Tanya Muzumdar

Tanya Muzumdar's Latest Articles

American Broach & Machine Co. invests $1.5M in Ypsilanti building

By Tanya Muzumdar

●

Development News

●

January 23, 2013

To keep up with production and R&D demands, American Broach & Machine Co., a maker of broaches (metal cutting tools), broaching machines, and CNC and manual broach tool sharpening machines for the auto, aircraft, train, off-road vehicle, defense, and other industries, recently purchased a new 42,880 sq. ft. building at 535 S. Mansfield St. in Ypsilanti. Adjacent to its 23,200 sq. ft. current location at 575 S. Mansfield St., the acquisition means a near-tripling of the company's current total square footage. American Broach & Machine Co. has been in business since 1919, and once employed Rosie the Riveter (Geraldine Hoff Doyle) as a broaching machine operator in its former Ann Arbor factory. The company will keep its existing building and move about half of its employees and equipment to the new location, beginning in June. The move should be completed by September, says President Ken Nemec. "We're going to be making broach tools in that plant and working on R&D projects for the broach and metal-cutting business. We've got three or four irons in the fire of things we'd like to develop," Nemec says. The purchase price was just under $1 million, and the company will invest another $500,000 in upgrades prior to moving in, according to Nemec. Upgrades include more efficient heating, ventilation and cooling systems systems, and high-efficiency lights using one-third the electricity of the current fixtures. The company has 48 employees and has been consistently hiring, adding a new position every 1-2 months, Nemec says. The average salary is over $50,000 per year. There are 4-5 job openings right now. "We're looking for unskilled trainee workers that have an aptitude for becoming a toolmaker. Over the next five years I anticipate adding probably 30 positions like that, " Nemec says, adding, "Within five years, maximum ten, we'd like to have 100 employees." Source: Ken Nemec, president, American Broach & Machine Co. Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Ann Arbor Greenbelt brings protected land tally to over 4,100 acres

By Tanya Muzumdar

●

Development News

●

January 16, 2013

Just shy of the one-third mark of a 30-year millage approved by voters in 2003, the Ann Arbor Greenbelt, a program to acquire open-space parks and development rights on farmland in eight townships ringing the city of Ann Arbor, has already exceeded its initial goal. The greenbelt now has over 4,100 acres of land within its boundaries. "Actually, in 2006 when we did some projections we were thinking, given the prices at the time and everything, that over the life of the millage we'd only be able to do around 4-5,000, so we've exceeded that estimate now, with protecting over 4,000," says Ginny Trocchio, program manager for the Ann Arbor Greenbelt. In December of 2012, the city completed several deals, including a purchase of development rights easement for $126,867 on the VanNatter farm in Webster Township, a parcel of about 20 acres. The purchase was also subsidized by a landowner donation. This parcel is situated on Joy Road and is part of an 1,100-acre block of farmland that is already protected. The city also closed other purchase of development rights deals at year-end, one for $229,320 on the 136-acre Robert Schultz property in Superior Township, another in the amount of $167,580 for the 90-acre Robbin Alexander farm in Webster Township, and the 73-acre Hornback farm in Salem Township for $199,367, plus other funds from Salem Township. Many of the purchases are assisted by grant funding from the USDA Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program. The city is readying to apply for more grant funds in early March, Trocchio says. Source: Ginny Trocchio, program manager for the Ann Arbor Greenbelt; Ann Arbor City Council Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

A Pocketful O’ Tea feeds Ypsilanti’s warming trend

By Tanya Muzumdar

●

Arts and Culture

●

January 16, 2013

At Ypsilanti's A Pocketful O' Tea, the reaction to Flowering Dragon, a lavender-green tea mix with rose hips and hibiscus, has been anything but tepid. "I actually have people come in and ask for it that have never been here," says Chris Biek, who opened his tea shop at 8 W. Michigan Avenue last December. There is seating for up to 15 people in the emporium. Biek installed new flooring and re-painted the space. He also carries locally-made alcohol-free soaps and lotions, cards and jewelry, and serves organic coffee. He plans to offer baked goods and sandwiches once approvals from the city health department have been received. Biek, an EMU student who holds a second job as well, is relying on volunteer help at the shop. It's open every day of the week except Thursdays.  "I get all sorts of foot traffic," he says. "I try and avoid going into Ann Arbor, so I wanted to be able to open a place that Ypsilanti doesn't have, and so that people who can't make it to Ann Arbor, they can get affordable tea here, and coffee." Source: Chris Biek, owner, A Pocketful O' Tea Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

