STRENGTHENING WHERE WE LIVE
Dearborn’s attractive neighborhoods are the heart and soul of our community, and no endeavor is more important than protecting their appeal now and for the long term. That means providing traditional services in inventive ways, strategically addressing the impact of nationwide economic conditions on our housing market, and energetically promoting the strengths of our City as a great place to live.
The Welcome Home Dearborn marketing campaign was launched in 2007 to promote our community. Visit www.WelcomeHomeDearborn.com to learn more about the many great reasons to live in Dearborn, sign up for email updates and find out how to get a chance to win free gas by displaying a special window cling.
Certificates of Occupancy were issued for the sales of 1,281 homes and for 67 newly-built single family homes.
The total value of residential construction was more than $35 million. More than 1,400 residential building permits were approved for home renovations or new construction.
To add larger residential lots like those found in newer suburbs to Dearborn’s housing mix, the City bought the Sarkozy Athletic Field. It created 15, 60-foot parcels out of the field and resold them to a builder of upscale homes, realizing $400,000 on its investment. All these new homes – with larger lots, greater square footage and more amenities than can be commonly found in Dearborn’s traditional housing stock – will be completed in 2010. The new homes will also generate additional tax dollars over the long term, in contrast to the tax exempt status of the property when it was used as a school athletic field.
The City will also be even more proactive in addressing the forces impacting our current housing market and our neighborhoods. New initiatives will bolster our existing neighborhood revitalization efforts, and focus on buying and removing or renovating foreclosed, marginal or undervalued houses, as well as educating homeowners about financial issues. For this expanded multifaceted approach, the City will partner with county, state and federal officials, lending institutions, realtors, contractors and neighborhood associations.
Already, under HUD’s Dollar Program, the City has purchased 65 houses for demolition that were no longer within acceptable standards of Dearborn neighborhoods. Most have been demolished, with the lots prepared for resale.
Under our own Operation Eyesore program, 13 houses were purchased, 12 houses were demolished and 11 new homes were built in 2007.
The City requires all rental properties to be registered to ensure they are inspected on a regular basis and meet minimum safety and maintenance requirements. People now can check if a property is a registered rental at www.cityofdearborn.org, under the Useful Links section – click on “Non-Owner Occupied Property Registration Information.”
A new vacant property registration program will also ensure minimum standards are met.
The Building and Safety Department acts as a resource for residents in identifying property maintenance issues, like high grass. Once our inspectors make the initial contact, more than 90 percent of all problems are fixed without any fines issued.
The Building and Safety Department works in partnership with neighborhood associations on property maintenance concerns, and gets feedback on relevant issues by hosting roundtable discussions with Realtors, contractors and landlords.
Public Service Days were set in motion to deliver concentrated doses of City services to every neighborhood twice a month, including curb-to-curb street sweeping April through October. Residents should remember that they are required to remove parked vehicles from the street on their neighborhood’s Public Service Days (see 2008 City calendar for details and schedules). Also remember that trash containers cannot be placed on the street at any time, including on Public Service Days.
Dearborn ’s public housing facilities – which serve senior and low-income individuals – received top scores in a 2007 U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) evaluation of its senior and low-income apartment buildings.
During 2007, apartment kitchens were renovated at Townsend Towers. The lobbies at Townsend Towers, Kennedy Plaza and Sisson Manor were renovated and lobby air conditioners replaced.
Also last year, the Housing Commission approved a $400,000 loan to the owners of Village Park Apartments in exchange for a commitment to invest $2.5 million to improve the property, which provides 151 apartments for low-income families and seniors.
Members of the City Beautiful Commission helped honor those who go the extra mile to keep their properties looking their best:
** Commission members at the 2007 Dearborn Aglow Christmas Awards ceremony presented 158 homeowners with keepsake ornament awards; 68 were singled out for special citations and three were added to the Dearborn Aglow Hall of Fame.
** At the Residential Standard of Excellence Awards presentation, almost 500 homeowners were announced to have qualified to receive special decals and 24 received citations.
** At the Business Standard of Excellence Awards presentation, some 321 business owners received special decals and 14 received citations.
