Tuesday, March 5, 2013
City council members discuss alternatives Monday that include delaying a portion of the project and asking contractors to sharpen their pencils.
Farmington city manager Vince Pastue laid out several alternatives for several downtown Farmington construction projects, after bids came in about $150,000 higher than budgeted. The package combined streetscaping on Grove from Orchard Street to Grand River, and on Warner from Grand River to Oakland St., with improvements on Oakland Street from Warner west to Grand River. Pastue said the project budget was based on figures gathered when the first phase of the Grand River streetscape was done about five years ago. "I wanted to make sure we didn't put ourselves in a cash-strapped position," he said, noting dollars are coming out of several different funds. Pastue's preferred alternative is to "slice and dice" the projects, moving …
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Look for big changes in downtown Farmington this spring and summer.
Actions that Farmington officials took in 2012 will drive some big changes in the community over the coming year. Here's what you can look forward to seeing in 2013: Farmington officials have signed a special assessment agreement with the new owners of the T.J. Maxx strip center, located on the east side of Grove Street, to cover $600,000 of the $1.7 million Grove Street renovation project. The construction, which is fast-tracked and should be complete by June 30, will replace the concrete pavement with an asphalt boulevard, on-street parking, stamped concrete sidewalks and a look similar to the existing downtown Farmington streetscape. Farmington Hills-based Manifold Ventures representatives say renovations planned for the strip center …
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Manifold Ventures partners say they plan to create a 'visual center' and add more glass to the exterior of the building.
One of the investors who purchased a downtown Farmington strip center says the company saw a lot of potential in the property and its location. "We thought it would be a fun project," Manifold Ventures partner Charlie Kughn told city council members in a study session Monday. "It's a great building, tenant-wise. We think we can do a lot with it." Kughn pointed out the company's office is just down the road, in Farmington Hills. He said he grew up in Farmington Hills and Milford, "so I'm very familiar with this area." The project will coincide with streetscape improvements to Grove Street, located just east of the Walter E. Sundquist Pavilion and Riley Park. There will be a pedestrian crosswalk connecting the Kimco-owned strip center to …
Monday, December 3, 2012
The new owners of a strip center anchored by T.J. Maxx agree to a $600,000 assessment for improvements that will bring additional parking and improved pedestrian access.
By the time Founders Festival rolls around next year, the eastern end of the Downtown Farmington Business Center should have a whole new look. Farmington city council members on Monday approved a resolution that sets a Dec. 17 public hearing to establish the need for the Grove Street improvement project. Aging, cracked and raised slabs of concrete will be replaced by an asphalt boulevard street with on-street parking, stamped concrete sidewalks and a look similar to the existing downtown Farmington streetscape. City manager Vince Pastue said Manifold Ventures, a Farmington Hills-based investment firm that recently purchased the T.J. Maxx-anchored strip, has agreed to a $600,000 special assessment that will help fund the $1.7 million …
42.46361
-83.37343
Grand River Ave & Grove St, Farmington, MI
/articles/farmington-council-plans-public-hearing-dec-17-on-grove-street-project
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42.46261
-83.37374
Grove St & Orchard St, Farmington, MI
/articles/farmington-council-plans-public-hearing-dec-17-on-grove-street-project
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Sunday, October 7, 2012
Two proposed construction projects will extend the existing streetscape theme to new areas of downtown Farmington.
A street improvement on Warner from Grand River to Thomas and a stretch of Farmington Road in downtown Farmington may get the "streetscape" treatment. Farmington officials say both projects would add on-street parking spots and would continue the themed elements of the existing Grand River streetscape. However, the Farmington Road project hinges on the winning of a federal transportation grant. During Monday's city council study session, Farmington Downtown Development Authority (DDA) director Annette Knowles told officials that while there aren't any guarantees, "we are positioned as well as we can be" to win the $713,000 grant. The total cost for the project will be $1.263 million. Knowles reviewed the proposal, which will close curb …
42.46394
-83.37423
Warner St & Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI
/articles/streetscape-proposed-on-warner-farmington-road-possible-in-2014
/locations/7972216
42.4649
-83.37646
Farmington Rd & Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI
/articles/streetscape-proposed-on-warner-farmington-road-possible-in-2014
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Wednesday, July 27, 2011
A fungus apparently killed four trees near the Walter E. Sundquist Famington Pavilion.
Several weeks ago, crews removed four dying trees from around the Walter E. Sundquist Pavilion, but not all of them will be replaced. Instead, Farmington Downtown Development Authority (DDA) officials decided Monday that part of the area will be repaved. The space will create two new slots for the Saturday Farmington Farmers & Artisans Market, which has been filled for the season since May. DDA Director Annette Knowles said an analysis of the trees by an arborist is finished, although she hadn't had time to review the complete report. "The trees had some fungus," she said, "but the root systems underground were healthy. ... It wasn't, as we thought, the condition of the pavilion." Knowles said when the trees were removed, Market Manager …
42.46361
-83.37343
Walter E. Sundquist Farmington Pavilion & Riley Park
Grand River Ave & Grove St, Farmington, MI
/articles/tree-loss-leads-to-two-more-farmington-farmers-artisans-market-spots
1800270
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Monday, June 20, 2011
The downtown revitalization project picks up two awards from the Michigan American Public Works Association chapter.
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Monday, June 20, 2011
The downtown Farmington streetscape project has received the American Public Works Association (APWA) Award for Historic Preservation from the local APWA branch. In addition, the Michigan Chapter named the Grand River Avenue Streetscape its Project of the Year 2010 in the category of Streetscape Less than $5 Million. The Project of the Year award was presented to Kevin Gushman, Director of Public Services, City of Farmington, at the APWA Michigan Chapter annual conference at Shanty Creek in Bellaire, MI. “It’s an honor to receive recognition from one’s peers throughout the state,” Gushman said. Engineering consultant Orchard Hiltz & McCliment, Inc., submitted the nomination to the Michigan chapter. Streetscape project manager was Roberto J…
42.464553
-83.375651
Farmington Downtown Development Authority
33316 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI
/articles/more-honors-for-farmingtons-streetscape
1785007
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Tuesday, June 7, 2011
A proposed ordinance that would prohibit left turns from State onto Farmington Road is on hold.
While Farmington officials approved five ordinances that received a first read at their last meeting, one remained off Monday night's agenda. City Manager Vince Pastue said a traffic-control order that would restrict left turns from State Street onto Farmington Road is on hold. In March, officials learned that a traffic study to determine the effects of a potential streetscape project showed that of 14 crashes at Farmington and State, 11 were "angle" crashes that involved motorists attempting to make a left turn. Consultants, who called that "worrisome," noted that traffic filters into the intersection from several parking lots, including two on each side of Farmington Road. When officials first discussed the traffic order on May 16, …
42.46408
-83.37641
State St & Farmington Rd, Farmington, MI
'No left turn' order under consideration.
/articles/farmington-officials-plan-further-study-on-state-street
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Josh Klein
8:33 pm on Sunday, March 10, 2013
I hope this can be worked out soon. I'm excited to see these improvements in action! more ›