Giuliano's before . . .

Fakhoury says ‘will remove all buildings as soon as I can.’

One of three dilapidated buildings in the west Dearborn downtown district has finally come down but the city-imposed deadline to remove the other two buildings by week’s end will not be met.

Back in September, Dearborn City Council passed a resolution that by Dec. 16 (this Friday) the former Giuliano’s restaurant, Brother’s Tuxedo and Bally’s Vic Tanny would all be razed.

The buildings, all located between Mason and Military on Michigan Avenue, needed to be removed as the properties were part of a large-scale redevelopment proposed in 2005 by Dearborn developer Hakim Fakhoury.

As part of the agreement with the city and a way to save demolition costs, the foundations for each of the buildings could remain until the property was ready to be developed. So the Giuliano’s restaurant (only half of the building has been standing for several years now) was removed but the foundation remains.

. . . and after.

It isn’t clear what will happen next but Fakhoury’s request to city council for an extension to remove the buildings was denied.

Fakhoury tells Deepsaidwhat that he agreement that was signed only “contemplated” dates in which to remove the buildings.

“No one knows how much work it is to raze these buildings and the effort it entails,” Fakhoury said. “These date are arbitrary dates and should not be used as an excuse to inflict more financial damage to me more than I have already bared. I am moving at my financial pace and will remove all buildings as soon as I can. If the city seeks to use this as a reason to try to destroy me than I would of course I would have to protect myself by filing an action against them. We are living in very tough times and I am like many am only trying to survive them.

“I still feel very strongly that the request by the city to remove the buildings is not going to make downtown west Dearborn more appealing,” Fakhoury continued. “The intent has been to find a J/V partner who would invest in DVP (Dearborn Village Partners) and move the project forward which of course would include in removing the buildings at his expense not mine. I have spent much time and money to secure the tax credit that would be used to redevelop much of west Dearborn. These credits have become extinct and will be very valuable when the economy changes. DVP will have the ability through a financially strong J/V partner to amend the brownfield plan to even incorporate more west Dearborn buildings. I hope the city takes all this into account before they try to destroy me again and DVP.”

The tax credit Fakhoury mentions is on a state brownfield tax credit valued at $9.1 million and state and local tax capture worth $46 million. Regular readers of Deepsaidwhat.com will recall the story we wrote when the state of Michigan in December 2007 made a press announcement about the large-scale development planned in downtown. Here is what the state had to say:

Dearborn Village Partners– A state brownfield tax credit valued at $9.1 million and state and local tax capture worth $46 million will support a multi-phased mixed-use development across 12 sites along Michigan Ave. between Howard and Military streets in Dearborn. The 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.

Clearly, in this economy that development is simply a bridge too far. Dearborn city officials must now decide whether to remove the buildings on the city’s dime and then put a lien on each of the properties for the costs, which would be repaid if and when the property was developed, or let the buildings rot the downtown.

While taking action to remove the buildings would likely be a source of contention among some residents, it would go a long way to improving the look of the downtown. No one can deny that the removal of the Quality Inn at the corner of Michigan and Brady has done wonders to improve the look of that corner. Doing the same along Michigan Avenue to Fakhoury’s two buildings would have the same visual impact.

Having a clean canvas of land can go a long way to helping other potential developers dream about what could be built on each of these parcels of land.

If you missed the window to sign up and have a Dearborn calendar mailed to your home, you can now pick one up at Dearborn City Hall.

The calendar, which is a year-round resource of information, including City of Dearborn phone numbers, can be picked up at the Mayor’s Office and the Department of Public Information during business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Quantities are limited and are restricted to one per household.

Beginning Tuesday, Dec. 13, calendars the calendars also will be available at the three Dearborn branch libraries and at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.

In January, the 2102 Calendar will be online at www.cityofdearborn.org for reviewing or printing.

The 2012 theme of the calendar is “Dearborn Milestones” and features black and white photos from the files of the Dearborn Historical Museum dating back to the mid-1800s. The photos highlight Dearborn’s early transportation, agriculture, industrial, recreational and municipal history.

Residents who ordered a calendar for home delivery by the Nov. 7 deadline should receive their copy by Dec. 20.

Workers in 2005 put finishing touches on the bridge over the Rouge River that is part of the Gateway Trail.

