Grandmont Rosedale : Detroit Development News

There is a transformation happening in northwest Detroit's Old Redford neighborhood equitable to the grassroots efforts that have pushed along the development on Michigan, Woodward and Cass avenues.

Motor City Blight Busters have been the driving force of development and transformational change in Old Redford over the past 25 years (with $20 million in investments over that time period). John George, founder and president of Blight Busters, has worked tirelessly to find people with similar visions who support each other. "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts," says George, whose work has not only included demolishing blighted crack dens but also renovating empty buildings into community spaces. "It's one thing to clear land and walk away but another thing to stick and stay."

Through Blight Busters George met Kofi Royal, founder of Fertile Ground Collective, Old Redford's community garden project which repurposes cleared land to serve the community. Last year he also met Harry Reisig, Executive Director of Replanting Roots, a program serving returning citizens and reintegrating them into society. Replanting Roots will offer long-term in-house fellowships to returning citizens in order to create self-sustaining entrepreneurs.

The three organizations have joined forces to create Farm City Detroit, an ambitious undertaking that will eventually cover two to four acres and include a community garden extending 8-10 city lots, a farmhouse, a farmers market, a renovated apartment building where Replanting Roots fellows will stay, and a year-round production farm.

The first phase starts this month with the acquisition and renovation of the Simon House housing facility, together with the farmhouse, which will serve as an education center for the community. Plans for this year also include tearing down eight more blighted houses in the farm’s path and launching a five-month pilot program for Replanting Roots inside the Simon House.

Farm City will take three to five years to become fully operational, but George (who has been at it for almost three decades) is undaunted. “We’re all starry-eyed dreamers with a passion and a goal to leave this neighborhood better than we found it.”

Source: John George, Founder & President of Motor City Blight Busters
Writer: Nicole Rupersburg

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Educational and entrepreneurial options are moving around and into Detroit this fall.

Eastern Michigan University is opening a new off-campus center on the city's northwest side at 7800 W. Outer Drive across the street from Wayne County Community College District's northwest campus. The 10,983-square-foot facility consists of space for faculty offices, classrooms, a computer lab and a student lounge.

EMU offers a wide range of courses and degrees in the new space, including nursing, social work and education sectors. The new office replaces a smaller location in the Northwest Activities Center.

The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, commonly known as MI-SBTDC, is also moving its offices from TechTown to the former Barden Communications building in downtown Detroit. Grand Valley State University purchased the building earlier this year and MI-SBTDC, which helps grow tech entrepreneurs and start-ups, moving into the space to be closer to Grand Valley State, which also is the home to MI-SBTDC headquarters.

"It's really about creating some synergies between Grand Valley State University and the Detroit office of MI-SBTDC," says Wendy Thomas, associate regional director of MI-SBTDC.

MI-SBTDC will move six employees into 1,500 square feet of space in the former Barden building, which overlooks Comerica Park.

Source: Eastern Michigan University and Wendy Thomas, associate regional director of Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Midtown Detroit Inc is joining a small-but-growing group of Michigan-based community-development-oriented nonprofits to help make financing for renovations and sales more accessible.

Four of these eight non-profits (Midtown Detroit Inc, Southwest Solutions, Vanguard Community Development Corp and Grandmont Rosedale Development Corp) are from Detroit and make up the bulk of the Michigan Lending Solutions consortium. The group helps homeowners prevent foreclosure, find mortgages for home sales and locate financing for building renovations.

The Midtown branch of the Michigan Lending Solutions, Midtown Lending Solutions, is based in Midtown Detroit Inc's Co-Lab space on Woodward. One of Midtown Lending Solutions is helping locate financing for condo sales.

"At least 85 percent of all of the condos in Detroit are non-warrantable," says David LeClerc, manager of lending operations of Michigan Lending Solutions. He adds that non-warrantable means banks won't extend mortgages in those condo buildings because there aren't enough pre-sales or the condo association doesn't have enough cash reserves or to many units in the building are rentals, among a bevy of other disqualifiers.

Midtown Lending Solutions is looking to secure a $15 million loan fund that would be able to provide the financing for local condos sales. If enough condo sales are approved through this fund, that should help release pressure on the market and make it more attractive to traditional lenders. LeClerk believes the fund will be able to close 200 mortgage deals for local condos within the next two years.

"We believe we will be able to free up all of these condominiums within two years so they can leverage traditional financing," LeClerc says.

The Michigan Lending Solutions will also be able to help other homeowners and small developers find financing. That could be as complicated as nailing down a $140,000 loan to renovate a derelict building to financing a $5,000 loan so a homeowner can improve their house with minimal hassle and frustration.