These public infrastructure improvements were overseen by the staff of the Engineering Division of Dearborn’s Department of Public Works: resurfacing of 1.28 miles of asphalt pavement; reconstruction of 4.16 miles of concrete pavement; repair of more than 28,000 square yards of asphalt and concrete pavement; construction or replacement of more than two miles of sanitary and storm sewer lines and almost nine miles of water lines; construction of more than 400,000 square feet of new sidewalks and driveway aprons; and painting new traffic control striping on almost 25 miles of public roads.
Here’s a detailed look at major roadway improvements accomplished during 2007 – projects overseen by Engineering Division staff:
** RECONSTRUCTED – Edna, Homer, Audrey and Tenny streets from Monroe to Elmdale; Park from Outer Drive to Nowlin and Nowlin Court from Pelham to the cul-de-sac; Newman from Nowlin to Military; Washington from south of Newman to Michigan Avenue; Haigh from Newman to Michigan; Banner from Princeton to Scott; Rosalie, Helen and Curtis from Michigan Avenue to north of Hubbard Drive; Jerome from west of Jerome to Greenfield; and Gulley Road from Michigan Avenue to Avondale Street.
** RESURFACED – Mead and Chovin from Michigan Avenue to Hubbard; Middlebury Drive from Eastham to Middlebury west; Middlebury West from Middlebury Drive to Rotunda; Middlebury north from Middlebury Drive to Greenfield; Brookline Lane south of Middlebury; Nagy Drive from Schaefer to Maple Street; Driscoll from Mercury Drive to Korte; and intersection of Cherry Hill and Military.
Thanks to the City’s efforts, more than $10 million in improvements are being made to Detroit Edison’s infrastructure supporting Dearborn over a three-year period. These improvements have greatly enhanced electrical service reliability, reducing problems like low voltage and brownouts that have significantly impacted both business and home owners.
The City continues to take every possible step to minimize the impact of the federally-ordered CSO project. This includes preserving trees where possible, increasing buffer zones between construction areas and homes and re-planting construction areas after work is completed.
WORKING TOGETHER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
The Police Department and the Fire Department combine to provide the highest level of public safety, and are enhancing that service through expanded outreach to residents. Also crucial to maintain high standards is continual training and timely investment in technology and equipment.
Police Department efforts led to drops in 10 out of 12 categories of major crime, including breaking and entering (down 13 percent), robbery (down six percent), and vehicle theft (down 22 percent) – the latter thanks in part to the work of the officers of the Auto Theft Unit, who made 57 arrests and recovered 87 vehicles valued at $1.2 million.
More criminals were taken off the street in 2007. Patrol officers increased their arrests by 25 percent over 2006, and successful investigations by detectives resulted in 10 percent more felony cases submitted for prosecution.
Police improved on their already quick response time for serious crimes, despite an increase in total number of calls for service. Advances in the emergency dispatching process meant calls for service were processed 21 percent faster.
Mayor O’Reilly and the Police Department are introducing a Neighborhood Watch program, a more formalized way for residents to be active partners in preventing crimes. A new phone number, 943-3030, will soon be available to report unusual activity in neighborhoods. Additional planned steps are to post Neighborhood Watch signs on numerous residential streets and to continue to provide crime prevention information to citizens.
The Police Department continues to host public meetings about personal safety and crime prevention. Patrol officers also did 2,200 “park and walk” details in neighborhoods, increasing community connections.
The Fire Department continued to maintain an average response time of less than four minutes – among the best in Michigan – despite an increase in the number of calls for service.
A state of the art 100 foot ladder truck and two rescue ambulances were purchased in 2007, and will join the Fire Department’s fleet in 2008. Other fleet purchases are on the horizon. Also coming is a grant-funded video conferencing system for firefighters to train and communicate with 16 other communities, and an $80,000 renovation project that will provide upgrades to all four Dearborn fire stations.
A plan is in place to allow citizens to report minor crimes online, using the internet to file a police report and to request copies of police reports via email. The proposed system would eliminate citizens’ needs to go to police headquarters to file and request reports for minor crimes, and free up more time for police officers to devote to neighborhood patrols.
Another arm of Dearborn’s public safety team is the City’s Legal Department. Last year, its prosecutors handled more than 8,000 criminal cases.
