15 minute read
Development remains steady despite pandemic
An artist’s rendering of the 150-156 N. Center Street project at the southeast corner of the N. Center and Dunlap.
Advertisement
There is a plan in place for the historic building at 341 E. Main Street.
Development Keeps Rolling Despite pandemic, city and township approving plenty of projects
By Lonnie Huhman
There’s no lack of new and planned development in the Northville community. Here’s a breakdown of some of the projects already taking place or planned in the coming months in both the city and township.
Starting in the township, there are some new commercial development and plans for residential. Northville Township Planner Jennifer Frey highlighted some of the projects the community might be interested in: • Chick-Fil-A (Haggerty, south of 8 Mile – in front of Kohls) – Construction is supposed to begin this summer. • Premier Academy – 40724 7 Mile (7 Mile at Fry) • New office building – next to
Premier Academy (7 Mile at
Smock) • First Watch – 15311 Beck
Road (5 Mile & Beck @
Village at Northville) • Hotel 2 Suites – 47450 5 Mile (5 Mile & Beck @ Village at
Northville) • New office building – 41200 5
Mile (east of Winchester) • Willow Pines – 130 Senior
Independent Living (on Ward
Church property, north of the church) • Ball fields at Ward Church –
Two new fields that will be available for public use • Dekah Lash - 15424 Sheldon (northeast corner of 5 Mile and Sheldon)
“We are steady,” said Frey.
Other township projects in the review/approval process are: • Northville Glades – Haggerty, north of 5 Mile (between
Church & Woodside Villager) 48 Townhomes • Westridge – northwest corner of 6 Mile and Ridge – 5 unit detached condominiums • Multi-tenant Industrial building (expansion of an existing building – Metro
Auto Leasing) – 50595 6 Mile (east of Napier)
In the City of Northville, two of the bigger developments are proposed to be constructed on North Center and East Main Street.
At the southeast corner of the N. Center and Dunlap intersection is a proposed development called the 150-156 N. Center Street project, which is now going through the city’s review/approval process.
According to the city, the applicant is proposing to demolish the existing one-story building at 156 N. Center Street, as well as an addition on the rear of the adjacent building to the south of Tuscan Café (150 N. Center Street).
“They are proposing to construct a new three-story building at the corner, and build a three-story addition onto the rear of the Tuscan Café building. They are also proposing to build a third floor on top of the existing Tuscan Café building,” city planning consultant, Carlisle Wortman Associates, said in their report. “Both addresses will have interior access to one another. The new building will be occupied by a restaurant on the first floor, and four residential units on the upper floors. The Tuscan Café building will continue to be occupied by the restaurant on the first floor, and have three residential units on the upper floors.”
The project at 341 E. Main Street, at the northwest corner of E. Cady Street and Griswold Street, had its final site plan approved at the Planning Commission’s June 16 meeting.
Guidobono, a Northvillebased developer, had petitioned to demolish the 2,400-squarefoot building, but will now restore and re-purpose the existing historic structure, which dates back to the 1800s. The developer’s next step is to prepare plans and submit for a building permit, city planning consultant Sally Elmiger said.
Guidobono is proposing to shift an existing historic structure to the east and south, and re-use the vacant building as an office. This proposal is considered a “change in use.”
“The existing parking lot will be slightly expanded to accommodate parking for the new use, and the existing paver driveway will be replaced with a new driveway,” the planning consultant report said. “The building shift and the slightly
expanded parking lot will create is still in the building phase is more room for the required moving forward, according to number of parking spaces.” the city. Northville Building In other city development news, Elmiger said the Historic District Commission’s approval for the Delano (106 E. Cady Street) project was extended. This project was last Official Brent Strong said this project is making progress now and the city is regularly conducting inspections as they move forward. A couple other items to • 100% AMERICAN ANGUS • NO HORMONES NO ANTIBIOTICS approved in June 2019. Elmiger report. The pandemic has put said the developer is working on the brakes on North Center plans to submit for a building Brewing Company’s move over permit. to The Hangar (formerly the
While not a development, Village Workshop), according Elmiger said the city’s Planning to owner Kevin DeGrood, who Commission did approve a is now hoping to expand at his process to review proposals for current location if possible. existing businesses impacted Brick’s, the restaurant located in by COVID-19 occupancy Northville Square, has closed its restrictions. She said the doors for good. The space won’t process reviews proposals to be empty for long. La Shish, locate dining in some of their the popular Mediterranean own parking spaces. restaurant, will be moving into
And finally, the condominium the site. project on North Center that
BURGER + BEER $10 EVERY THURSDAY BURGERFI CHEESEBURGER + REGULAR FRY + ANY DRAFT BEER
LOCATED IN NORTHVILLE PARK PLACE 18801 Traditions Dr, Northville, MI • (248) 308-3532
Where supporting our local businesses is & Main Center
downtownnorthville.com
Pictured: Genitti’s Main & Center Streets remain closed to traffic to accommodate outdoor dining & shopping.
