Friday, April 19, 2013
Enjoy samples, mini-services, giveaways, one-night-only discounts and more on April 25 from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Downtown Farmington merchants invite ladies to a night of shopping, savings and surprises during Ladies Night Out, held from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. on April 25. “We are excited to bring Ladies Night Out to Farmington,” said Valerie Greer, Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board member and one of the promotion organizers. “We hope that guests will see how our merchants and businesses shine during the evening.” Participating businesses will offer in-store activities that appeal to women, from samplings and give-aways to one-night-only discounts, complimentary or low-cost mini-services. “Ladies Night Out is a great opportunity to explore downtown Farmington. With spring in the air, finally, you can invite your friends to enjoy a fun night out …
Friday, March 29, 2013
Silver Tree Yoga owner Melissa Andrade takes over as president for the coming year.
Three downtown Farmington business owners were elected Monday to lead the Farmington Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board of directors. The slate of leaders is comprised of faces familiar to the downtown revitalization effort: Melissa Andrade, who steps up from Vice-President to President; Steve Schneemann, former Vice-President who is reassuming the role; and Dan Higgins, returning Secretary. The trio is expected to continue leading activities that enhance the sense of place in Downtown Farmington and promote its assets and that help to retain existing businesses and attract new opportunities. An active upcoming agenda includes important redevelopment and streetscape projects, reorganization in cooperation with the City of …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Registration is limited to 70 parade entries for the July 20 event.
If you ever wanted to portray your favorite cartoon or comic book character, this year's Downtown Farmington Founders Festival Parade will give you the chance to live your dream. Download a Downtown Farmington Founders Festival Parade application at www.foundersfestival.com and then make plans to build a float or march as a group with fellow non-profit or business employees. Of course, there will also be schools and city government parade participants. Everyone enjoys a parade. Wouldn’t it be fun to be in one? One requirement is that entries must adhere to the theme of Cartoons & Comic Books and be fully decorated or costumed. “For those who are still kids at heart, this parade will bring back memories as well as create new ones for you …
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Volunteer Frankie DeBasco receives the 2012 Mary Martin Service Award during the DDA Volunteers Appreciation Evening.
- BUSINESS
-
Saturday, March 16
Downtown Farmington is fortunate to have wonderful volunteers and events – in fact, award-winning ones in 2012. Main Street Oakland County Awards At the recent Main Street Oakland County Main Event Awards Presentation, Downtown Farmington was honored with two awards. Rhythmz in Riley Park, the free, summer Friday night live concert series produced by Scott Freeman was recognized as a 2012 Outstanding Event Series. Janet Bloom, DDA Events Planner, and Kristin Curle, Events Coordinator, proudly received the award. Under Freeman’s management, Rhythmz in Riley Park has consistently drawn increased numbers of attendees since its inception in 2008. Freeman passed the baton for chairmanship of this event to Kyle Kubitskey this season. The second …
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
The Main Street Oakland County program honors two Farmington Downtown Development Authority events.
Farmington Downtown Development Authority's Rhythmz in Riley Park concert series and Wish List Window holiday promotion took home honors from the Main Street Oakland County (MSOC) awards celebration, held March 8 at the Royal Oak Music Theater. The summer concerts, which draw hundreds of people to the Walter E. Sundquist Farmington Pavilion and Riley Park in downtown Farmington on Friday nights from June through August, won the MSOC Outstanding Event Series award. The 2013 series launches June 7, with returning favorite Paisley Fogg. MSOC gave its Outstanding Retail Event award to the Wish List Window promotion, through which 11 downtown Farmington shoppers this year won more than $6,000 worth of merchandise from local businesses. A MSOC …
Monday, March 11, 2013
Director Annette Knowles says this year's candidates make selecting the Mary Martin Service Award winner a real challenge.
Four volunteers who have devoted countless hours to downtown Farmington events and programs have been nominated for the Farmington Downtown Development Association (DDA) 2012 Mary Martin Service Award. Nominees are: "We have a very strong slate of nominees," DDA director Annette Knowles said during a Monday night Farmington city council study session. "This year is the most difficult selection we've ever had." The winner will be named at a volunteer appreciation event, held March 12, 7 p.m., at the Grand Celebrations Banquet Center on Grand River.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
City officials on Monday approve a $600,000 purchase agreement and a special assessment for redevelopment of The Groves shopping center and Grove Street streetscape.