The Police Department upgraded computer and equipment technology in its patrol cars, increasing officer efficiency and enhancing the safety of both police officers and the public. Another technological advance is the use of new-generation “live scan” equipment to record fingerprints and even palm prints, heightening the ability to identify those suspected of, or wanted for, crimes. Dearborn’s was one of the first police departments in Michigan to obtain this state of the art technology, which was obtained at no cost via a regional law enforcement cooperative program.
Police Motor Carrier Unit officers took 230 unsafe vehicles off the road in 2007, and were honored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police with that organization’s National Law Enforcement Challenge Award for Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement. Dearborn’s was the only police department in the nation to receive the award.
The police department bought two new sound meters and trained officers in their operation. The meters will be used in the department’s efforts to better respond to noise complaints filed by citizens.
Firefighters conducted emergency training drills with the cooperation of local businesses to help keep their response skills sharp, including a recent exercise at the Ritz-Carlton to simulate high-rise rescue activities. Firefighters and police also worked with Dearborn Public Schools officials to ensure maximum preparedness to respond to emergencies at local schools.
Police Youth Services Bureau officers helped reduce graffiti by about 50 percent last year, contributing to a 50 percent drop in the costs of graffiti cleanup reported by the Department of Public Works.
A new program will help better serve the safety needs of residents with autism. In cooperation with Dearborn Public Schools, the fire and police departments are offering a home sticker program. Residents who have a family member with autism living in their homes can place the sticker on their doors, alerting emergency responders to that fact. Police officers and firefighters can then provide appropriate assistance to the person with autism when they respond to an emergency at the home.
The offices of the Dearborn fire marshal have been relocated from Fire Station One to City Hall. The move makes it easier for individuals needing review and approval of building plans, as they will only have to come to one building instead of two.
RESPECTING TAXPAYERS
Dearborn has a stellar history of sound financial management, putting us in a stronger position than most communities as we face economic challenges ahead.
The City’s operating tax rate has decreased or remained constant every year since 1989.
Only 30 cents of your property tax dollar funds City services – the rest go to other units of government.
More than 51 cents of every city tax dollar is spent on public safety.
The City’s most recent financial audit earned the highest evaluation level possible.
In January, 2008, the City sold more than $5.5 million in bonds to refinance already completed improvements at the Dearborn Ice Skating Center, Ford Woods Park and the City’s Powerhouse. The bond refinancing will save Dearborn taxpayers $320,000.
The City received the Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement of Excellence in Financial Reporting for its ninth consecutive year.
Camp Dearborn realized dramatic improvements in its financial performance last year, with its revenues exceeding its operating expenses. In FY09, it won’t need a direct cash subsidy from the City’s general fund for its operations. The success of its RV campsites added to the increased revenue.
To maximize convenience for customers, the City’s Finance Department will soon offer taxpayers the ability to receive up-to-date tax information via the internet, and the ability to pay taxes online.
ATTRACTING INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE
Commercial investors continue putting millions of dollars in a variety of eye-catching projects, from neighborhood diners to state-of-the art manufacturing equipment, reinforcing Dearborn’s reputation as a great place to do business.
Oakwood Healthcare System could be the key to transforming the east downtown through its participation in a more than $60 million investment project proposed by REDICO Development Co., which plans a major medical campus at the Montgomery Ward site, along with 20,000 square feet of retail space and up to 120 new senior housing units, to be operated by American House. The proposal calls for a 130,000 square foot medical clinic with comprehensive services and state-of-the-art facilities. On the first floor of the facility will be the retail space with tenants such as a coffee shop, restaurant, bookstore, pharmacy and optical store. The development will also have a 500-space parking deck. When completed, this major project will benefit east Dearborn by preserving 300 jobs and creating130 jobs, as well as new downtown retail and housing options.
Severstal North America continued its six-year, $1 billion capital improvement project for its Dearborn operations.
Demolition has cleared the way for the 2008 construction of a $2.5 million Holiday Inn Express hotel and a retail building on Michigan Avenue near Telegraph.
Fairlane Town Center will be updated with major investments. The site of the former Sax Fifth Avenue will be transformed into a multi-million dollar redevelopment, featuring P.F. Chang’s and other exciting restaurants in an outdoor courtyard.
