More space is coming to one of downtown Royal Oak’s best known locations - Memphis Smoke.

The restaurant on the corner of Main Street and 12 Mile Road is expanding its rooftop deck, giving a few more patrons views of the Main Art Theatre kitty corner from their vantage point.

The 1,200-square-foot expansion will expand the current space by about 25 percent. The current deck covers a little less than half of the single-story building.

"There is still a lot of unoccupied roof up there," says Jim Schneider, president of downtown Royal Oak-based Schneider+Smith Architects, which is handling the project.

The project received site-plan approval earlier this week. Work is expected to begin as soon as possible, meaning as soon as they can get the work permits in hand. The expansion will open late this summer or in early fall.

Source: Jim Schneider, president of Schneider+Smith Architects
Writer: Jon Zemke

Skateboarding will reach new heights when the Riley Skate Park opens in Farmington Hills on June 29, hopefully.

"The weather slowed us down with the grading and landscaping," says Bryan Farmer, recreation supervisor for Farmington Hills.

The $850,000 skate park has rolled down a long, winding path to get where it is today. Ground broke late in 2007 and work has gone through a fit-and-start or two since then. But it's practically all done now, and the Oakland County suburb has something special to show for it.

Going beyond the typical concrete hills, ramps and rails that dominate the stereotypical skate park in the Midwest, it has an 8-foot-tall cylinder that looks like a sewer pipe built into the ground instead of above it and a variety of in-ground features resembling concrete pits and ditches. The idea is to give the park a "West Coast" feel that most local skaters have yet to experience in Metro Detroit.

The 29,000-square-foot venue is the newest attraction at Founders Sports Park at 35500 Eight Mile Road between Gill and Halstead roads, near the Farmington Hills Ice Arena. About 200 skaters a day are expected.

The skate park is named after George Riley of the Riley Foundation, who gave $500,000 toward the project. Organizers are still working to raise more money to add extra features, such as Web cameras and lights.

For information on the project, contact Farmer at (248) 473-1805 or BFarmer@fhgov.com.

Source: Bryan Farmer, recreation supervisor for Farmington Hills
Writer: Jon Zemke

Downtown Birmingham is sacrificing a few parking spots to make room for more excitement on its sidewalks.

The city recently liberalized its bistro policy, so that downtown businesses who want to serve alcohol can do so as long as they offer outdoor seating during the warmer months. Some businesses don't have much sidewalk to take advantage of, so the city allows them to rent street parking spots in front of their storefronts.

These establishments build platforms in the parking spots that basically extend the sidewalk, making room for seating. This puts more people and eyes outdoors, increasing streetside activity and vibrancy. It's the type of policy that would make Jane Jacobs proud.

"It's a very innovative policy," says Mark Nickita, a member of the Birmingham Planning Board. "To get a liquor license you have to do all of these good things for the city. … It makes the street more active, fun and interesting."

It also means good things for businesses. Dick O'Dow's did this and watched its revenue grow dramatically. So much so that over half a dozen restaurants and bars have followed suit, doubling or even tripling the amount of outdoor seating in the downtown.

Increased vertical space makes it viable for more small storefronts to set up shop in the city's center, which gives people more reasons to come downtown.

"It hasn’t been done around here at all," Nickita says. "I don't know of any other community that does it and we love it."

Source: Mark Nickita, member of the Birmingham Planning Board
Writer: Jon Zemke

Forgotten Harvest, Metro Detroit's only mobile food rescue organization, today took delivery of its first hybrid-powered truck. The Class 7 Freightliner, donated by Daimler Trucks North America, Daimler Financial Services and Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies, will enable the organization to rescue 850,000 additional pounds of fresh food on an annual basis at a 30 percent fuel savings.

Susan Goodell, Executive Director of Forgotten Harvest, was presented the keys to the 2009 M2e Hybrid Freightliner diesel-electric truck by Klaus Entenmann, President and CEO of Daimler Financial Services, and Chris Patterson, recently retired President and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America, at Forgotten Harvest's Metro Detroit facility. Ron Ricci, President of Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies of Rice Lake, WI, donated the 20 -foot fiberglass refrigerated truck body with ElectriMax, all-electric refrigeration that will keep the food fresh during deliveries to homeless shelters and social service agencies that feed the hungry throughout Metro Detroit.

"This generous donation by our friends at Daimler Financial, Daimler Trucks and Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies is a leap forward in advancing our mission of reducing hunger and waste," Goodell said. "It will not only improve our operating efficiency by keeping fuel costs down, it will also allow us to direct more donated dollars to distributing food in a way that protects the environment."

