Woodward sculptures set for downtown Pontiac, Detroit
Source: metromode, 4/29/2010
The Woodward Tribute sculpture project is set to gain momentum this summer, now that plans for one in downtown Pontiac have a green light and another in downtown Detroit are primed and ready to go.
The UAW and General Motors have pledged $10,000 toward the Pontiac tribute sculpture, helping the Woodward Avenue Action Association (which is spearheading the project) meet the $150,000 price tag. Construction is set to begin in late July or early August and complete by the Woodward Dream Cruise.
"Once they break ground it only takes a week or two to install," says Nicole Brown, outreach and promotions coordinator for the Woodward Avenue Action Association.
The non-profit is also finalizing plans for the tribute sculpture in downtown Detroit this spring. Once the location is finalized (near the Spirit of Detroit statue at Woodward and Jefferson avenues) the project will be announced, probably within the next few weeks.
The Woodward Tribute sculptures help raise awareness about the history behind Michigan's Main Street and how important it is to not only the state but the U.S. and the world. The sculptures are normally a robust column a story or two tall that depict part of Woodward's illustrious history.
Ferndale built the first one in its downtown in 2008. More are being planned for other communities along the Woodward corridor.
"We're speaking to several different communities to go forward with a fourth one," Brown says. "This is a great piece of art that helps people see the story of Woodward in an artistic way."
The sculptures are funded by a number of organizations. Those chipping in for the Pontiac sculpture are the Federal Highway Administration National Scenic Byway funds, Oakland County, and Genisys Credit Union.
Source: Nicole Brown, outreach and promotions coordinator for the Woodward Avenue Action Association
Writer: Jon Zemke
Metro Airport installs first wind turbines
Source: metromode, 4/29/2010
Propellers and jet engines aren't the only
thing spinning at Metro Airport these days, now that it has installed a
half dozen wind turbines.
The $75,000 project put six Windspire
turbines at the north and west sides of the airport. These are not your
normal wind turbines. They are made in a cylinder, so the blades are
vertical. The made-in-Michigan turbines stand 30 feet tall but measure
only four feet wide. They will not interfere with air traffic.
"We're
trying to stay as low as possible," says Ali Dib, director of
facilities for Metro
Airport.
The wind turbines harness wind energy at lower
speeds (4.5-5 mph). The electricity will help supplement the demands of
the airport and will serve as a testing project to see if more are
feasible.
"My CEO has advised me that he would like more," Dib
says.
Among the other sustainable features at the airport are
recycling aircraft de-icing fluids, using old cooking oil from airport
concessions for biofuel for airport vehicles, and $1.5 million worth of
LED light fixtures (5,000 in total) for taxiway edge lights. Those
lights save more than $12 million in energy costs per year compared to
the incandescent fixtures they replaced.
Metro Airport is also
looking at a number of other sustainable projects, such as installing
solar panels, green roofs, and gray-water recycling.
Source:
Ali Dib, director of facilities for Metro Airport
Writer: Jon
Zemke
East Dearborn downtown makes plans for arts district
Source: metromode, 4/29/2010
The East Dearborn Downtown Development
Authority is taking steps to set up an arts district in the city's
eastern center.
Downtown leaders see the creation of an arts
district as an important tool to both help encourage economic
development and to raise the quality of life in the city's eastern
downtown, which centers around the Michigan Avenue and Schaeffer Road
intersection.
"We have so many vacancies downtown," says Melissa
Kania, who is spear heading the project for the East Dearborn DDA. "Why
not create pop-up galleries? If this building is empty, why not lease it
to this artist for a short time and create a gallery?"
That
could create more foot traffic for local retail businesses. Local
leaders also think it will attract new economy-based entrepreneurs and
businesses because the young people behind them often run in the same
circles with artists.
The DDA is currently working with Artspace to see if
it can create some inexpensive space for artists and other creatively
inclined people. One possibility is the former Kroger building, which
could serve as a central location for local creatives.
"This is
all very conceptual right now," Kania says.
That doesn't mean a
good bit of work hasn't gone into it. The DDA recently revealed three
sculptures in its downtown to help kick off the effort. The sculptures
come from a recent offering of eight pieces from the Midwest Sculpture
Initiative. The other five are in Dearborn's western downtown.
Source: Melissa Kania, administrative
assistant with the East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke
Downtown Belleville pushes streetscape project forward
Source: metromode, 4/29/2010
Phase 1 of the downtown Belleville
streetscape project, done. Phase 2 is underway, while the third and
final phase is set to take place this summer.
