Birmingham Buzz

Promoting intelligence and reason in city government.
Our mission: to inform and involve ALL Birmingham citizens.

Number 45: March 30, 2003

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THE BIRMINGHAM BUZZ
"It's the 2016 Plan, stupid."
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Birmingham Buzz # 45 -- March 30, 2003

Promoting intelligence and reason in city government. Our mission: To inform and involve all Birmingham citizens.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE at http://www.bhambuzz.org for:
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-- Resources such as the 2016 Plan.
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In this edition:

1) Duany returning to outline park plan
2) Store owners determined to survive mall setbacks
3) 'Midget Mansion' a reminderof history in our neighborhood
4) Store closings also offer an opportunity for improvement
5) New edition of Concours d'Elegance will come to Cranbrook on July 27
6) Commission will go to the people
7) Adams Square Whistle Stop to close March 30

To be removed, send an email to info@bhambuzz.org

1) Duany returning to outline park plan

March 30, 2003

>From the Birmingham Eccentric

By Larry Ruehlen

Andres Duany is coming back to Birmingham to outline his plan to expand Shain Park. And at least one city official hopes the visit proves fruitful.

"I hope they can make a decision; move on and do something with the park," said Birmingham City Manager Tom Markus. "That's what I hope comes out it."

Markus was referring to the Birmingham City Commission, which has struggled to find a workable solution that will expand the park and preserve enough parking to placate critics.

Duany is a world-renowned urban designer who authored the Downtown Birmingham 2016 Plan - a planning document that set the vision for the city for 20 years. The meeting with Duany is tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 16, at the city commission room, which is at 151 Martin.

In 1997, the city spent some $260,000 on a set of plans to expand the park but excess killed it before silver-plated shovels pierced the earth. Duany wasn't involved then, but his central idea is to expand the park by planting grass on much of what is now municipal parking lot No. 7 and add parking spaces around the perimeter of the park.

There would be a loss of at least 16 parking spaces overall, though Jeff Salz, chairman of the advisory parking board, has said more will be lost once parking spaces are striped.

Adding underground parking at as much as $38,000 per space has also been discussed. Representatives of The Community House have said they need to retain a drop-off spot for patrons, many of whom are elderly and would have a difficult time walking from city parking garages.

Duany's plan shows one half of the park as a "formal room" with a water feature and ornate trees, while the other half would house a band shell, seating area and 48-space parking lot.

Residents at recent city meetings have said a basic "village green" concept would do because most people simply want more greenspace in the middle of town.

Ann McBride, a member of the Birmingham Parks and Recreation Board, outlined what she considers to be the top priority.

"What I really hope to see is a permanent band shell," said McBride. "They have been using a showmobile for 20 years."

Duany suggests moving the Marshall Fredericks sculpture Freedom of the Human Spirit to what would be the new center of the park.

Duany's plan also calls for realigned walkways, head-in parking around the perimeter of the park and a Merrill Street promenade.

Duany was hired last fall for $10,000 to work on a park expansion concept that he proposed in the Downtown Birmingham 2016 Plan. The city has been studying ways to expand the park for years, but parking has always been a stumbling block.

Some in the audience questioned whether the new design would lend itself to hosting all the current annual events held in the park. Duany has said all the events could be held with the new design, but members of the commission were skeptical.

One sticking point is that Duany doesn't believe playground equipment should be included in the park. The vast majority of residents who attended the study session said they wanted such equipment. Residents will have a chance to listen to Duany's thoughts before action is taken on the plan.

2) Store owners determined to survive mall setbacks

March 30, 2003

>From the Birmingham Eccentric

By Larry Ruehlen

Merchants at Adams Square mall plan to persevere despite trying circumstances that have forced several stores to close.

"Our regulars keep coming in and saying 'are you closing too,'" said Nancy McGrath, manager of the Hallmark card shop. "I tell them no, not as long as you keep shopping here."

McGrath's sentiment was shared by other retailers at the mall. They talked of long-time customers coming from the adjacent neighborhoods to shop at Farmer Jack and Maskill's Hardware or get a bite to eat at the Machus Cafeteria.

Familiar faces still frequent Hallmark, said McGrath, and the store has no plans to close.

"We know all of our customers' names," she said. "Sure Farmer Jack's left, but we like being here."

Machus and Maskill's closed down as well and the restaurant that replaced Machus - The Whistle Stop - recently announced it was closing March 30.

Two different companies own sections of the strip mall. One owns the space that Farmer Jack once occupied and the other owns the rest. Framer Jack holds a long-term lease on its vacant store but it moved a mile away and has shown no interest in doing anything to the building at Adams Square.

Christine Winans, executive director of the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber, said other stores are interested in the space but Farmer Jack doesn't want another grocery store to move in.

Rumors of the plaza being torn down to make way for housing are swirling among the merchants at Adams Square.

