preservationrestoration

How do you pronounced "ipsilanti"? What does the "i" sound like LOL.

The two local ones in malls (Briarwood in Ann Arbor where it replaced Lord and Taylor and Laurel Park Place) have been replaced with Von Maurs. I know the old Jacobson's stores in Birmingham and Grosse Pointe have been successfully redeveloped. Birmingham is now home to a large advertising agency and the GP redevelopment has a Trader Joes and a couple of other upscale outlets.

I've heard it both ways. And I've said it both ways as well, although I lean more to the "ipsilanti" assuming you mean it to sound "ehpsilanti"

Ristorante Ciao- YUMMY! Yeah, it's called Warren Avenue. I particularly like the New Yazmen Bakery. Ypsi is no Ann Arbor not does it pretend to be. But it does have a charm to it. I spent four years getting tipsy in Ypsi. And a college degree as well. And while I wouldn't move there at at the moment (some of the highest property taxes in the state; city facing receivership; crime issues; overly liberal political climate), it definitely is still a cool community. From Wikipedia: Ypsilanti has the second largest contiguous historic district in the state of Michigan, behind only the much larger city of Grand Rapids. The historic district includes both downtown Ypsilanti, along Michigan Avenue, and the Depot Town area adjacent to Frog Island Park and Riverside Park, which features many specialty shops, bars and grills, and a farmers' market. They also have many historic residential neighborhoods scattered throughout town. In fact, within the city limits (there is also Ypsilanti Township), the is very little post 1970 single family residential. And little land left to build new units as well. Now granted, the university isn't the most appealing from an architectural. But moving on to Dearborn, I've worked in Dearborn for nearly 11 years. It's a unique community since it has two distinct downtown districts that are several miles from one another. Westborn, or West Dearborn, has seen it's share of infill development. Some of it crap. Some of it is much improved over what was there. For example, the last two pictures in the Dearborn section are infill. One development replaced an old empty Jacobson's department store from the 1960s. The development where Panera replaced another eyesore along the strip. It's not as if Dearborn is tearing down historic structures to build new infill. Most of what they have build (minus the strip mall with the Jimmy Johns) have made the district feel like more of a downtown area. What I don't like about West Dearborn is the fact that most of the businesses use their back entrances as their main entrance and any outdoor dining is also in the back so it doesn't create a lot of foot traffic along Michigan Avenue. The old school in the Dearborn thread used to be headquarters to automotive supplier Plastech. They have seen gone bankrupt and closed up shop. I've been in the building several times. It is pretty cool, they adapted it well from an office standpoint (including an atrium in the lobby).

Middletown #5 used to be a better looking station until a car crashed into it. The front of it was all glass As a replacement, the placed wood siding around a much smaller window. It is indeed an interesting thread. I had never really given Middletown's historic fire stations much thought. I knew of the Crawford Street Station because it was hard to miss. The only reason that station is still around is because the city for several years after it closed leased it to ACE (ARMCO Car Enthusiasts). The current owners only paid the city like $5000 for it. The other historic Middletown station I stumbled upon. I would curious to know if there were other stations in Middletown that were part of Lemon Township prior to Middletown annexation. I doubt it. Hamilton 6 and 7 are my favorites.

Home sweet home. I'm in love.

Was there last weekend. It keeps getting worse. Even the Dollar Store pulled out. You know a mall is in trouble when that happens.

Who would have thought Milford had a downtown. And one in decent shape.

Congrats. I always enjoy your photothreads. I still can't believe that Marathon is in downtown Findlay. $2.86 gasoline. Hard to believe that's a sign i would like to see again :)

Love that church. Very interesting structure. Thanks for the photo threads on Mansfield. Never been. Reminds me a lot of Middletown. Then again, they both are steel towns.

Downtown Centerville is everything downtown Springboro wish it could be. The Mexican restaurant in the old school house is very cool and the food is pretty good.

I grew up in that neighborhoods as well. Played in the creek that ran next to Creekview. Was mad when they covered a portion of it to build the new school. I think Hamilton has done a better job with designs for their new elementary schools. While the floor plans are pretty much the same, their is more variety to the exteriors than what you find in Middletown.

