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MI EXCEL WORK IS A STATEWIDE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE designed to fill in student achievement gaps, and ensure students are receiving a top-notch education across the board by narrowing in on the school that needs it the most.

“We joined the MI Excel (Blueprint) work in December of 2015,” explained Corri Nastasi, Hazel Park’s Webb Elementary School Principal. “Our district was invited to learn about this work due to the fact that at the time we had a school – Hoover Elementary – on the Focus Schools list for the state.”

School Board Trustee, Rachel Noth added, “Three years ago we had a district that was struggling. We had found out that we were in deficit, central office staff had resigned, and we had to think about the future of our District.

During that time, we worked with Oakland Schools and the State of Michigan to get a deficit elimination plan together. Once that was set, we then went through the grueling process of hiring a superintendent. Fortunately, we were able to find Dr. Amy Kruppe. Dr. Kruppe and some of our staff went to a conference where Grant Chandler was speaking about MI Excel. When they came back they were really inspired about the program, and knew that it could help our District. From there, the board adopted the MI Excel framework.”

In order to bring the curriculum up to state standards at Hoover by building capacity needed to increase student achievement and decrease achievement gaps, administrators decided to implement MI Excel. “The work we are doing involves an overhaul of how we do business – a systemic reconfiguration,” Nastasi explained. “MI Excel has developed a blueprint of systems that are proven through research to be effective. There is a specific plan for different stages throughout the implementation process. The focus is to put systems in place that will help us more effectively provide quality education for our students.”

Board President, Laura Adkins, said, “Thankfully Hoover Elementary is no longer a Focus School, but we are continuing to use MI Excel. The District has had a lot of change during the last few years, and implementing this program has definitely contributed to that. The School Board is excited about the progress that the Hazel Park School District is making.”

Specific goals for Hazel Park’s district include a desire “to put systems and procedures in place to improve the quality of our work in the district in a short amount of time. The ultimate goal is to increase student achievement for our students,” according to Nastasi.

Unfortunately, because of the aggressive timeline proposed to reconfigure current systems and the complications that come along with overhauling existing processes, the District has realized a few challenges along the way.

“​There have been some minor setbacks as we push forward to do this hard work in a short amount of time. Many times it involves us going back and reviewing some things or improving procedures,” Nastasi explained, but added that staff realizes it’s important to implement change.

“This program is important to all staff because it helps our district function as a complete system, so whichever building you are working at will have the same procedures policies and systems in place. It also provides a predictable structure for how we do business. K-12 curriculum and assessments have been written and are updated yearly based on ​teacher feedback,” she said.

By rolling out MI Excel, Hazel Park will operate more consistently as a district, and this consistency helps ease information flow and ensure that all students are receiving the same educational standards. Nastasi said, “All of the buildings are on the same page. There is much more consistency across our systems. There is more discussion about the importance of teaching and learning. Teachers and administrators work together to improve instruction on a regular basis. We are more tuned in to not only the academic needs, but also the non-academic needs of students.”

Asked what the future of using MI Excel within Hazel Park’s schools looks like, Nastasi explained, “​We are currently using the MI Excel framework as we do the work of teaching and learning on a regular basis. This was rolled out in January of 2016 and has been a continuous work in progress. The future of this framework involves a consistent process​for utilizing the framework, collecting data from students, community members, and staff, and making updates and improvements to the systems as needed. The ideal future is that all systems are in place and being utilized confidently by all Hazel Park stakeholders for the continued success of our students and families.”

For more information on MI Excel Works, please visit the Department of Education at www.michigan.gov and visit the MI Excel Resource Center at
www.miexcelresourcecenter.org

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THE UAW SCHOOL TO WORK OPTION STARTED THREE YEARS AGO with Hazel Park’s first group graduating this past June. “The School to Work program was estab-lished via our Promise Zone coordinator Kayla Roney,” explained Hazel Park’s Director of Curriculum Integration and Instruction, Dr. Carla Postell. “Chrysler came to our partner to offer the program and worked with Kayla to shape it. This allows for students to determine their future if they are interested in going into skilled trades. There are five or six skilled trades available for them to learn.”

