Ypsilanti

Renovations at Ypsi’s Eagle Crest Resort aim for international draw

By Newsroom

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October 10, 2012

A plan to market Ypsilanti's Eagle Crest Resort to executives and conference planners around the world are unfolding as more multimillion-dollar, multi-year renovations are made. The resort, which features a Golf Digest four-star rated golf course, a conference center that as of recently will be managed by Marriott Corp. and a hotel already owned and managed by Marriott, has redone its landscaping, roads, sidewalks and more. The conference center has gotten new furniture and decor and will get upgraded technology, part of a recently approved $1 million expense by Eastern Michigan University, and the golf course has $1 million in upgrades as well. The property is leased from Ypsilanti Township to Eastern Michigan University, which owns the golf course and conference center and manages the golf course. The latest round of renovations will cost $200,000 each year for the next five years, says Leigh Greden, executive director government and community relations at EMU. Previously EMU put $2 million into the conference center, which had management operations taken over by Marriott last month. In addition, Marriott is improving the hotel, Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest. It's all part of plan to market Eagle Crest Resort with its closeness to Metro Airport and Ann Arbor, its scenic views of Ford Lake and a highly-rated and improving golf course to the world. The parties behind the project include EMU, Ypsilanti Township, and Marriott. "It's always nice to put money into a facility to keep it fresh, but we're really doing it as part of a coordinated multi-pronged marketing strategy to enhance the entire resort," Greden says. "It's a win for the university as we push to have the conference center make money. We think the partnership with Marriott is a win for the community because of the property taxes Marriott pays. We think it's a win for the public because this is public golf course and something Ypsilanti-area residents can enjoy. "And as for the township, they've been great partners in making this happen. The supervisor, Brenda Stumbo, and her team have been amazing in marketing the township as a great place to do business. We could not doing without them and their commitment to making Ypsilanti Township more friendly to the business community." Source: Leigh Greden, executive director government and community relations, Eastern Michigan University Writer: Kim North Shine

Sidetrack Bar and Grill to expand into new building, add 30 jobs

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Arts & Culture

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October 10, 2012

The Sidetrack Bar and Grill is taking on an ambitious expansion and renovation project that could make Ypsilanti's Depot Town an even more enticing stop for the restaurant and nightlife crowds. Last month, Sidetrack purchased a 6,000-square-foot building at 52 E. Cross St. from the owners of Bird Brain, which relocated elsewhere. "We were looking outside of the area because it made sense, with the economic times here, instead of doing new construction, to just buy another place..[but]we wanted to keep investing in the city of Ypsilanti," says Linda French, owner of Sidetrack. The building adjoins Sidetrack and Frenchie's http://www.sidetrackbarandgrill.com/frenchies/ at 54-56 E. Cross St. It has been completely restored and still has its wall-to-wall brick interior. French says it will house a new kitchen and bathroom facilities for Sidetrack. Moreover, Sidetrack will be moving upward into its three-story premises. The 5,000-square-foot second floor will be used for catering events and larger parties. Sidetrack will be putting the proceeds of a $15,000 rehabilitation grant from the Ypsilanti DDA towards window replacement and tuck pointing on the second and third floors. French would like to turn the third story into apartments. The projects are currently in the planning, design, and licensing phases. A completion date is unknown at this time, according to French. She plans to add 30 jobs as a result of the expansions. "We [have] one of the last remaining buildings in Depot Town that hasn't [been restored]," French says. "It's a big deal to get this corner redone." Source: Linda French, owner of Sidetrack Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, & Saline are on the National Solar Tour map

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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October 3, 2012

The sun may be lower on the horizon now, but solar activity is rising, beginning with the National Solar Tour in October. Nine installations in Ypsilanti, along with one each in Saline and Ann Arbor, will be open to visitors interested in seeing solar. Eight of those sites are within approximately one mile of each other in and near downtown Ypsilanti. The Ypsi Food Co-op and River Street Bakery at 312 North River Street sport three installations. Other hotspots are: Krzyzanski Apts A,B,C at 403 Huron Street; Ypsi City Hall at 1 South Huron Street; Adams School at 503 East Oak Street; Frog Island Park at 600 Marketplace; and the Corner Brewery at 720 Norris Street. Power Panel, the provider of the large installation at the Corner Brewery, will be presenting at the brewery at 12 and 2 p.m. And local solar installer John Wakeman will be speaking about the "25% by '25" legislation, an initiative to require that Michigan utilities obtain 25% of their energy from renewable sources by 2025 (the current requirement is 10% by 2015), will be speaking there at 1 p.m. "We have [panels] on roofs, things on awnings on the side of buildings. We have micro-inverters, regular inverters...it's a lot of examples in a short distance," says Dave Strenski, volunteer coordinator of Solar Ypsi, points out. Strenski will be at City Hall throughout the day to answer questions, and Solar Ypsi volunteers will staff some of the other spots. Other displays within driving distance will be at the Graf residence at 6232 Munger Road in Ypsilanti and the Bredernitz residence at 2114 Windmill Way in Saline. All sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Also in conjunction with the National Solar Tour, Novi, Michigan-based Srinergy will host a bus tour of residential and commercial solar installations that day. Ann Arbor's AMMA Center will be a featured stop. Click here for more information and to register. Both tours take place on Saturday, October 6. Sources: Dave Strenski, volunteer coordinator of Solar Ypsi; Srinergy Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Washtenaw Community College lands $2.9M grant for tech training

