Maybe it was the strong finish in his recent re-election, but if you haven’t noticed, Dearborn Councilman Robert Abraham these days is clearly being more visible and communicating more with residents. We like the new energized Abraham. It is refreshing to see a council member take a position on a matter, regardless of how popular or unpopular it might be.

In his latest column, sent here and to the local papers, Abraham takes a look at the preferred developer agreement Dearborn has with developer Hakim Fakhoury, which is now up for renewal. Abraham raises some very valid points in his column; chief among them is that there isn’t a list of developers banging on Dearborn’s door to rebuild downtown West Dearborn.

Fakhoury's building at Howard and Michigan is home to Panera, which has become the new gathering place for Dearborn's coffee crowd.

Fakhoury is requesting a one-year extension that his Dearborn Village Partners (DVP) corporation has with Dearborn. (See our earlier story by clicking Here.)

As Abraham rightly points out, there is no cost to the city of Dearborn for granting the extension.

Yes, Fakhoury has corporations that own property along Michigan Avenue with unpaid taxes that he is the principal owner. But Abraham tells us that those unpaid taxes shouldn’t come into play since the preferred developer agreement only gives DVP the exclusive right to market and plan the development of the property.

Abraham tells us that if and when an actual development is reached to build on the property, he would recommend that all property controlled by Fakhoury, through direct or indirect ownership and control, “would have all City taxes paid and current.”  This, by the way, is a requirement of the Dearborn City Charter.

Abraham says DVP’s proposal includes a three story building with first floor retail, bowling alley and movie theater. We aren’t sure in this economic environment how quickly something like this could materialize but with nothing else on the table, granting a one year extension seems like a smart option now.

Finally, the city also has to consider what not granting the extension means. In 2007, we wrote here about the State of Michigan granting Fakhoury’s DVP a state brownfield tax credit valued at $9.1 million and state and local tax capture worth $46 million. Not granting the extension could mean the loss of millions in tax credits to get such a project off the ground.

The tax credits back then were to support a multi-phased mixed-use development across 12 sites along Michigan Ave. between Howard and Military. According to the state of Michigan, the DVP project “will completely renovate one city block in the city’s downtown and involve the construction of mixed-use retail and housing, including two 10-story mid-rise condos and a tri-level 881-space parking deck. The project is expected to generate $125 million in capital investment and create 350 new jobs. The West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority is assisting the project with $42.5 million in tax capture for public infrastructure activities.”

Councilman Abraham’s column begins below:  

Dearborn Councilman Robert Abraham

Dearborn has been seriously affected by the American auto industry collapse, home foreclosures and the terrible recession, which has resulted in us losing 60,000 white collar auto jobs further hurting our business districts, especially downtown west Dearborn. Meanwhile no new developers are approaching us to develop in downtown west Dearborn and projects approved during better times, now require going back to the drawing board. 

One developer is requesting a one-year extension of the preferred developer agreement with the City of Dearborn; that is Hakim Fakhoury’s – Dearborn Village Partners (DVP). The DVP project is proposed on the north side of Michigan Avenue between Military and Howard. DVP is planning a three story building with first floor retail and a bowling alley, a second and third floor movie theater offering food and alcohol, along with other amenities. In cooperation with HFCC and U of M – Dearborn, plans also include 2 – 4 bedroom college dorm housing, which could have a very positive impact.

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The barrios of Southwest Detroit have been fertile ground for several generations of Latin music acts, some of whom remained on their home territory and others who went on to national and international fame.

In the sizzling conclusion to the Fall 2009 season of Global Thursdays at the Arab American National Museum, an unprecedented gathering of performers from Southwest Detroit – including beloved veterans and fresh faces – will light up the night with a once-in-a-lifetime Southwest Detroit Super Session at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, December 17.

“Though most of us have played with each other separately at one time or another, this is the first time ever we have played as a collective and the first time that musicians from such a wide range of musical styles have collaborated to showcase the diversity found in Latino cultures,” says Ozzie Rivera, who is co-producing the Southwest Detroit Super Session with Ismael Duran.

In addition to Rivera, who currently plays with Orquesta La Inspiracion, the lineup for the December 17 performance includes:

 Benny & Mauro Cruz (La Buena Vida)

Ismael “Bandolero” Duran

Mickey Figueroa (Orquesta La Inspiracion)

Alina Morr (Straight Ahead)

Mel Rosas (Bomba Rica, The Layabouts)

Armando Vega (Tumbao Salsa, Orquesta La Inspiracion, et al)

Javier Barrios (Tumbao Salsa, Orquesta La Inspiracion, et al)

Eduardo Brinquez

Eddie Caraballo (Grupo Salvaje)

Dulce Checkler (Orquesta La Inspiracion)

Chris Kaecher (Orquesta La Inspiracion)

Consuela Lopez (Orquesta La Inspiracion)

Doris Perez

Dennis Schinzel (Fuego)

 Below is quick clip of the group rehearsing for the Dec. 17 event.

 The program will spotlight Latin American and Caribbean music, as well as American music with Latin influences. Audiences can expect to hear songs written by artists from Celia Cruz to Carlos Santana, alongside Chilean folk, salsa, merengue and Latin jazz.

It wouldn’t be a true Latin music experience without dancing. Several Latin dance pros will be on hand to perform flamenco and Afro Cuban styles while encouraging the audience to get out of their seats. Additionally, young dancers and musicians from Detroit-based COMPAS (Center of Music & Performing Arts Southwest) will be featured in a new-talent showcase.

“The Southwest Detroit Super Session also highlights the little-known fact that the Detroit Latino community has been a hotbed of musical creativity and energy for decades,” says Rivera. “Many former Latino Detroiters have gone on to be part of Grammy-winning albums and popular TV shows,” he says.

Among the most accomplished Latin musicians who have come out of Detroit over the years are, according to Rivera:

Luis Resto, keyboards, Academy Award winner, “Lose Yourself” (Eminem’s 8 Mile)

Emilio Castillo, co-founder of the venerable soul outfit Tower of Power

Fito Foster, nationally known salsa band leader and pianist

Nengue Hernandez, percussionist with many top salsa bands

Andres “Dez” Hernandez, percussionist/DJ and son of Nengue Hernandez, a former member of the band Ozomatli

Francisco “Panchito” Lozano, big band leader and trumpet player for several decades

Advance tickets for the Southwest Detroit Super Session at the Arab American National Museum, 13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, are available ONLINE ONLY at www.arabamericanmuseum.org  Tickets are also available at the door. Museum Members pay just $9 while all others pay $10. Call 313.582.2266 for further information.

Global Thursdays – the Arab American National Museum’s multicultural performance series showcasing the finest in world music, performance art and film – is made possible in part by Ford Motor Company, Comerica Bank, MASCO Corporation Foundation, DTE Energy, Arab Detroit and DoubleTree Hotel Detroit/Dearborn.

The Arab American National Museum documents, preserves, celebrates and educates the public on the history, life, culture, and contributions of Arab Americans. It serves as a resource to enhance knowledge and understanding about Arab Americans and their presence in this country. The Arab American National Museum is a project of ACCESS, a Dearborn, Michigan-based nonprofit human services and cultural organization. Learn more at www.arabamericanmuseum.org and www.accesscommunity.org.

The Arab American National Museum is a proud Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Read about the Affiliations program at http://affiliations.si.edu.

The Museum is located at 13624 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI, 48126. Museum hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday, Tuesday; Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Admission is $6 for adults; $3 for students, seniors and children 6-12; ages 5 and under, free. Call 313.582.2266 for further information.