The Dearborn Recreation Commission is seeking public input on a plan to extend the popular Rouge River Gateway Trail with a new elevated walkway behind the Andiamo restaurant on Michigan Avenue, past the Dearborn Historical Museum, to the Brady Street bike lane.

The city of Dearborn has been discussing extending the trail since early 2008, once hoping to use the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) project work as a way to get matching funds for the project.

Back in 2008, Kurt Giberson, then Dearborn Public Works Director, said the city was trying to get a matching grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to help cover costs with the project. The grant request back then was to have provided the city $350,000 to cover construction costs for a portion of the extension of the path. Total costs for the project in 2008, which called for the trail to be extended to Ford Field Park, were estimated to cost as much as $1 million. This included costs for new bridgework along the Rouge.

Under this latest grant application to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), it appears the trail would only be extended to the Brady Street bike lane. The city did not indicate costs for this new project in a press release issued Monday.  However, the grant application to MDOT apparently would cover construction costs for the path extension. The Dec. 13 meeting is being held so the Recreation Commission can obtain public input on Dearborn’s grant application with MDOT.

The paved trail now begins just east of Andiamo on Michigan Avenue and travels through natural areas along the banks of the Rouge River. The meandering 2.16-mile trail crosses the Rouge River twice and runs through the campuses of the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Henry Ford Community College (HFCC).

From there, it connects with the bike path in Edward Hines Park, north of Ford Road, and goes on to Northville, for a total of 19 miles.

The Dearborn path, which opened in October 2005, was made possible by the city, UM-Dearborn, HFCC, Wayne County, MDOT and the Community Foundation.

Individuals with disabilities wanting to attend the Dec. 13 meeting who require special accommodations, auxiliary aids or services to attend or participate in this public meeting should contact (313) 943-2350 or TTY (313) 943-2199. Advance notice is required.

The City of Dearborn received the highest rating possible by the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Center for Innovation Research (iLabs) for fostering entrepreneurial growth and economic development.

Dearborn was honored as a five-star community through the program known as eCities for its efforts to promote investment and for its support of businesses pursuing innovative endeavors.

This is the first time that Dearborn has been named a five-star community by the UM-D’s iLabs, having earned a commendable four-star designation in 2010.

Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. said the five-star designation reflects the city’s commitment to encouraging a dynamic and diversified economy.

“Dearborn continues to promote economic development and commercial investment. We also have a great track record of smoothing the way for innovative approaches. We appreciate this distinguished recognition of our efforts,” O’Reilly said.

“We are fortunate that there is a high level of interest among a variety of large and small companies who value the business climate in Dearborn and are investing here. This is illustrated by the 300 commercial re-occupancies we saw in the past year,” O’Reilly said.

Most notably, Severstal North America recently engaged in a $1.5 billion investment, formalizing its North American Headquarters in Dearborn. The 2010 addition of more than $700 million in steel finishing elevates this advanced manufacturing center to a global leader in steel technology.

O’Reilly said, “Severstal’s investment in their operations in Dearborn extends the life of this plant by at least 50 years and retains nearly 2,000 local jobs. This is great news for Dearborn and southeast Michigan.”

Dearborn was honored along with 43 other communities recognized by iLabs at a ceremony at UM-Dearborn on Nov. 16.

In addition to Dearborn, 20 other cities were named five-star communities, including Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, Grand Haven, Farmington, Kalamazoo, Rochester Hills and Southfield.

“We are pleased to have participation from so many communities throughout the state in eCities 2011,” said Tim Davis, director of iLabs.

“The focus of this project is assisting local communities by identifying best practices and methods that they can implement, which will aid with job growth strategies, economic diversification, and development of entrepreneurs,” he said.

The annual eCities research project, which began in 2007, uses data supplied by the participants, as well as other public records, to assemble a six-factor, 32-item index of entrepreneurial activity, looking at such factors as clustering, incentives, growth, policies, community and education.

The study focuses on entrepreneurship because of its importance to expansion and diversification of Michigan’s regional economies and the impact small businesses have on job creation. To date, 138 communities across Michigan have participated in the study.

Let’s hope Dearborn can leverage this award as a way to attract other businesses to locate in our city.

