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Ferndale 3-60 Opposition Meeting Aug. 21t
(Compiled, Aug. 19, 2014)
Businesses and residents who are opposed to the 3-60 Project in Ferndale are having a meeting on Thursday, Aug 21 at Mejishi Martial Arts, 247 West 9 Mile Road at 7:15pm.
The 3-60 Project is a mixed use development with a focus on technology/office jobs and increasing the amount of parking in the Downtown Core. Opponents worry the construction will hurt existing businesses and change the atmosphere of the community. The project could take up two city-owned lots, adding first-floor Reid_Sally_115retail, parking, office space and an 8-10 story section for residential.
The project is still in the exploratory phase, where the City and the developer are soliciting feedback from the public. Townhall meetings have been held and presentations made to council, and the “Do a 180 on 3-60” movement has been organizing business owners and residents.
Jaye Spiro of Mejishi Martial Arts said “Local residents and businesses have begun to organize to challenge our city officials to give us other, better options for solving the evening parking problems. One alternative for parking is to purchase and build a parking structure on the Save-A-Lot location by issuing bonds. Perhaps the answer could involve developing more parking on East Nine Mile, as was previously planned or purchasing a portion of the Ferndale Food’s lot.essential
“Certainly, if development is the goal of our elected officials, there are other areas of Ferndale, very close by which might be considered which would not destroy the wonderful and very unique establishments which now thrive on this short block of west Nine Mile. Extending to the east or west makes better sense rather than dwarfing and even killing the sweet main street culture that has grown up in this town.
“The wisdom of entering into an “exclusivity agreement” with a single, inexperienced developer rather than opening sidebar012stairsdowntown development to competitive bidding is questionable as well. We encourage the residents, business owners and stakeholders of Ferndale who live, work, pay taxes and vote here, to influence this important decision.”
The City is working on a list of Questions and Answers to address concerns, including why Save A Lot is not an option, why this site was selected etc. Those responses will come in a couple of weeks as the City is still gathering questions and information.
Previous stories include an interview with the developer Jake Sigal, concept layouts presented to council, and a letter signed by over 35 businesses opposed to the New Harvest Homes NHHdevelopment.
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/08/15/video-jake-sigal-talks-about-3-60-project/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/07/12/38-businesses-share-3-60-project-concerns-public-mtg-july-16/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/07/07/info-meeting-for-ferndales-3-60-project-july-9/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/06/11/big-dreams-for-ferndale-as-360-project-concepts-take-shape/
dinos02sidelogo3http://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/03/11/ferndale-council-picks-3-60-group-for-parking-and-tech-development/
http://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/03/09/companies-vie-for-the-potential-to-develop-in-downtown-ferndale/
More information:
www.downtownferndale.com
http://www.ferndalemi.gov
www.ferndalemoves.com
For more pictures, plan and video of the council meeting, visit http://www.ferndalemi.gov/Government/Departments/City_Clerk/City_Council_Video_Meeting_Minutes and look for the July 9, 2014 meeting.
EDITORS NOTE: The project is called the 3-60 Project, not 360 Project (gotta make the search engines happy though)
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