No. 39
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
75¢
Sept. 27 – Oct. 3, 2018
w w w . a s s o c i a t e d n e w s p a p e r s . n e t
AWayne woman has been
charged in the carjacking
and injury of an 88-year-old
Livoniawoman last week.
See page 3.
A case of Hand, Foot and
Mouth Disease reported at
Northville High School
prompted district officials to
send a warning letter to par-
ents last week.
See page 7.
Vol. 133, No. 39
Vol. 71, No. 39
Vol. 71, No. 39
Vol. 18, No. 39
The City of Romulus will
receive a $1.3 million
SAFER grant from the
Federal
Emergency
Management Association to
fund three new firefighters.
See page 6.
Vol. 133, No. 39
Vol. 71, No. 39
Vol. 71, No. 39
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
Charles House, Westland
Economic Development
director, said he is excited
about possible residential
development on Ford Road
nearNewburgh.
See page 5.
Turning the anniversary
of a national tragedy into an
effort to promote good works
was the aim of the Do Good
Expo inCanton onSept. 11.
See page 3.
Vol. 18, No. 16
Seniors in Inkster can
attend a free legal presenta-
tion from the Elder Law &
Advocacy Center at noon
Oct. 3.
See page 5.
Those hoping for a career
in theater or music can now
get professional training
with the move of Arts Detroit
into the Plymouth Arts and
RecreationComplex.
See page 2.
A ‘Do Not Eat’ fish adviso-
ry issued by the Michigan
Department of Health and
Human Services was
expanded last week to
include all fish in Belleville
Lake.
See page 6.
A developer has acquired the
historic Ford factory in
Plymouth Township and the sur-
rounding 5.15 acres with plans
to revitalize the 96-year-old
building, known as the Phoenix
Mill, into restaurant and retail
space.
The sale price of the property
was $605,000 and was part of a
Wayne County Economic
Development plan.
The two-story brick veneer
structure situated on Hines
Parkway across from Phoenix
Lake was at one time used as a
FordMotor Co. parts factory and
is one of the original 19 Village
Industry buildings Henry Ford
built along theRougeRiver.
Designed by renowned indus-
trial architect Albert Kahn, the
property was acquired by Ford
in 1919. The decrepit and deteri-
orating plant is the only struc-
ture remaining in the communi-
ty from the 19th-century Village
of Phoenix. The building has
been vacant and neglected for
decades, according to officials.
The last tenant was the Wayne
County Department of Public
Services which relocated yard
operations toLivonia in 2007.
The property faces Phoenix
Lake and is on a triangle just
north of Five Mile Road bor-
dered on the west by Edward
Hines Drive and on the south by
M-14 Expressway. A tributary of
the middle Rouge River runs
northwest through the acreage.
Last week, members of the
Wayne County Commission
approved the sale handled by
Farbman Commercial Real
Estate of Southfield and trans-
ferred ownership to long time
business partners Gregory
Donofrio and Richard Cox,
operating under the name
CriticalMass, LLC.
Donofrio is a mechanical
engineer with automotive expe-
rience. Cox, also a mechanical
engineer and performance car
enthusiast, along with his wife
Diane Cox, purchased the for-
mer Henry Ford Northville
Valve plant on Northville Road
in 1994, and donated the sur-
rounding 9 acres of land to the
City of Northville to be used for
parks and recreation. The team
has worked together on that
Water Wheel restoration project
for the past 20 years along with
other commercial real estate
Brownfield restorationprojects.
The developers, who plan to
restore the building with a focus
on restaurant and retail space,
have entered into an exclusive
agreement with restaurateurs
Michelle and John Lussier of
See
Phoenix,
page 4
Autumn activities at
Maybury Farm this year will
again include the famous
Corn Maze as well as the U-
Pick Pumpkin Patch and the
Great Pumpkin Festival set
for Oct. 13 and 14.
The corn maze opened
Sept. 14, and this year promis-
es to be one of the best that
Maybury Farmhas ever creat-
ed-it is 10 acres of thick, lush
cornstalks cut into a new
design and theme-- Farmers
Feed Families. The full maze
is 9-acres and is sure to chal-
lenge adults and children
alike. The cornmazewill take
an estimated hour to com-
plete and will include three
games to play while wending
through. Those who complete
the challenge can be entered
to win prizes that will be
awarded at the end of the sea-
son.