The UAW School to Work program is a two-year offering in which students have an opportunity to attend hands-on classes outside of the normal classroom setting at the UAW training site off of 9 Mile Rd. in Warren. “They learn soft skills during the first year, then it’s more hands-on during the second as they really dig into the trades,” Dr. Postell said. “So, they’ll learn about things such as workplace safety and health, the manufacturing process, and look at equipment, then delve into mechanical engineering, welding, electrical, and so forth.” She added, “Students essentially have an opportunity to get the same exposure as candidates would in the full-time Chrysler program. They’re able to put this on their resume, and will receive a certificate of completion and honor cords once successfully graduating from the program.”

During their eleventh-grade year, every student in the Hazel Park district has an opportunity to tour Chrysler’s facility. They can then choose to complete an application and write an essay if they are interested, and participate in an interview process. “Those selected will go to the Warren location during the second half of their junior year for half a day each day during the week. This is something available to alternative education as well as high school students.”

Steve Nemeckay, Principal at Hazel Park Advantage, said two of his students really stood out. “The first student that comes to mind is Marcus White. Marcus graduated this year and while attending the Chrysler/UAW program he had perfect attendance for two consecutive years. He received two awards for his attendance and often volunteered to help with any school activity that we had. The second student is Thomas Emmons. He also graduated this year after attending the Chrysler/UAW program the last two years. Thomas was the leader among the Chrysler/UAW students – both HPHS and Advantage students. He earned an award as outstanding student of the social studies department.”

According to Dr. Postell, Chrysler informs their students that they can also choose to apply directly through the company website but choosing to do so through their school is potentially a more lucrative option, because the skills students learn are transferable, and they can use their credentials to be placed at other companies as well.

Dr. Postell offered, “Every year, the number of Hazel Park students attending has increased. The first year we had approximately fifteen or sixteen members, and this past year was our largest yet. Roughly twenty-five to thirty students, in total, are selected.”

 

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THE HAZEL PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ACTIVELY BUILDING a K-12 STEM pathway through a variety of programs and initiatives. The STEM acronym represents Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and encompasses the processes of critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. Students integrate processes and concepts in these areas necessary for college and career success.

This past year, Hazel Park instituted STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) time for all K-5 students at least one to two times per week. “The K-5 program exposes the students to the fundamentals of programming and coding and teaches them the design-thinking process. We have a 3D printer in all environments and teach them basic CAD skills,” said Stephanie Dulmage, Director of 21st Century Learning.
By the time students reach junior high, “they have the opportunity to participate in a technology and media literacy class. In this class, they do programming and coding, learn how to navigate digital media, and develop other technology-related skills. They work with Google applications and use these tools to support and extend their learning,” Dulmage explained.

She added, “We believe so strongly in immersing students in STEM learning opportunities that all sixth, seventh and eighth grade students participate in two Project Lead The Way courses each year. All courses are related to science and engineering.” Project Lead The Way courses provide a project-based curriculum that develops technical, science, creativity, communication, and collaboration skills.

THIS PAST YEAR, HAZEL PARK EXPANDED STEM offerings to include FIRST Robotics. FIRST is an international program that offers students an opportunity to develop technology, engineering, and robotics skills which help foster confidence, leadership skills, and innovation. Teams were implemented at United Oaks, Hazel Park Junior High, and Hazel Park High School. “Our goal is to expand to all elementary buildings during the 2018-2019 school year,” said Dulmage.

K-5 students at United Oaks Elementary School had the opportunity to be part of the FIRST LEGO League, in which they were given a challenge and had to respond by building a robot capable of solving the game challenge, and develop a research project. This year’s challenge focused on water – how to find, transport, use, or dispose of it. After receiving some background information on the city’s water system from Hazel Park’s Department of Public Works (DPW), students developed a prototype capable of demonstrating filtration and an innovative approach to water purification. The team placed well at the competition and were honored for their efforts at the June 26 City Council meeting.

At the Junior High, students who are part of the FIRST Tech Challenge team are building problem-solving prototypes based on their interpretation of challenge guidelines and rules. This year’s rookie team successfully built a competition-ready robot.