The 31,000-pound Class 7 truck is the fifth truck donated by Daimler Financial Services and Daimler Trucks North America and aftermarket "body builders" in the past four years, bringing Forgotten Harvest's growing fleet to 21 vehicles.

Like a hybrid car, the M2e Hybrid Freightliner performs best with consistent stop-and-go applications. Launch and acceleration are aided by the 60hp electric motor, then with increased demand from the throttle, it blends combined diesel and electric power as needed. During braking, the braking power restores the battery charge. The hybrid system has been proven to increase brake life by over 100% in urban delivery service.

Combined with the industry's most thermal efficient truck body and all-electric refrigeration solution by Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies, the new hybrid truck will contribute a 40 percent increase in fuel efficiency over a standard powertrain Class 7 truck and body with traditional diesel-powered refrigeration.

"There is a tremendous need to feed the hungry all over the United States, but especially here in Michigan where the economy has taken its toll on those most in need," said Entenmann. "

Patterson agreed, saying: "At Daimler, we welcome the opportunity to be able to contribute to the extraordinary work being done on a daily basis by Forgotten Harvest."

In 2008, Forgotten Harvest rescued and delivered 9.5 million pounds of prepared and perishable food to emergency food providers across metro Detroit. This year, due to the staggering increase of people seeking food assistance, the organization is on target to distribute more than 12 million pounds. The food, which is donated by grocers, wholesalers, farmers and other food providers, is delivered same day and free of charge to soup kitchens, shelters and pantries in the tri-county area.

About Forgotten Harvest

Forgotten Harvest was formed in 1990 to fight two problems: hunger and waste. Forgotten Harvest will rescue more than 12 million pounds of food this year by collecting surplus prepared and perishable food from a variety of sources, including grocery stores, fruit and vegetable markets, restaurants, caterers, dairies, farmers, wholesale food distributors, and other Health Department-approved sources. This donated food, which would otherwise go to waste, is delivered absolutely free of charge to 150-plus emergency food providers in the metro Detroit area. The individuals and families served are as diverse as the community's residents – young and old, from all races and faiths. The common bond uniting them with each other and with Forgotten Harvest is hunger. Visit www.forgottenharvest.org.

About Daimler Financial Services

Daimler Financial Services (DCFS USA LLC), headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mich., provides brand-specific financing for Mercedes-Benz automotive dealers' inventories and their retail customers, and conducts business in the United States luxury car market as Mercedes-Benz Financial. In the U.S. trucking industry, Daimler Financial Services Americas conducts business as Daimler Truck Financial and finances Daimler commercial vehicles branded Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star for dealers and their customers in the fleet, vocational, municipal and owner/operator segments. Daimler Financial Services Americas serves as the headquarters for operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, and has approximately 1,600 employees. Daimler Financial Services Americas is a company of the Daimler Financial Services Group, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, which operates in 40 countries with an employee base of close to 6,800. Daimler Financial Services is one of the leading financial services organizations worldwide. For more information visit www.daimler-financialservices.com/na.

About Freightliner Trucks

Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Ore., and is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets Class 4-8 vehicles and is a Daimler company, the world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer. For more information, call or visit your nearby Freightliner Trucks dealership or go to www.FreightlinerTrucks.com.

About Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies

Johnson RefrigeratedTruck Bodies is recognized as the industry leader in refrigerated transport. With headquarters in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Johnson is the innovator and manufacturer of molded fiberglass refrigerated truck bodies and specialized trailers that range from 8 to 36 feet in length. Johnson has a reputation of quality, durability, and innovative all-electric refrigeration solutions that are designed for many years of maintenance-free delivery. In business since 1932, Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies is a CARLISLE Company. For more information please call 800-922-8360 or visit www.johnsontruckbodies.com.

The city of Farmington says it's redevelopment ready.

Excerpt:

Armed with a variety of new tools, including tax incentives and expanded land uses, the city of Farmington is positioned to attract new business to its downtown and commercial areas as the state and national economies head toward recovery.

The announcement was made at a business seminar this month entitled, "City of Farmington - Where Good Things Grow," that drew some 25 city and business leaders.

The property development seminar, organized by Farmington City Councilwoman JoAnne McShane, highlighted changes Farmington and its downtown have made to attract landlords, tenants and other real estate leaders to fill the downtown's vacancies, and to redevelop the city's older commercial areas.

