Issuu

oaKland conFidEntial 18-22 | mEtro intElliGEncEr 56-57

January 2026

SEX & HUMAN TRAFFICKING STATE, COUNTY AND LOCAL FORCES NOW MAKING IMPACT ON PROBLEM

EndnotE: tHE battlE to saVE tHE community HousE Ecrwss residential customer Eddm

downtownpublications.com

prsrt std u.s. postaGE paid royal oaK, mi 48068 pErmit #792

COMING SOON Quarton Lake Estates Exclusive

No other sales organization oﬀers the deep insight and knowledge of Southeast Michigan like DG Realty Group. We are the #1 Luxury Agency in Michigan and a Top 100 globally ranked Sotheby’s International Realty team with over $1 Billion in sales.

Whether you’re searching for your next extraordinary home or considering selling a cherished property, you want a seamless, enjoyable experience one deﬁned by innovation, expertise, and a genuine commitment to your goals. We provide tailored service, insightful guidance, and the conﬁdence that comes from a global network.

Dan Gutfreund Global Real Estate Advisor

Let Us Move You. iSellMichigan.com

248.497.4646

NEW CONSTRUCTION 999 Pleasant Ave, Birmingham $8,999,000

395 Greenwood St, Birmingham $4,650,000

COMING SOON 1580 Henrietta St, Birmingham

NEW PRICE 1120 Lyonhurst St, Birmingham $3,895,000

2759 Turtle Ridge Dr, Bloomfield Hills $3,995,000

654 Shepardbush St, Birmingham $2,299,000

NEW CONSTRUCTION 468 Willits, Birmingham $3,800,000

26733 Willowgreen Dr, Franklin $5,499,000

907 Ann St, Brimingham $2,399,000

751 S Bates St, Birmingham $1,699,000

NEW PRICE 480 Southfield Rd, Birmingham $1,499,000

572 Stanley Blvd, Birmingham $3,199,000

NEW LISTING 130 Denbar Rd, Bloomfield Hills $999,000

NEW CONSTRUCTION 1094 Lincoln Ct, Birmingham Coming Soon

1295 Lakeside Dr, Birmingham $3,999,000

COMING SOON Quarton Lake Estates Exclusive Contact Us

$1B+

$100M

TOP 100

in Total Career Sales

Luxury Agent in Southeast Michigan

Current Active Portfolio

Globally Ranked Agent Sotheby’s International Realty

DOWNTOWN01.26 27 THE RESPONSE TO SEX/HUMAN TRAFFICKING Law enforcement officials, along with policymakers, social workers and public health officials, have put their heads together in attempts to untangle the tentacles of the sex and human trafficking industry that has wound its way into every corner of Michigan.

CRIME MAP

OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL

MUNICIPAL

A recap of select categories of crime occurring in the past month in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills, presented in map format, plus a reminder about our online interactive map with story details on public safety incidents.

Knives unsheathed in U.S. Senate race; Whitmer anoints Moss; what the polls say now; James straw poll losses; Rogers has primary challenge; strong start for SOS hopeful Shkreli; plus more

Update on The Community House issue; new tasers for police force; proposed massive building at Maple/Woodward; new city fire chief named; planning for city museum; police contract settled; plus more.

NEW CONSTRUCTION | HOME ADDITIONS | LUXURY REMODELING

GRAND TRANSFORMATIONS KASTLERCONSTRUCTION.COM 248.655.5580

kastlerconstruction.com 248.655.5580 Visit our 2,500+ square foot showroom at 425 S. Main Street, Clawson

DOWNTOWN01.26 53 NEXT NOTEBOOK Birmingham Next Executive Director Cris Braun recounts the history of the new home for the senior service provider as the time now approaches to begin dealing with getting a building ready for a move in the short-term future.

56 METRO INTELLIGENCER Gigi Nichols provides readers with quick takes on what is happening in the world of food and drink in the metro area.

58 ENDNOTE Our thoughts about the controversy surrounding the proposed sale of The Community House and what is facing the city commission, and our recommendation that residents help push for passage of a bill allowing financial disclosure for county officials.

ANDREW MADVIN

36 FACES

24 36

Photo by Laurie Tennent

Marie Schmidt Andrew Madvin

BIRMINGHAM | BLOOMFIELD

PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Hillary Brody Anchill | Cris Braun | Dana Casadei | Tracy Donohue | Stacy Gittleman | Austen Hohendorf Grace Lovins | Jeanine Matlow | Katey Meisner | Gigi Nichols | Susan Peck | Carla Schwartz | Michael Scott | Mark H. Stowers PHOTOGRAPHY/CONTRIBUTORS Laurie Tennent | Matthew Cromwell | Theodore Michael | Mackenzie O'Brien Laurie Tennent Studio ADVERTISING DIRECTOR David Hohendorf ADVERTISING SALES Mark Grablowski GRAPHICS/IT MANAGER Chris Grammer OFFICE 970 E Maple Road / Ste. 3, Birmingham MI 48009 248.792.6464 MAILING PO Box 1630 Birmingham MI 48012-1630 DOWNTOWN NEWSMAGAZINE GOALS/MISSION The personnel at Downtown Newsmagazine bring a special commitment to the publishing effort, reinvesting in the local communities and working to make sure the Birmingham/Bloomfield area reaches its highest potential. Our mission dictates that we strive each month to provide a solid news and advertising product that local residents look forward to reading. Our goal is to build a community of informed citizens through the efforts of our passionate team. We are innovators producing products that go well beyond what others offer. DISTRIBUTION/SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed monthly at no charge to most homes in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills. Additional free copies distributed at high foot-traffic locations in Birmingham/Bloomfield. For those not receiving a free mail copy, paid subscriptions are available. To secure a paid subscription, go to our website (downtownpublications.com) and click on “subscriptions” in the top index and place your order or scan the QR Code here.