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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October 3, 2012

The U.S. Dept of Labor is giving Washtenaw Community College a $2.9 million grant to help the institution of higher learning retrain more workers in tech and IT careers. The two-year grant, made through the Labor Dept.'s Trade Adjustment Assistance for Community Colleges Career Training program, will fund an initiative called IGNITE Michigan that will develop new IT employees in the state. "There are people who are still out of work or are underemployed or are returning from war and need the opportunity to get a job in a high-growth area," says Michelle Mueller, associated vice president of economic & community development for Washtenaw Community College. Washtenaw Community College is partnering with Ann Arbor SPARK to get IGNITE Michigan off the ground. IGNITE Michigan will help train workers in software development for Java and network and systems administration in Microsoft and Linux/Unix platforms. The programs will be designed to meet the needs of the adult, non-traditional learner and will combine online and classroom instruction approaches. "Hopefully, we will be able to help a couple hundred people over the life of the grant," Mueller says. Source: Michelle Mueller, associated vice president of economic & community development for Washtenaw Community College Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Reimagine Washtenaw implements more walk, bike, bus options

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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September 26, 2012

The remaking of Washtenaw Avenue, the busiest throughway in Washtenaw County in terms of traffic volume, has begun. Reimagine Washtenaw, a coalition of representatives from the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti and Pittsfield and Ypsilanti townships, and other organizations, is using a portion of the county's $3 million HUD Community Challenge Planning grant to hire consultants to study and recommend options to make the corridor friendlier to all transportation forms and improve the efficiency of public transit. "Part of the challenge right now is there are so many bus stops along the route," says Nathan Voght, project manager for Reimagine Washtenaw. "Because of the corridor lacking sidewalks, you have to have more bus stops to let people get to those stops. And if we can consolidate those by working with the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, it actually makes the service more efficient." Smith Group JJR and Parsons Brinkerhoff will be doing a right of way study, designing AATA bus stops, and recommending locations for additional bike lanes, sidewalks, and other non-motorized facilities, including possibly mid-block crossings, according to Nathan Voght, project manager for Reimagine Washtenaw. The study will wrap up in September of 2013. Meanwhile, MDOT's addition of sidewalks on both sides of Washtenaw underneath the U.S. 23 overpass is expected to be complete by November, Voght says. And the construction of Arbor Hills Crossing, a 90,000-square-foot office and retail center across from Whole Foods is under way. "What's great about that is that [the city of] Ann Arbor modified some of their zoning regulations to help push the vision for the corridor," making it better-suited for alternative transportation methods, says Voght. "They for example required parking to be not in the front yard – so it would be in the side yard, or the rear yard – and required the buildings to have a maximum setback from the street instead of the traditional minimum setback." The city has an easement for a wide sidewalk and an AATA transit stop in front of the center. "That's the irony of these corridors, is we built them thinking they're so great, you can get in your car and get to any of these businesses, but it's gotten to the point where you tolerate the corridor instead of experience it in a positive way. We can change that," Voght says. Source: Nathan Voght, project manager for Reimagine Washtenaw Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Dick’s Pretty Good Garlic offers 40 flavors for garlic connoisseurs

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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September 26, 2012