"The possibilities are endless here in Farmington right now," said Kevin Christiansen, land planning and entitlement manager for Pulte Homes, who moderated the seminar's five-member discussion panel.

"We call ourselves 'redevelopment ready.'"

Read the entire article here.

Hello Pontiac, ran by the city's Emergency Financial Manager Fred Leeb, debuted at the end of May to address rumors and misinformation for it's residents.

Excerpt:

Pontiac's Emergency Financial Manager Fred Leeb is blogging to address rumors and misinformation about spending and hiring, as well as to keep residents informed about city business.

The blog, called Hello Pontiac, debuted May 21 and addresses topics such as extending a final offer of sale of the Silverdome to current bidders and the reinstatement of televised council meetings. Residents complained about Leeb canceling the airings in April because he said they spread negativity.

Leeb also has talked about the agreement between the city and developers of the Motown Motion Pictures studio to form a tax-free renaissance zone.

Read the entire article here.

Farmington Hills is leading the green way by being the first to join the new Southeast Michigan Regional Energy Office.

Excerpt:

Farmington Hills is leading the way in energy-focused regional cooperation by being the first to join the new Southeast Michigan Regional Energy Office.

This new effort is organized by the Suburbs Alliance, WARM Training Center, the Michigan Municipal League and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. Its mission is to provide technical and educational services to communities, while strengthening buying power for energy-efficient products and renewable energy projects in southeast Michigan.

The REO sees the grants that are being issued by the federal government through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a good opportunity to pool resources, in the effort to turn the area from "rust belt" to "green belt."

Read the entire article here.

Five Southeast Michigan businesses get tax breaks from the state.

Excerpt:

A $6.4 million Oakland County expansion by Ralco Industries Inc. is moving forward, aided by more than $2.5 million in state tax credits approved Tuesday.

The expansion is among 15 projects throughout the state, totaling more than $247 million in investment, to receive tax breaks from the board of the Michigan Economic Growth Authority.

Ralco, an Auburn Hills-based supplier of welded assemblies, metal stampings, design, prototype and tooling for the automotive industry plans to move to a larger location in Pontiac, creating 108 jobs and retaining 50.

Read the entire article here.

Three looks like the charm for Oakland County and big federal brownfield grants.

The EPA recently gave Oakland County a $1 Million Coalition Assessment Grant, making it the third such award the feds have given to Michigan's richest county. It will help local communities and developers perform environmental assessments on contaminated or obsolete land.

Money from previous grants helped turn an old gas station in Wixom into a new strip mall. These funds also allowed an old illegal dumping ground just outside of the Palace of Auburn Hills to be turned into a large multi-use project, creating space for retail, a bank and a hotel.

"We're open to almost any type of project," says Brad Hansen, environmental program coordinator for Oakland County.

Half of the money will be evenly split between Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Madison Heights and Pontiac. The remaining $500,000 will be available for projects in other county communities.

The Oakland County Brownfield Coalition plans to focus much of these funds on the Woodward Avenue, 8 Mile Road, and 10 Mile Road corridors. A number of prominent organizations in these areas, such as the 8 Mile Boulevard Association and Woodward Avenue Action Association, helped land the grant as part of the Oakland County Brownfield Initiative.

Source: Brad Hansen, environmental program coordinator for Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke

A short but important greenway is about to open in Oakland County. The Milford Kensington Connector is set to open later this week as a way to connect some major institutions in this little hamlet on the county's west end.

The 10-foot-wide asphalt trail connects the edge of the village of Milford at General Motors Road to Kensington Metro Park about three miles away. It will provide safe passage between the park and Milford's downtown, YMCA and library. It connects about 30 miles of trails and sidewalks in the Milford area.

"It's a much-needed addition to the area," says Donald Green, supervisor for Milford Township.

The $2.9 million project was first dreamed up in the mid 1990s and funded by a millage assessed for greenway improvements a few years ago. Construction began at the beginning of last fall and finished this spring. People have already begun using it.

Source: Donald Green, supervisor for Milford Township
Writer: Jon Zemke

A section of the Clinton River could see a lot more daylight in downtown Pontiac someday soon.

Oakland County and city officials are working on plans to daylight the section of the river that bisects Pontiac's downtown. The idea is to create a riverwalk environment that helps draw more visitors and development to the city's core. Other suburbs like Wyandotte and Mt. Clemens have parlayed similar waterways into economic development engines.

"It would be a major project to bring some new life to downtown," says Steven Korth, manager at the Oakland County Water Resources Commission.