The hard work is
over now that construction crews replaced the sewer and water lines and
other infrastructure in the downtown last year as the first phase of the
$5.8 million project.
The second phase is to redo the
above-ground infrastructure on South Street from Huron River Drive to
the railroad tracks and the Fourth Street Square. The final phase, set
to begin after the Strawberry Festival in June, will replace Main Street
from the Bridge to Huron River Drive. That should wrap up by October.
The
above-ground improvements include bigger sidewalks with decorative
brick pavers, benches, trash cans, bike racks, and new landscaping. New
landscaping, including trees to replace those lost to the Emerald Ash
Borer, will also be installed.
No improvements have been made to
the downtown streetscape since the early 1990s. An initiative to have
the work done via a bond proposal was defeated
last year. This new project is coming mainly from the city's coffers.
Source:
Diana Kollmeyer, city manager for Belleville
Writer: Jon
Zemke
$30M in federal funds set aside for building retrofits
Source: Concentrate, 4/29/2010
The greenest construction projects involve
an existing building. It's an idea that wasn't lost on the latest round
of federal stimulus grantmakers and the $30 million Michigan received
as a result.
Excerpt:
The numbers are impressive: about $452
million in federal stimulus funds split
between 25
communities/states to help retrofit
existing structures
into more energy efficient buildings. Michigan is one of those areas,
roping in $30
million.
The details of how that money will be put to work and
where are still being sorted out. However, the macro impact has the
potential for not only shrinking carbon footprints but helping contain
suburban sprawl.
"The idea is to go into these houses and
retrofit them so they're more energy efficient," says Sam Offen,
director of energy program for the Michigan Suburbs Alliance. "It
will allow them to stay longer because they will be more habitable."
Read the rest of the story here.
Birmingham Covington School installs wind turbine
Source: metromode, 4/22/2010
Birmingham's Covington School has cut the ribbon on a new wind turbine that will serve as not only an alternative energy generator but an education tool.
The Windspire, manufactured in Michigan, is not your normal wind turbine. It stands 30 feet high and is shaped like a vertical cylinder. It's made to harness winds at speeds of about 10 mph in urban areas.
It will supply electricity for the school, which is actually on Covington Road in Bloomfield Hills. At its engineering technology lab, students will be able to monitor activity and use that information as part of its curriculum.
A number of local organizations helped make the installation happen, including Mariah Power, Centerline Electric, Rauhorn Electric, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, American Fence, TMP Associates, Peter Basso and Associates, and GreeningDetroit.com.
John Carlos, CEO of TechTown-based GreeningDetroit.com, is a parent at Birmingham's Covington School. He is also part of the school's Proud Dads organization, which harnesses parents' abilities to improve the school. That was an easy task for Carlos to determine.
"It was an easy match to find the niche to help out the school," Carlos says.
Source: John Carlos, CEO of GreeningDetroit.com
Writer: Jon Zemke
Macomb County recognizes 71 Green Schools
Source: metromode, 4/22/2010
Today 71 schools across Macomb County will receive the coveted Green Schools designation recognizing their efforts to become more environmentally friendly.
That number is nearly double the count from last year, when 43 schools earned the same honor. Macomb County officials hope that number continues to grow as more go for the designation.
"We're trying to get the schools that aren't participating involved," says Brian Brdak, a Macomb County Commissioner who has helped quarterback the program. "Once we get them involved this will become a self-sustaining thing."
One of the ways to up participation is by awarding each designated Green School a flag that tells the world about its sustainability-oriented tendencies. The program's organizers also are hoping that elementary and middle school students taking part in the program today will bring it to their future schools tomorrow.
Candidates can start recycling programs, become more energy-efficient, or build natural wildlife habitats. All must meet at least 10 of the 20 criteria to achieve the designation.
Macomb County's Green Schools Initiative has served as the template for a larger program for the tri-county area of Metro Detroit. The three counties have formed the Southeast Michigan Green Schools Initiative, which works to implement more sustainable practices.
Source: Brian Brdak, Macomb County Commissioner
Writer: Jon Zemke
Kroger begins work on downtown Grosse Pointe store
Source: metromode, 4/22/2010
Another new grocery store is well on its
way to Grosse Pointe, sort of, now that the downtown Kroger has begun a
renovation project.
"We're closing the store for nearly a year to
virtually rebuild the same store there," says Dale Holandsworth,
spokesman for Kroger.
