Cities recognized for redevelopment efforts

Posted on September 21, 2017

SOUTHFIELD/LATHRUP VILLAGE — Officials from Southfield and Lathrup Village were recognized recently by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for making their cities better places to live, work and play.

At a Sept. 6 meeting, the board recognized both cities for their certifications as Redevelopment Ready Communities. Lathrup Village was certified as a Redevelopment Ready Community in 2015, and Southfield was certified last year.

Southfield and Lathrup Village follow Allegan, Boyne City, Eastpointe, Roseville, Ypsilanti, Muskegon and Marshall in obtaining the certification.

The Redevelopment Ready Communities free certification program supports community revitalization, and the attraction and retention of businesses, entrepreneurs and talent throughout Michigan. The project helps communities create places where people want to live, work and invest, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

Both cities began the certification process in 2014 through an initial evaluation, and officials were notified of several areas in need of improvement in order to be certified.

According to a news release from the MEDC, the assessment measures current community and economic development practices compared to RRC best practice standards. Southfield was also evaluated for its efforts to integrate transparency, predictability and efficiency into economic development.

The certification is a sign that Southfield and Lathrup Village are communities that have removed development barriers and have streamlined processes to be more competitive and attractive to investors, MEDC officials said in a news release.

Ferndale was also recognized for its redevelopment efforts at the meeting.

Commissioners Helaine Zack, Nancy Quarles and Janet Jackson presented the cities with a proclamation at the meeting. Southfield City Councilman Michael Mandelbaum accepted the recognition on Southfield’s behalf, and Lathrup Village Mayor Frank Brock and Councilwoman Donna Stallings represented their city.

“I know this is quite an honor. Please know that we appreciate what you’re doing, and you are laying the blueprint for other cities,” Quarles said at the meeting.

Mandelbaum said gaining  RRC certification  wasn’t easy, but the city is reaping the benefits.

“Going through the Redevelopment Ready process was very rigorous, and it’s definitely paid off in its dividends. If you just come through the Southfield City Hall, in front of Evergreen Road, you will see all the redevelopment that we have, and you’ll see people flocking and coming to Southfield knowing that it’s going to be an easy and quick process to start up their businesses,” Mandelbaum said.

Brock said Lathrup experiences some unique redevelopment challenges in that two very busy roadways  — Interstate 696 and Southfield Road  — run through the city.

“The difficulty of making a city, as divided as we are, into a more walkable and friendly community is what drove our efforts and it is what we’ve concentrated on in our plans,” Brock said. “Our strategic plan has been built around the ability to bring our city back together and then to breathe new life into our business district, so we’re very pleased with the way the plans have shaped up, and we’re excited to be in the process of implementing them.”