Dexter Archives – Page 50 of 53

Thomson-Shore names new president

By Newsroom

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October 15, 2008

One of Washtenaw County’s biggest book printers has a new president and that man is living a new way of life in Dexter. Excerpt: There are a lot of factors one can measure when considering a new job. Salary, benefits, hours, responsibilities can all be weighed against what you currently have. For Kevin Spall, one defining factor in accepting the offer to become Thomson-Shore's new president could be measured right down to the minute. His watch was telling him that time was going to play a big role in this big decision. "I left this morning at 6:50 a.m. and took the train to Manhattan and got to my desk at 9 a.m.," Spall said the week before taking over his new position. "That was my normal life living in Connecticut and working in New York City." Unless he decides to live in the Upper Peninsula, his commute time is going to be greatly reduced. So the measuring stick will compare a two-hour commute one-way to say about 15-20 minutes. At the very least, Spall is looking at around three extra hours a day to work and live. "To go from that commute to living so close to work in the Ann Arbor area is just a better quality of life and lifestyle and a very attractive proposition," Spall said. Read the rest of the story here.

Delhi Bridge added to National Register of Historic Places

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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October 1, 2008

Dexter's Delhi Bridge is now know as the Historic Delhi Bridge. Excerpt: The State Historic Preservation Office this week announced that Scio Township's Delhi Bridge was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge is one of only five Pratt through truss bridges built by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company left in the state, and one of only two still in use in their historic locations. Of remaining Pratt truss bridges, the National Research Council considers 19th-century examples such as the Delhi Bridge to be of greatest significance because of the limited number of existing examples. "Bridges are some of our most picturesque, and most threatened, resources," said State Historic Preservation Officer Brian Conway. "Michigan is lucky to have so many examples of historic bridge construction and people who feel passionately about preserving them." Read the rest of the story here.

Dexter narrows new city hall options to three

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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September 24, 2008

Dexter has narrowed the options for its new home to three plans, but it hasn't gotten much beyond that yet.The Village Council is debating between expanding its police and fire station into a new city hall, buying the old Pilot property or going back to buying the old Dexter Library."The board is not really focused on one thing or another yet," says Donna Dettling, village manager for Dexter. "There are still a lot of options on the table."Expanding the fire and police station on 8140 Main St. would include tripling the size of the 5,000-square-foot structure. The $3 million project would build additions to the Alpine Street side and a new fire truck bay to the century-old building.The village is also looking at buying the old Pilot industrial building on Grand Street. The $5-$7 million project would reconfigure part of the 90,000-square-foot structure and rent the rest of it out. Building a new 5,000-square-foot building on vacant land was also discussed. However, doing that would cost at least $1.2 million, which does not include land acquisition costs. The village also still hasn’t ruled out buying and revamping the old Dexter Library building.The Village Council plans to hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Dexter Senior Center to find out which option village residents prefer.Source: Donna Dettling, village manager for DexterWriter: Jon Zemke

Old industrial buildings in downtown Dexter get new leases on life

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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September 24, 2008

Just because a building is old doesn’t mean it can't be beautiful. That's what Randy Willis is about to prove in downtown Dexter.The landlord plans to take two late 19th Century industrial buildings on Broad Street and turn them into showcase structures. One, 3126 Broad, will serve as the new home to an off-Broadway musical company. The other, 3115, will serve as the home for several small businesses.Both buildings will receive new brick facades, complete with awnings. Willis wants them to complement the other historic downtown structures that are currently being restored, the new ones that are going up and the streetscape improvements being put into place along Broad Street."Dexter is changing dramatically," Willis says. "It's such a dynamic little community and it's so vibrant."The two buildings have had varied pasts, serving as the home for bus garages, beer-and-wine distributors, dye-and-stamping and a bean sprouts grow house. The Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales and Dexter School of Martial Arts are just a couple of the well-known names that occupy the 12,000 square feet of 3115 Broad. Encore Productions will move into the 8,500 square feet of 3126 Broad in October and hold a grand opening later this year.Both buildings will also receive a number of infrastructure upgrades, such as fire protection and new water and sewer connections. The $150,000 renovation project is expected to be done by the end of November.Source: Randy Willis, owner of 3115 and 3126 Broad StreetWriter: Jon Zemke

Art 101: Local galleries invite novices to come in and explore

By Newsroom

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General

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September 17, 2008

More and more art is surfacing in Washtenaw County with new sightings taking place in Chelsea, Dexter and Ypsilanti.

Ypsilanti opens new and improved Border to Border Trail

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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September 10, 2008

The Border to Border Trail in Washtenaw County is growing as a new, mile-long section opens in Ypsilanti.

Dexter book manufacture Thomson-Shore sees steady growth

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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September 3, 2008

Thomson-Shore has been growing steadily, maximizing worker productivity and achieving 7-10 percent revenue growth in recent years with plans to do more of the same.