The
Ohio-based supermarket is revamping its location on Kercheval Street
after downsizing the plans a bit. Kroger originally planned on adding a
second floor to the 1-story building, but decided to keep the original
footprint and expand the basement area.
The whole project tackles
22,000 square feet of interior space and the rear parking lot. The
revamped version will have a more open shopping area with new aisles and
displays. The basement will be turned into a food preparation area and a
place for other behind-the-scenes work. The parking lot will be
re-striped so the spaces are larger.
The end result will be a
"radically different" store, according to Hollandsworth. It will look a
lot like the store at Maple and Lahser roads in Oakland County, he adds.
The
project could be done in time for the holidays and by the end of winter
at the latest.
Source: Dale
Holandsworth, spokesman for Kroger
Writer: Jon Zemke
New facades in line for downtown Grosse Pointe
Source: metromode, 4/22/2010
Some of downtown Grosse Pointe's old retail buildings are in line to get some new facades.
First up is the Blockbuster video store on Kercheval. The single-story storefront is really a conglomeration of buildings with the oldest dating back to the 1920s. It has a crumbling brick front and a real need for other exterior touch-ups.
"It's just pretty tired," says Robert Wood, owner of Grosse Pointe-based Robert Wood & Associates. "It's one of the worst buildings in the village."
Wood is designing the new facade. He expects to replace the crumbling brick and spruce up the exterior so it fits with the downtown's character. The back entrance, where 75 percent of the average customer traffic enters and exits, will also be redesigned.
He hopes to start work as soon as possible and have it finished within two months. The business will remain open during construction. If everything goes according to plan, the Ann Taylor Loft store facade next door will be next to go later this summer.
"We'll probably be looking at that one next," Wood says. "You hope to start a trend and the other building owners start redoing their fronts."
Source: Robert Wood, owner of Robert Wood & Associates
Writer: Jon Zemke
Saab opens new HQ in Royal Oak
Source: metromode, 4/22/2010
The ribbon is cut and the workers are
moved in at Saab Cars
North America's new headquarters in Royal Oak.
The Swedish
automaker took over the former home of Ronnisch Construction Group on
the north side of the inner-ring suburb. The construction firm had taken
an old
industrial building by the railroad tracks between 14 Mile and
Normandy Roads and turned it into edgy office space.
The
13,300-square-foot building now has all of the modern, contemporary
amenities that people normally find in downtown Royal Oak or Metro
Detroit's other vibrant city centers. Saab has invested another $2.4
million to move 60 jobs from its marketing, sales,
and product evaluation arms into that office.
The Michigan
Economic Development Corp approved a $1.2 million tax break over five
years to make the deal happen.
Source:
Saab Cars North America
Writer:
Jon Zemke
Livingston Land Conservancy targets Round Lake property
Source: metromode, 4/22/2010
The Livingston Land Conservancy is looking
to expand its reach and consolidate some of its land around Hartland
Township's Round Lake.
The non-profit is raising money to
purchase 30 acres of woodlands that border the lake near the Oakland
County border. It has already negotiated a purchase price of $125,000
and is in the midst of raising $100,000 of that sum. So far $80,000 is
already in the bank account.
"It's a beautiful area that will be
preserved forever," says Sara Thomas, president of the board of the Livingston
Land Conservancy.
The conservancy already has 540 acres in 10
different parcels in areas like Brighton, Oceola, Putnam and Handy
townships under its protection. This is similar to the way Ann Arbor
protects its natural areas with a greenbelt.
Wal-Mart gifted 10
acres on Round Lake off Blaine Road to the non-profit a few years ago.
Now the non-profit is trying to acquire the acreage that is also
adjacent to another five acres it controls.
"Our goal is to get
about 45 acres total," Thomas says. "To protect property like that with
shoreline is pretty significant."
For information on the
fundraising initiative, contact Thomas at (810) 229-3290 or
info@livingstonlandconservancy.org.
Source: Sara Thomas,
president of the board of the Livingston Land Conservancy
Writer:
Jon Zemke
Birmingham's rehabbed Lincoln Hills Clubhouse opens
Source: metromode, 4/22/2010
Work on the Lincoln Hills Golf Course clubhouse is finished and the new structure is now open.
"This is a state-of-the-art facility," says Andy Dombrowski, assistant manager of golf operations for the city of Birmingham. "They did a tremendous job."
The club house needed it. The existing building was basically replaced from the ground up. That included ripping out and replacing some inner block/brick walls that have suffered significant deterioration. Gone is the leaky roof and the lack of air conditioning.