Garlic lovers now have oodles more alternatives to the heaping bin of single-selection generic white garlic bulbs at most grocery stores. Dick and Diana Dyer, owners of Dyer Family Organic Farm (aka Dick's Pretty Good Garlic), grow 40 varieties on their Superior Township farm. "A lot of people think garlic is garlic until they taste the differences between these varieties and then they think, well, there's kind of a range of flavors," Dick Dyer says. "Actually that garlic in the big commodity grocery stores is typically up to 10 months old by the time it gets on the shelf and 80% of it comes from China...by the time it gets to the market it's lost a lot of the quality of fresher garlic," he adds. Each year the Dyers, who are finishing their third season of commercial growing, plant garlic on a half-acre plot – enough for 20,000 plants. Dyer estimates they've sold 15,000 heads of garlic so far this year, with 2,000 remaining. "The other 3,000 will serve as seed stock for growing the 20,000 heads we have to plant in October." The Dyers supply area restaurants, including The Grange, Ravens Club, Zingerman's Deli, Zingerman's Roadhouse, among others. They also usually have about 10 varieties on hand at area farmers' markets -- the downtown Ypsilanti market on Tuesdays; the Kerrytown market on Wednesdays; Ann Arbor's Westside Farmer's Market on Thursdays; and the Dixboro market on Fridays. However, "this is the last week we'll be selling at all four farmers markets. We're just about sold out for this year," says Dick Dyer. They will continue sales at the Dixboro market until the rest of the crop is gone. The couple are the sole employees of the farm, which also offers seasonal items: vinegar flavored with garlic scapes and chive blossoms, honey from their bee hives, and other vegetables including baby pumpkins and zucchini. And they eat what they sow. Personally, the Dyers use garlic in just about every dish. They've even got a recipe for your snack shelf: garlic brittle. Source: Dick Dyer, co-owner, Dyer Family Organic Farm Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Arbor Brewing gets more praise for going green

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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September 26, 2012

Having one solar-powered, green-minded brewpub in your community is pretty awesome. Having two is twice the awesome. Excerpt: "The Corner Brewery’s $250,000 “Green Brewery Project” includes solar-thermal, photovoltaic, and geo-thermal technologies along with new windows, awnings and energy-efficient chiller equipment. It is expected to provide almost all of the brewery’s hot water needs and up to 15 percent of its electricity, while knocking $20,000 each year off energy bills." Read the rest here.

DeNovo Sciences raises $1.75M, aims for $6M Series A next year

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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September 26, 2012

DeNovo Sciences continues to hit its milestones again and again, raising seven figures worth of seed capital, growing its team, and pushing forward the development of its cancer warning system. The Michigan Life Sciences and Innovation Center-based start-up has raised in excess of $1 million since winning the $500,000 first place prize at the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition last year. "I was looking for $1 million," says Kalyan Handique, CEO of DeNovo Sciences. "I was happy to get $1.75 million from a network of angel investors and the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund and some grants." DeNovo Sciences is developing a platform for early detection of cancer from blood as an alternative to painful biopsies. It got its start in Ypsilanti and has since moved to the Ann Arbor SPARK managed Michigan Life Sciences and Innovation Center in Plymouth. There it has grown to four full-time employees and eight part-time consultants. It is in the process of hiring a researcher now. The company is also hitting some of its development milestones, successfully using its technology to capture cancer cells in the blood. Handique expects to begin commercializing the product next year and have the full product platform available by 2014. His team is also gearing up to raise $6 million in a Series A round next year and land some corporate partnerships. "We're beginning to speak to corporate partners who would benefit from our technology," Handique says. Source: Kalyan Handique, CEO of DeNovo Sciences Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

LookInTheAttic expands into new facility, plans to hire 8

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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September 26, 2012

LookInTheAttic is expanding its business into a new facility in Romulus and redeveloping its downtown Ypsilanti base into a design center for its growing business. The 15-year-old company specializes in selling antique reproduction hardware and housewares. It also owns and operates Silver & Gold, an online jewelry store. It sells all of its products both at its downtown Ypsilanti storefront and online. "Both of them are expanding," says John Coleman, CEO of LookInTheAttic. "I am amazed at how fast both are expanding." This has allowed LookInTheAttic to hire four people over the last year, expanding its staff to 14 people and the occasional intern. It is also in the process of hiring eight new sales people. The growth has also prompted the company to expand to a new 13,000-square-foot warehouse facility in Romulus. The downtown Ypsilanti space is being renovated into a design center for its home products. "Basically, we're out of space," Coleman says. "We couldn't have any more products and we're trying to do develop a complete line of home solutions." Source: John Coleman, CEO of LookInTheAttic Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Dave Strenski outside his home on Oak Stree

Three Blocks Of Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship

By Constance Crump

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General

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September 19, 2012

Parvis e glandibus quercus. Translation: "Tall oaks from little acorns grow." It's a sentiment that couldn't be truer for Ypsilanti's Oak Street, a three block neighborhood that has attracted some of the city's best and brightest. Constance Crump gives us a tour.