INCOMING/READER FEEDBACK We welcome feedback on both our publication and general issues of concern in the Birmingham/Bloomfield community. Opinions can be sent via e-mail to news@downtownpublications.com or mailed to Downtown Publications, PO Box 1630 Birmingham MI 48012-1630. If you are using the mail option, you must include a phone number for verification purposes.

MULTIPLE AWARD-WINNER FROM SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS DOWNTOWN NEWSMAGAZINE

OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL

METRO INTELLIGENCER

THREATENED PLANET

downtownpublications.com

oaklandconfidential.com

metrointelligencer.com

threatenedplanet.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

CRIME MAP

NORTH

Map key

Sexual assault

Assault

Murder/Homicide

Robbery

Breaking/entering

Larceny

Larceny from vehicle

Vehicle theft

Vandalism

Drug offenses

Arson

These are the crimes reported under select categories by police officials in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills through December 12, 2025. Placement of codes is approximate.

Want weekly updates on public safety stories? Sign up for our weekly update email newsletter at downtownpublications.com.

An interactive version of the Crime Locator map – linking to stories about crime incidents – can be viewed online. Scan the QR code above or look for the crime map link on our home page at downtownpublications.com.

OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL Oakland Confidential is a column of political gossip/news, gathered both on and off-therecord. We welcome possible items for this column which can be emailed to: OaklandConfidential@DowntownPublications.com. All sources are kept strictly confidential.

TIT FOR TAT: Shakespeare said it best: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” As the Democratic primary race for the U.S. Senate continues to tighten up between the three players – Congresswoman Haley Stevens, state Senator Mallory McMorrow and former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed, the knives are getting unsheathed and debatable behavior is getting unshackled. First, McMorrow, an active user of social media, posted a photo to Facebook with Governor Gretchen STEVENS Whitmer and University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker at a Democratic Party fundraiser, intimating to some that Whitmer was supporting her. The posting received 3,300 likes and 33 shares, at latest count, MCMORROW and over 2,500 likes on Instagram. After all – a picture is worth a thousand words. Stating she was a “serious lawmaker,” Stevens followed up by introducing articles of impeachment against the largely reviled Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., charging him with “undermining public health, diminishing decades of scientific and medical progress and imperiling the health of the American people.” The New York Times noted it would be impossible for Stevens’ impeachment articles to get a vote with a Republican Congress, and that Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was not backing it. McMorrow promptly mocked Stevens in an email, dismissing the impeachment as “political theater,” pointing out that as a state Senator she had passed a “raft of legislation” – most of which she is one of a group of co-sponsors, or voted for as a Democratic block – “to boost Michigan’s economy and keep money in Michiganders’ pockets,” she said in her email. According to The New York Times, Stevens responded with the impeachment articles after being approached by the grass roots organization Stand Up for Science, “which was founded in February and was looking for a champion for the move in Congress.” Stevens said in an email, “He has driven up health care costs while tearing down the scientific institutions that keep Michiganders and families across America safe.” Stevens said that she received an endorsement on her impeachment introduction of Kennedy from a coalition of Nobel scientists and physicians, as well as an endorsement of her campaign from 10 Nobel Laureates. The newspaper said some party observers say the Stevens impeachment effort was made because her campaign has “struggled to gain traction.” Some local political observers are speculating that McMorrow is still stinging from mocking she got for talking about oddball careers – like beekeeping and beer brewing – on the campaign trail when explaining the necessity to diversify Michigan’s economy, an issue highlighted by NBC national news in a piece. Hence the McMorrow attack on Stevens who is considered one of the hardest working members of the House and the Senate candidate favored by party leaders in D.C. CORONATION: A state senator who did get the royal – or gubernatorial – backing from Governor Gretchen Whitmer is Democrat state Senate President Pro Tem Jeremy Moss (Southfield, Bloomfield Township, Pontiac). Moss is running for Congress in the 11th District to replace Haley Stevens, and Whitmer, in a release, expressed her confidence that Moss will continue to deliver real results for Oakland County in Congress. “Jeremy Moss is a tough, tested leader who fights like hell every day to make Michiganders’ lives better,” Whitmer WHITMER MOSS said. “As a member of Congress, I know he will stand up for working families, lower costs for Michiganders, and fight for our freedoms. He has always had Michigan’s back, and I’m proud to support him.” Also running in the Democratic primary in August are Stu 18

DOWNTOWN NeWsmagaziNe

01.26

– Renee Apkarian –

Baker of Auburn Hills, attorney Aisha Farooqi, Dr. Anil Kumar of Bloomfield Hills, John Paul Torres of Waterford and Don Ulford of Bloomfield.