HAZEL PARK HIGH SCHOOL HAS OFFERED a Robotics Club for several years, providing students with hands-on experience in math, science, robotics, and engineering. Students in the club participate in a variety of competitions including the Square One Autonomous Innovative Vehicle Design, Sea Perch, and Robofest at LTU. The team attended two events during their first go-round and ended the season with a solid performance.
The High School will also offer a business-focused program next year designed to position students well post-graduation. “Next year, Hazel Park High School will offer a LEAN fundamentals course as well. Lean Manufacturing is a way to improve paradigms through critical thinking and reflection, and to improve processes through piloting of ideas and solutions. The Lean Fundamentals course provides high school students with real-world applications of skills in mathematics, process engineering, problem-solving, observation, entrepreneurship, marketing, and inventory control.” Students will receive a Lean Fundamentals Certificate of Completion as part of the successful completion of this course.

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MICHIGAN’S INTEGRATED BEHAVIOR AND LEARNING SUPPORT INITIATIVE (MIBLSI) IS A STATE-AND FEDERALLY- FUNDED PROJECT. MIBLSI helps intermediate and local school districts implement and sustain a multi-tier system of supports (MTSS) in their schools to improve student outcomes in behavior and learning. The purpose is to provide support within the district as a whole as well as in each building by installing Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

“I am the coordinator for the behavior part of the program, which is called Promoting Positive School Climate,” said Dr. Michelle Krause, Hazel Park’s Supervisor of Special Education. The Promoting Positive School Climate (PPSC) program helps districts focused on utilizing behavioral resources.

“The process begins by installing a District leadership team who will then support building level teams,” explained Dr. Krause. “The installation of the leadership team began late last year and continued into this year. Part of that team’s job was to identify individuals at each building who would take on the role of PBIS trainer and coach. Second, was for each building to identify PBIS building level leadership teams who would support their building in the implementation process. The trainers and coaches were identified, trained, and then came back to the district to train the building level teams.”

This year Hazel Park had four training sessions and the focus was on developing Tier 1 interventions and supports. Buildings identified behavior expectations for all students and developed how those expectations would be acknowledged. A formal kickoff occurred in January in which students were taught expectations in each area of their buildings.

Next year, Hazel Park will begin focusing on Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions for those who need more individualized attention. These may include a check-in, check-out system in which a student is paired with an adult who acts as their support. It may also involve developing individual behavior plans.

“As we proceed with implementation, the coaches support teachers in the classroom to assist in using the building-wide system to build a classroom management system,” Dr. Krause said. “Additionally, all buildings use the School-wide Information System (SWIS) which allows tracking of behavioral referrals so that we can access that data at any point in time and use it to adjust what we are doing both as a district as well as in individual schools.”

The program is reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure it is progressing as expected. “We regularly review progress in implementation and behavioral data with our board of education. Each building holds monthly building leadership team meetings to discuss student data and see if there are any areas that need adjustment or revision,” said Dr. Krause.

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EDISON MAX, ALSO REFERRED TO AS “ED MAX,” IS A CENTER PROGRAM OPERATED BY THE HAZEL PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT ON BEHALF THE OAKLAND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT (ISD), which serves students across Oakland County with emotional and behavioral disabilities.

The program is staffed with Hazel Park teachers, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and support staff who not only help students in their home district but in areas such as Avondale, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Clawson, Berkley, Ferndale, Oak Park, Madison Heights, Royal Oak, South Lyon, Walled Lake and West Bloomfield.

“We serve students in approximately 18 different districts within Oakland County. Our building is K-12, and has been housed in the Edison building since 2002,” explained Dr. Michelle Krause, Hazel Park’s Supervisor of Special Education.
“Prior to that, the high school part of the program was located at Hazel Park High, and the junior high and elementary programs were located at the former Beecher Jr. High building.”

Dr. Krause noted since the move very little has been done in the way of renovation or updates. “The building was built in the ‘50s and has needed work both cosmetically and mechanically,” she said. “About two years ago there was conversation at the ISD level that Edison needed to be more on par with our counterpart in the north, Kingsley Montgomery Center, which is located in Waterford and serves the northern district. Kingsley had a major renovation about seven years ago.”

