When you think of the suburbs, you think specialty grocery stores, a plethora of restaurants and bars, art galleries, convenient municipal parking lots and tree-lined walkable main streets. But one would be remiss for not noticing all of these same qualities in Hamtramck.
With the backing of a newly-funded Downtown Development Authority and
an enthusiastic new development guru, Hamtramck is a city attracting investment at a steady and sure pace.
Erik Tungate, Hamtramck’s director of community and economic development, says the city’s undergoing growth in both the commercial and residential arenas. “I strongly believe that downtowns and commercial business districts can thrive through residential development,” he says. Along with the nearly 200 single-family infill homes the city is developing, Tungate is looking to bring in more mixed-use loft buildings to Hamtramck. “Jos. Campau is tailor-made for those types of developments that other neighborhoods in Detroit are beginning to see.”
The Downtown Development Authority has done its share in improving Jos. Campau’s appearance with a major streetscape enhancement for the main street. “Our commercial district has an occupancy rate similar to those of the inner-ring suburbs,” says Tungate. He goes on to explain how this stability makes it easier for his agency to target chains that will complement the existing independent businesses. “We’re not in the position to settle for second best.” He says Hamtramck could use a hardware store, coffee shop and additional restaurants to add to the already wide range of food options.
Jamie Latendresse, co-owner of
Pr1mary Space Gallery on Yemans just west of Jos. Campau, sees Hamtramck as an artistic destination, with a high concentration of artists both living and working in the city. He and his partner opened the gallery in June 2003. “We like being here, doing business here. It’s 100 percent good—we’ve gotten a great reception from the community.” Latendresse was recently appointed to sit on the DDA, and says that their goals mirror Tungate’s. “We want to draw in new retailers and increase the retail diversity.” The DDA is also working to set up a façade improvement program that will provide financial incentives to business owners to improve the appearance of their buildings.
Hamtramck resident Chris Cornwell recently sold his interest in Midtown mainstay Alvin’s to invest in
Whiskey in the Jar, a neighborhood pub located on Yeman’s just off of Jos. Campau. He comments on one particular benefit to doing business in Hamtramck: the size of the government. “It’s just much easier to do business here. When you go to City Hall you can actually talk to the person you need to directly. There is less bureaucracy.” Cornwell also comments on the familial relationship that exists between his establishment and others in Hamtramck that could easily be viewed as the competition. “We’ll cross-promote and even advertise together.”
Cornwell is involved in the Hamtramck Chamber of Commerce, another organization working to make doing business in Hamtramck that much more pleasant. The Chamber hosts meet-and-greets for business owners at the Cardinal Mercier Branch of the Knights of Columbus and organizes the Hamtramck Festival held each Labor Day weekend. The Chamber is currently undergoing a restructuring and will soon undertake a membership drive. “We have the same goals as the DDA and look forward to working with them.”
Hamtramck is also working to make itself more attractive to light manufacturing, research, and technology businesses. Recently, a group of industrial and commercial property and business owners, which included representatives from existing Hamtramck businesses such as American Axle, General Motors, Dupont, and Missant, decided to work to establish a Certified Business Park on the city’s south end. “Such certification would mean that the state would market any vacant parcels — on top of word-of-mouth and city efforts,” said Tungate.
Utilizing tax increment finance plans that allow for property tax capture and retention, a certified business park would mean that the area within its boundaries would be standardized to an expected level of service delivery — such as snow removal — and beautification efforts — such as streetscape improvements. “This way, it’s much easier to market parcels to someone out of state because they know what to expect,” Tungate says.
The cooperative nature found in the City of Hamtramck exists not only among its businesses, but between the city government and the businesses. Working together means that, as Tungate puts it, “Hamtramck is open for business.”
For more information about Hamtramck visit the Model D
- Visiting Guide
- Moving Guide
Directions to
Hamtramck
From the East:
Follow I-94 west to Exit 217 toward Mt. Elliott Ave/E Grand Blvd. Turn slight left onto Edsel Ford Fwy East, and then turn right onto Mt. Elliott St. Stay straight to go onto Conant St and arrive in Hamtramck.
From the North:
Take I-75 south toward Detroit and take Exit 55 toward Caniff Ave/Holbrook Ave. Stay straight to go onto Dequindre St. and take the Dequindre St. exit on the left. Turn left onto Evaline Ave. and arrive in Hamtramck.
From the West:
Follow I-96 east to I-94 via Exit 190A toward Port Huron. Merge onto I-75 North/Chrysler Fwy via Exit 216A toward Flint. Take Exit 55 toward Holbrook Ave/Caniff Ave and continue straight to go onto Chrysler Dr. Turn right onto Holbrook Ave. and arrive in Hamtramck.
From the South:
Take I-94 east toward Detroit and merge onto I-75 North/Chrysler Fwy via Exit 216A toward Flint. Continue to Exit 55 toward Holbrook Ave/Caniff Ave and stay straight to go onto Chrysler Dr. Turn right onto Holbrook Ave. and arrive in Hamtramck.
Take I-75 north toward Detroit. Continue to Exit 55 toward Holbrook Ave/Caniff Ave and stay straight to go onto Chrysler Dr. Turn right onto Holbrook Ave. and arrive in Hamtramck.
Photos:
American Axle World HeadquartersPlanet Ant TheatreStreet Improvements on Jos CampauNew Lighting DowntownRock Climbing at the Hamtramck Festival on Labor Day WeekendA Typical Street in Hamtramck
All Photographs Copyright Dave Krieger
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