“CARING, APPROACHABLE AND EASY TO CONTACT.” —Peggy M.
—Amy H. “MIKE HUSTLES HARD TO GET ME WHAT I WANT.” —Michael H.
“MADE THE WHOLE PROCESS SO SMOOTH.”
—Hailey R.
“I CAN’T IMAGINE WORKING WITH ANYONE ELSE.” —Bridget R. “HONEST, RELIABLE, KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND DEDICATED.” —Lindsey
“MADE HOME BUYING A BREEZE.” —Scott G.
—Clay H.
“I WOULD 10 OUT OF 10 RECOMMEND HIM.”
—Terrence K.
“MIKE MADE MY HOME BUYING EXPERIENCE THE BEST.” —Cassandra H.
“DIDN’T JUST TELL ME WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR.”
—Kendra H.
“I WOULD NE VER GO TO ANOTHER AGENT AF TER WORKING WITH MIKE.” —Michelle H. —Jason H.
“TRUST HIM 100%.” —Michelle S. “HANDS DOWN MIKE WILL BE THE ONLY ONE TO HANDLE MY REAL ESTATE DEALS.” —Josh K.
“GREAT TO WORK WITH, VERY PROFESSIONAL.” —Lori V.
“ALWAYS AVAIL ABLE TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS, HE IS THE BEST.” —Terri N.
—Ron C.
“HE GOT THE HOUSE SOLD VERY QUICKLY AT A PRICE BE T TER THAN I THOUGHT.” —Robin R.
“GUIDED US THROUGH EACH STEP.” —Carl K.
“ Life Is Short, Make A Move ”
MIKE TRIPOLI ASSOCIATE BROKER WWW.MIKETRIPOLI.COM 248-255-3259
Mallory Weber (second from left in left photo and far right above) with her Utah Royals teammates. Photos provided by Utah Royals By Brad Emons Bubble Bubble Life In A Life In A delivered to the apartment or to the stadium, before or after training. We can’t even go through a drive through to get coffee, or anything like that.” After sitting out the NWSL Challenge Cup opener with an injury, Weber returned to the lineup and showed off her versatility. She earned starts
Mollory Weber resumes pro soccer career amid pandemic both on the backline and up front, but her normal position is midfield.
If you want to know what has been able to be played, so home with multiple positive “Last year we played a more life is like in the COVID-19 I’ll take it,” said the former tests . . . since our team has traditional 4-4-2 formation, bubble, then professional Northville High and Penn State been in the bubble we haven’t but now we’re in a 3-5-2 so women’s soccer player standout. had a single positive. It’s kind I’m more of what they call a Mallory Weber can shed plenty Not breaking the bubble of cool to see that the players wing back,” Weber said. “So it of light. rules can be as challenging in this league are so committed allows me to get more into the
During the National as the games themselves as to the game. They are following attack and not have to worry Women’s Soccer League eight NWSL teams (excluding the rules.” defending as much. It gives me Challenge Cup, which was Orlando which dropped out) According to Weber, the more flexibility with a bit more launched June 30, the 26-yeartried to navigate the monthplayers are tested up to two or running. I’d say I’m usually old Weber had been holed up long tourney in July. three times a week to go along the attacking player and then in an apartment complex with “I've actually been really with other strict restrictions last year I had to step into the her teammates, coaches and impressed with how the league and social distancing. left back and it’s kind of given Utah Royals staff in Herriman, has put it together and all “You have to be tested me a little more of a two-sided a suburb of Salt Lake City. the amenities,” Weber said. three days before each game,” game.”
The NWSL became the first “They’ve got some really good she said. “We can only drive American team sport to resume sponsors that have just made it in these 15-passenger vans AUSTRALIA COMES CALLING play. really easy to kind of go through that we have, to and from our Playing both forward and
“I never felt more trapped or it. To see what the MLS is doing apartments, to training, and outside back, Weber recorded isolated, but it’s totally worth -- the same kind of bubble -- the apartments to the game. one assist in 18 matches with it because the tournament and having multiple teams sent All of our meals either are the Royals in 2019 after being
claimed off waivers by the Portland Thorns.
Weber played primarily a reserve role during her time in Portland (2016-18) where she made a total of 43 appearances as the Thorns captured the 2017 NWSL championship and won the NWSL Shield in 2016 (posting the league’s best regular season record).
While Weber has made Portland her offseason home, she cashed in on another opportunity to play this past winter in the Australia W-League for Adelaide United F.C. where she scored four goals in 11 appearances.
“It was an amazing experience,” said Weber, who was put on loan by Utah. “Got over there and the country is just beautiful. The soccer wasn’t as good as the NWSL, but it was kind of what I expected for a four-month season.”
When Weber returned to the U.S., she encountered a long layoff as the NWSL had to rearrange its schedule due to COVID-19, but she was not deterred.
“I would say I felt more fit in that period because we were pretty isolated and individualized in our training,” she said, “so there’s not a whole lot of soccer, game-like stuff you can do with one person, so it was a lot of running and technical stuff. I actually really felt good coming into the tournament.”