Source: David LeClerc, manager of lending operations with Michigan Lending Solutions
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Agricultural scientist George Washington Carver’s name is synonymous with peanuts, and surprisingly, sweet potato pie too. Cassandra Thomas wants her name to be synonymous with the latter, which is why her shop Sweet Potato Sensations, is now celebrating 25 years of business.
 
"People only think of sweet potato pie during the holidays, especially Thanksgiving," says Thomas. I want people to know they can have it all year long."
 
Visitors can enjoy a variety of goods from cookies, pies, cakes, ice cream and corn bread- all made from sweet potatoes.The treats are in such demand that lines literally form outside the door and down the street. 
 
Recently, Thomas added 16 flavors of Hershey’s iced cream to the menu, and a café across the street where book clubs, block clubs, and other meetings take place. Her two daughters even hold natural hair meetups at the new location, bringing in a large crowd of women interested in the natural hair phenomenon. 

Sweet Potato Sensations is run by Thomas, her husband, and her two daughters. They also have four summer interns who are learning baking tips and invaluable job skills.
 
Thomas loves that the business is growing and thriving in a city she loves.
 
"Detroit is the place to be and I want to be the change I want to see," she says.

Sweet Potato Sensations is at 17337 Lahser Road in Detroit's Grandmount-Rosedale neighborhood.

Source: Cassandra Thomas 
Writer: Leah Johnson 

One of Detroit’s premier neighborhoods has quite a selection for those looking for a new house. Up to 20 homes are for sale in the Grandmont Rosedale community and will be featured during the 7^th Annual Grandmont Rosedale Communities Neighborhood Open House on Sunday May 6, 1-5 pm at North Rosedale Community Park Open House, 18445 Scarsdale.
 
"This is a great opportunity for potential home buyers to see a wide variety of homes in one afternoon and get a good feel of the neighborhood," said Marsha Bruhn, open house chairperson. "Continuing public and private investment in Grandmont Rosedale is making our already desirable area even more attractive to new homebuyers."  
 
Attendees at the open house will be able to pick up a list of homes for sale, view presentations on the neighborhood, meet residents, and get information on the 15- year tax abatement available to new buyers. The homes for sale reflect a variety of styles ranging from traditional brick colonials to contemporary ranch houses.
 
Shuttle bus tours will allow run throughout the afternoon, letting attendees view featured homes and neighborhood amenities. Several homes are being shown in "as is" condition and will offer buyers to get involved in renovation from the start.
 
In the past year, the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation (GRDC) has sold 15 houses, about half of them to buyers moving from the suburbs. Through the Detroit Development Fund, GRDC is able to offer $10,000 in down payment assistance on its renovated houses, and city employees are eligible for up to $15,000 in down payment assistance on any of the homes for sale.
 
New residents Hubert and Eliza Sawyers are pleased with their neighborhood.
 
"We have lived in several other cities in the metro Detroit area… we are very excited to be part of such a friendly and established neighborhood and look forward to building our lives and family here."
 
For more information, home listings and directions, go here.

Writer: Leah Johnson 

Focus: HOPE is investing $1.36 million toward improving its Oakman Boulevard campus with a multitude of upgrades geared toward sustainability.

"The overall goal is to reduce our kilowatt usage by 15 percent, which I know we will reach," says Arnold Pirtle, director of facilities for Focus: HOPE.

This is the first renovation projected focused on energy efficiency for Focus: HOPE, which calls itself a nonprofit civil and human rights organization. It plans to make these improvements to nine buildings, starting sometime around the Fourth of July. The campus is composed of buildings that were once part of Ex-Cell-O's world headquarters, a former machine shop, an old Ford engine plant, and what was once a grocery store. Focus: HOPE uses them now for its career training programs, child care center, food program, and other activities.

"Four facilities haven't had any real energy-efficiency upgrade," Pirtle says. "The other five have had at least partial renovations."

Among the improvements include installing energy-efficient lighting, low-flow bathroom fixtures, and weatherization upgrades. The idea is to make the campus safer and more environmentally friendly for long-term results. Part of the project is being funded by the city's SmartBuildings program.

Source: Arnold Pirtle, director of facilities for Focus: HOPE
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Shirley Ross-Banks grew up in here little corner of Detroit's West Side near Renaissance High School, made it her home and based her janitorial business there. Now she is reinventing one of the community's hubs, The Friss Center, into a space for entertainment, education and entrepreneurship.

"This building used to be a neighborhood service building and I want it to continue as that," says Ross-Brooks, owner of The Friss Center.