Major is a nice way of saying expensive. The recently released feasibility study says it would cost at least $47 million to unearth that river segment. The city's dire financial situation and tight budget at the county level means there are no piles of cash ready to move on this project.

The Clinton River was buried in concrete tunnels in 1963 to help solve flooding issues. The plan would create a new, open-air path for the river, cutting along the eastern edge of downtown along Woodward Avenue before turning in front of the Phoenix Center.

"The original closure will remain where it is to handle the flooding flows," Korth says.

The project is on hold until funds can be raised. However, local officials are planning to apply for state and federal grants later this year.

Source: Steven Korth, manager at the Oakland County Water Resources Commission
Writer: Jon Zemke

The herd of deer roaming around Cooley Law School's Auburn Hills campus are now able to bound about without dodging piles of construction supplies and equipment. They’ll just have to avoid the increased numbers of law school students faculty and media.

The law school held a dedication of its new Oakland County campus this morning, showing off the freshly finished renovated building, addition and hat full of green feathers that comes with it.

Today marks the end of a long journey for the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. The Lansing–based law school bought the 67-acre campus in the shadow of the Chrysler headquarter in 2007. It began renovating an old 1980s era GM/UAW building and then doubled its size to 130,000 square feet.

The original building now serves as part meeting space, part classroom space and a lot of law library. The new addition is made up primarily of classrooms, office and courtrooms for both practice and real trials. The modern-looking building is also going for LEED certification with a strong list of environmentally friendly features, such as a 20,000 square foot green roof and recycled materials.

Cooley opened its Metro Detroit campus at Oakland University six years ago with 28 students. Today it has 680 students at its new Auburn Hills campus. It is expected to hold up to 800 within the next year or two and possibly more than 1,000 after that.

Source: Cooley Law School
Writer: Jon Zemke

One of downtown Ferndale's most visible buildings is getting a facelift while it looks for a new tenant.

Grenadier Properties is putting a new façade on the front entrance to what used to be the Old Navy Outlet store on the northwest corner of Woodward Avenue and 9 Mile Road. The Southfield-based firm is refacing the front entrance with cast stone (think limestone), new windows, and lights. The project is expected to finish by the end of June.

"The four corners of Woodward and Nine are like Ferndale's four front teeth," says Robert Bruner, city manager for Ferndale. "Regardless of how good the rest of the City looks, our smile is only as good as those four buildings. I am very happy the former Old Navy Outlet is getting some much needed attention."

Old Navy left the space a little more than a year ago and Grenadier Properties has been looking for a new tenant for the 15,000-square-foot, single-story building since.

"There are a few prospects, but we're still looking," says Josh Grenadier, the firm's co-owner.

It has found a new tenant for the old Coffee Beanery space at the rear of the Old Navy building. Inyo Restaurant, an Asian-influenced eatery, plans to open there by the end of the week.

Source: Robert Bruner, city manager for Ferndale and Josh Grenadier, co-owner of Grenadier Properties
Writer: Jon Zemke

Oakland County's downtowns have spent decades turning themselves into some of Michigan's most vibrant urban centers, and the county isn't going to allow a few bad economic years to retard that progress.

That's why Main Street Oakland County is being proactive this summer, with three workshops aimed at helping keep these downtowns thriving and continuing their development momentum. And this is while those downtowns are in slightly better shape than the overall state economy.

"The whole thing is about how to make it in a tough economy," says Bret Rasegan, planning supervisor for Oakland County.

The workshops will feature local, state, and national experts for a range of urban issues, such as preservation and obtaining grants. The idea is to help downtown stakeholders get new perspectives on these topics and see how they can help each different downtown.

The first workshop, set for June 19, will tackle issues like dealing with declining property values in a down economy and financing projects in a tough credit market. The second (July 17) will examine how to encourage new economy development in the downtowns and take advantage of historic assets. The last one (August 14) will tackle sustainability issues like LEED architecture.

All will be held at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford. For information, call (248) 858-1848.

Source: Bret Rasegan, planning supervisor for Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke

The Greenleaf Trust Building is taking shape in downtown Birmingham.

Construction workers are finishing off the foundation and basement walls this spring. By early June, all of the footings are expected to be in and then the 5-story building's steel skeleton should begin rising. The construction can be monitored here.

The mixed-use structure will stand on the footprint of an old, abandoned gas station at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Maple Road. Designed by Kalamazoo-based Eckert Wordell Architecture, it will feature retail, commercial and residential space.