Wow C-bus is almost the size of Detroit in terms of population.

Even though I attended the now-demolished Creekview and have very fond memories there, I am not sad to see the 50-style buildings go. But I agree with you, the new Mayfield is the best of the new schools. I don't mind the new Creekview (even if it is a little boring) or the new new Highview. Taft/McKinley looks odd with that old entrance way from the historic school. I just doesn't match the style very well. It's more of a colonial building with a english tudor front. Let's hope Vail is somehow saved :)

West Chester gets Middletown's 300 plus AK executive and corporate jobs. West Chester gets Middletown's 150-200 corporate jobs from Contech Construction Products. Mason gets Middletown's 150-180 corporate jobs from Kadant Black Clawson. Alll three had been long-standing business in Middletown, two of which were founded there. Middletown gets less than 20 jobs from West Chester.....

Finally after two years, some progress.

I wouldn't want her speaking at my graduation. The way she continued to tell all of the state of Michigan she knew best for all of us and we had better not pass Proposal A.

Good news. They've already drawn up the plans for future expansion.. Company gets in at the heart of it all Ventilex USA president, CEO: 'If it was up to me, we would begin expanding tomorrow.' By Jessica Lander-Heffner Staff Writer Saturday, May 31, 2008 MIDDLETOWN — As far as one company is concerned, Middletown is at the heart of it all. Dutch company Ventilex USA chose to open its new office in the city's Greentree Industrial Park for several reasons, but one big pull was the area's optimal location, said Henk Dijkman, the managing director for the company's Holland operations and vice president of the new location in Middletown.

The only benefit to this is that they MAY expand operations...other than that, it's not big deal.

Don’t forget that at the time annexation occurred, Crystal Tissue/Creative was in operation and employed approximately 200 people at the Excello/Amanda/Middletown plant. I am sure they saw that as a tax revenue base since it was outside of city limits. As well as the large nursing home which now employs about 400 people. I don’t know if there were other industrial operations in the unincorporated area that were included but have since ceased operations. I also think Middletown had its eye on reaching the 50,000 population mark, and annexing this area of established residences only pushed them closer to that goal. From my recollection, once you reach 50,000 in population, you become eligible for more federal and state funding.

International company plans opening in Middletown By Jessica Lander-Heffner Staff Writer Thursday, May 22, 2008 MIDDLETOWN — Ventilex USA Inc., a Dutch-owned company, is scheduled to open for business May 30 with a building dedication and open house from noon to 6 p.m. Ventilex will sell items manufactured by its parent company, IMTECH N.V., based in the Netherlands. Employees will sell industrial machinery such as fluid bed dryers and coolers primarily used by the food, dairy, pharmaceutical and aggregate industries. Its yearly profits exceed $5 billion, company officials said. www.middletownjournal.com

If I recall, Middletown wanted to do sidewalks, but the property owners didn't want to be assessed. Thanks for the tour. Damon Park looks nice these days. A lot better than it did when I used to have soccer practice there.

It's next to a steel mill, what else would you expect.

Finally happening . . . $19.8M versus $44.2M Quaker poised to start $19.8M expansion By Jessica Lander-Heffner Staff Writer Wednesday, May 21, 2008 MIDDLETOWN — It's finally appears set to happen. Quaker Chemical Corp. officials announced at the Butler County Port Authority meeting Tuesday, May 20, that they are ready to move on the $19.8 million expansion project at the Middletown facility, which has been in the works for several years. Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or [email protected]. www.middletownjournal.com

Well at least it's not West Chester. Still, it's a blow to downtown Middletown: Rogers Jewelers leaving Middletown By Jessica Lander-Heffner Staff Writer Wednesday, May 14, 2008 MIDDLETOWN — Local jewelry store chain Rogers Jewelers will be moving its corporate offices from Middletown to a new location in Austin, Texas. Local Rogers Jewelers store officials confirmed the corporate office at 1050 Central Ave. is moving. Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or [email protected]. www.middletownjournal.com