NOTARY SERVICE Need a document notarized? Look no further than our professional Notary Service.

4 NNA Certified Signing Agent 4 Mobile Notary Services 4 Notary Public Services 4 Remote Online Notary (RON) via BlueNotary

EE NE D

NOTA R

RO U

renee.apkarian@gmail.com

N SIG ING

NT GE A

K BAC

248-721-0174

TIFIE ER

ND SC

WHAT POLLS SAY: Speaking of the U.S. Senate contest, count us among the skeptics when it comes to polling, especially nine months ahead of the August 2026 vote and when one third of those participating are still undecided as they were in a recent Mitchell Research and Communications mid-November effort to see where possible voters are leaning on a number of issues and races, including the Senate contest. Not to dis Steve Mitchell, polls by others taken in July and last spring also had major percentages of undecideds, plus we’re not necessarily enamored with online polling as opposed to pollsters actually talking to participants, preferably on cell phones. Be that as it is, here’s the skinny. If the primary vote were held today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens would take 27 percent of the vote; state Senator Mallory McMorrow, 24 percent; and Abdul El-Sayed, physician, professor and former Wayne County Health Director, 16 percent. If the 2026 general election were held today, Republican Mike Rogers would take any of the three Democratic contenders. If it was a runoff with Stevens, Rogers would take 42 percent and Stevens 40 percent, with 18 percent of those polled as unsure at this point. In a McMorrow race, Rogers would take 44 percent and Mallory the state Senator would take 38 percent, with 19 percent of those participating saying they were unsure. Against El-Sayed, Rogers would take 41 percent to Abdul’s 38 percent, with 22 undecided. What’s it all mean? Once again, not much, despite the spin any of the Democrats try to put on these poll results as they have been with prior polling. It’s all BS for the most part until we hit next March. That is when the rubber hits the road, the number of undecideds starts to shrink and polls present a more valid picture. So hang on. GOVERNOR NUMBERS: The same Mitchell Research poll also took a quick look at the race for governor, with substantial undecideds in each hypothetical race. If the Republican primary were held today, Congressman John James would take 48 percent with former Michigan AG Mike Cox at 11 percent; former Speaker of the House Tom Leonard at five percent; state JAMES Senate Minority Leaders Aric Nesbitt at two percent; and Ralph Rebrandt at one percent. On the Democrat side, if held today the primary BENSON results would be Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson at 48 percent, with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist at 12 percent and Chris Swanson, Genesee County Sheriff, at five percent. If conducted today, the general race results would be James at 37 percent, Benson at 31 percent and former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan at 18 percent. In a Benson-Cox match up, the SOS would DUGGAN take 33 percent of the vote, Cox would get 32 percent and Duggan 19 percent. STRAW POLL LOSSES: Who knows the value of straw polls conducted at political party gatherings, but in the case of Congressman John James they may well illustrate the GOP division over his unorthodox run for governor in 2026. James, who has missed a number of party-sponsored get-togethers, most recently lost a straw poll of 98 party members when Leelanau County Republicans met. Aric Nesbitt took 41 votes; Tom Leonard, 30; and Mike Cox, 23 votes. John James? He only got two votes, while “none of the above” got five votes. James lost a similar straw poll at the GOP Mackinac Island Conference this year and a straw poll at the 9th congressional district in September. THE COLD SHOULDER: Another Michigan Democratic congressman not feeling the love from his fellow congressman – nor his party – is Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit, Grosse Pointe, Highland Park), who introduced articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegeseth – charging Hegseth with “Murder and Conspiracy to Murder, and for Reckless and Unlawful Mishandling of Classified Information.” “Pete Hegseth is uniquely unqualified to serve as Secretary of Defense,”

DOWNTOWN NeWsmagaziNe

01.26

Thanedar said in the release. “Every day he serves in this role, he puts American service members and their families in danger.” Punchbowl noted,“Democrats are deeply critical of Hegseth’s actions, but none have gone so far as Thanedar in pushing the futile effort of impeaching the Pentagon chief. The Michigan Democrat already drew the ire of party leaders in trying to impeach Trump earlier this year, and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries came out early in his dismissal effort as unworkable.” Thanedar, who has always stated that as a millionaire he self-funds his own HEGESETH campaigns, or from small donations, and never accepts corporate PAC money, has been found to be soliciting and accepting contributions from from at least THANEDAR three PACs with corporate ties, according to The Detroit News. Further, in the last two years, he has accepted at least $24,500 in corporate PAC donations. In 2026, Thanedar is facing a challenge from Democrat Donovan McKinney, who pledged to not accept any corporate PAC dollars. STRONG START: There’s a new player in the race for Secretary of State. Democrat Suzanna Shkreli of Birmingham, who until recently was the Michigan Lottery Commissioner as well as a former Director of Juvenile Justice Reform in DHHS, announced she is running to replace Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is termlimited and running for governor. Shkreli joins a crowded field, where she’ll tussle with Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, former state Senator Adam Hollier and Assistant Michigan Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie. Unlike other positions on the party slate, voters won’t choose the party standard-bearer – members of the Michigan SHKRELI Democratic Party convention will on April 19. But Shkreli had a huge launch, raising over $200,000 in the first 24 hours of her campaign, which should definitely have her competitors worried. Her campaign noted that it “is the most any Secretary of State candidate has announced raising in 24 hours. By comparison, it’s more money than Democratic opponent Barb Byrum raised all year ($136,000) and nearly as much as Aghogho Edevbie reported in around eleven months ($228,000).” Right now, Republican Timothy Smith has the field to himself.

