Comments on: Companies Support Dearborn Developer Fakhoury

By: J_Batha

J_Batha — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:58:37 +0000

But also that successful , thriving city has great mass transit. look at cities like new york, portland, toronto,etc. You need to move people.

By: dearbornGuy

dearbornGuy — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:52:18 +0000

show me a successful, thriving city and I’ll show you an abundance of restaurants, entertainment, and bars. It’s matter of fact, not just an assumption. honestly, who/what do parks attract? The local restaurants/bars provide WAY MORE jobs than parks could ever provide. Be a realist.

By: abandonmiave

abandonmiave — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:42:12 +0000

Sometimes even the best or “splendid” idea’s, dont always play out too well. I’d rather do almost nothing than create an even larger problem…which seams to be the trend around Dearborn. As far as the student housing, I think that would be a great idea; until people start complaining nonstop about major student problems like violence, theft, and partying. Hasn’t anyone been to Kalamazoo recently? I’d rather some people not have the option to come to our city and destroy it. I’m a 20 year old male and trust me, not too many people in the historic homes district will be happy at all. Doesn’t anyone already know about the HUGE ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE problems dearborn has to offer adolescents/college students/adults. This will only attract more and more problems for the west dearborn bars, restaurants, and homes.I think most young adults who will move into these student housing complexes(if they can even afford) will MOST LIKELY already be Dearborn or nearby city residents who are just trying to leave home and have their own place to party, yet still have there parents close by to pay for their needs. I’m sure there are lots of students who want an education and wouldnt abuse student housing…but the ones who do, will make it serious enough of a problem for everyone else. As for complaining nobody supplies good ideas, well thats because most of them require resources that Dearborn doesn’t attract or recieve like other cities, We also focus entirely too much on MICHIGAN AVE. Its a crappy couple miles of road that people aren’t really attracted to…the only reason people go there is because its what they are used to and accept it. We need to think of the whole city of Dearborn and its problems from boundary to boundary and not just one over-congested, bumpy, road which supplies fuel for drunks,addicts, and evil. Lets focus on more important issues than the places to party in Dearborn, like education, parks, jobs. Developement can be a good idea, but only if its exacuted correctly

By: DearbornGuy

DearbornGuy — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:26:26 +0000

I’m in support of this idea. Isn’t that an idea? I’m not one of those guys who is constantly opposed to development in Dearborn. My challenge was to YOU, if you are so opposed to this then what is your alternative “better” idea? You answered with absolutely nothing. The students at UM-D are mostly living at home. BECAUSE THERE AREN’T APARTMENTS GEARED TOWARDS STUDENTS LOCALLY AVAILABLE. Get it?? Many students would love to have that ‘living on their own’ experience without the tuition of Ann Arbor. So many people are so damn quick to be against every idea and business that steps foot in Dearborn. It’s that negative, stubborn state of mind that will keep Dearborn at a stand-still. I’m quick to condemn the posts that are always so negative. It’s fine to be against a development idea, but wouldn’t an alternative answer/idea serve a better purpose rather than “no, no , no, no”. It sounds like whining little children that are spoiled. Spoiled by the way things USED to be or stuck in the past. We need housing, we need retail, we need entertainment, we need bars, we need restaurants, we need development. It’s just sickening to me when people are so against the new development ideas.
It’s those who are opposed that should be answering with their ‘splendid’ ideas ….. ????

By: Paul Mastrogiacomo

Paul Mastrogiacomo — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:29:58 +0000

Kevin pal, your ideas of how college students are living are somewhat outdated. In seven years I have not seen anyone living two to a room, except in the dorms. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen but it’s definitely not the norm. And students certainly do have a lot of money to spend after tuition and books and rent.

With that said, that’s UofM… UM-D is a different thing all together and I agree with you that there is probably little demand for student housing here. UM-D draws on the local level for people living at home and driving to a campus that is completely isolated from the city around it. The choice will be to live at home and drive to school or pay high rent to live in an apartment 1 2/3 miles from campus and still drive to school.

By: kevin pal

kevin pal — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:39:39 +0000

Alia – viable statistics, but am interested WHERE (what part of the US) the numbers come from. My experiences in East Lansing and Ann Arbor tell me a large percentage of students live in substandard housing (two to a room, six to a small house) because that’s what they can afford after tuition, books and a few dollars for food.

DearbornGuy – I see you around here quick to condemn in posts, and as you are quick to chastise me on this point, I have to ask – where are your ideas?

I am not opposed to the college kids spending money on entertainment and food nor am I foolish enough to not know they’re the ones dropping their money in bars. My problem is that, simply, I just don’t see a highrise development touted as ‘student’ living as being viable in Dearborn. What percentage of college-aged students, attending U-M Dearborn or HFCC are out on their own? My guess is a good percentage still are at home with mom and dad, and therein is the root of the students’ ability to have disposable income. Put those same students in a new, more-than-likely expensive apartment setting and suddenly they’re not spending money on movies and burgers. And then what? Empty storefronts, like the ones we already have in place.

I await your rebuttal just chuck-full of ‘splendid’ ideas…

By: cloe

cloe — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:39:55 +0000

48124 – the reason that there isn’t more retail is the rental prices in the area charged by Fakhoury and the other landlords. He is creating building and charging prices that no one can afford.

Let’s not be like the people in the “Emporer’s New Clothes”. Naked is naked.

By: 48124

48124 — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:49:33 +0000

college students spend $$$$$….the idea of having legit student housing would be to create an environment for students to recognize that UM/D is a viable option at a much cheaper rate per credit hour than ann arbor…in the end, the degree still says UM…and im the farest thing from being a UM “honk”

This also would bring retail, due to the increase in disposable income as well as more part time jobs that seem to be disappearing from our landscape…..property value in and around this area could possiblity see a spike in growth (what a concept for MI!)…do it do it do it!!!!!!

By: cloe

cloe — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:03:35 +0000

Just an afterthought. Why wasn’t this brought up at a regular, televised Council meeting. Will the meeting tonight be recorded?

By: cloe

cloe — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:40:16 +0000

Impressive – I assume that Merchants, the businesses in the 222 shops and the bank have also seen the plans and have agreed to close their doors.

Also, I think that the majority of students that go to UM Dearborn and Henry Ford Community college do so because they live at home. It is a lot different from Ann Arbor where students come from all around the state, the country, and even the world and need housing. Has the rental cost been mentioned if it is built?

I’m sure that the majority of the Counsel will vote with Fakhoury. A year from now, we’ll see if the area looks any different that it does today. Only time will tell.