Allied Ad to come

30947 Woodward Avenue | Suite 200Royal Oak, MI 48073

248.288.2004 (phone)248.288.2067 (fax)email: loriella@woodwardavenue.orgwww.woodwardavenue.org

Heather Carmona | Executive Director

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FOLLOW THE WA3 ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!

Keep up with the WA3 and what’s happening on Woodward Avenue by joining our Facebook Page and follow us on Twitter (@WA3FollowMe).

1www.woodwardavenue.org

TWO NEW TRIBUTES ILLUMINATE WOODWARD

The first two Tributes were placed in the cities of Ferndale and Pontiac in 2008. Recently, the WA3 installed two Woodward Tributes in Highland Park and Royal Oak. Both cities hosted festive “Illumination” dedication events, which were opportunities for WA3 supporters, the business community and local residents to come together and celebrate. The events also honored the artists who designed the images for the Woodward Tributes: Kyle Evans for his “cruising themed designs” for the Royal Oak Tribute and Julie Janowski whose designs for the Highland Park Tribute pay homage to the legacy of Henry Ford.

The WA3 has installed four solar-powered, 30-foot glass and concrete interpretive obelisks in key locations along the Woodward corridor.

1. Members of WA3 staff and Board of Directors unveil new Highland Park structure; 2. A festive evening in Highland Park; 3. WA3 Exec. Director Heather Carmona and Royal Oak Mayor Jim Ellison pose with artist Kyle Evans; 4. WA3 Exec. Director Heather Carmona and Royal Oak Mayor Jim Ellison welcome representatives from Beaumont Health System to Royal Oak event.

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1NEWS & INFORMATION FROM THE WOODWARD AVENUE ACTION ASSOCIATION | WINTER 2013

TOUR. INVEST. COLLABORATE.

www.woodwardavenue.org

As the WA3 charts the road ahead and visualizes the future of Woodward, the organization hopes to bring a series of 8 to 10 Tributes to Woodward. WA3 has begun identifying locations, including: Downtown Detroit, Birmingham, The Park District (between 6 and 8 mile roads) and Berkley as possible sites for the next Tributes.

The award-winning Woodward Tribute program is an interpretive public art program designed to symbolize various themes depicting the history and future of Woodward Avenue and reflects images and themes celebrating the story of Woodward Avenue as an All-American Road®.

The total cost to bring these magnificent structures to life is $150,000. The WA3 is able

to fund a portion of the cost via the federal grants, and works diligently to leverage public/private opportunities to raise the $30,000 in matching funds needed to secure the grant.

If you or your organization is interested in donating to the Tribute Fund or supporting this project, please contact the WA3 at 248.288.2004, or email: loriella@woodwardavenue.org.

WA3 AWARDED $450,000 IN FEDERAL GRANTS TO FUND NEW WOODWARD TRIBUTES The WA3 has been awarded $450,000 in federal grants to help fund the installation of three new Tributes along Woodward in 2013 – 2014.

2 THE WOODWORD | WINTER 2013

A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | HEATHER CARMONA

Moving forward takes on a whole new meaning for Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3), as we literally need to MOVE into new office space at the end of 2013.

For the past four years, Beaumont Health System, through its real estate arm of Jones Lang LaSalle, has generously donated office space to WA3 at the Northwood Shopping Center at 13 Mile Road and Woodward. Being “displaced” as a result of the hospital’s long-anticipated plans to redevelop this site is a good problem to have! The investment will no doubt impact the long term growth and health of the surrounding communities and region.

I want to personally thank Nicole Duncan and Maureen Elliott of Beaumont Health System and Jim Barrett and Norm Clissold of Jones Lang LaSalle for generously supporting the WA3 and being great landlords. We are fortunate to have had the opportunity to partner and put our dollars directly into Woodward projects and initiatives.

We are optimistic that our forthcoming move will serve as a springboard for future advancement of the WA3’s mission, as well as our efforts to collaborate with our members and partners.

For more information, contact the WA3 at 248.288.2004. Also, feel free to contact me directly at: heather@woodwardavenue.org.

The beginning of a new calendar year is always a good time for reflection. First, to pause and look back at the past year to evaluate what progress you’ve made; what goals you’ve accomplished and in what ways you have moved the needle within your organization. Next, to focus on the horizon ahead. Pointing your mental compass forward.