Vacant lots owned by the City of Dearborn are available for purchase for the construction of new homes.

To see a list of available properties, visit www.cityofdearborn.org

While these lots can represent a good value to potential buyers, there are guidelines to follow:

•The properties may be purchased for the minimum bid price.

•The properties are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

•If you wish to purchase any of the properties, please submit your written request, including your name, address and phone number, directly to: Licia Yangouyian, Assistant Corporation Counsel, 13615 Michigan Ave., Ste. 8, Dearborn, MI 48126.

•You must submit a $500 deposit for each property that you wish to purchase.

•Buyers are required to comply with the City’s Guidelines for Land Sales, a copy of which is available at the Legal Department, 3rd Floor, East Wing of City Hall, 13615 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126.

•The lots must be paid in full by certified check or money order at the time of the closing.

•The City requires the buyer to begin construction of a new single-family house on residential property within 12 months of accepting the offer.

•All bids submitted are subject to approval by the Dearborn City Council.

•Buyer must comply with zoning laws and will not be granted any variance.

For more information, call the city’s Legal Department at 943-2035.

Dearborn residents voted Tuesday to raise the city tax rate by 4.5 mills and defeated a proposal to eliminate the Civil Service Commission.

On the Public School Board side, a new board member was elected and another long-time member kept his position for another term.

Voter turnout was a pathetic 21 percent with just 12,493 of the 59,160 registered voters in our city casting ballots. A lot more work has to be done by our elected officials but yesterday’s results were a big step in the right direction.

The results are below:

Proposal 1: 3.5-mill operating millage
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,420 (60.42 percent)

NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,860  (39.58)

Total . . . . . . . ….12,280

Proposal 2: 1-mill dedicated library millage

YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,379 (59.81 percent)

NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,959  (40.19)

Total . . . . . . . . . 12,338

Proposal 3: Should the city eliminate the Civil Service Commission? 

NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,158  (51.11 percent)

YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,891  (48.89)

Total . . . . . . . . . 12,049

Dearborn Public Schools Board Member 

Joseph A. Guido . . . . . . . . 5,988  (31.09 percent)

Roxanne McDonald . . . . .  5,922 (30.75)

Mary K. Petlichkoff . . . . . .  4,784 (24.84)

Stephen Stanley Dobkowski, Jr. . . . 2,528  (13.12)

WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 39 (.20)

Total . . . . . . . . . 19,261

If you still need more information about the three proposals on the ballot Tuesday, Dearborn officials have sent out two handy links that explain what they mean.

Proposals on the Nov. 8 ballot ask voters to make decisions about temporarily increasing the funding for City services and authorizing a dedicated source of revenue for the library system.

Proposal One asks voters to temporarily increase the millage rate for city services by no more than 3.5 mills for no more than 5 years.

The temporary tax rate would cost the owner of an averageDearbornhome about $187 more a year, if fully levied. The City has lost revenue for basic services because of sharp declines in property values and other economic factors.

Proposal Two asks voters to approve a one-mill increase to fund library services for up to 10 years.

A third ballot proposal asks voters to decide if the Civil Service System, which applies to certain City of Dearborn employees, should be eliminated from the City Charter.

To find out more, click http://www.cityofdearborn.org/government/city-services/public-information/latest-news/688-voters-asked-to-decide-funding-for-city-services

To view a League of Women Voters forum featuring Mayor O’Reilly talking about the temporary tax rate increase, the library funding measure and Proposal 3, click http://www.cityofdearborn.org/government/city-services/public-information/latest-news/684-learn-about-ballot-proposals-by-watching-cdtv

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. For election information, call the City Clerk’s Office at 943-2032.

The City of Dearborn is finally going on the offensive, working to explain three critical ballot proposals in emails to residents and local media outlets.

While there has been a lot of emotion around what proposals to support, the operating and library millage are ones that need to be passed if Dearborn is to maintain its current level of services.

Below is information about each proposal from the City ofDearborn.

Proposal 1: Operating Millage

Q: What does this ballot proposal ask voters to do?

A: Determine whether to temporarily raise the authorized level of the City’s general operating tax rate by a maximum of 3.5 mills for a maximum of five years. The operating tax rate is the most critical source of funding for most City services.