Five rental apartments will go on the fourth and fifth floors. The second and third floors of the 50,000-square-foot building will be dedicated to office space. Kalamazoo-based Greenleaf Trust will move its Metro Detroit offices to the third floor. The first floor will be occupied by Zazios, a modern Italian restaurant based in Kalamazoo.

Greenleaf Trust is going for silver LEED certification for the building. Its environmentally friendly features include a 1,500-square-foot green roof, natural lighting, and numerous water- and energy-efficiency fixtures.

The 10-year-old bank manages $7 billion in assets for individuals, foundations, endowments and corporations, and specializes in personal trust, wealth management and employee benefits.

Source: Patti Owens, vice president and managing director of Catalyst Development
Writer: Jon Zemke

Birmingham is gearing up to do a lot of work on its bridges this summer. The work includes improvements to the West Maple Road, Oak Street and Lakeside Drive North bridges, along with the replacement of the Baldwin Avenue Bridge.

The Baldwin Bridge dates back to the 1920s and has been showing decades' worth of wear and tear for a while now. The city plans to spend $700,000 to replace it, starting in July and finishing by November.

Gone will be the narrow, one-lane bridge, replaced by a two-lane span with a 5-foot-wide sidewalk. The city plans to recreate the historic arch underneath with a stone-cut façade. It has done this with four other bridge replacements.

"It will be a larger bridge than what is there today, but it should be a better looking bridge," says Paul O'Meara, city engineer for Birmingham.

The West Maple Road Bridge will undergo $107,000 in painting work on the exposed steel beams. It dates to 1950 and was significantly improved in 1998. The Oak Street Bridge, built in 1960, will also receive a $72,500 paint job on its exposed beams. The city plans to install channel diverters upstream of the Lakeside Drive North Bridge (1992) to help prevent sediment build-up. That project's estimated cost is $94,000.

Source: Paul O'Meara, city engineer for Birmingham
Writer: Jon Zemke

Fire Station No. 1 in Milford is expanding its space this summer.

Excerpt:

Work is to begin June 22 on renovations and an addition to Fire Station No. 1 at 325 W. Huron.

Firefighters are to move into the empty Iverson's Lumber Co. building at 300 E. Huron. The project is to be finished in about a year. The township will lease Iverson's for $2,000 a month.

The new fire station is growing from about 5,500 square feet to about 17,000 square feet. The current station was built in the 1950s.

The fire station will have larger bays for equipment and trucks, a training room, sleeping quarters and office space.

Read the entire article here.

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Riley Skate Park in Farmington Hills is nearly open... the kids are excited but they're just going to have to wait just a little bit longer.

Excerpt:

Riley Skate Park isn't slated to open until next month, but that isn't stopping skateboarders from trying to get in a few rides on one of the completed bowls.

"It's incredible," Rob Woelkers said of the the 29,000-square-foot park. Woelkers owns PLUS Skateboarding in downtown Farmington, which sells skateboarding gear. "I go every day and look at it."

But Farmington Hills city officials are asking Woelkers and other skaters to wait, so the $875,000 facility in Founders Sports Park on 8 Mile Road isn't damaged.

"We know they are excited," said David Boyer, director of the city's Special Services Department. "But we need them to hold off a few more weeks."

Read the entire article here.


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DTE Energy and Gleaners Community Food Bank will add six more sites (expanding to eight) with their gardening partnership.

Excerpt:

A DTE Energy/Gleaners Community Food Bank gardening partnership will expand to six more sites, including one in Farmington Hills.

DTE Energy and Gleaners started the program last year at substations in Auburn Hills and Plymouth Township, where more than 5,300 pounds of produce was grown with the help of volunteers from schools, community groups and religious organizations. More help will be needed this year.

“This year we're looking to greatly increase the yield,” said Vince Dow, DTE Energy vice president, Distribution Operations. “We had an incredible response to the program last year and there is even more need for our harvests than ever before. We hope that groups and individuals will respond where we've expanded.”

Read the entire article here.

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Milford underpass into Central Park jumps major hurdle.

Excerpt:

A plan to create a direct passageway from Liberty Street to the parking lot at Central Park in Milford has crossed a major hurdle, receiving a preliminary OK from CSX Railroad.

CSX agreed to shut down the railroad for 24 hours so the roadway can be extended beneath -- known as the Liberty Street underpass. That was a critical component to the proposal, said Ann Barnette, executive director of the Milford Downtown Authority.

Barnette said CSX recently gave its "preliminary conceptual approval" to the plan.

"Getting CSX approval is huge. It's a very good thing," she said.

Read the entire article here.

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