Tom Markus, Birmingham city manager, said the city is concerned about the vacancies.

"I think it would be to their benefit to get together and come to the city to talk about what can be done," said Markus. "But it is a private investment. It's the type of thing the city generally stays out of unless asked."

Jessica Brudenell, a volunteer at the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop, said the store opened in November and is already doing well.

"Our store isn't the type of place where people drive by and just stop in," said Brudenell. "They hear about us from other people or know about our other stores. Once they come in, they come back."

Matters will be further complicated by construction on Adams Road that is to begin in April. Planned are new sewers, water mains and pavement on Adams between Madison and Lincoln.

Dennis Dembiec, Birmingham director of engineering and public services, said the city will do what it can to ease the pains during the street closures.

"If anyone doesn't have access to a store, they should contact the job foreman or city inspector right there at the job site," said Dembiec. "About 95 percent of the time that will take care of it. If it doesn't, they can call the engineering department and we'll handle it. We want to do everything we can to help."

Brudenell wasn't phased by the imminent construction.

"As long as people can get here from the neighborhoods, we'll be OK," said Brudenell. "I don't think it's going to be a huge deterrent."

3) 'Midget Mansion' a reminderof history in our neighborhood

March 30, 2003

By Bill McElhone

Imagine living in house so small that "you had to go outside just to change your mind."

According to Albert J. Bodine and his wife, that was how it was living in the "midget mansion." The house located on Pierce Road just south of Brown Street was Birmingham's smallest residence. The compact house had a 12'X16' floor plan that included a front room, bath and kitchen. The rear porch probably made the home feel more spacious.

Albert J. Bodine was born in Birmingham on July 13, 1870. He attended Birmingham High School and age 16, he and his brother left to pursue business opportunities throughout the Midwest and in Bridgeport, Conn. On March 28, 1915, he married Gertrude A. Mouhr. At the age of 66 he returned to Birmingham with his wife, to live in the "midget mansion."

Henry Stol originally built the house for use as a plumber's office, and later it became a laundry. In about 1936 the Bodines made the structure their home. The house still stands on Pierce, but is no longer used as a primary residence.

There are many other stories about the early homes and buildings of Birmingham that are waiting to be unearthed in a variety of sources. The early Eccentric newspapers are a prime source for information. There are other good places to look including the Birmingham Historical Museum, Baldwin Public Library and the property records maintained by Oakland County.

These sources along with many other records are used by a small but dedicated group of Birmingham residents serving on the Historic District Study Committee. This committee was created in 2001 to document the architectural and historic significance of the community's historical resources.

The link between historic preservation and the pursuit of understanding local history are inseparable. Local history is the many stories of personalities and events that make up the fabric of the community's heritage. Historic preservation, while it depends on looking to the past as documented by local historians, looks to the present and future. Historic preservation is the active process of identifying, recording, and preservation of selected structures, sites and objects. It is also the process of educating and promoting local history.

All of us are engaged at one level or another in the community's local history. A few can considered themselves scholars of Birmingham's history and have no problem in rattling off the names of the original four landowners or know without a doubt what Martha Baldwin did for a living. You should be proud of the fact that the third graders that visit the Birmingham Historical Museum know that it was Willets, Hamilton, Pierce and Hunter who purchased property in 1818 and that Baldwin was a schoolteacher and principal in the Detroit Public Schools.

Most of us, I am afraid, have to rely on young scholars for the specific facts. But we can still enjoy the knowledge that there is no shame in the collective appreciation for the "sense of history." Whether we are frequent visitors to Birmingham or are fortunate enough to live here we can see that the community values its history.

HDSC is looking for new members. This is your opportunity to reveal the inner-historian in yourself. All those interested should contact the Birmingham City Clerk's Office for more information at (248) 644-1800.

Bill McElhone is the director of the Birmingham Historical Museum. The Museum's two buildings, the 1822 John West Hunter and 1928 Allen Houses, are open for public tours every Wednesday-Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Those interested in more information about the Museum, current exhibits, group tours, volunteer opportunities or using the historical records should call (248) 642-2817.

4) Store closings also offer an opportunity for improvement

March 27, 2003

>From the Birmingham Eccentric

By Judith Doner Berne

Birmingham has a unique opening to re-activate its master plan for downtown as a result of closings at what once was a viable shopping center.

At one time I knew Adams Square, the strip mall on the east side of Birmingham, as well as any part of the city.

That was in the '80s, when The Eccentric was headquartered in what is now the Birmingham branch of the U.S. Post Office, just across from Adams Square on Bowers.

Maskill's Hardware, the then-A&P Market, and the former Machus cafeteria were part of my life, whether it was a lunchtime or after-hours foray. I recall writing a rather stinging item for the Etc. column when Machus, which was pricey to begin with, started charging extra for the container used for take-out soup. Nonetheless their namesake salad and lemon-crunch cake are still fond memories.

Now, two of those storefronts are empty - Maskill's and Farmer Jack - and the other soon will be. The Whistle Stop, which took over the Machus space only a year ago, closes Sunday. It will fall back to and expand its hours and offerings from its original cozy digs on Eton.

It's the domino theory at work. Maskill's couldn't withstand the Farmer Jack closing and The Whistle Stop couldn't withstand the loss of Maskill's. The shaky economy and planned construction that will tear up Adams Road are contributing factors.

Others also see these closings as an opportunity.

A couple of weeks back, Chuck Moss asked for input on Adams Square's future over the web site of the Internet newspaper "The Birmingham Buzz."

Moss, who traded up from city commissioner to Oakland County commissioner, says he posed the question because "it's close to my neighborhood, it's clearly a challenge for the city, and it hadn't appeared on anybody's radar screen."

He sums up the discussion: Adams Square needs help. It's a valuable opportunity for creative development that can tie into Bowers Street, Borders and Papa Joes, and even to downtown. Most participants favored mixed use, with emphasis on medium density residential and smaller retail. No one suggested buying it for a park or similar public use. No one wanted it to become a big box store or to keep it as an old-style grocery store strip.

At a Community House forum last week, "Birmingham at the Crossroads," Adams Square was brought up by panel member Doug Smith, of Robertson Brothers residential developers.

"I don't know the future of Adams Square," Smith said. "It would be a good place to put up more affordable housing."

For further expertise, I sought out former Birmingham planning commission chairman and urban architecture/design specialist Mark Nickita. He, too, sees the closings as "an incredible opportunity to do something different," within the framework of the 2016 downtown master plan.

A condominium-type development with a small amount of retail would enhance Birmingham's walkability and help tie the city's west and east side business districts together, says Nickita, a principal in Archive Design Studio in Detroit.

Reconfiguring the site by bringing a mix of retail and residential development right up to the curb will take the unappealing parking lot out of play, he says. Bowers Street, he adds, is poised as a natural pathway between the east and west sides, but it too must be redeveloped, with small, engaging retail storefronts taking the place of parking lots.

"Half the shopping center is basically dead," says Christine Winans, executive director of the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber. But she doesn't see any movement while Farmer Jack holds a long-term lease, keeping competitors out of the center.

"We are open to any proposal that comes our way," counters Cynthia Kratchman, the real estate agent who is handling the Farmer Jack sublease for the Friedman Real Estate Group. "We're looking creatively to see what may work." Should the city of Birmingham become involved, she says, "I think everybody would work together."

So there it is, a chance to add affordability, walkability and density to Birmingham.

Coupled with the closings of the two gas stations at Maple and Woodward, Birmingham has two huge openings to realize some of the best aspects of its 2016 plan. The hundreds of community members who came together to develop that plan need to make themselves heard.

As Moss said to those who had participated in "The Buzz" Web site discussion: "It's your community. If you want a certain outcome, make it happen."

5) New edition of Concours d'Elegance will come to Cranbrook on July 27

March 23, 2003

>From the Birmingham Eccentric

By Larry Ruehlen

The convergence of automotive beauty and a picturesque setting are expected to bring 5,000 car enthusiasts from around the world to Bloomfield Hills July 27 for the inaugural Concours d'Elegance at Cranbrook.

"Cranbrook is absolutely a dream site for a show like this," said Larry Smith, cofounder and owner of Autometric Collision. "I expect this to be a world-class show for many years to follow."

Smith and Marvin Towns, owner of MTi Advertising, headed a group that held a similar show in Southfield last year.

"We wanted a bigger show and needed room for more cars," said Towns. "The Southfield site wasn't conducive for a show like this."

Southfield officials haven't ruled out having their own show, but Smith and Towns are concentrating on attracting collectors who will bring cars that emphasize the show's theme - The Fusion of Art, Science and Education in the History of the Automobile.

"Alternative fuel is not something new," said Towns. "The show will feature automobiles that were designed and built by craftsman of the past whose thinking in design and alternative fuel systems were considered "out of the box."

Cars powered by turbine, steam, electricity, solar and hydrogen will be featured. Smith, a noted collector, will show one of his most unusual cars - a 1936 Stout Scarab.

"If Darth Vader had a minivan, it would look like a Scarab," said Smith. "I won't say it's beautiful, but I will say that it's unusual."

Other cars of interest that are expected to be shown include a one-of-a-kind Ferrari prototype, a 1953 Paxton and a Bugatti, known as one of the most luxurious autos ever built.

Several Concours d'Elegance shows are staged around the country every year, the most famous of which is held at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California. There is also a show at Meadow Brook in Rochester Hills the week following the Cranbrook show, but Towns said the two aren't meant to compete against each other.