THERE WERE MANY STEPS THAT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN BY THE DISTRICT to get the project approved, but Hazel Park accomplished these late in 2017 as a result of the support of both the ISD as well as the superintendents of Oakland County Schools. The project will involve a complete renovation of the existing building as well as the addition of square footage to serve students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as well as students aged 18-26 who have emotional disabilities.

“All furnishings will be new, and we will be adding several additional rooms such as an upgraded sensory room, a life skills room, a STEM lab and greenhouse,” Dr. Krause explained.

These programs will be temporarily housed in a separate location for the upcoming school year, but construction will finalize the following year. “The project timeline was for our program to be moved to a temporary location for the 2018-2019 school year during which construction would start at Edison. Construction would then be completed over the next year with a scheduled return to Edison for the 2019-2020 school year,” she said, noting everyone has had the ability to get involved in rolling out the Ed MAX program.

She said, “Throughout the process all stakeholders have been involved in the decision making. I was able to identify a school team to sit in meetings with architects, construction managers, and interior designers so that we could get input from the professionals who will actually utilize the building. It has been a very interesting process, and staff and students alike are extremely excited for the upcoming changes we will have in our new building.”

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HAZEL PARK HAS RECENTLY EXPANDED ITS ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) COURSE OFFERINGS TO STUDENTS. DOCTOR CARLA POSTELL, DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM INTEGRATION AND INSTRUCTION, SAID, “Originally, the district offered only two AP English classes – language and literature – and one class in the art program, because the rest were cut due to our limited budget.” However, she explained, “Within the last year or two, in addition to these three, we’ve been able to add AP psychology, biology, world history, government, and statistics.” The courses offered depend largely on student interest and funding.

Dr. Postell explained that the process for identifying students who qualify for AP course placement is two-fold. “Students can express interest on their own, and counselors often offer their recommendations and guidance. If a student is deter-mined to qualify for AP courses, their counselors will continue the process for placement.” Parents also tend to express interest in placing students when the school sends a form home with course offerings for the following year. “Parents are required to sign this, so they’ll review the card and ensure they’re taking what they need to,” she said. Students interested in advanced placement will then take an exam that will determine whether they can participate.

The AP program helps students develop cognitive skills necessary for success post-graduation. “Just having kids be able to extend their learning base and be able to leave with college credit is great and takes dollars off when they go to ap-ply for college,” said Dr. Postell.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Courses
THE DISTRICT ALSO RECENTLY INCREASED ITS CTE COURSE OFFERINGS to include business education, digital media, and woodworking options.

“These are the three main umbrella areas under which various individual courses are offered,” explained Dr. Postell. “We’ve increased the program over the past two years. High school students are able to self-select for these.”

Students can also be nominated and identified for CTE county-wide programs, as well as recognized at an annual Oakland County banquet. They are recognized at the CTE Recognition Banquet and Conference through Oakland County Inter-mediate School District, which is held in May.

Some notable students who graduated from the program this year include:

• CHARLES GREY: Grey transformed during his time in the program and is looking at making a career in the skilled trades as a result of being in the program.
• MARCUS WHITE: White had perfect attendance for two consecutive years. He received two awards for his attendance and often volunteered to help with school activities.
• THOMAS EMMONS: Emmons was a leader among the Chrysler/UAW students (both HPHS and Advantage students). He earned an award as outstanding student of the social studies department.

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HAZEL PARK OFFERS SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES AT ALL SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION TO SCHOOL-AGED SERVICES, THE DISTRICT ALSO OFFERS early childhood special education and early intervention options. According to Director of Student Services, Vita Lusk, “If a child is found eligible for special education services through the evaluation process, the team develops an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and determines the programs and/or services to be provided.” Some of these services include psycho-logical, speech and language, school social work, and occupational and physical therapy interventions.