The Friss Center is a 12,000 square foot, multi-use building at the corner of West McNichols and Hubbell Street. The one-story structure was built in the mid-20th Century but Ross-Brooks bought it in October 2010. Back then her business had recently lost a janitorial contract because her employees weren't properly trained. She bought The Friss Center partly as a place for workforce training for her employees and to help create a destination in her neighborhood.

"My dream is to have a nice place where people can have their events, like birthdays and bridal showers, here," Ross-Brooks says. "A place that is just as nice as anywhere in the suburbs."

Today The Friss Center hosts dance classes, conference rooms for small businesses, two churches and is working to complete a commercial kitchen. Ross-Brooks would like to continue building out the space so more small businesses and entrepreneurs take up residence there, along with a law firm and a notary public.

"I love everybody," Ross-Brooks says. "I want to be part of bringing my neighborhood back up."

Source: Shirley Ross-Brooks, owner of The Friss Center
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Meijer plans to replace the old Redford High School in Northwest Detroit with one of its big-box stores, providing a prime example of demolition with a plan in the Motor City.

The former Detroit Public Schools high school's architecture served as a staple of the the Old Redford, Grandmont, Rosedale Park and Brightmoor neighborhoods at 21431 W Grand River Ave since it was built in 1924. It graduated a number of notable national personalities, including George C Scott before it closed in 2007.

The current development plan calls for razing the empty 1 million square foot school to make way for a new Meijer big-box store. The $22 million project will feature a retail, grocery and garden center. The Michigan Economic Development Corp provided brownfield tax credits worth $3.3 million from the state and $6.5 million from local government entities.

"In that respect it's a good thing there is a redevelopment plan," says Karen Nagher, former executive director of Preservation Wayne who now works consulting for historic redevelopment. "But I wish there would have tried to find a way to put retail and office space in there."

A common lament among Metro Detroit's preservation community is that many of the region's historic structures are razed with no plan to redevelop the property, leaving an urban prairie of blighted vacant lots. Some closed Detroit Public Schools buildings with remarkable historic architecture have fallen by the wayside in this way, including the historic Cass Tech building. The redevelopment of the old Redford High School building represents a move toward demolition with a plan for these sorts of structures.

Source: Michigan Economic Development Corp and Karen Nagher, former executive director of Preservation Wayne
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Golf architect Tom Doak has designed four of the world's 100 top golf courses, according to Golf Magazine. He's now left his mark on Detroit, in the form of a pro bono golf practice facility crafted by Doak for the Midnight Golf Program and students at Marygrove College.

The Midnight Golf Program is a 30-week course for high school students that teaches life essentials like financial literacy and community activism alongside the rules and customs of golf.

"The organization does amazing work with youth around their own development, life skills, life lessons and choices and college preparedness, and it's all built around the game of golf," says Marygrove President Dr. David Fike, who partnered with the Midnight Golf Program several years ago and hosts the students on the university campus. "They utilize the game of golf in emphasizing successful life choices, integrity and discipline."

Those students will now have the chance to study chipping and putting in the new facility, which includes a large sand bunker, a four-hole short course, two practice tee areas with 26 hitting bays and a putting green. It's located near the soccer fields just to the left of the college's main entrance off McNichols. It will also be the home practice facility for Marygrove's new intercollegiate golf program. "Tom Doak says you can practice any shot with the exception of a long tee with the space that we've designed here," he says.

Dr. Fike says the facility was also built with a commitment to environmental sustainability, inspired by the influence of the sisters and servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who founded and continue to guide the university. The college worked with Renaissance Golf to build the facility without altering the topography of the land. The golf facility uses 100 percent organic seaweed fertilizer donated by Ocean Organics and is committed to using as little water as possible, thanks to a low irrigation grass seed mixture designed by Tom Mead.

"It's serving inner-city youth with a game that doesn't typically provide opportunities for inner-city youth," Dr. Fike says. "And we're doing it using a compact urban land use. The game is generally suburban and rural, and needs sprawling space. That not only makes it inaccessible to inner-city youth, but it also presents some environmental issues."

Golf aficionados, good news -- Dr. Fike says there are long-term plans to make Marygrove's new golf practice facility open to the public.

Source: Dr. David Fike, President, Marygrove College
Writer: Ashley C. Woods

It's been quite the green spring for the passionate tree-planters at The Greening of Detroit, which is seeking 300 volunteers for the season's final two plantings on Saturday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"It's especially great because June 11 is National Get Outdoors Day," says Greening's Monica Tabares. "So we're really hoping folks will want to get outdoors with us. It's a great way to start out a Saturday."

