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We Have A Plan And We
Know Where We Want To Go
History of Oak Park
The
City of Oak Park
Master Plan is an ambitious document which identifies
"trends, patterns, problems and opportunities" of the City
and establishes a path for the City to take as we move into
the next century. The Plan is a culmination of countless
hours of research which in turn has been melded into a
pragmatic view of the future of our community.
What follows here is a
synopsis of a portion of the Plan. For a complete copy of
the Master Plan, please contact the
Technical and Planning Department
at 248-691-7450 or e-mail us with your request.
Trends
Patterns
Problems
Opportunities
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this chapter is to provide
the Planning Commission with a list of observations compiled by the consultant team.
These
observations resulted from the data collection and analysis phase of the Master Plan
program. The consultant team's observations are designed to assist the Planning Commission
with the formulation of goals and objectives statements that will form the basis for the
land use patterns shown on the Master Plan Map.
AREA TRENDS
As part of the larger Detroit Metro region,
Oak Park is closely linked with trends occurring in Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb counties.
Regional and local trends identified during the Master Plan program include:
Money spent on new construction in Oakland
County during 1992 was 36% of the total construction dollars spent in the entire SEMCOG
region.
Rapid growth in Oakland County was the main
impetus for major transportation improvements, such as completion of 1-696 and widening of
1-75 north of Square Lake Road.
Regional transportation improvements benefit
Oak Park by providing improved access to job opportunities and giving Oak Park businesses
better access to
 suppliers,
customers, and employees.
The new east-west regional connection
provided by 1-696 provides contact between communities as far apart as Farmington Hills
and the Grosse Pointes that was nearly nonexistent for the past 25 years.
Improvements in travel times bring people of
the region closer together economically and socially.
Rising home prices in the northern and
western suburbs tend to exclude first time buyers and some young families from those
housing markets.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE
The most difficult task of any planning
program is identifying ways to capitalize on opportunities that reverse negative
development patterns and trends. The secret always seems to be related to identifying the
positive aspects of the trends associated with local and regional change. Change must be
viewed as a natural, evolutionary process. The fact that circumstances in the community
change does not automatically mean that all change is bad. There are a number of
opportunities available to Oak Park that result from ongoing change locally and
regionally.
The opening of the final segment of 1-696
provides convenient, new contact with other suburbs. It also serves as a good advertiser
for Oak Park. There are 2 exits that identify Oak Park to freeway drivers.
Rising home prices in the northern and
western suburbs makes Oak Park attractive to young families and first time home buyers.
The City's neighborhoods are still basically sound and easily marketed to this segment of
buyers.
Oak Park's well-designed apartments could be
converted to condos as the need for senior citizen housing becomes even more pressing.
Other options for new condo construction may exist on a few vacant sites or as a
redevelopment option on strategically important properties.
Providing uniform, attractive barriers
between residential neighborhoods and business/industrial areas will provide improved
identity and pride for both sides of the fence.
Oak Park businesses can develop
merchandising techniques similar to those used in malls to improve the shopping climate of
the City. Techniques include pooling advertising dollars, keeping the same store hours,
and updating store fronts. Some type of formal organization, such as a downtown
development authority, merchants association, and/or chamber of commerce, may be needed to
lead such a renaissance.
Strict developmental controls on
office-retail conversions can ensure quality developments.
The diversity in Oak Park's population makes
it a very interesting place to live and visit. The strong Jewish, African-American,
Chaldean, and Arab populations provide an eclectic mix of race, culture, and religion in a
relatively small land area. This diversity is exciting and provides a strong marketing
base.
In the City's recent Vision Program,
citizens outlined a future vision for Oak Park. The Planning Commission now has a valuable
tool in directing the future of the City.
As was noted repeatedly during the Vision
Program, a strong and well-coordinated program of code enforcement will benefit the City's
neighborhoods, shopping districts, office corridors, and industrial districts.
The City needs an identifiable
"center", especially related to shopping and personal service needs of its
resident population. The Nine Mile and Coolidge area provides the base for redevelopment
of a town center that could borrow from the successes of more traditional small city
downtowns.
CONCLUSIONS
From the consulting team's perspective,
opportunities abound in Oak Park. Building upon its strong tradition of affordable
housing, stable neighborhoods, recreational amenities, and central location, recent
regional trends of deteriorating housing and neighborhoods can be halted. In fact, a
strong program and plan for neighborhood and business enhancement could project an image
to the region of Oak Park as the location where change is measured by success rather than
decline, and excellence is the vision of City officials and residents alike. |