MISSION The Woodward Avenue Action Association is a not-for-profit collaboration of public, private, local and regional partners working to preserve, enhance and promote Michigan’s iconic 27-mile Woodward Avenue All-American Road®, one of the most significant roadways in the country.

OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEECHAIRPERSON Harriet Saperstein INDIVIDUAL MEMBER

VICE CHAIRPERSON

Bob Bruner CITY OF BIRMINGHAM

SECRETARY

Ron Gillham MAYOR, CITY OF HUNTINGTON WOODS

TREASURER

Will Hicks PNC BANK

Jean Chamberlain OAKLAND COUNTY

Malik Goodwin DETROIT ECONOMIC GROWTH CORP.

Heaster Wheeler WAYNE COUNTY

BOARD OF DIRECTORSBret Rasegan OAKLAND COUNTY

Carmine Palombo SEMCOG

Dave Lorenz TRAVEL MICHIGAN

Elizabeth Dryden CHARTER ONE BANK

Greg Moots CITY OF DETROIT

Jana Ecker CITY OF BIRMINGHAM

Jim Ellison MAYOR, CITY OF ROYAL OAK

Lee Jones PONTIAC CITY COUNCIL

Leo Savoie BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR

Linda Zabik GENISYS CREDIT UNION

Mark Hackshaw HIGHLAND PARK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Mark Johnson MARK JOHNSON & ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS

Mel Foster CREATIVE CONSULTANT

Michael O’Callaghan DETROIT METRO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

Michael Rafferty WAYNE COUNTY

Mike McLauchlan ILITCH HOLDINGS, INC.

Nicole Duncan BEAUMONT HEALTH SYSTEM

Norm Silk BLOSSOMS

Paul Good DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Phil O’Dwyer MAYOR OF BERKLEY

Rhonda Reed CRANBROOK

Rita Screws MDOT DETROIT TSC

Rodney Patrick CITY OF HIGHLAND PARK

Sandra Montes MDOT OAKLAND TSC.

Steve Brown SMART

Sue Mosey MIDTOWN INC.

Tim Ross ROSS MORTGAGE CORPORATION

Marja Winters CITY OF DETROIT

STAFFHeather Carmona EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Jason Fowler PROGRAM MANAGER

Lori Ella Miller MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Ramona Oliverio ACCOUNTING MANAGER

Debbie Schutt WOODWARD BYWAY PROGRAM MANAGER

2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WHAT’S NEW?

A New Year…Time to Look for New Digs

3www.woodwardavenue.org

The non-profit has selected the esteemed urban planning and consulting firm Parsons Brinckerhoff to lead this effort. Parsons Brinckerhoff will prepare and design a comprehensive Complete Streets “Master Plan” for the Woodward corridor that integrates all pieces of the mobility puzzle and transforms the historic byway into a roadway that can be easily traversed by commuters, pedestrians and visitors alike.

The Complete Streets Initiative for the Woodward corridor was first announced in August, 2011 when the WA3 received a $752,000 Federal Highway Administration Grant to prepare a Complete Streets Master Plan for the 27-mile Woodward Avenue.

The Complete Streets master planning is a collaborative effort and involves a steering group comprised of representatives and policy makers from Wayne and Oakland counties, the 11 municipalities along Woodward, MDOT, M1 Rail, SEMCOG and associated advocacy groups. Todd Scott, Detroit Greenways Coordinator for Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance is a member of the steering group and says: “We have a tremendous opportunity to make Woodward a true complete street for everyone, and get more cyclists using it for commuting, tourism, and just exercise.”

The Woodward Avenue Complete Streets project will also include a multi-faceted public and interactive engagement and community outreach component that will feature community meetings to stimulate two-way dialogue with residents, businesses and other key stakeholders. The public meetings, charrettes and walking audits are expected to begin in the Spring to actively involve the community in the visioning process.

The WA3 and Parsons Brinckerhoff have also teamed with Dan Burden, the nation’s most recognized authority on walkability, bicycle

and pedestrian programs, street corridor and intersection design. Burden, founder of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute will help create and lead the outreach efforts, which will include:

• Hands-on educational presentations

• Walking / biking audits

• One-on-one and group activities

• Online presence and mobile apps.

For more information, please contact Program Manager Jason Fowler at jason@woodwardavenue.org.

WA3 KICKS OFF AMBITIOUS COMPLETE STREETS MASTER PLANNING PROJECT

The Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) has launched one of its most ambitious projects ever, the implementation of a Complete Streets master plan.

