Ferndale Council to Vote on Continuing 3-60 Agreement

Ferndale Council to Vote on Continuing 3-60 Agreement
(Crystal A. Proxmire, March 6, 2015)
On Monday the 3-60 Project comes before City Council again.  This time  council members will have to decide if they want to continue discussions with developer Jake Sigal on the proposed project to add mixed use development to two city-owned parking lots.
The project would bring office, retail and residential space to Downtown Ferndale as well as additional parking. Along with the spaces would be new residents, new shoppers to the Downtown area, and increases in tax revenue.
In March 2014 two developers brought ideas to the City, and Sigal’s project was the one selected for further exploration. The exclusivity agreement, which is a common part of the development process, protects Sigal and his investors from spending the thousands of dollars to develop a plan and having the City then take the ideas and offer the property to someone else.
The initial timeline for the preliminary plans was one year. However the process was slowed by making revisions to the ideas, based on public feedback.
The 3-60 project would take the Withington Parking Lot and the West Troy Parking Lot from surface level parking to multi-level mixed use structures. A memo from Development Director Derek Delacourt describes the intent behind the project and the request to continue the agreement, stating “Specifically, if the construction of a mixed use office and residential development will assist in alleviating some, if not all , of the peak hour capacity issues experienced by the City’s parking system. Increase the number of residential dwelling units in the downtown and increase daytime users of the downtown by creating a campus of office space designed to attract creative, technical companies and employers.
‘These goals are identified and adopted in the City’s Master Land Use Plan, the strategic plan for the DDA and in numerous plans and studies related to the continued advancement and development of the downtown and City.”
Public feedback on the project has been varied, with some business owners and residents organizing against the project. Jaye Spiro of Mejishi Martial Arts is among those opposed to the project. “During the construction process, the 3-60 threatens the survival of independent businesses. No transitional parking has been proposed.  Furthermore, the 3-60 overshadows the historic character of our main street.  A more modest solution to the parking problem as well as an openness to other avenues of development to keep our city financially healthy and vital need to be investigated.  Lastly, this enormous development gambles with Ferndale’s valuable resources.  A project of this magnitude should be voted on by the residents of Ferndale,” she said.
The proposed timeline calls for the parties to establish business terms by May 31, finalize property acquisition and development agreements by July 31, finalize construction documents by Nov. 30 and start construction May 1. The parking plan and other details would be worked out once the scope of the project and construction timeline is established.
For more information about the 3-60 Project and the processes leading up to, see our previous articles:
Previous stories:
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/02/09/ferndales-3-60-project-revised/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/02/03/3-60-project-to-give-update-to-ferndale-city-council-feb-9/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/01/27/ferndale-hears-parking-study-results/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/01/09/melanie-piana-twenty-years-revitalizing-downtown-ferndale/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/10/24/mayor-coulter-talks-fema-water-rates-3-60-and-more-at-senior-town-hall-video/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/08/19/ferndale-3-60-opposition-meeting-aug-21/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/08/15/video-jake-sigal-talks-about-3-60-project/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/07/12/38-businesses-share-3-60-project-concerns-public-mtg-july-16/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/07/07/info-meeting-for-ferndales-3-60-project-july-9/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/06/11/big-dreams-for-ferndale-as-360-project-concepts-take-shape/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/03/11/ferndale-council-picks-3-60-group-for-parking-and-tech-development/
https://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.

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