The Greening of Detroit, which plants trees every spring and fall, began March 26 with a sizable goal -- putting at least 4,000 new trees in the ground before summer began. The arbor assault helps combat poor air quality, storm water runoff, soil contamination and deforestation due to the Emerald Ash Bore. It's all been made possible due to the help of at least 1,200 volunteers this spring, resulting in Greening's largest planting season to date. They received funding for the 2011 season from DTE Energy Foundation, the Erb Family Foundation, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service.

The last two plantings of the season, thanks to partnerships from SEMCOG and the City of Detroit Water and Sewage Department, will help root 500 new street trees in the neighborhoods of Rosedale Park and Cody/Rouge.

"We're looking for a number of folks to come out," says Greening of Detroit's Monica Tabares. "We've had tremendous support from individuals to come out and help us volunteer. When we started out, it was so cold -- it was snowing until April!"

What to bring? Energy and enthusiasm. Forestry staff will be on hand to give volunteers a full education on proper planting techniques, and the organization provides all the necessary tools. All ages are welcome.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. for both plantings. Volunteers for the Cody/Rouge neighborhood excursion will meet at St. Peter & Paul Church, which is located at 7685 Grandville. Volunteers in Rosedale Park will meet at 14593 Faust.

Sign up online at the Greening of Detroit's website or call 313-237-TREE for more information.

Source: Monica Tabares, Marketing and Special Events Director, The Greening of Detroit
Writer: Ashley C. Woods

Grandmont Rosedale's sixth annual Open House tour, scheduled for Sunday, May 1, will offer visitors and potential home buyers a glimpse into one of the city's most community-oriented and stable neighborhoods.

Visitors will begin at the Welcome Center in the North Rosedale Park Community House, located at 18445 Scarsdale. Open 1 - 5 p.m., tour-takers can get a list of 20 properties for sale in the Grandmont Rosedale collection of neighborhoods, meet residents, view a presentation on the neighborhoods, and learn about tax abatements for new buyers from a City of Detroit assessor. Shuttle bus tours will run throughout the afternoon.

"There are just so many good things to say about the Grandmont Rosedale area and the four neighborhoods that comprise it," says Marsha Bruhn, chairperson of the event. "First of all, it's wonderful park-like setting. We have tree-lined streets, and lovely boulevards. We have very high-quality homes, many of them custom-built, starting from the 1920s and 1930s, and some built later."

The homes for sale, which are priced from $65,000 to $140,000, reflect the community's diverse architectural styles, from bungalows to Arts & Crafts homes, colonials and Tudors.

The Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation will also showcase five fully restored homes, thanks to investment from the Kresge and Ford Foundations, which balance historic charm with new kitchens and updates. This new program allows the GRDC to acquire foreclosed homes through the National Community Stabilization Trust and sell them, fully renovated, at a profit.

Bruhn says, with community events, a weekly farmers market, activities for kids, and neighborhood shopping nearby, Detroiters looking for a community experience should consider the Grandmont Rosedale district. It's located near the intersection of the Southfield Freeway and Grand River.

"We have so many committed neighbors who maintain their property, are involved in their community organizations, like living in the city, like being part of the neighborhood," Bruhn says. "Here, we say, it's not just buying a house, you're buying a community. You're buying into a close-knit neighborhood of residents."

For more information, directions and listings, visit grandmontrosedale.com.

Source: Marsha Bruhn, chairperson, Grandmont Rosedale Home Tour
Writer: Ashley C. Woods

The Detroit Economic Growth Corp. has made grants to three city markets under its Green Grocer Project. The grants are the program's first awards since its launch in May 2010, and will benefit the following independent grocery stores:

• Family Fair Food Center, located on Chene Street at Lafayette, will receive up to $30,000 in matching funds for a planned $350,000 exterior renovation. Improvements will be made to the store's facade, entryway, parking lot, signage and lighting.


• Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe, scheduled to open soon at 3100 Woodward Ave. in Brush Park, will receive $30,000 that will go towards up to 75% of its eligible costs for the development of a store marketing plan and construction documents as well as other start-up-related expenses.


• Metro Foodland at 18551 Grand River in Rosedale Park will receive $7,500 towards marketing materials including launching and managing a loyalty card and a healthy eating campaign. Another $22,500 is set aside to match other eligible costs for additional store improvements.
  