KEEP IT Downtown. The only publication of its kind in Birmingham/Bloomfield. Quality editorial environment. Produced by local residents from offices in downtown Birmingham. Join the local business leaders, almost 400 of whom use Downtown on a regular basis, in our February issue. Ad deadline Friday, January 16. Contact Mark Grablowski. (C) 586.549.4424

LOCAL 22

PIE IN THE SKY: Former Congressman and Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers – who had the field all to himself since he announced his reprise run – is getting some company on the campaign trail. After Republicans shooed away legit contenders (ie, Congressman Bill Huizenga, who represents southwest Michigan, who was convinced by party leaders, including President Trump, to let Rogers have it to himself), Michigan GOP co-chair Bernadette Smith resigned in early November and announced that she was running to be the Republican standard bearer in the August primary, despite being largely unknown, including in SMITH the MAGAverse. In a release she said, “I am stepping forward because it is time to return to the principles that shaped this nation. Faith. Family. Freedom. These principles will direct every effort I make as we work to protect our liberties, strengthen our communities, and rebuild trust in public service.” One politico opined, “She’s a nut. She has no money, no endorsements, and no chance.” PRIMARY DATE CHANGE: For decades state lawmakers in Lansing have complained that the short time between an early August primary and then an early November general election is simply not sufficient and local municipal clerks have tended to agree with that position. So months ago some Republicans in the legislature proposed in a bill to move the primary election to either May or June, followed by a November general election, starting in the 2026 election year. But weeks ago the powers in Lansing said that would be too disruptive for 2026 and now there is a move afoot to make some changes for the 2027 election year. The only wrinkle that needs to be worked out is that local school districts like the thought of holding February elections,, no doubt because of low voter turnout which favors millage renewals and tax increase proposals. Local municipal clerks would rather that only two elections are held each year, not three. If this issue can be hammered out, look for a change in 2027 to a spring primary vote, then a November general election.

DOWNTOWN NeWsmagaziNe

01.26

FACES Marie Schmidt rom an early age, Marie Schmidt, author and illustrator of Eddy’s Day Out: An Exploratory Tale at the Detroit Institute of Arts, has had a passion for the arts. “I loved drawing as a child,” she said. “My parents enrolled me in art classes when I was young. That helped foster my love of art. I loved reading as well. My mom used to read the Laura Ingalls (Wilder) series to me. Charlotte’s Web was one of my favorite books.” Schmidt, who is also a preschool teacher, first visited the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) in early elementary school on a class field trip. She was immediately enamored by the museum. “I remember being on the front steps of the DIA and I was just in awe of it,” she said. “The architecture on the outside was so impressive to me. As I got older, my mom and dad would take me there. It was always one of my favorite places to go.” Schmidt, now a teacher in Birmingham Public Schools, went on to pursue an education in early childhood development with a minor in art. “I ultimately graduated from Eastern Michigan University,” she said. “It was a perfect path for my career because it relates to exactly what I’m doing now.” Schmidt was struck by the idea for Eddy’s Day Out after talking to her mother, whose dog, Eddy, ran away one day. He was returned by a school bus driver after he ended up on her bus. “Eddy is a real dog,” she said. “The book turned into my interpretation of what could’ve happened to Eddy.” Writing Eddy’s Day Out was a daunting process that took Schmidt 10 years to complete. “I had to learn the process of writing, and also illustrating, a book,” she said. “I have three kids of my own and I’m a full-time preschool teacher, so I wrote in my spare time. I have a little area where I like to sit and draw. It was quite the process because I was doing it all on my own.” Schmidt, a teacher at Midvale Birmingham Early Childhood Center, had her own students in mind while writing her book. “I wanted to introduce them to the museum and make it accessible to them,” she said. “I wanted to inspire them to create their own art.” Schmidt has been teaching at Midvale for 15 years and has always enjoyed working with children. “I used to babysit as a teenager. Now I teach four-year-olds,” she said. “I love children and I love fostering their love of learning. I like relating to them. They make me happy.” In addition to teaching, Schmidt hopes to continue writing children’s books. “This could be a book series,” she said. “Eddy could wander off into different places in Detroit.” Eddy’s Day Off is currently available on Amazon. “It’s also available at the DIA Gift Shop, the Michigan Train Station and other independent book shops,” Schmidt said. As a mother and a longtime Bloomfield Hills resident, Schmidt is especially grateful for the Birmingham school district. “The schools are amazing,” she said. “The Birmingham schools are where my children grew up. It’s been a great experience. Bloomfield is such a great location, too. The whole area is great. We love to frequent downtown Birmingham and we go to church at St. James Episcopal Church.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Laurie Tennent

