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PAGE 2 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN July 11, 2019
PLYMOUTH
Plant to bring 440 jobs
Elected officials and leaders from flow of natural light throughout the
Webasto Roof Systems, Inc, celebrated entire building, officials said. Webasto
the ground breaking for a new plant plans on creating approximately 440
recently that is expected to bring 440 jobs positions for people who will work in the
to Plymouth new facility in addition to current
Webasto Roof Systems, Inc. is a lead- employees already based in the greater
ing global supplier of automotive systems Plymouth area. One of the primary goals
for all types of vehicles, and Hillside of the workforce expansion is to maxi-
Investments LLC., a regional developer mize efficiency between Webasto's many
specializing in office and industrial business units by creating a collabora-
based commercial real estate, hosted the tion-friendly environment, a spokesman
ceremony to unveil construction of the noted.
new manufacturing facility. Webasto North America CEO and Wayne County Business Development Manager David Schreiber, MEDC Vice
The new 300,000 square-foot, $40 mil- President Andre Schoenekaes and President of Growth & Development Ryan Michael, Plymouth Township Supervisor
lion state of the art plant, located at 14200 Hillside CEO Jaimey Roth were joined Kurt Heise, Hillside Investments CEO Jaimey Roth, Webasto President & CEO Andre
Haggerty Road, features an environmen- by elected officials and business leaders Schoenekaes, Webasto Vice President of operations Anthony O'Donovan celebrate the
tally-friendly design that maximizes the from throughout metro Detroit. Plymouth groundbreaking.
Tire said Frey, a Dearborn Heights resident during a power wash, as well as a requirements to take them down. “Some
of them left them in place. They had to
December 2018 round banner for a local
who works for a defense contractor. He
have legal action taken against them,”
noted Melvindale High School teens
football game affixed to the tire.
FROM PAGE 1 have broken into the structure, which he “It was interesting,” said attendee Dee said Frey.
describes as allowing light through from Winter of Plymouth. Her Plymouth “I have an interest in forgotten history
bullet holes and arrowhead holes. Questers group has studied the World's and history hiding in plain sight. I am
torn down. Frey calls it a Detroit land- In 1966, the tire pieces of steel were Columbian Exposition, so Winter especially interested in things that have
mark, which ended up here due to fair shipped on 21 trucks to metro Detroit. He enjoyed the parallels. more urban legend associated with them,
stipulations on removing exhibits. has a piece of it as a relic, as well as an Frey noted it costs some $8,000 a year than the actual facts, then learning the
“Could you imagine the publicity” if old light from the top used for aircraft to maintain the structure, which has no real story behind the rumors, and then
the big tire went into a landfill? Frey safety: “I was there the day they changed public access and was redone in 1994. being the one to 'set the record straight'.
asked. The Uniroyal red and white logo the light and I snagged it,” he said. Only the outer panels came from New Sort of like having bragging rights,” Frey
was affixed, with Michelin now owning It's reflective similar to road signs, said York, and it has newer steel. said.
that brand. Frey. He recalls an inflatable ArmorAll At the New York World's Fair, some Frey's book is available at
It's well built and bolted to the ground, large bottle being set up nearby years ago other exhibits didn't comply with www.GiantTire.info.
”
License The MLCC traditional Class C liquor license quota system limits the be another 'Hoochie Mama' bar. Do we
need a basement bar,” she said. “They
FROM PAGE 1 number of new on-premises liquor licenses to one for every 1,500 said, 'We want to put Plymouth on the
map,' They don't give a s*** about the peo-
people living in a municipality. There are a total of 30 liquor licenses ple who live here,” she said.
“speakeasy” theme and will be called “We have no reason to recommend
“Ebenezer.” Stefanakis said the new base- in Plymouth, a city with a population of just over 9,000. non-approval. It's been to all the boards
ment bar would only be accessible to cus- and passed,” Sincock said after the dis-
tomers from the alley entrance at 305 cussion.
Fleet St. and would have a 76-seat capaci- gone to the planning commission for site why there's no problems.” Members of the Plymouth City
ty after it is completely remodeled. plan approval, parking was the only open Twenty-year Adams Street resident Commission met immediately following
Stefanakis' plans call for an “upscale issue on the table. Greek Islands owners Anita Strach also had some comments the LLRC meeting and also unanimously
specialty cocktail and dessert bar...with a paid the city $35,000 for 3.5 parking spaces about the new bar venture. approved the Greek Islands request.
“small menu with cold cuts and finger under the provisions of the payment in “It's more than the traffic, but when “They applied, they received approval.
foods…live entertainment consisting of lieu-of-parking system which requires the bars close we hear all the noise and We handled this like we handle any other
local small combos only on certain week- business establishments to pay $10,000 motorcycles as the people take the back liquor approval,” Sincock said after the
ends…no dance floor, no televisions of per parking spot. streets to avoid the cops. This is going to meeting.
any sort or loud music.” Parking is a hot issue with Plymouth
Greek Islands Eatery has joined the business owners and residents alike.
ranks of several other Plymouth establish- Owners of the Meeting House Grand
ments that sought “permits” for addition- Ballroom, 499 S. Main St., raised their
al bar/restaurant operations rather than concerns at the committee meeting
seeking often-expensive new MLCC explaining the constant problems with
licenses. Class C licenses issued under people parking in their parking lot.
the traditional quota system are transfer- The number of bars in the 2-square
able. One recently listed class C liquor mile downtown business section is also a
license in Wayne County was advertised hot button issue with many residents.
for $80,000, and the owner offered land Two long-time downtown residents in
contract terms by a Michigan liquor the audience expressed their strong dis-
license broker. pleasure with the new restaurant plan.
According to the state department of Delores Davis, who has lived on
licensing and regulatory affairs, Penniman for the past 13 years, said she is
Stefanakis owns eight restaurant corpora- frustrated. Davis asked the committee
tions under the name Greek Islands. The members what was to be done about all
Plymouth location was incorporated in the bars in the downtown area. After the
2011 under the name G. I. Poros, Inc. meeting she said she was concerned
The MLCC traditional Class C liquor they're putting “too many bars in a small
license quota system limits the number of area.”
new on-premises liquor licenses to one “It's a concept now-just add a bar to a
for every 1,500 people living in a munici- license,” she said. Davis quickly named
pality. There are a total of 30 liquor licens- the several downtown bars that operate
es in Plymouth, a city with a population of on one license.
just over 9,000. “Now there's going to be five bars on
Plymouth Police Chief Al Cox said the Penniman -in one block,” said Davis.
police department had no issue with the Davis said she thought the comment by
restaurant during the 12 months they the police chief was comical. Responding
have had a beer, wine and liquor license. to Cox' remarks about no-problems at
City Manager Paul Sincock said that Greek Islands, she laughed, “People don't
since the business owners had previously order a beer with their breakfast-that's