The landmark Dearborn Inn will complete a comprehensive remodeling of all of its rooms in 2008, keeping the historic appearance, but adding flat-screen TVs and wi-fi wireless internet access.
Plans are in the works for the 2008 demolition of the former Mercury Inn on Michigan Avenue; owned by Dearborn Federal Savings Bank, the site is being considered for an office building.
Ford Land Development Corp. is aggressively marketing its Class A office space jointly with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to attract new companies to Dearborn.
The Dearborn Village Partners (DVP) continued with plans for a multi-million dollar residential and retail project on the north side of Michigan Avenue in west Dearborn after being designated as a “transformative” project by the MEDC and MEGA Board (state economic development agencies). A financing package awarded by the MEDC, and involving other development authorities and state tax credits, means the substantial project can move ahead without the need for commitments from the City’s general fund.
Demolition of the obsolete Brothers Tuxedo, Guiliano’s and Bally’s buildings along Michigan Avenue will clear the path for DVP’s mixed-use development.
The Gateway Plaza, a $2.5 million development at Michigan Avenue and Military, provides new restaurant and retail space and loft apartments.
The East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority (EDDDA) opened its new headquarters at 13750 Michigan Ave. In November, 2007, the EDDDA hosted a town hall meeting with Mayor O’Reilly, as part of the continuing “ Main Street” program to define and develop the east downtown business district.
Other east Dearborn projects include the expansion of Greenland Market; completion of a two-story office building at 14710 Warren; completion of a three-story medical office building on 10645 Warren east of Schaefer; and two retail sites along Schaefer: The AJM Plaza near Morross and another retail complex north of Hemlock.
Some other notable projects either completed in 2007 or planned for 2008 are: the opening of Garden Ridge in the former Sam’s Club space in the retail center near the intersection of Ford Road and Mercury Drive (which had gone unused for several years), the opening of a new Wal-Mart store this spring at the site of the former K-Mart in the same retail center, the substantial remodeling planned for The Fairlane Club, the planned $2 million demolition and reconstruction of the Bob Evans restaurant on Michigan Avenue east of Gulley Road, the $1 million demolition and reconstruction of the White Castle restaurant on Telegraph south of Michigan Avenue, the $1 million construction of a new Auto Zone retail shop on Michigan Avenue at Dartmouth, the construction of Sal’s – a unique Italian restaurant on Chase that will come complete with a bocci ball court, the relocation and expansion of Mango restaurant on Warren Avenue, 40 new condominiums at West Village Square, a new real estate building on Park Street and planning for the replacement of the existing CVS/Pharmacy on Ford Road near Schaefer with a new CVS.
The $6.3 million Warren Avenue reconstruction project from Schaefer to the Lonyo will wrap up in summer 2008, bolstering the business district. This federal, county and City project includes road resurfacing, water main replacement and streetscaping features, such as ornamental lighting and decorative sidewalks and trees.
Applying “out of the box thinking,” the City is exploring the creation of student housing as part of West Village Commons; working with government partners on a multi-million dollar intermodal train station; and studying the viability of a major conference center.
In 2007, the City’s Building & Safety Department issued more than 400 commercial building permits for projects totaling more than $58 million.
ENJOYING WHAT DEARBORN OFFERS
Dearborn ’s high quality of life is supported by cultural and recreational attractions envied by other communities. Increased participation in 2007 made for a record year for many Dearborn programs.
The Ford Community and Performing Arts Center hosted a variety of prominent events, including a Republican Presidential debate, bringing positive international attention to Dearborn; a performance of the musical Cats; and a Fox Sports & World Boxing Federation Junior Welter Weight Title Match in December. This year, The Center will host the likes of 80’s music icons Rick Springfield and Pat Benatar. For details, visit www.dearbornfordcenter.com.
Among the other major acts at The Center since January 2007 were: the Moscow Festival Ballet, a sold-out performance by comedienne Kathy Griffin, The Irish Rovers, the Carl Rosa Opera Company of London’s presentation of The Pirates of Penzance and a sold-out performance by the comedian Gallagher. The Center also hosted concerts by the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra, Vanguard Voices and the Verdi Opera Theatre of Michigan.
The Center’s theater was dedicated in November, 2007, and named the Michael A. Guido Theater to honor Dearborn’s former longtime mayor.
