City Sells Former Impound Space to Search Optics

(C.Proxmire, Nov. 26. 2012)

With timing that Councilperson Melanie Piana called “serendipity,” Ferndale City Council agreed on Nov. 13 to sell a former impound lot to Search Optics at 1938 Burdette.  The lot is right next to their current parking, in the recently remodeled building tucked away by the railroad tracks near East 9 Mile and Hilton.

Search Optics came to Michigan two years ago to open a Midwest office for their San Diego-based digital marketing business.  They started in Ferndale with just one employee, and have grown at an amazing pace.  Executive Vice President Christian Full told Council that Search Optics is a “technology hub serving automotive dealers around the world.  Today our team in Ferndale is nearly 50 strong and still growing.”  He said that the company has 30 open positions, 20 of which are in Ferndale.

Their building on Burdette will accommodate up to 100 employees, and the extra parking they sought will help keep those employees from parking on the street, leaving space free for near-by residents.

Economic Development Director Derek Delacourt recently visited Search Optics while making a “retention visit,” which is his opportunity to find out if business needs are being met by the City and if there is anything he or other staff can do to help.  When Search Optics management mentioned more parking, it timed perfectly with a recent move by the Ferndale Police department to privatize vehicle impounds.

The lot, which is .4 acres of asphalt surrounded by a concrete wall with razor wire, was “horribly underutilized at this time,” Delacourt said.  Before the deal was done, all that was there was bicycle storage, for bikes that have been found or otherwise impounded.

The sale was agreed to at the price of $17,500.

Fuller was happy, calling it a “win-win for Ferndale and for Search Optics.” He said “We enjoy the atmosphere here in Ferndale and folks who work with us enjoy going out for lunches, and some live here.”

To find out more about Search Optics, visit their website at http://www.searchoptics.com/.  To watch the discussion at the Nov. 13,2012 City Council meeting go to http://www.ferndale-mi.com/.