SEX & HUMAN TRAFFICKING STATE, COUNTY AND LOCAL FORCES NOW MAKING IMPACT ON PROBLEM BY STACY GITTLEMAN

or nearly two decades, law enforcement officials, along with policymakers, social workers and public health officials, have put their heads together in attempts to untangle the tentacles of the sex and human trafficking industry that has wound its way into every corner of Michigan. It happens in massage parlors in Farmington and residences in Pontiac and along the cul-de-sacs in suburban communities, along the interstates and the Michigan-Canadian border. Enter a women’s restroom stall along any interstate rest stop in Michigan and Ohio, and there are warning signs on how to stop and detect sex and human trafficking with tear-off phone numbers for victims to call for help. Worldwide, the practice ensnares over 20 million people through violence, threats, deception, debt bondage and other tactics deployed by their traffickers.

In 2015, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners created public about what sex trafficking looks like. And from an the Oakland County Human Trafficking Task Force to serve as investigative standpoint, it was only into late 2025 that we the leading resource for Oakland County in the prevention of finally had the necessary resources to create a focused, human trafficking and in the protection and rehabilitation of dedicated full-time unit working on sex and human trafficking.” victims, through education, advocacy and collaboration. Before the task force coalesced for a long-term proactive Also in 2015, the state activated the Michigan Human approach, arrests and cases surrounding sex trafficking came in Trafficking Commission run within the department of the piecemeal. attorney general to study the situation. Early cases include the 2011 breakup of the Detroit Pink According to the Michigan Attorney General’s Human Prostitution ring, where the Michigan Attorney General’s Office Trafficking Commission’s 2024 annual report, in 2023 the arrested five individuals who were each charged with multiple National Human Trafficking Hotline reported 779 signals were felonies, including human trafficking, pandering, accepting the received from Michigan alone. From those 779 calls, 254 cases earnings of a prostitute and racketeering. The case revealed that were confirmed, and 506 victims were identified. Since the at least one child was trafficked in this ring, as well as drug creation of the hotline in 2007, Michigan has received over running that stretched across the country. The primary 10,000 signals, confirmed almost 3,000 cases, and identified over defendant, Mustafaa Muhammad, pled guilty to minor sex and 6,200 victims. The report also stated that, in 2023, labor trafficking and was sentenced to prison for 6Michigan received an F grade from Shared Hope 20 years on September 12, 2013. Oakland Sheriff Michael International, a highly regarded anti-trafficking Looking ahead to 2026, Bouchard said the more Bouchard said his office organization. established the Task Force - aware the public is of the signs of trafficking and for Human Trafficking But these statistics, the report admits, are the better trained law enforcement is, the more sex Investigations and flawed since they only reflect the suspected trafficking cases in the country will be uncovered. Enforcement Unit, the first trafficking that someone reported. It is widely “We need to train more (law enforcement to unit of its kind in the state become full-time specialists) on the task of sex and accepted worldwide that only a very small fraction to exclusively work full-time human trafficking,” Bouchard said. “We need of human trafficking is reported or identified. on investigating sex and “This number is incomplete due to the fact that dedicated units who know how to detect the signs human trafficking tips. many incidents of trafficking go unreported and in and symptoms that indicate a person is being reality, the actual numbers may be five times as trafficked. This is an evolving endeavor of high as what has been reported,” wrote attorney general Dana educating the people who work with the public. The more Nessel in the report. “Human trafficking is a modern-day form of people we educate, the more tips that come into our dispatches slavery that needs to be addressed with more work, policy to apprehend those committing the crimes of trafficking.” change, and education. We must encourage open discussions One of the first law enforcement departments to sign on to the regarding human trafficking and its impact within our specialized unit was Madison Heights. It is a community dotted communities. We must also educate the population on what with many low-budget hotels and short-stay motels, which make human trafficking is, what it will really look like, and what our it a magnet for sex trafficking. Easy highway access to Interstate citizens should do when they suspect human trafficking. 696 and I-75 adds to the appeal. Education, enhanced survivor and victim protections, and strong “In Madison Heights, sex trafficking was always the problem criminal laws will be the only way to eradicate human with us at our local hotels,” Madison Heights Chief of Police trafficking in Michigan.” Brent LeMerise explained, “It was going on right in plain sight Finally, 2025 was the year all the task force meetings, and undetected because there was a lack of training for our research and focus on the plague of trafficking began to make a officers, who didn’t understand what they were seeing when dent, at least in Oakland County. Now that the arrests and they would answer a call that there was (prostitution activity) crackdowns are underway, the prosecutorial arm of Oakland going on.” County’s justice system needs more funding to keep up with the LeMerise said for most of the duration of his 24-year career, avalanche of uncovered cases. Madison Heights had a Special Investigations Unit of plainOakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said his office this clothes officers assigned to investigate narcotics and sex fall established the Task Force for Human Trafficking trafficking cases. Without the proper training, LeMerise said his Investigations and Enforcement Unit. This the first unit of its team had yet to learn that many of the calls they responded to, kind in the state to exclusively work full-time on investigating from domestic abuse, drug dealing, disturbances of the peace sex and human trafficking tips. The first police departments to and narcotics overdoses, in some ways were not just one-off participate in the growing unit are Southfield and Madison isolated crimes, but connected to the crime web of the sex Heights. trafficking industry. “Back in 2015, when we established a bipartisan ad hoc fact“We targeted sex workers, the people who bought sex, and finding task force, it was a broad-spectrum group of elected people who sold drugs,” LeMerise said. “But we never addressed officials, law enforcement, and public health officials charged the larger human trafficking problems that were going on with creating policy and identifying and designating resources because we did not understand that what we were encountering for the prevention of human and sex trafficking,” explained were victims of human and sex trafficking.” Bouchard. “In 2025, the task force passed the baton to a new Another problem, LeMerise pointed out, was the women unit that will be fully dedicated to law enforcement and being trafficked for sex did not trust law enforcement and rarely investigations of human trafficking cases.” came forward to report crime. Another catalyst for the surge in arrests was a multi-day sex “Cases were widely underreported for several reasons,” trafficking awareness seminar offered by the Oakland County LeMerise explained. “Victims feared retribution by their Prosecutor’s Office to hundreds of law enforcement and law traffickers; they thought the police would not believe them and professionals held in November 2024. would be perceived as a suspect and not a victim. At other Bouchard continued: “Before this ad hoc committee was times, they were afraid to come forward because they knew formed in 2015, we had little knowledge of what human there was a warrant out for their arrest. They don’t trust the trafficking was. The task force for the last decade has been police or the county prosecutors.” teaching various professional and organizational groups in the Gaining the trust of the victims and finding the right services

