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EWSPAPERS OF
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ICHIGAN
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AGE
5
November 14, 2013
P
LYMOUTH
Commission agrees to demolition of ‘Daisy’ wall
Plymouth United Way begins
Hats for the Homeless drive
The crumbling, 131-year-old,
last remaining wall of the Daisy
Air Rifle factory in Plymouth will
be taken down this month despite
the efforts of preservationists to
save it.
The wall, located on Union
Street near Main, will be replaced
by 21 townhouse condominiums in
seven buildings on about 3 acres of
landwhich abuts theDaisy Square
condominiums. Members of the
Plymouth City Commission voted
unanimously last week to approve
an agreement with Daisy
Plymouth LLC for the demolition
of the wall and the construction of
a park at the site. The commission-
ers stipulated that the wall must
come down before any building
permits will be issued for the
planned townhouses at the site.
Preservationists had argued for
years that the remaining wall was
of historical significance although
the original developer of the site,
who has now left the project,
claimed that refurbishing or main-
taining the site would be too
expensive. The other three walls
of the original factory building
were demolished in 2005 during
completion of the Daisy Square
condominiumdevelopment.
The new developer of the proj-
ect, Milford, Singer and Co., the
parent company of Daisy
Plymouth LLC, purchased the
land from the original developer.
The newcondominiums will range
in size from 1,700 square feet to
2,300 square feet and have a two-
car garage. Prices will start at
about $275,000, according to the
developer.
Singer said that the window lin-
tels and about 200 bricks from the
wall will be donated to the
Plymouth Preservation Network
which will be sold as a fundraiser
for the group.
Singer said that he hopes to
have construction of the new con-
dominiums started before the end
of the year, weather permitting.
Before long the cold tempera-
tures will have Michigan residents
shivering and not everyone is lucky
enough to afford hats, scarves, mit-
tens, and gloves to keep themwarm
thiswinter.
The Plymouth Community
United Way has started the 2013
drive to collect Hats for the
Homeless and those struggling
financially.
Through the end of the year, the
agency is accepting new hats,
gloves, scarves, and socks for men,
women and children. Newblankets
are needed aswell.
Last year, the Plymouth
CommunityUnitedWay distributed
more than 1900 items. Donations
can be dropped off at Plymouth
CommunityUnitedWay, 960W. Ann
Arbor Trail, Suite 2, Plymouth, or
arrangements can be made for
pickup of large quantities. For
information, contact Randi
Williams at (734) 453-6879, Ext. 7 or
randi.williams@pcuw.org
Plymouth Community United
Way raises funds year round for a
variety of services from food
pantries to an emergency dental
fund, bus transportation for sen-
iors, housing for adults with devel-
opmental disabilities, programs
and a shelter for victims of domes-
tic violence and their children, and
opportunities for youth to develop
skills and become valuable mem-
bers of the community.
erate and support an authority to
own and operate the proposed
complex, Soenen said.
Plymouth-Canton school offi-
cials, according to Soenen, are now
conducting evaluations to deter-
mine the best course of action with
regard to the Central Middle
School property.
Members of PARC have been
attending board meetings to ask
school officials not to sell the prop-
erty and to collaborate to deter-
mine the best use for the entire 18
acres.
School officials are now consid-
ering several options for the
Central building which was once
Plymouth High School, one which
calls for selling the building for
apartment or loft development,
offices and retail space while
retaining the athletic fields. The
PARC committee has alreadymade
several presentations to board of
education members and district
administrators.
“Our mission is to convert the
Central Middle School property
into a community center for the
arts and recreation that will offer
quality cultural, educational and
athletic enrichment opportunities
for all citizens of the greater
Plymouth Community,” Soenen
said.
Plymouth Mayor Dan Dwyer
told the assembled crowd, “This is
our chance to leave a legacy.”
School
FROM PAGE 1
Lightfest opens tonight
Wayne County will host a Lights
On Ceremony at 6 tonight at the
Merriman Hollow area of Hines
Park located at Merriman Road
andHinesDrive inWestland.
This is the 20th anniversary of
the show which will be open
through Dec. 31, except Christmas
Day.
Wayne County Executive Robert
Ficano and Santa will flip the
switch to kigh upmore than 4miles
of Hines Drive for the ceremony
which will also feature a fireworks
show, music entertainment and
refreshments.
Two new displays have been
added this year and the entire light
show has been converted to LED
lights. The show features more
than 47 giant animated holiday
themed displays. It is the largest
and longest drive-through light
show in theMidwest, officials said.
Legislator sets coffee hours
State Rep. Kurt Heise has
scheduled coffee hours from 7:30
until 9 a.m. tomorrow, Nov. 15, at
Panera Bread, located at 400 S.
MainSt. inPlymouth.
Heise will host district office
hours from 10- 11 a.m. Monday,
Nov. 18 at Parthenon Coney Island,
39910 Ford Road (east of I-275) in
Canton; from noon until 1 p.m. at
the Northville District Library, 212
W. Cady St., Northville and from 3
until 4 p.m. at the Plymouth
District Library, 223 S. Main St.,
Plymouth.
Heise is also available to meet
with constituents by appointment
either in the district or at his
Lansing office. Residents can call
toll free 1-855-REPKURT or e-mail
kurtheise@house.mi.gov to sched-
ule an appointment.
NorthvilleHome Tour tomorrow
From a brand new construction
to a Queen Ann farmhouse, the
Northville Community Foundation
Holiday Home Tour again offers
unique holiday decorating ideas in
real home settings.
The 15th annual tour, sponsored
this year by Toll Brothers, will take
place from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Nov.
15 and 16 and include five homes,
each with a unique decorating
style.
Proceeds from the Holiday
Calendar of events
See
Calendar,
page 6