Ferndale, MI – Ferndale is the hot spot for development these days, with several apartment buildings and other construction projects in the works. If all these projects are successful, there will be at least 428 apartments as well as an undetermined number of townhouses and homes constructed over the next couple of years.
Jordan Twardy, Community an Economic Development Director for the City of Ferndale, is excited about all the growth.”This growth is good for Ferndale because it is helping us be a more resilient city. The influx of new development creates new sources of housing, jobs, and recreation that enhance our commercial corridors and neighborhoods, making all corners of Ferndale stronger. Additionally, the projects expand our tax base, increasing our ability to provide the services our residents and businesses need at the highest level of quality possible.”
Here are some of the projects that are underway or in progress:
PARKING DECK – After years of research and planning, Ferndale is ready to start building a parking deck for downtown. City Council voted in October to locate the four-story parking structure in the W. Troy Parking lot on the corner of W. Troy and Allen. The structure will have 350 parking spaces, and it will be built in such a way that if more parking is needed in the future it would be possible to add more levels. A meeting for interested business owners and residents will be held on Feb. 22 at 10am at Mejishi Martial Arts. For info on the meeting click here. For more info on the deck click here.
DETROIT FLEAT – The former Wing Hing Inn at 1820 E. 9 Mile is being transformed into Detroit Fleat, a food-truck-themed restaurant and food court with indoor dining and a perimeter of food trucks with outdoor seating. Check out the design and details by clicking here.
UHS and TAFT SCHOOL SITES – The former University High School/Wilson School and the former Taft School have been sold to developers who are currently going through the Planning Commission to come up with an acceptable layout and appearance of the homes they’d like to build there. There is disagreement over the appearances of the homes that Robertson Homes is proposing, and the plans are far from being finalized. Check out the most recent round of ideas by clicking here. There is also a meeting on Feb. 28 to discuss the UHS/Wilson plans. The meeting is at 6:30pm at Ferndale City Hall. More info on the meeting is here.
FERNDALE APARTMENTS / 409 ON 9 – The north side of E. 9 Mile from Leland to Paxton will soon be home to a 127 unit apartment building called Ferndale Apartments. There will also be retail/office space and public green space. This is the block where the Ferndale Area Chamber and FernCare were formerly located. Check out the plans here.
APARTMENTS AT 165 E. 9 MILE – Lofts of the 9, at the corner of E. 9 Mile and Bermuda is about to get sister building. Owner Noah Dorfman will be turning the vacant lot at 165 E. 9 Mile (formerly the site of St. Paul’s Methodist Church) into a 4-story apartment building with 27 units and rooftop access with green space. Check out the details here.
FERNDALE HAUS – Ferndale Haus Apartments at the Old Save-a-Lot site were approved in two phases. The first phase of construction, which has already broken ground, will have 90 apartments. The Withington Wing, approved in January, will add an additional 39 apartments. The first level will have parking, and there is an agreement with Ferndale Foods for dedicated spaces in their lot. Read more here.
8 NORTH – The 8 North project was first presented to the city in 2015. This 50,000 square foot complex tentatively will have 30 individually metered apartments and five commercial business units on the ground floor and will be located on Livernois just north of 8 Mile. The development was contingent of the sale of two residential pieces of property that were owned by the city. Upon learning of the project, a neighbor made a court claim against the city stating they were the rightful owner of the properties. The court case took nearly two years and was ultimately decided in the City’s favor. Developers appeared before City Council Monday, and Council approved the sale of the lots. Developers are expected to resubmit their plans to the Planning Commission within a couple of months. Read more about the proposed 8 North development by clicking here.
AMERICAN LEGION – The City of Ferndale sold the former American Legion building at 17411 to a developer who is currently constructing a building with 12 apartments.
413 W. 9 MILE – A two-story building located between Hungry Howies Pizza and a city-owned parking lot (413 W. 9 Miles) has been torn down to make room for a two-story commercial building with about 8,000-10,000 square feet available for commercial or office space. The construction is already well underway.
ST JAMES ASSISTED LIVING – JS Living, on behalf of the Archdiocese of Detroit, is turning the former St. James School and Convent buildings at 22111 Woodward into senior living apartments. The project will have 103 units in 3 stories. The church will remain as it is. The school will be remodeled while the convent building will be demolished and a wing will be built that will attache to the existing school building. Read more here.
DTE SUBSTATION – Some readers may remember back in 2011 when Ferndale residents and businesses suffered from several days without power due to infrastructure issues. Following that experience, City officials worked with DTE to have a new substation built to service the east side of Ferndale and Hazel Park. That construction is happening now in a lot adjacent to the railroad tracks on Hilton just south of 9 Mile. The substation is expected to be powered up by the end of the year. Read more here.
WHAT ELSE IS COMING? The City of Ferndale recently approved their Master Plan, which calls for many interesting projects including the renovation of the DPW yard and building, improvements at parks, the restoring of public alleys and more. Read about 15 goals of the Master Plan at http://oaklandcounty115.com/2017/01/20/15-goals-from-ferndales-new-master-plan/