PROJECT UPDATES

INSIGHTS FROM DAN BURDEN

Here’s what walkability expert Dan Burden had to say when asked about the significance of the WA3’s plan to make Woodward more walkable, bicycle friendly and livable.

“The Woodward Avenue Complete Streets master plan could likely be the nation’s largest, most comprehensive and perhaps most significant planning effort for any corridor master plan undertaken in North America. It will be the ‘one’ project that the nation is likely to celebrate more than any other. All eyes will be on Detroit and its surrounding communities as major transformations of roads unfold, and new and added purposes are revealed. Normally projects to rebuild a corridor are limited to just one to five miles, and often only involve a handful of communities. The Woodward Avenue Complete Streets Master Plan project will encompass the entire 27 miles and all of the 11 communities along Woodward corridor. The Woodward Avenue Complete Streets project comes at a time of immense change and rebirth for the metro Detroit region and the State of Michigan. This is an important moment in history — one that will help define the future of the region. I am so excited to be a part of this important and significant undertaking.”

Dan Burden

Complete Streets Steering Committee mapping the future of Woodward.

4 THE WOODWORD | WINTER 2013

To that end, the WA3 offers local communities its Woodward Median Enhancement Plan, a conceptual blueprint for a cooperative improvement project that can be utilized by the cities along the Woodward corridor. The primary goal of the plan is to revitalize and beautify the Woodward corridor by incorporating landscaping changes utilizing native plant materials such as canopy trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses.

Recently, the City of Birmingham took a page from this beautification playbook, and planted 34 trees in the Woodward median, going north and south of Lincoln. The planted foliage included: six Cleveland Pears, 22 Norway spruce and six Zelkova Serrata trees. The WA3 facilitated the funding for this important beautification project by helping to secure a grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

“MDOT gave the City of Birmingham $15,000 to support the tree planting, and we continue to collaborate with the City of Birmingham

to sustain an ongoing and phased planting project for Woodward,” said Heather Carmona, Executive Director for WA3.

The City of Birmingham spent nearly $10,000 on Phase One of the project. Since the initial planting of the trees, the City of Birmingham representatives have met with MDOT to outline the future scope and next steps.

“A city’s aesthetic appeal is important to the businesses and residents because it

can leave a sense of pride,” said Lauren Wood, Director of Public Services for City of Birmingham. “We are reaching out to residents and businesses in the community to encourage them to donate and support our beautification efforts.”

A special thanks to Jim Schultz, Transportation Planning Manager for MDOT Metro Region for his continued support of Woodward and the City of Birmingham’s tree planting project!

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS

CITY OF BIRMINGHAM BEAUTIFIES WOODWARD MEDIAN WITH TREE PLANTING Advocating for continued physical improvements along Woodward is at the heart of the Woodward Avenue Action Association’s mission and purpose.

Recent tree plantings in Woodward median funded in part by MDOT and City of Birmingham

The group met with Cleveland RTA representatives to learn about the process for planning, designing and implementing a successful rapid transit system.

Branded the “Healthline,” the Cleveland BRT runs along the busy Euclid Avenue commercial corridor from the heart of downtown Cleveland, through MidTown Cleveland, past the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospital campuses, to the sprawling suburbs of East Cleveland.

Continued on page 6

Woodward AA Steering Group Takes Road Trip

Recently the Woodward Alternatives Analysis Steering Committee took a group of 35 transit advocates from metro Detroit on a road trip to Cleveland, Ohio to ride that city’s world-class Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line.

Cleveland’s Healthline bus rapid transit vehicle making a stop at a station.

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Now, 100 years later Highland Park made history and garnered local and national news coverage when it officially installed its first ever “solar-powered” street light. The new self-sufficient solar-street lamp was placed on Victor Street just across from the famed Ford Highland Park Assembly Plant.

Installing this high-tech, energy-efficient beacon was the brainchild of local entrepreneur AJ O’Neil, who operates a small café in Highland Park, and owns AJ’s Coffee Works in Hazel Park.

O’Neil hopes that this street light will serve as a symbol for Highland Park’s future. According to O’Neil, “Just as Henry Ford’s moving assembly line helped change the world, solar street lights will help reinvigorate the economy in Highland Park.”

O’Neil plans to bring another 200 solar street lights to the city within the next five years. To help raise the funds for this ambitious undertaking, he formed a grass-root internet collaborative called: “Soulardarity.” The

moniker has its roots in a three-pronged meaning: the words soul, solar and solidarity.