The renovated structure features new counters, doors, windows, roof, decorative fencing along 14 Mile Road, a covered storage area for carts, landscaping around the building, HVAC system, and updated restrooms. The parking lot is also repaved.
The golf course, which is owned and run by the city, is located at 2666 W 14 Mile Road.
Source: Andy Dombrowski, assistant manager of golf operations for the city of Birmingham
Writer: Jon Zemke
Owners transforming former party store into 3 boutique-ready storefronts at Cass and Willis
Source: Model D, 4/22/2010
Another blighted, long-vacant hulk is
being renovated into a home for new businesses in Detroit, serving as
further proof of why the city's Midtown neighborhood is setting itself
apart as the city's most vibrant area.
Excerpt:
The
southeast corner of Cass and Willis is abuzz with construction activity
as a former party store is being transformed into three storefronts.
Leslie Malcomson, who owns the building with her husband Peter,
anticipates construction will be completed this summer. The Malcomsons
live next door to the property, so she has her fingers crossed that one
of their tenants will be an ice cream parlor, but is open to any "small
merchant, boutique-type store" moving in.
The units are
approximately 1,000 square feet each, with large front windows and
awnings. "We want it to look nice. This is our neighborhood," says
Malcomson. The project architect is Keith A. Logsdon of Michael
Willoughby & Associates.
Read the rest of the story here.
Near North development prepares for construction in Ann Arbor
Source: Concentrate, 4/22/2010
Near North is nearly there when it comes
to nailing down its financing so it can break ground on the north side
of downtown Ann Arbor. The affordable-housing project just received
another $250,000 grant from the federal government.
Excerpt:
Financing
is starting to fall into place for the Near North development on the
northern edge of Ann Arbor's downtown area. The affordable-housing
development recently nailed down $250,000 more in funding from the feds
and expects to hear on the rest by mid May.
"We're hoping to
break ground in August or September," says Bill Godfrey, developer of Near North.
But
first Three Oaks
and Avalon Housing, the two
organizations behind the development, are waiting to hear if the
development qualifies for the $10 million in state brownfield and
affordable housing tax credits. The Michigan State Housing Development
Authority is expected to pass judgment by mid May on the $11-million
project.
Read the rest of the story here.
Ann Arbor green lights LED streetlight pilot project
Source: Concentrate, 4/22/2010
Energy-efficient LED streetlights are
multiplying throughout Ann Arbor, thanks to a new partnership between
the city and DTE Energy.
Excerpt:
LED street lights
are starting to spread from downtown Ann Arbor into the city's
neighborhoods.
The city has recently partnered with DTE Energy to perform a
pilot project for neighborhood LED streetlights. The two institutions
will split the $44,800 bill to install 58 cobrahead LED streetlights in
the student-housing-dominated neighborhood just south of the University
of Michigan.
"Some students had previously raised concerns about
the quality of streetlighting," says Andrew Brix, energy programs
manager for the city of Ann Arbor. "We had been looking for an
opportunity to try out LEDs in an area where DTE owned the lights. This
worked out perfect."
Read the rest of the story here.
Oakland U goes green with $2.7M geothermal project
Source: metromode, 4/15/2010
Oakland University is getting ready to
break ground on its greenest building yet, thanks to a
multi-million dollar grant.
The $2.7 million federal grant will
pay for a geothermal heating system for the new $63 million Human Health
Building. The project also includes a huge solar water heating system.
"That
is one of the largest, if not the largest, solar water heating systems
in the Midwest," says Jim Liedel, energy manager for the facilities
management department at Oakland University.
Both of those
systems are big-ticket items in green building and go a long ways toward
achieving gold-level LEED certification. Geothermal uses
a well to draw upon the earth's constant temperature before the frost
line. Solar heating systems pipe water through tubes in solar panels to
heat them to near room temperature, thereby requiring less energy to
provide hot water, for instance.
The geothermal heat pump and
roof-mounted, solar thermal hot water array will provide the
160,000-square-foot facility with summer dehumidification of ventilation
air, as well as cooling, heating, and domestic hot water.
Construction
should start this summer and wrap up in 2012. The building will go on a
vacant parcel of land on the northwest corner of the university's
campus. It will house the School of Nursing and the School of Health
Sciences.
Source: Jim Liedel, energy manager for the
facilities management department at Oakland University
Writer:
Jon Zemke
Karmanos and Crittenton open new cancer center
Source: metromode, 4/15/2010
Karmanos Cancer Center and Crittenton Hospital
Medical Center have opened a new shared facility in Rochester Hills
that boasts a bevy of green features.
