Robert Smythe, Ford Regional Manager, left, and Michael Kross, Ford Customer Service Regional Manager, join Mike Dorian Jr. at awards ceremony.
Dorian Ford earns Triple Crown Award
Mike Dorian Ford at 15 1/2 Mile Road and Gratiot was once again recognized by Ford Motor Company for great sales and customer service. Ford's 2008 Triple Crown Award was presented to the staff at Dorian Ford recently during the unveiling of the new 2010 Taurus Sho. The Taurus will go on sale at the dealership later this summer. Dorian is one of only 19 dealerships in the world that has earned the Triple Crown award. The distinction was presented to the dealership for achieving the highest level of customer satisfaction in both sales and service.
Ford Motor Credit Manager Jill Burgei with Mike Dorian, Jr.
2009 Gratiot Cruise a Huge Success
The Eighth Annual Clinton Township Gratiot Cruise attracted more than 100,000 classic car lovers and spectators on Sunday, August 2nd. The DDA wants to congratulate the Gratiot Cruise Committee and the many business sponsors who helped make this event a memorable experience for residents and visitors alike. For more information go to http://ctgratiotcruise.com
Lower property values offer some savings to taxpayers
Lower property values in some areas of the Gratiot Downtown Development Area have resulted in a decrease in commercial property taxes. Overall, the DDA will receive about a 7 percent decrease in taxes for the 2009/2010 budget years. The DDA estimates tax revenues of of $135,000 during the next 12 years. That's about $10,000 less than the previous budget year. Property taxes will also be down a comparable 7 percent for overall township collections.
Welcome to the home page of the Clinton Township Downtown Development Authority - a business district filled with history, tradition, and an exciting outlook for the future!
Hampton Inn nears completion
The Hampton Inn on Gratiot just north of 14 Mile Road is nearing completion with a scheduled open following the holidays. The three-story hotel is located behind Aldi's between 14 Mile Road and Quinn. It will offer 93 rooms, a pool and fitness area and continental breakfast room for guests.
Landscaping and interior room completion remain.
Pipers Alley now open for business
The Charter Township of Clinton's Gratiot Downtown Authority welcomes Pipers Alley as the newest business to open its door on Gratiot. Located at 34802 Gratiot just south of 15 Mile Road, Pipers Alley is a full service restaurant and martini bar that caters to the sports bar as well as formal dining crowd.
Tommy Vasilos is the owner of the new restaurant next to Bruno's Dive Shop. The appearance of the two businesses compliment the Gratiot corridor and are prime examples of a new, fresh look for the M-3.
Vasilos has been active in the community for more than 22 years as co-owner of Roseanne's Kitchen on 15 Mile Road just west of Gratiot. He also operates the cafeteria at the Baker College campus on 15 Mile Road.
Pipers Alley succeeds Brewers Tavern that closed its doors more than four years ago. The new restaurant features cherry wood paneling on the walls and the bar as well as granite countertops surrounding the bar area. Visitors can relax in front of any of the six large screen LCD panels found throughout the facility.
The "upper scale pub" features an eclectic menu ranging from mozzarella sticks to bruschetta de pomodori to New York strip steaks, and of course, burgers and fries. The pub also offers a variety of martinis such as the Cucumber Gimlet, Toasted Almond and Peartini. A stop at the Pipers Alley is well worth it.
Pipers Alley Open for Business
You are urged to participate
DDA and the Macomb Daily to repeat Ad Campaign in early 2010
Early in 2010 the Clinton Township Gratiot Downtown Development Authority will once again team up with the Macomb Daily to offer an excellent value in advertising on the newspaper's front page. If you missed it, the Macomb Daily offered DDA advertisers up to a two inch deep ad on the front page "gatefold" of the Macomb Daily for less than $130.
The "gatefold" is a new advertising method used by the Macomb Daily since June of 2009 and was adopted with small businesses in mind."It can be a very effective way for small businesses to get their name out on our front page at a great price," says Macomb Daily Advertising Manager Roger Hages. The estimated cost of the 18-business model is $130 per ad. If more businesses sign up, the cost will be even less. Eight DDA businesses took advantage of the program in the fall of 2009. The remainder of the slots were bought by Mount Clemens based business owners.