to steer them away from the mentality of being under the power crime trends were changing and therefore where we needed to of their trafficker required resources beyond the reach of put our resources had to change,” McDonald said. “Of all the Madison Heights. LeMerise said it was even more difficult to cases my office handles, child and domestic abuse cases are gain the cooperation of underage victims or runaways, who saw some of the hardest to prosecute because victims are either their trafficker as their protector. The same could be said of the reluctant, scared or incapable of coming forward to testify. That department’s road patrol units, which had less time to dedicate difficulty is multiplied 100-fold with human and sex trafficking to an investigation of a potential sex trafficking situation during cases because often the trafficker will shuffle their victims to a pullover due to the fast-paced nature of highway patrolling. multiple locations, and the way that those caught up in A major turning point for Madison Heights came in 2019 trafficking feel they have no other resources to turn to outside of when the department partnered and trained with the crisis their current situation.” nonprofit Common Ground, which advocates and provides Part of this restructuring included appointing department resources for victims of sex trafficking. It was then that LeMerise veteran Cindy Brown, once the assistant county prosecutor, to said the puzzle pieces began to fit together. LeMerise said his head up the county prosecutor’s first trafficking unit. officers learned that sex trafficking needed to be investigated as In September 2025, McDonald also made a plea to the county a distinct type of crime. As they worked with Common Ground, for nearly half a million dollars to more efficiently prosecute a Madison Heights police gained the trust of the skyrocketing rate of sex trafficking cases. victims and became more efficient in investigating Brown has worked in the Oakland County A major turning point for and apprehending the perpetrators. Prosecutor’s Office for 25 years. In addition to Madison Heights came in “We brought victims to get help at Common 2019 when the department working as assistant county prosecutor, she held partnered and trained with positions in the office’s special victims and drug Ground,” LeMerise said. “This was a softer place the crisis nonprofit Common trafficking units before being appointed trafficking for them. It wasn’t a police officer interrogating Ground, which advocates them, but instead they were speaking to social unit leader. and provides resources for workers and therapists who served as their She said crimes related to “forced prostitution” victims of sex trafficking – advocates. It was the first time in a long time that are connected to other offenses that impact the the puzzle pieces began to wider community, such as armed robbery, sexual these victims were spoken to like they were fit together. human. Through this process, we gained their assaults, carjacking and drug dealing. trust and rapport. Then they began to cooperate “There is much interplay between sex trafficking with us and provided us with information. Some even testified in and other crimes, especially drug dealing,” Brown said. some cases. Their cooperation made it easier for us to enforce “Traffickers exploit and capitalize on their drug addicted victims. the laws and create cases that could be prosecuted.” For years, I prosecuted cases that involved drug dealing and Eventually, LeMerise said his department began to team up child sexual assault cases. It has all culminated in my new role with the Oakland County Prosecutors’ office. as chief of the human trafficking unit and only in the last year According to law enforcement and prosecutors in the county, did my team and I and other law enforcement personnel in the that’s when the caseload numbers exploded. county receive specialized training in this work.” In January 2025, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, working In November 2024, the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office with the Madison Heights police, arrested 61-year-old Damon hosted a countywide two-day training seminar and was Napier at the Baymont Inn for alleged human trafficking attended by 300 law enforcement, probation, parole, and some involving two different cases – one out of Southfield and another medical professionals. It was taught by a member of the out of Warren. Napier pleaded no contest on July 21, 2025. On Missouri State Police who had worked on sex trafficking cases Monday, October 13, he was sentenced to 13-40 years in prison. for the length of his career. Other Madison Heights cases include sex trafficking arrests Attendees learned the ins and outs of human and sex made on July 21, 2025, at the Roadway Inn and September 6, trafficking: what it looks like, where it happens, how to detect, 2025, at the Travel Lodge. investigate, and prosecute it. And Brown said it’s making the In May of 2025, the Oakland County Human Trafficking Task difference. Shortly afterward, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Force arrested Trevor Andrew Scarbrough, 33, of Pontiac, who Office handled 31 trafficking cases compared to the last four forced his victim to perform a sexual act with an animal and years, which averaged eight such cases per 10 months. prostituted her for at least a year. The man was charged with “At the end of the training, we had attendees approaching us prostitution, using a computer to commit a crime, human saying that they had been encountering the exact scenarios trafficking enterprise resulting in commercial sexual activity, described (in training) the entire length of their careers,” Brown sodomy, delivery/manufacture of controlled substance, illegal said. “It was right there in front of them, but they never possession of a firearm and maintaining a house of prostitution. recognized it as trafficking. After that training, we had an influx In total, all of these felonious charges can add up to nearly 100 of cases, because (law enforcement) recognized what it was and years in prison. acted upon it.” On July 29, 2025, Madison Heights police arrested Warren To date, the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office between resident Lawrence Robert Harris Weaver, 48, and the Oakland November 2024 and November 2025 secured 52 convictions in 53 County Prosecutor’s Office charged him with human trafficking, cases – a 98 percent conviction rate. There are 22 cases still forced labor resulting in injury/commercial sexual activity and pending. In addition to the intensive training from November prostitution/accepting earnings. He was turned in by a woman 2024, Brown said there is now a required course cadets must who was being trafficked by him and escaped. If convicted, he take at the Oakland County Police Academy so that newly faces up to 15 years in prison and/or a $15,000 fine for the minted officers already have training on how to detect human trafficking charge and up to 20 years in prison for the trafficking. prostitution charge. To expedite and secure convictions on these cases, the office Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald since the needs to beef up its prosecutorial team. Brown currently works beginning of her tenure in 2021 has been shuffling around with three full-time prosecutors, a part-time prosecutor, a resources in her department to place a greater focus on pursuing paralegal and an investigator. They are requesting from the sex trafficking cases that stick. county an additional $457,000 for two more paralegals, an assistant prosecutor, and salary funding for a chief of the team. “When I came on board as county prosecutor, I observed that