You gotta have art: Chelsea Center for the Arts adds new classroom

By Tanya Muzumdar

●

Arts and Culture

●

January 16, 2013

The recent morphing of a garage into an art classroom is another coup for the arts community in the village of Chelsea. And it's certainly what aspiring potters and sculptors have been waiting for.  Next week, the Chelsea Center for the Arts will begin holding classes in the new room, converted from the garage portion of its circa-1923 brick building at 400 Congdon St.. New plumbing, heating, air conditioning, walls and ceiling, electrical, and lighting were installed. A windowed garage door lights the space. "What makes it so nice is that it can be open. We have a garage door... that can be fully opened up to our secured garden area in the rear of the building," says Lisa Baylis Gonzalez, the center's executive director. "It's going to be a great open space, a great open studio, in the summer months, in the nice months." The $30,000 project was funded with a grant from the Worthington Family Foundation. The center now has a pottery wheel and kiln in the classroom addition – amenities it lacked before.  Open studio time will be available, and Baylis Gonzalez anticipates class sizes of about eight students each. "This is certainly a project that we needed to add classes and hopefully add programs like crazy, which will hopefully lead to more staff time as we build the program," Baylis Gonzalez says. Source: Lisa Baylis Gonzales, executive director, Chelsea Center for the Arts Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Shur! Saying Yes to Ann Arbor, and Living It

By Tanya Muzumdar

●

General

●

January 16, 2013

Throughout the month of January a group of 30 or so young professionals are meeting weekly for breakfast to plan for how to make their lives in Ann Arbor the right choice for their professional, personal, creative and future goals. It's the brainchild of Omari Rush, and it's found support from some important local businesses and institutions.

Literati Bookstore to open in downtown Ann Arbor

By Tanya Muzumdar

●

Development News

●

January 16, 2013

Contrary to popular forecasting a few years back, e-books haven't done to print what the cell phone has done to pay phones and land lines. Rather, thoughtfully curated, indie book emporiums are still a welcomed alternative to mega stores and e-readers. Literati Bookstore will open at 124 E. Washington St., likely in early spring, says Hilary Lowe, who co-owns the store with her husband, Michael Gustafson. The couple moved to Ann Arbor from Brooklyn late in July with plans to open an indie book shop downtown. "We want to be a general-interest store because there is a real void left by Shaman Drum and Borders, serving the populace as a general bookstore selling new titles," Lowe says. "We will be focusing on literary fiction and quality non-fiction." She sees this as an underserved market in Ann Arbor. The West Side Bookshop, Dawn Treader, Kaleidoscope, and Motte and Bailey carry a huge assortment of used books. New book purveyors include Aunt Agatha's Mystery Bookstore and Crazy Wisdom, which primarily emphasizes spirituality. And, "Nicola's does a great job, but they're not in the walkable downtown area, and that was kind of our goal," says Lowe. The store has 2,600 square feet on the basement and ground-floor levels and is undergoing a refurbishment. The work includes refinishing the wood floor on the ground level, carpeting and painting the basement, new lighting, and a fire alarm system. To begin with, Literati Bookstore will have 3-5 part-timers on staff, along with Lowe and Gustafson. It will be open seven days a week, with hours to be announced at a later date. Source: Hilary Lowe, co-owner, Literati Bookstore Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