Early intervention is “designed for children from birth to three years of age,” Lusk explained, while the early childhood program is a classroom-based option for children three to five years of age, and “addresses the developmental hierarchy of skills necessary for success in later formal education,” she said. There is also a resource room program, which provides assistance for eligible students who still spend a majority of time in a general education setting.

For students with cognitive impairment specifically, individualized instruction in classrooms taught by a special education teacher is offered so they can live independently later in life. For those with emotional impairment, classrooms with a small number of students are provided at the elementary and middle school levels, which focus on the development of appropriate behavior skills necessary to be successful in school and beyond. Students in both programs are provided with opportunities in a general setting, whenever appropriate. Students who qualify for Hazel Park’s autism spectrum disorder program are provided with individualized instruction focused on the development of communication, cognitive, social-emotional, self-help and vocational skills for older students.

THE HAZEL PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT ALSO OPERATES CENTER-BASED OPPORTUNITIES, which service students throughout Oakland County. Placement in these programs is determined by the Individualized Education Program Team (IEPT). Yet, because they are county-wide, residency in Hazel Park does not guarantee placement.

Edison is a center-based program for students with Emotional Impairment. The program focuses on the development of appropriate behavior skills necessary to be successful in school and beyond. Students are provided with opportunities in general education, when appropriate, to allow them to develop social skills in the environment in which they naturally occur.

Jardon has served special education students throughout Oakland County since 1966, who continue to qualify for adult transition services and programs after their senior year in high school that require specialized services to meet their adult transition needs. “Jardon’s program focuses on community integration, work experiences and adult living skills,” said Lusk. The program prepares students to successfully integrate into their communities of adult living, through an individualized program and curriculum. “Jardon has extensive partnerships with many local businesses and community agencies that support young adults with special needs,” she said, adding that the program “continues to look for partnerships to provide students with work experiences and community integration, and is also seeking partnerships to support restoration of programs that have previously provided students with additional skill development.”

For more information on Hazel Park’s special education opportunities and assistance, families are encouraged to call 248.658.5204.

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By Becky Hammond

GENTRIFICATION SEEMS AN OVERUSED WORD THESE DAYS, AND IT NOW HAS SUCH MULTIPLE MEANINGS THAT IT’S MAYBE BEEN LEFT WITH NONE. But it’s a constant topic, a current running throughout news stories that seem to be about other subjects. If you’re reading the Free Press or People or listening to NPR, whether the topic is Ford buying the historic depot in SW Detroit or the Brady Bunch house selling, the accompanying multiple meanings that its maybe left with none. But it’s a constant topic, a current running throughout news stories that seem to be about other subjects. If you’re reading the Free Press or People or listening to NPR, whether the topic is Ford buying the historic depot in SW Detroit or the Brady Bunch house selling, the accompanying changes in the communities are an automatic and expected part of the story.

Ferndale was once called “the new Royal Oak,” with some excitement. Our downtown seemed empty. Royal Oak’s new popularity and higher rents were our gain. Now, “Don’t Royal Oak My Ferndale” is a new catchphrase. It was probably inevitable that Berkley and Clawson’s business districts were doomed to be called ‘New Ferndales,’ and it’s probably just as inevitable that Oak Park’s and Hazel Park’s residential districts seeing home prices shoot up as Ferndale out of reach for many. The changes any city goes through are constant. They have ripple effects.

When is enough enough? How much is too much? And who decides? Peter Werbe, a long-time Oak Park resident, told me, “Most of the Ferndal-ization of Oak Park is occurring on the city’s East Side. Young families and hipsters are taking advantage of the real estate prices that are lower than those in Ferndale and Royal Oak, but it also means that home prices are skyrocketing. Which is good; except the down side, like in all gentrification, is what happens to the poorer people who get displaced?”

Cities and neighborhoods nationwide face these challenges. The Highlands is a funky neighborhood in Louisville, KY, which shouts its indie character. After a visit, I contacted Carmichael’s Bookstore to find out if, given the appeal of what independent people achieved there, developers were in the wings. But the Highlands have been organized and prepared for a long time. “There is an association for businesses called
the Highland Commerce Guild and several neighborhood associations in the area that are very active about growth. There is also a committee one must apply to about any changes to zoning, signage, parking, etc., and most importantly we have a very active Buy Local organization in Louisville.”