The Michigan-made street light utilizes energy-efficient LED lights, which last longer than traditional street lights. It also has a solar panel on top of the pole and its batteries are only a few feet below it, making the street light completely self-sufficient.

Mark Hackshaw, chairman of Highland Park’s Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA) and Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) board member, said, “This green and cutting-edge technology is helping Highland Park to shine again… it’s just the beginning!”

WOODWARD BYWAY NEWS

HIGHLAND PARK – THE CITY OF “FIRSTS”

The City of Highland Park is one of the Woodward corridor’s most historic communities, primarily for being home to Henry Ford’s Model T automobile plant and the first ever assembly line.

Model Ts coming off the assembly line; solar street light

This landmark property’s symbolic milestones, such as the birthplace of the Five-Dollar Work Day and the moving assembly line, helped the WA3 gain the designations for Woodward as a National Scenic Byway™ and All-American Road®. The designations have brought in close to $700,000 in federal grants for advancing the WA3’s redevelopment projects, including current efforts to purchase the historic four-story, Albert Kahn-designed Administration Building that faces Woodward.

The Advisory Team was formed to develop and advance a strategic plan and vision for the

long-term occupancy of the Administration Building and potential redevelopment of the factory, also known as the Crystal Palace.

Members include key representatives from the Governor’s office; state, county and city officials; developers; private investors; architects and historians.

For more information and to view a list of reports and current plans, visit the Reports and Publications link on WA3’s website www.woodwardavenue.org.

WA3 Appoints Ford Highland Park Advisory Committee

The Woodward Avenue Action Association has been actively leading efforts to preserve and revitalize the historic Ford Highland Park Plant property at Woodward and Manchester.

Highland Park Ford Administration Building

6 THE WOODWORD | WINTER 2013

It is a family legacy for the Solaka family, who opened the original and legendary Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe in Lafayette Park in 1972. Although that flagship store closed in 1989, the Solaka brothers both have vivid memories of working in the establishment.

The new Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe is located at 3100 Woodward Avenue at Watson, just south of Mack. The Shoppe features a broad product mix and provides a complete grocery line for everyday living and a wide selection of Michigan and Detroit-sourced products.

The popular City Basics department stocks a full line of paper and cleaning products, seasonal items, kitchen and cooking gadgets and other sundries. On Sunday, patrons can find fresh bagels, smoked fish and Sunday newspapers. The store also features a full meat and seafood counter and butcher, deli counter, salad bar, bakery and a selection of beer and wine.

According to Michael Solaka, “Although we have added many new components such

as a salad and olive bar, full coffee service and patio seating, we are keeping true to the spirit of our original store, which was inspired by quality urban groceries in cities like New York.”

Additionally, the Solaka brothers have added an outdoor patio for casual dining

at the north side of the building, fronting Woodward Avenue.

The Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe is a great addition to Detroit’s economic landscape and to the All American Road®. Welcome to Woodward!

MEMBER NEWS

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

WOODWARD AVENUE IS THE NEW HOME TO THE YE OLDE BUTCHER SHOPPE

The Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe gourmet grocery store has opened its doors on Woodward Avenue in Midtown Detroit. Proprietors and brothers Michael and Peter Solaka are bringing a high-quality city market to the heart of Detroit.

Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe

The Healthline uses high-tech, sleekly-styled vehicles that are designed to look and feel like trains. The construction of the Healthline has spurred reinvestment and economic development all along the corridor.

A few insights and reflections from the trip….

Jana Ecker, Planning Director for the City of Birmingham and Chair of the Woodward TOD Task Force said: “Travelling along Cleveland’s Euclid Avenue, one cannot help but see the striking similarities to our

very own Woodward Avenue. On our road trip to Cleveland we learned that a strategic investment in mass transit can result in extensive economic development and the rebirth of an entire corridor.”

Heaster Wheeler, Assistant CEO for Wayne County: “This trip to Cleveland was a real eye opener! Cleveland’s Regional Transit Authority services 59 municipalities, 500 square miles and 200,000+ people per day. The system is friendly, clean, timely,

safe and informational. I look forward to getting this done here in Detroit and Southeast Michigan!”

Berkley City Council member Steve Baker commented: “I would like to thank Joe Calabrese, Mike Schipper, and the Greater Cleveland RTA staff for their hospitality and generosity. They shared their experiences with us and provided us with a personal tour of the Healthline system.”

