky, director at large for i3 Detroit.

Right now, i3 Detroit has 13 paid members and a five-member executive board. It needs 24 members to break even. Additional members would allow the cooperative to buy bigger and better equipment, maybe even a bigger space. Britsky and his partners chose downtown Royal Oak for its central location in southeast Oakland County.

i3 is an national non-profit that got its start in New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. It encompasses a wide range of interests and professions, such as machinists, programmers, artists, and electrical engineers. It also hosts public classes and workshops on woodworking, Linux, amateur radio, telecom architecture, computer programming, and automobile repair.

Source: Nick Britsky, director at large for i3 Detroit
Writer: Jon Zemke

More improvements are coming to Oakland Community College after its Board of Trustees approved $5.19 million in renovations to its Auburn Hills, Orchard Ridge, and Royal Oak campuses. 

The Auburn Hills campus is getting the lion's share of improvements, including replacing $4.8 million worth of 40-year-old boilers and other equipment. It will also spend almost $170,000 to repair the roof of Building A and make Building F compatible with the Americans with the Disabilities Act.

"We're dealing with 30-40-year-old systems that were built in a different era," says George Cartsonis, director of college communications for Oakland Community College. "They have reached the end of their lifetimes."

The Orchard Ridge Campus will spend $185,000 to catch up on deferred maintenance and repairing its sanitary sewer. The Royal Oak campus will get $91,000 in upgrades to its Lila Jones Johnson Theater.

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

More and more venues across Metro Detroit are going smoke free.

Classy stalwarts like the Fox Theater in downtown Detroit and Hill Auditorium in downtown Ann Arbor have been on that list for a while. Joining them are smaller venues, like the Magic Bag in downtown Ferndale and now the Royal Oak Music Theatre.

"It's overdue," says Justin Miller, general manager of the Royal Oak Music Theatre. "It's obviously just the right thing to do with everything we know today about smoking."

A growing number of bars, coffee shops, eateries, and performance venues in Metro Detroit have been kicking out smokers in recent years. There are at least 5,889 licensed dining places in Michigan that prohibit smoking as of today.

Ontario has already outlawed smoking in public establishments. Michigan has been wrestling with similar legislation in recent years. It came close last year, when both the state House and Senate passed different smoking ban bills, but it died after the two legislative bodies couldn't reach a compromise.

"Sooner or later we're going to see this across the board," Miller says. "We're just trying to get ahead of the curve."

Source: Justin Miller, general manager of the Royal Oak Music Theatre and SmokeFreeMichigan.com
Writer: Jon Zemke