Q: How much would 3.5 mills cost the owner of an average Dearborn home?

A: $187 a year. The averageDearbornhome has a taxable value of $53,435.

Q: If approved and levied, how long would the temporary tax rate increase be in place?

A: Five years or less. Each year, the city Council would have the authority to levy the number of additional mills necessary.

Q: Why are voters being asked to decide?

A: Because of a structural budget deficit, the City is facing about a $20 million difference in what it costs to offer current services and facilities and the revenue the City takes in.  Revenue for essential City services has declined significantly in recent years because of the decline in property values.

For instance, the value of an average home inDearbornin Fiscal Year 2008 was $69,583. Now it is $53,435. Overall, the City has lost about 16 years of growth.

In Fiscal Year 2008, the owner of an averageDearbornhome paid $948 in operating taxes. Now, the owner of an averageDearbornhome is paying $801, or $147 less, in operating taxes. If the 3.5 mills are approved and levied, the owner of the same home would pay $988. Other sources of revenue for essential City services have also declined significantly while at the same time costs have risen.

  (more…)

Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad

Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad on Thursday was named one of the top public officials of the year, one of nine leaders across the U.S. who were recognized as the best and brightest in state, city and county government by Governing magazine.

The annual awards program, now in its 18th year, recognizes the top state and local government officials for their leadership and accomplishments in their positions and communities.

Here is what the editorial team of Governing magazine had to say about Dearborn Chief Haddad:

“Home to the nation’s most concentrated Arab community, Dearborn, Michigan, boasts one of the most widely admired approaches to counterterrorism — one pioneered by the city and state’s first Arab-American police chief. Heralded as a model for the nation and for federal policy, Haddad’s approach uses community-based policing to defend against violent extremism.  A 7 percent drop in crime in 2010 and Dearborn’s culture of trust and civic engagement are testaments to Haddad’s success.

” . . . Haddad has formed relationships built on trust and respect with all members of his community, particularly the Arab and Muslim populations. Haddad has pioneered a new approach to counterterrorism, using community-based policing as a way to defend against violent extremism.

“[There] can’t be this boots-on-the-ground sort of militaristic, machismo attitude about countering terrorism,” says Juliette Kayyem, the former assistant secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “It has to be one of civic engagement, and I think the Dearborn model is a model for the nation and for federal policy.”

Governing magazine says that Public Officials of the Year are selected from nominations submitted by readers, experts in the public and private sectors, and its editorial team. Among the qualities recognized are leadership, courage, innovation, creativity and good management. Governing magazine has named a total of 167 people as Public Officials of the Year since it began the awards.

“These dynamic state, city and county public officials faced both economic and political challenges,” said Governing Publisher Fred Kuhn in a statement. “Through their collective vision, these stellar leaders worked to better not only their communities but to set an example for future leaders to follow.”

You can view a Kiwanis Club of Dearborn video interview with Chief Haddad about his career by clicking HERE.

In case you missed it, Dearborn resident Paula Hamilton-Stokes, who was elected and served on the Dearborn Charter Commission in 2007, says the city’s move to try and eliminate Dearborn’s Civil Service Commission through a ballot question sets a bad precedent.

In a column that first appeared in the Dearborn Press & Guide last week, she said she does not support Proposal Three, which would eliminate the Civil Service Commission.

“As one of nine former, elected Charter Commissioners I was charged with revising the city of Dearborn Charter. We laboriously scrutinized every section.

“We spent a minimum of time discussing Civil Service. Why…? There was little to discuss. The Civil Service Commission is doing its job. The Human Resources Department is doing its job, and the protections written into the charter are still valid today, perhaps even more so.

“Michigan’s governor has made it quite clear he will find the extra funds he is looking for, possibly at the expense of state employees, be they involved in teaching, or working at the local government level. The residents and the employees need Civil Service to continue standing sentry, looking out for our best interest.

“Changing the City Charter, a mere three years after its unanimous passage, sets a dangerous precedent. If the “powers that be” don’t like something, just re-word it so it suits you. We could find ourselves changing lots of things just because a few don’t approve.”

Hamilton-Stokes raises an interesting question. What has changed in three years since voters approved the City Charter that city leaders now have decided to bring Proposal 3 to the ballot?