R.U.B. BBQ Pub serves up eats, drinks and 50 more jobs in Ann Arbor

By Tanya Muzumdar

●

Arts and Culture

●

January 9, 2013

The newly opened R.U.B. BBQ Pub is filling one of the last few slots in Ann Arbor's culinary palette. The eatery, located at 640 Packard St., began serving barbecue and hundreds of different beers during the last weekend of 2012. A student grand opening will be held from Thurs., Jan. 10 - Sat., Jan. 12. "I like to call [Ann Arbor] the restaurant capital of Michigan because there's so many different palates of cuisine to choose from. The one particular taste of food that's missing is great authentic from-scratch barbecue," says Omar Mitchell, regional manager of R.U.B. BBQ Pub, which also has locations in Detroit and Warren, Mich. The restaurant group is owned by the Yono family. The eatery, formerly home to the Packard Pub, has been newly painted and has over two dozen TV screens, more tables and chairs, LED lighting, and energy-efficient coolers.  "We're doing little things like that to give back and go green, you know?" Mitchell says. About three dozen new hires staff the pub, which still has several job openings. Ultimately, the pub will have over 50 employees, according to Mitchell. It is open seven days a week and also offers curbside pickup, delivery, and catering. Source: Omar Mitchell, regional manager of R.U.B. BBQ Pub Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Hotel Hickman’s Chuck Wagon BBQ rides into Dexter

By Tanya Muzumdar

●

Arts and Culture

●

January 9, 2013

Downtown Dexter is less than 10 miles west of Ann Arbor, but it's looking more like Montana if Hotel Hickman's Chuck Wagon BBQ has anything to say about it. You might recognize the catering and take-out joint, which opened in the former sheriff substation at 8050 Main St. in late November, by the chuck wagon parked out front from time to time. Owner Scott Thomas does a brisk business cooking up Texas beef brisket and ribs on his 1889 chuck wagon, which also often sits outside the Dexter Feed Mill. He smokes all of his meats and makes everything from scratch – dishes like buttermilk biscuits and gravy, and mac and cheese. Four people staff Hotel Hickman's Chuck Wagon BBQ, open Friday through Sunday all winter long. The foursome also does Wild West reenactments and cooking for private parties. Thomas plans to hire more staff and add outdoor picnic tables during the busier summer season. "It's kind of a hobby, a little passion doing a little barbecuing," Scott says. Source: Scott Thomas, owner, Hotel Hickman's Chuck Wagon BBQ Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Sweetwaters to brew in Ypsi, add 15 jobs

By Tanya Muzumdar

●

Arts and Culture

●

January 9, 2013

An Ann Arbor institution is making a foray into another college town, Ypsilanti. Sweetwaters will be opening its newest coffee and tea shop at 735 W. Cross St., behind the Water Tower landmark, likely by early February, according to co-owner Lisa Bee. She hopes to have an opening celebration to coincide with the Chinese New Year. A coffee bar and new seating, flooring, and lighting are being installed. "We try to make every store a little bit different, and this one is going to have a fun kind of rustic modern industrial feel," Bee says, adding, "There'll be more rustic woods in there and some metals." Exposed pipes and old barn wood are part of the décor in the 1,500 sq. ft. café, which will seat about 30 people. Fifteen employees will staff the new shop. "We like the EMU campus," says Bee. "There seems to be a nice concentration of students, as well as the location that we're in is also close to residential, so we like that mix." Source: Lisa Bee, co-owner of Sweetwaters Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Global auto supplier Faurecia expands Saline operations, improves facility

By Tanya Muzumdar

●

Development News

●

January 9, 2013

A new high-speed slush skin line has been installed to support the Ford Focus program. In time for the winter auto show season, dollars are hitting the road. Faurecia, the sixth-largest automotive supplier world-wide, is using the proceeds of an Industrial Facilities Tax incentive from the city of Saline to make what Ray Boufford, vice president of strategic transformation for Faurecia, calls a "significant investment" at its Saline factory. Ann Arbor SPARK helped to facilitate the deal between the manufacturer and the city of Saline. In its 1.6 million sq.ft. factory, Faurecia manufactures cockpits, instrument and door panels, and center consoles for Ford vehicles. "Under Faurecia ownership, Saline will become a technology plant that focuses on such core technologies as injection molding, skin manufacturing and foaming operations for interior systems. Faurecia is reconfiguring the plant into a streamlined, one-piece flow operation replacing the previous lay out," Boufford says in an email. The redesign work started when Faurecia began operations in Saline in June of 2012, and will continue over the next few years. Other upgrades include new plant floor lighting and painting the formerly brown walls white for a brighter work atmosphere. Over the past year, Faurecia has added eight new North American locations, including four in Southeast Michigan. "The plant will employ approximately 1,200 once the transformation is complete," Boufford says. Sources: Ray Boufford, vice president of strategic transformation for Faurecia; Ann Arbor SPARK Writer: Tanya Muzumdar Image courtesy of Faurecia