There always seems to be a connection between bookstores and neighborhoods with character. Ferndale and Oak Park boast Book Beat, King Books, and The Library Bookstore on 9 Mile. Regarding a feared influx of chains in Ferndale, longtime Library Books owner Martha Sempliner said that chains “. . .destroy every bit of individualism. We get that effort in Ferndale. We have people that will provide it. That gumption, that stick-to-it-iveness impresses me. I don’t want chains that take over individual effort. You can get that anywhere. I want a walkable city where people can go to a number of kinds of businesses that are useful to them. We don’t need a zillion bars.”

Ferndale resident Jeannie Davis echoed Martha: “In the ‘70s, Ferndale’s downtown was filled with retail, and moms shopping for kids. The kids moved away, retail dried up, and our downtown was desolate. Because of innovative thinking, we reinvented ourselves, and became a destination for people looking to eat and drink. Suddenly Ferndale was cool, and property prices went up. Now, with the guidance of different innovative leaders, we are changing again. We are greatly expanding our number of places to live. Lots more rentals, and condos. I don’t know if that’s good or bad.

CERTAIN RESIDENTS WANT SOME OF THE CHANGES, not others.

John Hardy said, “Yes, Royal Oak my Ferndale. The East side has no problem with it. Just spend some of the taxes on this side like they should be doing, and not putting new houses and apartments where they absolutely and positively do not belong!

An anonymous semi-newcomer told me, “There are a lot of people my age and younger (20s-to-mid 30s), and probably newer residents and homeowners, who see large building initiatives – which will turn Ferndale into more of an urban area – as ‘progress’ because they want to live in a cool, hip city without living in Detroit. They’re also people who might live here for five or so years before they move to a different suburb for a larger house in an area they perceive as having better schools. They kind of champion investment in a ‘good time’ instead of a ‘long time’, because they want to live in a cool, fun place while they’re young and move their families someplace they perceive as being more family-friendly later on. This seems to be in direct conflict with some people who have lived here longer and raised a family here when it was a sleepier suburb, and want to keep it that way.”

Does Royal Oak enjoy its reputation as the thing to imitate and yet not be? Comparisons abound no matter the city. Oak Park resident Ann-Marie Young said, “I don’t know about this ‘Royal-Oak-my-Oak-Park’ idea. An important distinction between the two cities is this: Oak Park is a community. We know our neighbors. We look out for each other. We celebrate birthdays and create meal trains during difficult times. If a driveway or sidewalk needs shoveling we keep going clearing the path across property lines.”

Vittoria Valenti is just as enthusiastic. “We moved to Oak Park almost a year ago and love it! We lived in Royal Oak previously, and were looking to buy in a city with more of a neighbor-hood vibe. We’re extremely happy with the city services offered and compared to neighboring cities they are exceptional. That said, I’d love to see the vacant store fronts on 9 Mile filled with a diversity of tenants. I’d prefer to spend my money within the city of Oak Park, but right now it’s hard. Royal Oak, Ferndale, or Berkley offer more variety and higher quality options. I’m not particularly interested in a nightlife scene in Oak Park, but affordable, quality restaurants would be a great addition. We don’t need to become mirrors of our neighboring cities, but we should find our niche to remain competitive and relevant. The last thing I think anyone wants to see is people moving into Oak Park for proximity to these other cities and not becoming part of our community.”

John Vavrek: “Oak Park needs a vibrant and attractive downtown area. Connecting to the Ferndale 9 Mile corridor with businesses and restaurants is also not a bad idea.”

SOME CITIES SUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT DEVELOPMENT DECADES AGO, and now are correcting their previous course. Yellow Springs, Ohio is a charming town near Dayton that took warnings about a potentially exploding population in the 1960s seriously. Executive Director Karen Wintrow’s descriptions of no-growth and no-sprawl policies make Yellow Springs sound like a small Vermont. But now a need for more housing density has resulted in a revamping of zoning laws. And successes like a thriving tourist industry give rise to fears that the walkable downtown with businesses residents actually need is leading to too many galleries and gift shops. Experiments like turning an old high school into community space worked until the private owner neglected the building to the point where now it can’t be sold.