Weber has always been a self-starter dating back to her days as a youth. She played multiple sports growing up and was a two-time MVP for the Northville girls basketball team.
Her former Northville High girls soccer coach Eric Brucker recalls Weber’s “unbridled
Over the winter Webber played in the Australia W-League for Adelaide United F.C. where she scored four goals in 11 appearances. Photo by Ken Carter/Adelaide United FC
determination” as she earned All-State honors twice (2010- 11).
“There was never an ‘I can’t,’” said Brucker, who coached Weber for four years. “If she didn’t know how to do something, she’d work until she could. And that was the biggest thing. It was her compassion and self-discipline to make herself better. It was just her internal drive unmatched in most people I’ve ever met.” Mallory got a lot of that drive from her late mother Lisa Anne Christenson, who was tragically shot and killed by her estranged husband Gunar Donald Christenson in a murder-suicide at their Novi home during the summer of 2013 following Mallory’s freshman season at Penn
State.
Lisa worked for the Northville Department of Parks & Recreation and also coached.
“She was an amazing swimmer and she ran track,” Mallory said. “Growing up we played all kinds of sports as kids, and just her enthusiasm and passion for it, I think, just rubbed off on me and my brother (Mitch) . . . well maybe not as much (laughing).”
Mallory described her mother as “a jock” who was always up for a challenge.
“I think it was my freshman year (in high school) and she had told me she was faster than me in the 100, and I was like, ‘Oh, no way,’ and that’s kind of when I ran track in middle school,” Mallory recalled. “And she absolutely smoked me and she was 42 years-old.”
BIG TEN STANDOUT
After a prolific high school career and club stint with the Michigan Hawks, Weber became a coveted NCAA Division I soccer recruit where she landed in State College, Pa.
As a freshman at Penn State in 2012, she scored 13 goals, including five gamewinners, while earning All-Big Ten Freshman team honors as the Nittany Lions made it all the way to the NCAA Championship final. During her sophomore year she started all 23 games and made first-team All-Big Ten.
As a junior she scored eight goals for the second straight year. As a senior she was named the team’s co-captain as Penn
Bubble continued from page 25
State made a magical run to the 2015 NCAA College Cup final where Weber assisted on the game-winning goal to give the 22-3-2 Nittany Lions their first national title in school history in a 1-0 triumph over Duke.
As a senior, Weber was named first-team All-Big Ten, Academic All-Big Ten honors and was a finalist for the Soccer News Net College Boot award as the Nittany Lions also captured the Big Ten Conference crown.
During her four years at Penn State, Weber collected 36 goals and 100 career points in 100 appearances.
Internationally, she also played for the U.S. Youth National Team, the U.S. U-23 squad (2016) and was in the U.S. U-20 player pool (2013-14). She was also a member of the U-20 Women’s National Team that won the 2014 CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship.
Following her career at Penn State, Weber was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NWSL College Draft by the Western New York Flash, but was traded shortly after to Portland where she plans to make it her permanent home.
“I love Portland,” Weber said. “After being there for 3½ seasons and just being there year-round, I just love the area and just love the city.”
Utah’s run in the NWSL Challenge Cup ended prematurely in the quarterfinals on July 18 losing to the Houston Dash on penalty kicks, 3-2, after a scoreless deadlock. The Royals finished
1-3-1 (four points) during the tournament.
Following the Challenge Cup, the NWSL was trying to evaluate how to resume the regular season without all nine teams being quarantined following the Utah bubble phase.
“We have a new commissioner (Lisa Baird) and her first main priority was to try and keep the sponsors on board and to get the TV deal,” Weber said. “She wanted to make sure that no matter what, we would still be getting our paycheck.”
Meanwhile, Mallory’s biggest supporter is her grandmother Jeanne Bowman, who visited Utah last season and was there for all of Weber’s home openers for three years in Portland. She also attended a couple of games
The NWSL was the first American team sport to resume play in June with no fans.
in nearby Chicago.
Mallory continues to feel her late mother’s presence. Lisa Ann is always there in spirit.
“I think she’d absolutely love it,” Weber said. “She’d would be flying out for every single game with my grandma. Kind of cool for her (Bowman) to carry it on.”
YOUR HOMETOWN BUILDER
OUR MISSION
NEW HOMES — Building your new home is exciting, especially when you understand how the process works. Mike Miller Building Company will walk you through each step of the construction of your dream home.
RENOVATIONS & ADDITIONS — We manage the process of renovating your home in a completely transparent and organized way. We preserve what is good in the existing structure and blend in the new work as needed. This way, when complete, the house is exactly what you envisioned.
“From concept to completion, Mike Miller Building Company’s goal is to build an incredible home that its customers will cherish for a lifetime. Whether you’re new to the home buying process or not, we understand that it’s perhaps the single largest financial decision you will make.”
MIKE MILLER FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
