Politics & Government
Maintaining Neighborhoods, Increasing Retail Focus of Third Master Plan Meeting
Residents of southwest Dearborn discussed what they would like to keep and change about their neighborhoods, and the city as a whole, at Wednesday night's meeting.
Discussion among 25 residents from Dearborn’s southwest end centered around housing, business and safety during the city’s third Wednesday night.
At the Dearborn Public Schools administrative services center, residents from the Princeton-Carlysle and Edison-Snow districts hashed out their thoughts about what they want to keep, add, or fix in the city.
While some residents said they see the neighborhoods going downhill–especially in regard to increased numbers of rental properties and vacant homes–others said they’re quite happy with the southwest end of Dearborn.
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“There’s a hiccup here and there, but generally we’re happy,” said resident Dave Gordon.
Newer residents Jonathan Kade and Diane Hall said they’re extremely happy with their decision to move to Dearborn–and the neighborhood they chose.
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“I love being able to walk to the market,” said Hall. “I love being able to walk to the drugstore.”
Additionally many residents–including Kade and Hall, who often walk there–commented that they’re thrilled to have the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in their backyards. Others said they’re happy to have Ford Motor Company around the area of Rotunda and Oakwood.
“For a large industrial neighbor, you can’t get much better than Ford,” Gordon said.
But several longtime Dearborn residents at the meeting said that one thing they don’t like having in their neighborhood are rental properties.
“We have so many rentals on our street,” commented one participant–a statement met with nods of agreement.
Kade disagreed. “I really like the types of housing. I like my neighborhood a lot,” he said.
But most agreed that Dearborn overall could stand to be more friendly to walkers and bicyclists–especially when crossing from neighborhood to neighborhood.
“We want walkability to be maintained so that people feel comfortable and safe walking through their communities,” said Mary Petlichkoff.
And to have somewhere to walk to, participants added–be it more local businesses, the pool or the nearest library.
The next master plan meeting will be held Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. at the clubhouse. This session will focus on the Cherry Hill, Fairlane and West Dearborn Center neighborhoods.