This year, a Kiddie Maze
has been added at Maybury
Farm. It is approximately an
acre and includes a children's
"Finger Find" game. The
Kiddie Maze will take an esti-
mated 20 minutes to com-
plete.
The maze will be open
until 10 p.m. on Fridays and
Saturdays for those brave
enough to attempt to find
their way through the corn-
stalks in the dark, using only
moonlight and a flashlight.
After completing the maze,
visitors can enjoy Parmenter's
cider and donuts at the
Maybury Farm General Store,
which also offers other treats.
The Maybury Farm U-Pick
Pumpkin Patch is open now
and offers perfects pumpkins
of various sizes. October is
also the last month to visit the
Maybury Farm animals
before the farm closes for the
season. The barnwill be open
until 7 p.m. each Friday
throughSunday.
Groups visiting during reg-
ular business hours do not
need to make advance reser-
vations, however groups of 25
or more who would like to
schedule a weeknight outing,
can call (248) 374-0200 to
reserve a date. Maybury
Farm also offers bonfires that
are available during regular
business hours or as part of a
group reservation.
The Maybury Farm Corn
Maze is open on Fridays from
5 to 10 pm, Saturdays from
noon until 10 p.m. and from
noon until 7 p.m. Sundays.
The last wagon leaves for the
maze one hour prior to close.
The Corn Maze will be open
through Oct. 28. Admission to
the cornmaze is $9 per person
A series of town hall meet-
ings have been extended to pro-
vide information to voters about
a millage proposal to support
services in the Romulus Fire
andPoliceDepartments.
A vote on a 4-mill levy over
five years will be part of the
Nov. 6 General Election ballot.
The proposal would provide
necessary funding to maintain
the current level of fire and
police services in the communi-
ty while avoiding cuts in essen-
tial services, officials said.
Five informational town
halls are scheduled in October
andNovember. All meetings are
open to the public.
• Oct. 3 at City Event Centre,
37451 Ecorse Road, 1 p.m. The
town hall will be hosted by the
Romulus Ministerial Alliance.
Lunch will be provided.
Attendees must RSVP by
Monday, Oct. 1, by calling (734)
942-7571.
• Oct. 3 at Wick Elementary
School, 36900WickRoad, 6 p.m.
• Oct. 11 at Romulus Athletic
Center, 35765 Northline Road, 6
p.m.
• Oct. 24 at Romulus
Elementary School, 32200
BeverlyRoad, 6 p.m.
• Nov. 1 at Romulus City
Hall, 11111WayneRoad, 6 p.m.
Additional informational
meetings may be planned.
Those interested in hosting an
informational meeting can call
Mayor LeRoy Burcroff's office
(734) 942-7571.
Members of the city council
voted unanimously June 11 to
place a proposed charter
amendment on the ballot.
Funds would be utilized strictly
for fire andpolice services.
City officials said fire and
police services make up more
than two-thirds of the city's gen-
eral fund budget. Burcroff said
public safety is a vital service
that government provides.
Failure to approve the millage
increase would lead to cuts in
funding for fire, police and
other essential services.
History has led to the current
financial situation, Burcroff
explained. When Romulus
incorporated as a city in 1970,
the City Charter called for 10
mills to fund local government
in what was largely then a farm-
ing community. When the full-
time police department was
formed in 1981, there was no
increase in the millage rate.
When the full-time fire depart-
ment was formed in 1999, again,
there was no increase in the
millage rate.
While the number of city
employees, firefighters and
police officers has decreased,
the demands on first respon-
ders have significantly
increased, according to official
statistics from both depart-
ments.
Failure to approve the millage increase
would lead to cuts in funding for fire,
police and other essential services.
”
Safety millage to be topic at Romulus meetings
A‘mazing’
Annual attraction now open
at Northville Maybury Farm
Don Howard
Staff Writer
See
Maze,
page 7
Phoenix Ford plant sold to developer
Phoenix Mill property