Woodward AA Steering Group Takes Road TripContinued from page 4

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MEMBER NEWS

BECOME A WA3 MEMBER!

YES! SIGN ME UP AS A MEMBER SEND ME MORE INFORMATION I’M INTERESTED IN SERVING ON A COMMITTEE

NAME COMPANY

ADDRESS

CITY STATE ZIP

PHONE FAX

EMAIL

PAYMENT PAYMENT ENCLOSED PLEASE INVOICE ME

PAYMENT METHOD CHECK (Please make checks payable to the Woodward Avenue Action Association)

AMEX MASTERCARD VISA

CREDIT CARD NUMBER

3 DIGIT SECURITY CODE EXPIRATION DATE

LEVEL OF INVESTMENT $1,000 SUSTAINING MEMBER $200 RENEWING MEMBER

$250 NEW MEMBER $50 INDIVIDUAL / RESIDENT

MAIL TO 30947 Woodward Avenue | Suite 200 Royal Oak, MI 48073

FAX 248.288.2067

ONLINE — SECURE SITE www.woodwardavenue.org

INQUIRIES phone: 248.288.2004 email: loriella@woodwardavenue.org

SUSTAINING / PREMIER MEMBERS ($1,000 ANNUAL DUES)

Charter One BankGiffels-Webster Engineers Midtown Inc.MotorCity Casino Hotel Parsons BrinckerhoffRoss Mortgage

BUSINESS MEMBERS

A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral HomeAfrican Safari Wildlife ParkAmerican Currency ExchangeArbor Investment GroupAuto Dimensions, Inc.Automation AlleyBatteries PlusBeaumont Health SystemBerman Company/HEFCO PropertiesBerridge & MorrisonBlossomsBrush Park Condo AssociationCenter Management ServicesCityWalks LLC

Computer Services of MichiganCranbrook Educational CenterCredit Union OneDenha PropertiesDenise Joseph, PhD & AssociatesDetroit Metro Convention &

Visitors Bureau Detroit Zoological SocietyMel Foster Galloway and Collens, PLLCGenisys Credit UnionGrissim Metz Andriese AssociatesHagopian World of RugsHamilton AndersonHartick DentistryHighland Park Business Assoc.Historic Little Rock Baptist ChurchHowes BayouHPDevcoITC Holdings Corp.Janet Davis CleanersJax Kar WashJenkins, Magnus, Volk & Carroll PCLa Dolce VitaLambert, Edwards & AssociatesLawrence Tech University

Lovio George, Inc.LSL Planning, Inc.Manresa Jesuit Retreat HouseMargulies Investment CompanyMark Johnson & Associates ArchitectsMajestic Theatre CenterMcNish Group Inc.Midtown Inc.Model T Automotive Heritage ComplexMt. ChaletN&A Oil Company/Mobil on the RunNational Shrine of the Little FlowerNorthwood Credit UnionOur Lady of the Rosary

Catholic ChurchRainy Day HobbiesREFund Indian Hill, LLCRichard C. Rollins Attorney

at LawRoyal Oak FordSachse ConstructionSagamore Motor LodgeSchutt & CompanyShanbom Eye SpecialistSigns By TomorrowStucky & Vitale Architects

Studio One ApartmentsSullivan Park Homeowners

AssociationThe Roeper SchoolTony’s Sports BarUBS Financial AdvisorsUniversity of Michigan

Detroit CenterUniversity of Michigan-DearbornVinsetta GarageWayne State University PressWetmore’s Inc.Whole Foods MarketWoodward Auto Woodward Place LLCYe Olde Butcher Shoppe

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

Max & Mary AnthovardTim & Amber RoseboomNeil FichtenbergPeter Frade, PhD Edward A. KatzLorraine & Thomas MooreSteve Olinek and Rebecca PowersSteve Baker

WA3 MEETS MEMBERSHIP GOALThe WA3 launched a Membership Drive to attract and recruit new members to help support the organization’s ongoing efforts to enhance, preserve and promote Woodward Avenue.

We are pleased to report that we met and exceeded our goal and in a three-month period, welcoming more than 70 new members and renewing members.

The WA3 wishes to thank its board members, Elizabeth Dryden of Charter One Bank, Tim Ross of Ross Mortgage and Mel Foster

who served on the official Membership Committee and helped champion this effort. We could not have reached our goals without you.

We would like to recognize the new and renewing members for their continued support — particularly our sustaining members who each contributed $1,000 in premiere membership dues.

www.woodwardavenue.org