2007 Events --> July 10, 2007
County workshop highlights effort to spark development
Detroit – Wayne County’s determination to invigorate neighborhoods and spark the revival and development of countywide business districts continued today.
A Land Bank/TURBO workshop attracted a number of interested homeowners, builders and community officials. Hosted by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and moderated by Deputy County Executive Turkia Mullin, the one-hour workshop is one of several planned countywide. The workshop beginning August 1st will be broadcast on local Comcast affiliates.
The Wayne County Land Bank is a mechanism to gather vacant and tax-delinquent property, stockpile the land, clear the ownership title and turn over the clean parcels to those with plans to revitalize business districts and mature neighborhoods. Working in tandem with the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, a land bank is an effective tool for returning blighted neighborhoods to prosperity.
TURBO – which is Transforming Urban Residential & Business Opportunities – offers cash and/or tax incentives to anyone seeking to renovate or add substantial improvements to a home or business. County Executive Ficano announced TURBO in a state-of-the-county address. Business and homeowners countywide – from the Grosse Pointes to Taylor and Van Buren Township – are using TURBO and Land Bank to develop or rehabilitate property, the county executive said.
For example, a Detroit-based developer is using Wayne County’s Land Bank to assist in building a large commercial project in Highland Park, the county executive said. The project is planned for the former Sears site on Woodward, which first opened in 1938 and has been largely abandoned since the 1990s. About 40,000 square feet are scheduled for development, including an Aldi retail store and other services. Ground-breaking is planned for August.
“Our job is to ensure that Land Bank and TURBO are not the county’s best kept secrets,” the county executive said.
Mullin said information on Land Bank/TURBO will soon be available at waynecounty.com, the county’s popular website. She also noted that Wayne County and the state alone have some 15,000 vacant or tax-reverted parcels. The city of Detroit has many thousands more. Ultimately, the goal is to package as many parcels as possible and rebuild mature neighborhoods, block by block, town by town. Wayne County is “very enthused” about helping home and business owners gain incentives to build, expand and develop projects, she said.
Ficano seeks support of his ad campaign defending automakers
Today, Executive Robert Ficano in partnership with Detroit Regional Chamber, has launched a new website: americanautoindustryrocks.com
to promote support for U.S. automakers.
Detroit – Wayne County’s determination to invigorate neighborhoods and spark the revival and development of countywide business districts continued today. 
On Wednesday, December 3, more than 70 invited guests enjoyed a fabulous evening on the 32nd floor of the historic Guardian Building.
Today, Executive Robert Ficano in partnership with Detroit Regional Chamber, has launched a new website:
The Wayne County Department of Health and Human Services will present its new Wayne Babies…