Cities like Ferndale have similar concerns and successes. Lakewood, Ohio, is a suburb of Cleveland with a reputation like Ferndale’s. Resident Todd Flenner told me about “…all of the luxury condos going up in our city and who the hell is going to live there? Lakewood has always been a city with funky, cool, old buildings and local businesses. We try to fight the corporate chains opening up, sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. I think the city is still going in a good direction with a few speed bumps along the way. We still remain one of the most diverse cities.”

Diversity is a source of pride in Ferndale, too.

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By Ingrid Sjostrand

NINE MILE AND WOODWARD MIGHT BE THE HOTSPOT IN THE FERNDALE AREA FOR SHOPPING, DINING AND SOCIALIZING, but there are other neighborhoods popping up and competing for attention. One is the newly developing Iron Ridge District, running along Bermuda Street between 10 Mile and 9 Mile Roads in Pleasant Ridge and the northeast corner of Ferndale.

At first glance, most of the space still resembles the industrial sector of its past. But it is quickly filling with tenants, and development company Iron Ridge Holdings LLC has plans to turn it into a more welcoming, community-centric space. Brooke Gieber, Iron Ridge Holdings Team Member, explains the goals for the area.

“We really are in the business of building community. It will truly be a mixed-use development, with plans for additional retail space, hospitality and residential,” she says. “Still staying true to the industrial and manufacturing heritage of the community, but also bringing some modern amenities and neighborhood services.”

Current businesses include Farm Field Table, a locally-sourced butcher, Provisions cheese shop and Urbanrest Brewery, all located off Woodward Heights and gaining popularity and acclaim among Ferndale and regional residents. Matt Romine, founder of Farm Field Table, says choosing the Iron Ridge District for his business made sense in a variety of ways.

“First of all, Iron Ridge is a great location logistically. Second, the lease rates were great which made the decision easy for a brand-new company,” Romine says. “Thirdly, and most importantly, the attitude and vision of the other tenants of Iron Ridge was very attractive for us. It’s a place for builders and entrepreneurs to operate independently, but as a tight knit group…there are several trusted professionals who are eager to help.”

At the other end of Bermuda near 10 Mile Rd and I-696, the district crosses into Pleasant Ridge. This area is referred to as the Iron Ridge Marketplace. The main marketplace “tower” has some history; originally built as Voigt/Oakman brewery in the late 1930s, it acted as the E-Prize headquarters in the early-mid 2000s before the vacant space was purchased by Iron Ridge Holdings.

Businesses in the Marketplace include the Iron Ridge Holdings offices, Urban Ridge Realty, web development company Loudbaby, furniture designer Alex Drew & No One, 3D engineering services Fisher Unitech, business incubator Excelerate America, advertising agency Driven Creative Supply Co. and newly-opened gym Pulse Fitness.

Alex Rosenhaus, co-owner of Alex Drew & No One, has seen a benefit of the district’s efforts to build relationships among businesses.

“Iron Ridge is building an excellent community for small businesses. Having relationships with fellow tenants like Provisions has even brought us work, like the cheese boards we make for their store,” he says. “We are excited to be a part of the Iron Ridge community as it continues to grow.”

AS THE SPACE IS RENOVATED, more tenants will move in, and plans for a beer garden, brewery and even residential space are in the works for the future.

“It’s a unique situation with adaptive reuse, as we have tenants moving in all the time and there are different types of activation happening concurrently with pop-up community events,” Gieber says.

While there won’t be a hard completion date, many tenants have found unique ways to keep interest piqued during construction. Prior to opening on June 23rd, Pulse Fitness held open house and workout events at Iron Ridge, and Drifter Coffee hosted pop ups and festivals throughout the spring and summer on the property as they wait for their permanent space to be constructed. Iron Ridge Holdings has held several of their own events too.