Farmington city officials approved several measures on Monday to seal the deal on a project with a dizzying number of components – and the potential to spur even more redevelopment in downtown Farmington, officials say. The city entered into a $600,000 purchase agreement with Manifold Ventures, owner of The Groves shopping center at Grove Street and Grand River, for a parking lot on the west side of the building. In addition, officials established a special assessment district through which Manifold Ventures will pay the city $600,000 over 15 years, at 5 percent interest, to help fund the Grove Street streetscape project. "We had an appraisal (of the parking lot) done on the lot a number of years ago, when the price was considerably …
42.46361
-83.37343
Grand River Ave & Grove St, Farmington, MI
/articles/parking-lot-purchase-special-assessment-seal-downtown-farmington-deal
/locations/8752874
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Retailers say their customers can't find parking and suggest moving the market to another day of the week.
Brandi Ellis loves the Farmington Farmers and Artisans Market, but she doesn't love what it's doing to her business. The owner of Bellis Therapeutic Spa, with support from several downtown business owners, brought her concerns about parking to Monday's Farmington Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board meeting. Bellis is located directly across from the Walter E. Sundquist Farmington Pavilion and Riley Park, which draws 3,000-4,000 people on Saturdays from May through early November. Unfortunately, Ellis said, those additional people don't translate into additional business for her. By the time Ellis arrives to open her business on market Saturdays, she can't find a parking space. And her customers, who come in looking foward to a …
42.462596
-83.376334
Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio
23348 Farmington Rd, Farmington, MI
/articles/merchants-ask-farmington-dda-to-consider-farmers-market-changes
706164
/locations/8696953
42.46361
-83.37343
Walter E. Sundquist Farmington Pavilion & Riley Park
Grand River Ave & Grove St, Farmington, MI
/articles/merchants-ask-farmington-dda-to-consider-farmers-market-changes
1800270
/locations/8696954
42.463334
-83.372768
Bellis Therapeutic Spa
33037 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI
/articles/merchants-ask-farmington-dda-to-consider-farmers-market-changes
1863016
/locations/8696955
Friday, January 25, 2013
The committee will examine the feasibility of building a skating ring in Riley Park.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Friday, January 25
The Farmington Downtown Development Authority (DDA) put out a call Thursday for volunteers to help make a winter dream a reality. The DDA aims to make Riley Park a year-round destination, by putting an ice skating rink in the park during the winter months. “Having community activities in the heart of Downtown really gives Farmington a sense of place,” said DDA Executive Director Annette Knowles. “An ice skating rink would make Farmington a unique attraction in this area during these cold days.” The DDA's ice rink committee will conduct a feasibility study to ensure an ice rink is the right fit and will be responsible for fundraising. “We plan to have a lot of fun on this committee,” Knowles said. “We’ve been tossing around fundraising …
42.46361
-83.37343
Walter E. Sundquist Farmington Pavilion & Riley Park
Grand River Ave & Grove St, Farmington, MI
/articles/farmington-dda-seeks-volunteers-to-explore-ice-rink
1800270
/locations/8672832
Thursday, January 17, 2013
The Mary Martin Service Award will be announced in March; applications are due by Jan. 31.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
-
Thursday, January 17
The Farmington Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has announced that nominations are being accepted for the 2012 Mary Martin Service Award. Nominees will have "contributed significant time or talent" to downtown Farmington events and activities during the past year. Previous honorees include, Mary Martin, Mary Burck, Scott Freeman, Larry and Nancy Kilner, Tammy Dafoe, Pat Shelton and Diane Cassidy and the staff at Salon Legato. Nomination forms are due on Jan. 31. The recipient will be announced at the Volunteer Appreciation Celebration, tentatively scheduled for March 12.
Darren Whittaker
10:56 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Aint it the truth? Parades are supposed to be FUN, not an opportunity for every Tom, Dick and Harriet who wants to march down the center of the street to serve up their own brand of propaganda. March, protest, evangelize if you wish, but leave it out of the parade, and put more FUN things in there. The kids (and their mommies and daddies) would appreciate it. more ›