that awareness has been raised to activity that has been going on “In addition to training our law enforcement and prosecution “right under our noses” but has only been brought to light through professionals, I try to get out into the community as much as training and better detection. The traditional way we approached possible to educate the public as to what this crime looks like,” this in law enforcement was an obstacle to really helping these Brown said. “We must get the community involved. Law victims. Now, we are one of the few counties that charges people enforcement cannot be everywhere; they cannot do this alone. With for sex trafficking. “ raised awareness out in the community, we have been tipped off by Brown added: “We have had cases where (traffickers conduct hotel and motel clerks. Once we make people aware of what human their practices of selling their victims for sex) in neighboring other trafficking looks like, it shocks them when they realize it has been counties. Victims have literally told us that their trafficker takes happening in their communities all along.” McDonald said the biggest hurdles of handling the mounting them to other counties (sex trafficking) is not pursued there as cases is to hire prosecutors who can wade through volumes of rigorously by law enforcement or prosecution.” physical and digital evidence to create cases that will stick. This McDonald also pointed out that sex and labor trafficking often also entails fostering trusting relationships with victims who can go hand in hand. The county has cracked open cases at several hopefully testify and serve as witnesses. massage parlors where operators bring women in from China via “When I was assistant prosecutor 25 years ago, you would get New York and then take away their passports and keep them as to court, and there would be a file with maybe a 10modern day slaves. page police report sometimes accompanied by a few A big hurdle in tackling the “This is prevalent throughout the state,” said photos,” McDonald recalled. “Now, you may have to problem of human and sex McDonald. “We have just allowed massage parlors work through flash drive’s worth of digital evidence. to operate, thinking that these are just victimless trafficking is to gain the trust of those who have You have footage from body cameras, metadata from crimes. We recently prosecuted a case involving the been trafficked, rescue phone messages and texts. These cases are very trafficking of Chinese women. The massage parlors them from the mindset that take away their passports, their money and no place elaborate and require specially-trained prosecutors. keeps them in this cycle of else to live but inside the massage parlor. There are Through the county, we got the task force up and modern-day slavery, and running for law enforcement through the Sheriff’s so many cases of a similar nature, and that is why guide them to a path of office, but it doesn’t help if we don’t have the we are dedicating prosecutor resources and have self-worth. capacity in my office to prosecute these cases. That asked for additional funding to handle an increased is where the funding is needed.” caseload. The more educated people are about the Brown echoed McDonald’s sentiment on the difficulty of making trafficking going on right under their noses, the more we can do to cases stick. She told Downtown she spent part of that day prevent it.” interviewing a woman trafficked in marriage. In another case, she To bring more offenders of sex trafficking to justice, Lansing said there were at least 11 victims involved. In another case, needs to pass laws with sharper teeth. Brown’s team must analyze data stored in 29 phones. While in jail In September 2025, state Representatives Tom Kunse (R-100) custody awaiting trial, Brown said conversations and footage from and Kelly Breen (D-21) co-sponsored and introduced House Bill video visits must also be monitored for evidence. 5012 with over a dozen other policymakers, which aims to penalize “Among trafficking victims, there is a trauma endured from their traffickers of minors more harshly and stop criminalizing minors experiences unlike anything I have seen in my years of work,” who were swept into the industry. Brown said. “We are seeing husbands trafficking wives. The The bill presumes that anyone under the age of 18 participating person who was supposed to protect them, their spouse, is in illicit sexual activity was coerced into sexually abusive activity trafficking them. There are layers of loyalty and allegiance the or the commercial sexual activity or was otherwise forced or victims have to their traffickers in these cases. And the traffickers coerced into committing an offense by another person engaged in tell their victims, ‘If and when you are picked up by the police human trafficking. Any person found in such a situation should be (when prostituted), tell the police that you are choosing to do this immediately handed over to the department of Health and Human (to make money) on your own free will. The police are not your Services, and an investigation should begin no later than 24 hours friends. This is something you choose to do.’ That way, the after the report is made to the department of Health and Human criminal charges will fall on their victims, and not the traffickers.” Services. Brown continued: “In each case, there is never just one victim. “It's embarrassing that Michigan is towards the bottom of the There are multiple victims attacked to each trafficker. It takes list when it comes to the protection, prevention, and penalization time for the victims to feel comfortable enough to talk. And when of those who have been coerced into sex and human trafficking,” they finally make up their mind to talk, our division must be said Rep. Kunse. “This is legislation that has bipartisan support available when they are ready to take that call, to be present and and was reintroduced into the legislative floor by my associate to listen, to answer their questions and make sure they have the (Breen) and me. The bill has two goals: the first is to bring the services they need. Our goal is not to re-traumatize the victims. We perpetrators of the horrible crimes of sex trafficking minors to try to find alternative ways than having to relive their trauma by justice. The second is to protect the victims. If a minor enters a testifying in person in court, but sometimes, we can’t always do police station and confesses (to performing crimes under coercion), that.” they should not be the ones who are punished. If they think they Brown said her unit often comes across the same victims will be the ones who will be penalized, they are less likely to report multiple times when prosecuting cases. She added it takes great a crime.” strength and a certain frame of mind to break the cycle of being Speaking with Kunse in mid-November with just a few days left trafficked in order to get into a rehabilitative program such as the to go in the legislative session, Kunse told Downtown it would be one offered at Sanctum House. “We can encounter the same unlikely that the bill would gain any traction until early in 2026. person trafficked on a number of cases, and each time, we tell Noting on just how polarized the state government is these days, them we are here to help to get them resources,” Brown said. “We Kunse said cracking down on human trafficking and placing the hope one day they will accept that help.” penal code where it belongs – on the traffickers and off those While caseloads in the county may have increased, McDonald being trafficked – is something legislators on both sides of the said the rate of human trafficking has not increased and has fallen aisle can support. off slightly. “We have to ask ourselves, where do our priorities and values McDonald said the reason for the caseload uptick is the fact align and overlap,” Kunse mused. “No one is going to say this