A recent survey conducted by the DDA revealed that almost 40% of the businesses on Gratiot are independently owned. The DDA's objective is to provide this high visibility marketing opportunity to smaller businesses, possibly as often as four times a year. The newspaper covers all of Macomb County, and the majority of its readers are 35-65 years old with a median household income of more than $75,000. Representatives from the Macomb Daily and DDA will visit businesses this winter to offer an excellent value in advertising.
Tiger Chung’s Tae Kwon Do Joins Gratiot Businesses
The Li'l Tigers roar for the camera
Special by Helena Rose
Clinton Township’s DDA welcomes Tiger Chung’s Tae Kwon Do to the Gratiot neighborhood
Owner and instructor Thornton Kelly began teaching martial arts after meeting Grandmaster Ho Yung (Tiger) Chung more than 38 years ago. Chung began training in Tae Kwon Do in 1952. He founded the school in Korea in 1970 and moved to Detroit the following year. After receiving guidance and instruction from Chung, Kelly began teaching free Tae Kwon Do classes at a local church, which led to other teaching opportunities and tournaments.
In addition to Tae Kwon Do, classes in Aikido and Hap Ki Do are offered. The training rewards student with more than the physical benefits of stress release and cardiovascular health. The discipline achieved can be transferred to school or work. Kelly said people of all ages participate and are welcome and said he can remember a student who joined at the age of 73. A “Lil’ Tigers” class is offered for preschool-aged children and teaches non-violent resolution as well as to be respectful of teachers and their parents. Kelly said that all of the classes offered include conflict resolution methods as part of the instruction.
The methods taught do not emphasize a competitive spirit in the conventional sense, rather the focus is on self-improvement and self-confidence.
“If someone says ‘I can’t’ I make them do pushups. That shouldn’t be a part of your vocabulary,” Kelly said.
Two to three classes of varying degrees of skill are offered every night during the week and Thornton Kelly will be there enthusiastically offering his knowledge and ability. “It’s a way of life, really, and it gets better all the time,” he said.
Tiger Chung poses with Thornton Kelly before a class
Parking available in front and behind the building.
$225,000 Federal Grant sought to help offset cost of Gratiot Lighting
The DDA approved the application to a $225,000 federal grant to help pay the costs of lighting the Gratiot corridor. The status of the grant request will be known prior to the end of the year. The funds are part of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program and will help pay for the construction of the project. Property owners with more than 53 percent of the lineal feet along Gratiot have approved the Special Lighting District along Gratiot. Additional signatures continue to be sought. The Gratiot DDA must collect signatures from owners of more than 50 percent of the lineal feet along the corridor for the Clinton Township Board of Trustees to approve the program. Once approved, the Gratiot DDA plans to install energy efficient LED fixtures that promise to dramatically reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs. The 166 LED streetlights for Gratiot from 14 Mile Road to north of Metropolitan Parkway will burn five times longer than traditional high pressure sodium lamps and would require less than half the energy. Though more costly to install, the DDA anticipates that the new lights would pay for themselves in 5 or 6 years. The average property owner will pay less than $150 per year for the median lights that includes construction, energy costs and maintenance (See August issue of The Avenue under Newsletters for added info.)
McDonald's to construct new location on north end of Gratiot
McDonald's plans to relocate its Gratiot facility north of Metropolitan Parkway to a new location with more property between north and south bound Gratiot. The new restaurant will be located on the former Parway Chrysler Jeep site. The old facility will be demolished and the property placed for sale.
Gratiot spells big sales for long-time automotive dealers
Three of the world's top sales leaders in domestic car and truck sales are right here on Gratiot. Jim Causly Pontiac-GMC, Mike Dorian Ford, and Moran Chevrolet are all outstanding representatives of their respective automotive lines, consistently scoring as a top 10 dealership for the past decade.
New Ford Fusion Hybrid reports 41 miles to a gallon in the city.
"Our community is an automotive community, and it shows in how our customers have rewarded dealers in the area," says Vice President Carolyn Dorian. "Our sales rely on repeat business and word-of-mouth recommendations to friends and family members.