The goal of the Green Grocer Project is to improve the overall quality of Detroiters' grocery shopping experiences and access to fresh food. It is funded by the Kresge Foundation and the City of Detroit, but additional funding is being solicited by DEGC to grow the program. It currently includes a technical assistance grant program, a grocer clearinghouse for existing store operators and others interested in making new investments in Detroit and a revolving loan fund.

For more information, or to apply for the program, contact GreenGrocer@DEGC.org.

Source: DEGC
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation is busy renovating seven homes in its cluster of neighborhoods -- North Rosedale Park, Rosedale Park, Grandmont and Grandmont #1 -- with the plan to sell them to qualified homebuyers. "We've ramped up our rehab activity," says GRDC executive director Tom Goddeeris. "It doesn't make sense to be adding more units when we have such beautiful homes sitting empty."

Goddeeris calls one home that was recently completed on Bretton Dr. in North Rosedale "the nicest house we've ever done." The four-bedroom three-bathroom dwelling features hardwood floors, a dramatic staircase -- and there is a purchase agreement for the property pending for $137,000. "It's a sign of the times that we are even getting our hands on some of these houses," he says.

Most of the other half-dozen homes are three-bedroom, but a couple are four-bedroom and one even has six. There are stucco cottages and big brick colonials and the average price range is $70,000 to $80,000. "This is one of these neighborhoods that still has market appeal," says Goddeeris. "This is a real opportunity for people that are first-time homebuyers to get such a great value on a home."

GRDC has been supported in its efforts by Community Legal Resources and the Vacant Property Campaign. Prior to obtaining title to vacant homes, a team of volunteers manage basic upkeep of the properties to keep values from dropping.

Anyone interested in purchasing a home renovated by GRDC should contact homeownership program manager Brad Mattison at 313-387-4732, ext. 101.

Source: Tom Goddeeris, GRDC
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Eastern Market -- much as we love the grande dame -- isn't the only game in town when it comes to farmers markets. Here's a rundown of some other markets in Detroit.

Northwest Detroit Farmers Market began its season on May 27 and will run through October 14. It occurs each Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. and boasts 15 to 20 stalls with locally grown produce, baked goods, flowers, spices, teas, coffee, meats and seafood -- all produced by the person selling it. Cash, credit and debit cards, Bridge Card, Project FRESH and Senior Project FRESH are all accepted. Head to the south parking of the Bushnell Congregational Church, along the Southfield service drive, south of Grand River.

On Saturdays, the East Warren Ave. Farmers Market pops up in East English Village from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will run from June 12 through October 2, with a break on July 3. Cash, credit, Bridge Card and Project FRESH are accepted. The market is located at the corner of E. Warren and Bishop. For more information, contact Jenny at 313-571-2800 x1131.

Midtown has two markets, both operated by SEED Wayne. They start this week and run through the end of October.

The Wayne State Wednesday Farmers Market will take place Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Cass Avenue, in front of Prentis Hall and across from Detroit Public Library's Main Branch. The Wayne State University School of Medicine (Monthly) Farmers Market can be found every third Thursday of the month from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of Scott Hall, across from Detroit Receiving Hospital, and close to the intersection of St. Antoine and Canfield Streets.

Both markets accept cash, Bridge Card, Project Fresh and Senior Project Fresh coupons. Only the Wednesday market accepts the WSU One Card. SEED expects to double Bridge Card Benefits at the markets starting in July.

Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

A North Rosedale Park colonial is getting the finishing touches on a complete renovation courtesy of Grandmont Rosedale Development Corp. The three bedroom, 1 1/2 bath, brick home includes a two-car garage, full basement, newly remodeled kitchen/great room, new energy-efficient thermal windows, new high-efficiency gas furnace and central AC, new gutters, updated electrical, and freshly refinished hardwood floors throughout. When all is said and done, GRDC will sell 16759 Edinborough for $89,000.

The home ended up in GRDC's hands after its longtime residents had sold the property on a land contract. When the contract buyer defaulted, they transferred ownership to GRDC through a bargain sale, which is the sale of a piece of property for less than 20% of its market value. "The rest (of the value) is considered to be a donation, making it a win-win situation," says Tom Goddeeris, the organization's executive director. "They were able to get some money for their transition, they owed a little bit of money on the property, and they paid some back taxes that the land contract buyer had not paid. ... Plus they got a tax deduction."

The transaction made financial sense, but Goddeeris thinks there was a bit more to the deal. "They felt so good about the neighborhood. They lived here a long time, raised their kids here," he says. "The seller clearly had sentimental feelings for the neighborhood and the house itself."

Contact Goddeeris for more information at 313-387-4732, ext. 111.

Source: Tom Goddeeris, GRDC
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh