Volume 2 Number 2: July 2006
 

Grosse Pointe Park joined the Alliance in July

Message from the Executive Director

 

Cool Connections

It was an unusual venue for a discussion about urban redevelopment.  I was sitting on a bus next to Dr. Soji Adelaja, the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of Land Policy at Michigan State University, taking a tour of northern Michigan orchards.  Amid the churn of farm machinery and the smells of earth, we chatted about metropolitanism, theories of governance and indicators of urban success.  His passion for cities was as clear as the northern Michigan sky that surrounded us. 

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Project Updates

  

Creating Collaborative Communities Workshop Series

Last month's Police Service Workshop turned out nearly 40 people from metro Detroit and Grand Rapids.  Download the Collaborative Police Service How-To Manual for an in-depth lesson on cooperative partnerships, and don't miss the final workshop in the series focusing on public works.

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Redevelopment Ready Communities

Roseville, Lincoln Park, Hamtramck, Rockwood, Mount Clemens and Grosse Pointe Woods have embarked on the path to Redevelopment Readiness!  Each of the cities are moving into step 4 of the program and beginning to evaluate their current redevelopment processes. Visit www.redevelopmentready.com to see what's ahead for the RRC cities.

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Michigan's Golden Spike

The Golden Spike steering committee officially got down to business last week at its kick-off meeting.  To learn more about our freshest project, drop a note to Cooper.

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Call for Volunteers

We want your feedback!  We are still recruiting volunteers to participate in a focus group addressing The Corkboard and our quarterly print newsletter, The Suburban Hubbub. The session will take place in early August.  Give Sharon a shout if you're interested.

 

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In the News

  

We'd like to offer our thanks and congratulations to Ferndale City Manager Tom Barwin who will soon become city manager of Oak Park, Illinois.  As a founding member and constant supporter of the Suburbs Alliance, he will be sorely missed. Best of luck, Tom!

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City leaders, take note!  The National League of Cities and the City-County Communications and Marketing Association recently produced "How to Market Your City," which provides marketing strategies for municipal services and programs.  Read it!

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The collaborative spirit of our Police Services Workshop earned some media attention from the Grosse Pointe News.  Read Bob St. John's thoughtful coverage here.  

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Okay, now for a little self-congratulatory Suburbs Alliance news.  Ladies, hold your tears...our very own Cooper Holoweski was taken off the market this month after tying the knot with Darcy Dinse on June 3rd!  Congrats to the happy couple!  Melanie Brown also deserves a pat on the back for finishing the last course of her Masters of Urban Planning program at Wayne State and officially taking on her new position as Associate Director of the Suburbs Alliance.  She is now completing her Master essay. All in a day's work for Mel!  Finally, kudos to Brittany Galisdorfer who knocked out her first fulltime year at the Suburbs Alliance in May.

 

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Upcoming Events

  

Michigan Association of Planning's Green Communities Workshops

MAP will be holding two free "Green Communities" workshops on August 21 and 22.  These workshops will provide an overview of the "Green Communities" program - a five year, $555 million initiative to create more than 8,500 affordable homes that embody both green building and Smart Growth principles. Visit MAP's website for details.

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CCC Public Works Workshop

The final workshop in the Creating Collaborative Communities Series will discuss public works partnerships and take place in the fall.  This event offers city leaders, public works directors, finance officers and human resource directors an open forum to discuss the nuts and bolts aspects of initiating collaborative partnerships.  Details are coming soon. 

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DCC Workshop

The Downriver Community Conference, Downriver Area Brownfield Consortium, and Wayne County Economic Development Revolving Loan grant recipients are sponsoring a workshop for developers and real estate professionals.  The half-day event will address using EPA programs to finance brownfield redevelopment.  Registration will be available soon at www.dccwf.org. 

 

Friday, October 20, 2006.  7:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Dearborn Performing Arts Center on Michigan Ave.

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