To preview the Concours, a motorcade of some 20 classic autos will proceed through the grounds of Cranbrook to Shain Park in downtown Birmingham on Saturday, July 26. The cars will be displayed downtown from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and a special luncheon will be held. Later that night, an event called Cars Under the Stars Gala and Auction will be held at Cranbrook Institute of Science.

The Birmingham City Commission hasn't approved the use of the park yet, but it is expected to vote on it tomorrow at its regular 8 p.m. meeting at City Hall, 151 Martin.

Buick Motor Division, which is celebrating its centennial, is the title sponsor and is expected to play a major role in the show. Bloomfield Hills-based Women's Committee for Hospice Care will receive a portion of the proceeds from the event.

Officials at Cranbrook said the event is a natural for them and momentum is already growing.

"We're hosting this event to share Cranbrook's tradition of excellence in education, science and the arts with automobile enthusiasts throughout metro Detroit," said Rick Loewenstein, Cranbrook's chief advancement officer.

6) Commission will go to the people

March 23, 2003

>From the Birmingham Eccentric

By Larry Ruehlen

A trip to Washington, D.C., has led the Birmingham City Commission to take its show on the road.

"The greatest fear that anyone has is standing up and talking in public," said City Commissioner Gordon Thorsby. "Many people in this town don't come to city commission meetings ... if we meet in the neighborhoods, a lot of people will come to see us, where they wouldn't have seen us before. And we can listen to whatever problems they have."

Thorsby said local officials from many cities talked about taking city meetings to the public at the recent National League of Cities meeting in Washington, D.C. Thorsby said the practice is catching on in other towns and Birmingham should do the same.

He and Commissioners Donald Carney, Rackeline Hoff and Dante Lanzetta Jr. attended the conferences. On Monday, commissioners talked about their trip and the concept of holding city meetings in local schools or other public buildings instead of the city municipal building at 151 Martin - where few residents show up unless an issue on the agenda directly impacts them.

"It's terrific if we can get into the neighborhoods, but we should craft the agendas appropriately so they can be well heard," said Commissioner Russell Dixon.

Dixon said technology such as overhead projectors and computer presentations may not be possible if meetings are held away from city hall.

Tom Markus, Birmingham city manager, said devising agendas shouldn't be a problem though different settings do pose challenges.

"Commissioners have to have the ability to adjust," said Markus. "One year, we had a meeting at Quarton School and we sat in children's desks. Some (officials) fit better than others ... but I think we did have different people show up."

Markus was asked to start scheduling meetings away from city hall within two months. He said he will check the availability of public buildings in different parts of the city. He also said the buildings in question have to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition to schools, the city-owned Barnum Center, which is being transformed into a community center, is a possibility as is the Birmingham Area Senior Coordinating Council facility.

There are benefits to hitting the road, said Markus.

"It's more difficult to dislike someone when you get in the same room and discuss things," he said. "If they won't come to us, we'll go to them."

7) Adams Square Whistle Stop to close March 30

March 23, 2003

>From the Birmingham Eccentric

BY Greg Kowalski

Beleaguered Adams Square mall suffered another blow this week with the announcement that the Whistle Stop restaurant will close on March 30.

A combination of factors led to the decision to close, said owner Dave Crisovan, but the vacant former Farmer Jack supermarket site and the closing of Maskill's hardware were key, he said.

"A lot of customers told me they want to do two things," Crisovan said, such as shopping and having lunch. "They can't do that."

Further, planned construction on Adams Road will be too disruptive to business, Crisovan added. Adams between Madison and Lincoln will be torn up this spring for sewers, water mains and repaving in a $3 million project.

The Whistle Stop expanded into the Adams Square about a year ago. The 12,000-square-foot restaurant has seating for 120.

Crisovan said the original Whistle Stop on Eton will continue and expand operations. About eight of the 17 employees from the Adams Square site will move over to the Eton building, which will expand hours of service from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to offer dinners and bring in a Ray's Ice Cream parlor to the facility.

Adams Square has been facing "challenging times" since the closing of Farmer Jack, said Christine Winans, executive director of the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber. "It can be a viable location for business ... but it really needs to be updated," Winans said.

But Framer Jack still holds a long-term lease on its vacant store and has shown no interest in doing anything to the building, except keep competitors from moving into the space.

"Half the shopping center is basically dead," Winans said. "It's not as if we don't want to redevelop the property."

She said other businesses are interested in the property but nothing will happen while the lease is in place.

The Whistle Stop opened at 501 S. Eton in 1965. "It's still very viable," Crisovan said.

Crisovan said the two facilities attracted different types of clientele. People like to sit and socialize at the Eton site while diners at Adams Square want big portions and then move on to do something else.

But there is less to attract them to the mall, Crisovan said.

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Number 43: March 13, 2003

Number 42: March 6, 2003

Number 41: March 4, 2003

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