The new $16 million
building features 30,000 square feet of state-of-the-art cancer
treatment space. Patients will be able to receive advanced radiation
treatment, chemotherapy, diagnostic imaging, and on-site laboratory
testing. Seventeen employees staff the facility and that number is
expected to grow later this year.
The center also has a number of
sustainable features such as a white roof, occupancy sensors, and
energy-efficient lights. All of these features were designed by Albert Kahn Associates
and installed by Barton Malow, including the daylight harvesting
system.
"The lobby has a lot of glass so you get a lot of natural
light," says Larry Dziedzic, senior project manager for Barton Malow. "As
the day gets brighter the daylight harvesting system shuts down the
lights you don't need."
Source: Larry Dziedzic, senior project
manager for Barton Malow
Writer: Jon Zemke
Birmingham installs LED lights in parking garage
Source: metromode, 4/15/2010
Birmingham plans to launch its first LED
light project this year when it installs the ultra-efficient bulbs in
the Pierce Street Parking Garage.
The city plans to spend
$350,000 switching out the old high-pressure sodium bulbs with LEDs,
starting late this summer and finishing before the winter arrives. The
parking garage has 227 light fixtures that were installed in 1986.
"They're
pretty close to the end of their useful life," says Brendan Cousino,
assistant city engineer for Birmingham.
LED lights
use a fraction of the electricity of normal light bulbs because 95
percent of the energy they use creates light the human eye can see. In
comparison, only 50 to 60 percent of energy used by regular bulbs makes
visible light. LEDs also last several years longer than normal street
lights.
The city of Birmingham expects to save $18,000 in
electricity annually, plus thousands more dollars in maintenance costs.
Other Metro Detroit cities are already enjoying similar benefits from
their LED projects, including Pontiac and Auburn Hills. Ann Arbor is
close to being finished with replacing all of its street lights with
LEDs.
Bids for the project are expected to go out midway through
the summer. About $125,000 in federal stimulus funds are helping to pay
for the project.
Source: Brendan Cousino, assistant city
engineer for Birmingham
Writer: Jon Zemke
Public art boosts downtown Lincoln Park
Source: metromode, 4/15/2010
Lincoln Park is beautifying its downtown
through the help of public art created by a local artist.
Kelly
Galley moved to Lincoln Park in 2004 when her husband Todd set up Todd Galley Family
Chiropractic on Fort Street, the Downriver suburb's main drag. Not
long after that, she began painting rocks at the local Farmer's Market.
The self-taught artist's work proved to be a local hit, breathing a
little more life into a struggling downtown.
"We got down here
and saw it needed some life and identity," Galley says. She liked rock
painting "because each one provided a different canvas."
That
caught the attention of leaders, who then hired her to paint a mural on
the Downtown Development Authority's truck and holiday art in the
windows of vacant buildings. Galley describes her art as folkish with
bright colors.
"We have a lot of empty spots and buildings that
just sit there," Galley says. "I want to paint them and hopefully
encourage people to do something with them."
Source: Kelly
Galley, downtown Lincoln Park artist
Writer: Jon Zemke
Macomb County Courthouse offers free Wi-Fi
Source: metromode, 4/15/2010
Jury duty might not exactly be considered
fun, but it's getting easier at the newly Wi-Fi-friendly Macomb County
Courthouse. It's just one more benefit for downtown Mt. Clemens.
Macomb
County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh launched the free wireless Internet
program at the courthouse this week. The new service allows patrons to
surf the web and do things such as look up case status, confirm which
judge is hearing a case, and use the Sheriff's online inmate locator.
The County Clerk's office is also working to enable online payment of
court costs and services.
"We're looking at things that make our services more accessible to the
public," Sambaugh says.
The county paid AT&T $15,458 to make the building Wi-Fi friendly
and less than $2 a day for the service. It first provided wireless
Internet for jurors in 2006 in what turned out to be a string of small
amenities that have enhanced the downtown business environment.
Jurors
receive pagers so they can shop nearby while waiting to be called to
court and can arrange books from
the Mt.
Clemens Public Library to be delivered to them at the jury
counter. They are also eligible to
receive free SMART bus tickets to and from Mt. Clemens.
"It's true," Sambaugh says. "The little things add up."
Source:
Carmella Sabaugh, clerk of Macomb County
Writer: Jon Zemke