Ongoing progress is helping to secure our future
To all my
Fellow Residents, from Mayor Gerald E. Naftaly
City Council and the City’s Administration are committed to ensuring
that the many municipal services provided to residents are
maintained at the highest possible level. Foresight and planning
will be crucial in the coming years for us to be able to keep this
commitment.
Anyone who has read the newspapers or listened to TV and radio news
reports over the past couple of years clearly understands that the
continuing economic downturn in Michigan has been especially hard on
local governments. Virtually every municipality throughout the state
is coping with serious financial shortfalls. A number are operating
in crisis mode. Some actually have fallen into receivership.
The good news is that Oak Park thus far has avoided such dire
straits. The even better news is that – as is detailed in this
year’s Annual Report/Calendar – we have highly-qualified
professionals in every facet of the Administration designing
operational roadmaps for efficient delivery of citizen services
despite the negative economic trends.
The very best news is that a series of projects and developments
that will have a strong positive impact in securing Oak Park’s
future for years to come already are taking shape. And the recent
expansion of the City’s borders already is bolstering our tax base.
Construction of a major retail development is expected to start in
several months at the former Armory property on Eight Mile Road near
Greenfield. This will be just the first phase of what the Schostak
Company will build on the huge site.
Schostak also is embarking on major projects in the adjacent
Northland Plaza acreage. The appearance of the existing retail
shopping center that fronts on Greenfield will be significantly
improved. An industrial park stretching from with the former Armory
property into the Northland Plaza site is on the drawing board.
Included are roads that will connect the two developments and that
will have entrances both on Eight Mile Road and Greenfield.
The Bacall Development Company’s construction of a
36,850-square-foot plaza-style shopping center at 10 Mile Road and
Greenfield is moving ahead. A storm drainage system currently is
being emplaced.
The Skyway Company’s plans to build an upscale condominium complex
on the west side of Coolidge north of Eight Mile Road have been
approved by City Council and construction will begin when weather
conditions permit. Pre-construction work already is being conducted
on the property, which for many years has been an unused municipal
greenbelt.
The Phoenix Company’s plans to construct condominiums and –
following that phase, senior low-rise apartments -- on a site north
of Eight Mile Road, behind the post office, are moving forward. The
project will be launched with a groundbreaking that is going to be
scheduled in the near future.
A beautifully-constructed climate control storage facility for space
rentals by private citizens is now a reality at on Greenfield near
11 Mile Road.
All of these developments are making a strong positive statement
about Oak Park, as well as making a positive economic difference.
The companies involved have declared, by making such large
investments, that they have tremendous faith in our community’s
future.
There are many reasons why all of us who live here should share that
confidence. One of the most prominent is the vital role played by
residents. Citizen involvement always has been a special attribute
of this community. In order for us to deal successfully with
whatever challenges arise, it will be more important than ever in
the coming years.
I wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year as we move
together into the future as citizens of a great community.