The libraries now offer a “digital download” service, allowing online access to e-books and videos from home computers. The libraries circulated 850,000 items and presented more than 600 programs attended by 26,000 people. More than 1,700 items were delivered to senior housing and homebound residents.
Dearborn Baseball saw an especially strong increase in participation, with more than 1,000 youth players signing up. It is one of numerous youth sports associations that receive financial and logistical support from the Recreation Department, enabling them to increase participation and improve the quality of their coaches and programs.
Softball enthusiasts took part in a new Recreation Department fall league, and the DISC organized a spring hockey league.
Swimmers dove into the City’s eight outdoor pools in record numbers, with attendance at 86,566, its highest in five years. Also 400 children enjoyed an eight-week “Summer Camp” at The Center.
Recreation Cultural Arts Program served nearly 600 participants per session.
Senior Services saw 22,000 participants in its programs, including its new walking club and book club. The diverse lineup of classes and presentations addressed topics ranging from health and self-defense to dance and crocheting, as well as one-day and extended travel. Senior Services’ transportation program and provided more than 9,500 rides for medical appointments and shopping – up 10 percent from 2006.
Senior Services staff also oversaw the City’s Meals on Wheels program volunteers, who deliver more than 250 meals a day to those in need.
Dearborn seniors participated in the 2007 Western Wayne County Senior Olympics and triumphed with 20 gold medals, nine silver medals and one bronze medal.
Camp Dearborn will add 65 new RV sites by Memorial Day. In 2007, the canteen was remodeled and a new playground structure was built in Tent Village 2. The interiors of comfort stations two and seven were remodeled, and electrical service for some areas in Tent Village 1 were upgraded. Camp also hosted a new Halloween camping weekend and a classic car show, and on July 19, 2008 will mark its 60th anniversary with a public celebration. (For more on the Camp Dearborn anniversary celebration, see the front page of www.cityofdearborn.org.)
Recreation’s Summer Arts Programming for Kids offered opportunities for dance, theater and the visual arts. The Missoula Children’s Theatre of Montana and the artist in residency program helped students take advantage of enrichment workshops.
The Summer Arts Festival, produced in cooperation with the Dearborn Community Arts Council, featured a dance performance sponsored by the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. As part of the Festival, a dance troupe from Foix, France delivered a master’s dance class to students of the Dearborn Recreation Dance Program.
The DISC made extensive repairs to the Kilpatrick Ice Arena dasher boards and purchased a new Zamboni.
The Dearborn Historical Museum produced a self-guided tour book of historic Dearborn and helped produce wayside markers to promote local historical awareness and tourism.
The statue of automotive pioneer Henry Ford that stands on the grounds of Dearborn’s Henry Ford Centennial Library was rededicated in 2007. The statue was originally dedicated in 1975, and over the decades it and its marble base and background vignettes had deteriorated. With the support of Cynthia and Edsel B. Ford II, a $28,000 donation from the Henry Ford II Fund was made to restore the statue. The Friends of the Library-Dearborn also donated a special plaque. The sculpture honors Henry Ford and his many contributions to the City. Its creator was Michigan artist Marshall M. Fredericks, whose many works include the famous The Spirit of Detroit sculpture.
Many more people took advantage of the many services offered by the City’s Health Department. Some examples of increases in use of Health Department services in 2007 are: a 52 percent increase in cholesterol checks, a 61 percent increase in school immunizations, an 85 percent increase in blood pressure checks, a 133 percent increase in chicken pox immunizations and a 195 percent increase in blood glucose checks.
Something that thousands of people in Dearborn enjoy is watching CDTV, City of Dearborn’s official government access cable television channel. Early in 2008, Dearbornobtained a federal court order that allows Comcast cable TV customers to keep watching CDTV on channel 12. The order puts on hold Comcast’s intentions to move CDTV to digital channel 915, which would have required Comcast customers to obtain additional equipment or purchase digital service to view CDTV and other public, educational or government (PEG) channels.
Helping people to enjoy what Dearborn has to offer are enhancements to City websites: for example, you can view online banquet menus and pricing for Dearborn Hills Golf Course and even book tee times ( www.dearbornhills.com).
