Building on positive attributes
A good place to start when talking about the City of Inkster is Michigan Avenue. The focal point for the city now, Michigan Avenue was once a system of trails created by Native Americans. In the antebellum period and through the Civil War, it was a route along the Underground Railroad. African-Americans escaping slavery would travel the trail from the west to the east, all the way to the Detroit River where Canada and freedom awaited them.
Michigan Avenue was officially designated a Historic Heritage Route in 2004. 30,000 vehicles per day drive along Michigan Avenue through Inkster. It's the biggest part of Inkster's Downtown Development Authority (DDA) footprint, the center of the city's commercial and retail activity, and the city's focus for the future.
"I see Michigan Avenue taking off given its unique position," said Inkster Mayor Hilliard Hampton. "We have to find ways to grow Michigan Avenue, make it a niche market, like Ferndale, with specialty shops, coffee shops, and good restaurants."
Corridor concentration
Inkster has been fiscally smart through the economic downtown by preserving a $4.2 million "rainy day" fund, which represents 14 percent of its annual $30 million budget. Auditors generally like to see 10 percent fund balance.
"We've tighten our belts," said Hampton, who is the longest serving mayor in Inkster history. "We may not have all the goodies other cities have, but we have a 14 percent fund balance."
As illustrated earlier, Inkster's master plan identifies Michigan Avenue as the focal point for the community, and highlights possible future developments along the corridor. Kim Faison, Inkster's interim director of planning and economic development, said that the city has a high volume of commercial re-occupancy right now. One of the more notable (recent) landings was Citi Trends, a national clothing chain that anchors the shopping plaza at Michigan Avenue and Inkster Road.
Inkster also has an aggressive facade improvement program that's been aggressively marketed. The City will match up to 50% for facade improvements, an incentive that, according to the Mayor "not many cities can match." The Dairy Queen and Gracie See's Pasta Ria, which are located side by side on Michigan Avenue, recently received facade improvements from Inkster's DDA. Included in the improvements was a public seating area between the two businesses with shade trees and other landscaping where patrons of the businesses can enjoy their food in a nice outdoor setting.
"To have that outdoor gathering space is really something special," Faison said. "The impact it has had for us and the buzz that it creates and the energy that it creates has been great. Local business people who normally go out elsewhere to have lunch now have an outdoor place to eat."
Perhaps the most significant development underway on Michigan Avenue is a new 31,000 square-foot State of Michigan Department of Human Services building, which officials say will bring hundreds of daily visitors to the corridor. A new 12,000 square-foot YMCA is included in the development plans as well. The YMCA will have an expanded Head Start program and other vital community outreach programs.
Inkster is also working to make Michigan Avenue pedestrian friendly. Recently, Inkster was awarded a transportation enhancement grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation. The funds will build new decorative sidewalks, landscaping, fencing, pillars, bus stop shelters and benches, outdoor seating and a pass through plaza from public parking located behind businesses on Michigan Avenue.
"I'm excited about this enhancement grant," the Mayor said. "It's going to make Michigan Avenue aesthetic."
A City of Parks
Inkster has 17 parks in all, many of them within easy access to Michigan Avenue. All of them add to the quality of life in the city which is why Inkster is investing in them.
For example, the city recently applied for a grant from the Department of Natural Resources to install biking and walking paths in the Lower Rouge Park, which runs parallel to Michigan Avenue to the north. The new paths will connect to existing paths in the neighboring communities of Westland, Dearborn and Dearborn Heights.
"We have the ability to tap into all those resources to make our portion of Michigan Avenue a destination place," said Faison.
Wheatley Park is also scheduled for a makeover. Inkster, in collaboration with Wayne County, is redeveloping the park located on Beech Daly and Carlysle. It's the second largest city-owned park at 8.4 acres. Given its physical proximity to the cities of Taylor, Westland and Romulus, Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Interstate 94, the city sees the park as a magnet for families and children. The Wayne County Parks and Recreation Department granted the Wheatley Park redevelopment project $75,000. Inkster will also use resources from its tax increment financing authority to fund the project. Included in the redevelopment plans are, among other things, improvements to the baseball diamonds, restoring the basketball courts and bleachers, installing handicap-accessible playground equipment, and landscaping enhancements.
And it would remiss to not mention the city's annual Summer Music Festival which draws thousands of visitors. This year's festival is from July 10-11th and offers a variety of music genres including jazz, gospel, and everything in between. There are also attractions for kids.
"It's great entertainment and it's free," said Faison.
The Neighborhoods
Like all cities in the region, Inkster was hit hard by foreclosures. With shrinking population, estimated today at 28,000, many of its residential structures sit empty and vulnerable to miscreants and vandals. Wayne County awarded the City in excess of $1 million dollars in Neighborhood
Stabilization Program funds (NSP) to demolish blighted structures. Slated for demolition are two schools, two commercial properties and numerous residential ones.
"Our notion is to remove the worst properties," Faison said. "That's the starting place."
A recent bill signed into law by the governor allows local communities to inspect rental mobile units for safety and code violations. It's something that the city of Inkster really pushed for in Lansing.
"Now we can knock on the doors and go into these rentals and inspect for safety and other code violations and we get quicker turnaround results," the Mayor said.
Senior-friendly
Inkster has a robust and active senior population. Recently the city was awarded an "elderly friendly" designation by the Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging. Wayne County, which submitted the application on behalf of the city, selected Inkster as a pilot community. Inkster was scored on, among other things, sitting areas for seniors to rest, transportation, safe outdoor green space, stoplights timed long enough to allow elders to cross safely, and nearby pharmacies and grocery stores for the elderly.
Faison said amenities are important factors for seniors. "You see a lot of elderly people walking, walking with canes, using motorized wheelchairs. We have pedestrian-friendly lights and ADA accessible ramps, which makes those cross walks safer."
Mayor Hampton was pleased with the designation, but not surprised. "It's a signal to the seniors that we want you here, we value you here," the Mayor said. "At the end of the day, they run this city. They are very active on the various boards and commissions here."
Moving Ahead
Through collaboration, partnerships, and smart fiscal policy, the city Inkster is taking full advantage of all resources at its disposal in creating a better city.
"We are trying to piece by piece, building by building, make our thoroughfare more accessible, more attractive, and highlight those destination places," said Faison.
The Mayor agrees. "I'm encouraged by the synergy that's taking place here in Inkster."
Pat Dostine is a Project Manager for EDGE and the Wayne County Communications Team.