Rob Causley recently oversaw the reconstruction of his dealership and ended the sales year as the number one Pontiac-GMC dealer in the nation. Pat Moran Chevrolet was ranked number eight in the country. Pat Moran looks forward to customers seeing the many new models GM plans to introduce in the coming months, including the electric Volt that will debut in 2010.
New irrigation rules in effect May 15th
Clinton Township has adopted new water irrigation rules in order to restrain water and sewer rate increases from the City of Detroit. Effective May 15 through October 15 business and residential water sprinkling systems using automatic timers may not be used between the hours of 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. EST. Systems using hoses and manual watering methods may not be used between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. Odd addresses may irrigate on odd days of the month; even addresses on even days of the month. For more info call 286-9300.
Gratiot attracting the eye of new local businesses and national franchises
When DDA member Pete Thomas decided he wanted to expand his Cash Exchange business, he thought long and hard about moving to another part of the township or, maybe, even outside of the community. After examining his options, Thomas purchased a recently vacated 10,000 sq. ft. property on Gratiot north of 15 Mile Road that more than doubles his office space at an affordable price.
Thomas even received some important support from the township when the Board of Trustees voted to reduce the amount of parking spaces needed for the larger business since additional parking was non-existent in the immediate area.
It was a good example of business and government working together to help promote our community's growth, Thomas said. "After looking elsewhere, I wanted to stay on Gratiot because of the high traffic count, the fact that my customer base is in the area, and I am confident that more good things are about to happen here," Thomas added. So confident in the area is Thomas that he also purchased the adjacent shopping plaza to his new building.
Another example of growth is the construction of a new Hampton Inn which has begun along Gratiot. The new 93-room facility will go behind the Aldi food market between 14 Mile and Quinn. The 3-story hotel represents a multi-million dollar investment that is expected to spur other growth in the area.
The Gratiot Downtown Development Authority is a vision for the future
Located along the Gratiot Avenue Corridor from 14 Mile and extending past 16 Mile to Wellington Crescent, this 3 mile stretch is on the road to becoming a showcase for Macomb County shopping, business, dining, entertainment, etc.
The Clinton Township Downtown Development Authority commissioned the Gratiot Avenue Redevelopment Plan to provide immediate strategies for corridor beautification and redevelopment to position Clinton Township as leader in Michigan's urban land-use initiative.
We have a great vision for the DDA and we welcome input and ideas from business owners and residents.
To learn more about the DDA, attend a monthly DDA meeting, view past meeting minutes, or download the Gratiot Avenue Redevelopment Plan, click here.
Clinton Township and the DDA have specific rules regarding sign usage and property maintenance along Gratiot Avenue. Unauthorized signs, unsightly properties, trash and other violations should be reported when you see them. If you are concerned about the condition of any property along the Gratiot corridor, please contact Planning and Community Development Director Carlo Santia at 723-8083 or on the web at c.santia@clintontownship-mi.gov
Secretary of State Super Store Celebrates One Year anniversary
Secretary of State Terry Lynn Land was on hand to celebrate the one year anniversary of the opening of Clinton Township's Super Store at Metropolitan Parkway and Gratiot. The DDA was on hand for the event at the store that promises quick service and short lines.
South Gratiot Association
Our mission is to unite the business owners, residents, and the township in a joint effort to build the South Gratiot Strip into a clean, strong, and productive community.
Who belongs to the SGA?
All business owners or area residents on the south end of Clinton Township, this includes the strip of Gratiot that is shared with Mount Clemens, can attend our meetings. You can belong by paying an annual fee of just $35.00. The fee helps to cover mailing costs, even expenses, etc. The fee also entitles you to voting rights(events, elections, etc.)
Macomb Daily photo by Dave Posavetz
Gratiot Median Landscaping Completed
The DDA has completed nearly $170,000 in landscaping along the Gratiot Avenue corridor from 14 Mile Road to north of Metropolitan Parkway. The landscaping comprised primarily of native habitat species was planted at the 14 Mile Road, 15 Mile Road, Metropolitan Parkway interesection, as well as at half mile roads and the Quinn Road turnaround. Additional work north of Metro Parkway was also be included in the project.
United Landscaping of Washington Township was selected to perform the work. It used primarily native plants that are found in Michigan because of their ability to easily adapt to soil conditions. They are also drought tolerant and relatively maintenance free.
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