Public Input Sought on Plans for Dearborn's Train Station District

During three open meetings Jan. 17-19, the public is invited to continue giving input on future development ideas for the area around Dearborn’s new train station under construction on Michigan Avenue near Brady.

More: What should Dearborn's TOD district look like?

The three interactive meetings all will take place inside the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, and are follow up events to a kickoff brainstorming session held in December, which attracted about 100 residents.

The Jan. 17-19 sessions are part of the Transit Oriented Development initiative that seeks to capitalize on the new train station’s ability to draw more visitors, businesses and residents to Dearborn’s west downtown. 

Through a grant awarded the city from MIPlace Partnership, planners from Michigan State University and experts from the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority are assisting city staff and stakeholders with creating a vision for the neighborhoods, parkland and business area near the train station.

The train station is scheduled to open by early 2014. Through this visioning process, steps can be taken over the next year to set in place future development to accommodate elements determined important by Dearborn stakeholders, such as bike paths and fresh housing opportunities.

Public sessions will be 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17 and Friday, Jan. 18, and 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.  on Saturday, Jan. 19.

All will be in Wet Rooms 1 & 2 at The Center.

On Jan. 17 and 18, there will be additional sessions during the day aimed at invited groups, such as business and land owners.

All ideas will be considered. On Saturday, Jan. 19, the revised TOD Neighborhood designs with illustrations will be presented to all groups and the public at the same time. People will be able to react to the conceptual design and comments will be recorded.

For more information, please call Liz Hendley in the City Plan Office at 313-943-2171.