“We have a lot of things in the works that are really exciting in terms of community programming and how we want to help,” Gieber says. “We aren’t just real estate developers, we are place-makers and are able to help with adaptive reuse of space and find ways that actually enhance what’s already going on in these amazing communities.”

Some of these community programs included a tree lighting during the holiday season, Taco Tuesdays and Food Truck Fridays. Plans are also in the works for cinematic and live music events in the next few months. Current and future tenants all agree these events have helped their businesses.

“Food Truck Fridays brings a lot of foot traffic to our studio, and is an exciting event Iron Ridge has been organizing to bring more people to the area,” Rosenhaus says.

Cathy Koch of K-Tec Systems adds, “This is a unique area where businesses collaborate to help with each other’s success. The Iron Ridge area truly promotes a livable, walkable, working neighborhood.”

Gieber says many more things are in the works for the district and the best place to follow Iron Ridge developments are through Facebook and Instagram – @ironridgemarketplace.

“As a resident of Ferndale, I’m excited to see different portions of the city highlighted and gaining neighborhood services that make it a more walk-able area,” Gieber says. “As things get more activated and new tenants host their grand openings, we are excited to see how this space will play out –not only having these amenities for our building tenants but for the surrounding community too.”

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By: Jessica L. Misch, Former Como’s Patron

FERNDALE, MICHIGAN COMPRISES PERHAPS THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community members in the state of Michigan. And yet, in 1961, it was a young, heterosexual single mother who had the gumption to scratch out a safe space in Ferndale for Michigan’s social undesirables to dine over pizza, drink spirits and find love in the company of friends: Como’s Restaurant.

In the early days of the gay right’s movement, Como’s stood in stark contrast to other gay spaces in Michigan. Como’s wasn’t a hole-in-the-wall bar that required a secret knock on an obscure door in shadow-filled alleys. Gay patrons brought an extra pair of shoes to those cryptic locations — running shoes — in the event of a police raid or a bomb thrown. No, Como’s was different. The large, outdoor patio and spacious indoor setting exuded an ambiance of safety, even normality. GLBT patrons weren’t considered sinners or diseased lepers at Como’s. Patrons were out in the open on the corner of 9 Mile and Woodward, protected by a bright red canopy, while fresh air flowed through multiple entrances.

Beyond the inclusiveness, open layout and hot plates of Italian food, Como’s was a family business. However, most people knew there was a strong matriarch orchestrating things. This strong and focused woman was the engine behind Como’s life, growth and stability. She and her multi-service gay bar were the community saviors when there were few alternatives, when society wanted to erase people who didn’t conform to heterosexual gender norms.

Being an entrepreneur is challenging. Being a young-single woman with a child, while building a gay bar in bigot Michigan during the 1960s can only be described as monumental. Como’s stood the test of time in socially unfavorable environments. Decade after decade, Como’s helped give birth to an LGBTQ service industry, carving out paths, streets and sidewalks with an overflowing traffic of patrons for the trendy bars and restaurants bustling in Ferndale today.

Time passed. The landscape changed. Music drummed out a new rhythm. Como’s, like our very own grandmothers, aged; her energy slowed. And, still, the younger generation demanded more. Como’s struggled to keep the pulse, much like our own frail and beloved grandmothers. When our grandparents lose their ability to remain independent and are unable to meet the demands of society, they become frustrated, perhaps even cantankerous. But we should never abandon or forget those who have cared for us for so long when they are unable to carry on.

COMO’S IS CLOSED. THERE ARE NO SIZZLING PIZZAS BEING PULLED from its once steaming ovens. But, regardless of its successor, the spirit of Como’s will forever imbue Michigan’s LGBTQ history. Walk by Como’s, and ready your cameras to appreciate the six decades of rich history, a business that broke obstinate homophobic molds in the state of Michigan with a proverbial sledgehammer.

The closing of Como’s presents a historic opportunity for the community of Ferndale to define its values. For me, as a child of Michigan who witnessed Como’s thrive in its younger years, I contemplate my duty to this aged pillar in Michigan’s LGBTQ history, an establishment that gave me reason to believe in my own value in the 1980s when society offered me few.

Thank you, Como’s. Your spirit lives on, dear friend

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