foster care and/or released to private families. It is their job to legislation is not important. Human trafficking is an issue that provide legal counsel for undocumented and unaccompanied impacts every part of our state, from the quietest small town to the minor migrants who have been sex and labor trafficked and are upscale suburbs of Oakland County, and into our cities. It is eligible to attain either a T (trafficking) or U (unaccompanied everywhere.” minor) visa to remain in the United States. A big hurdle in tackling the problem of human and sex “The intent of these visas is to provide protection for victims trafficking is to gain the trust of those who have been trafficked, and also to encourage individuals to report (trafficking) to law rescue them from the mindset that keeps them in this cycle of enforcement so that they and others can be safe,” Devereaux modern-day slavery, and guide them to a path of self-worth and explained. “Sometimes, the trafficking of victims began outside the self-reliance. United States, but even if this is the case, they are eligible for this Jennifer Fopma is chair of the board of the all-volunteer visa status.” Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force, an organization she has Devereaux said the vulnerabilities of an undocumented, been involved with since its founding in 2006. unaccompanied minor migrant can manifest in three main The organization was founded by law enforcement expert categories. Jane White, who died in 2023. Since her death, Fopma said she “Smugglers of undocumented minors can sometimes also be and her associates of law enforcement, social workers, faithfeeding into the sex and labor trafficking pipeline,” based and healthcare professionals have been Devereaux said. “There is a high vulnerability of working tirelessly to fill her shoes and perpetuate If a minor enters a police becoming trafficked when young unaccompanied her legacy. station and confesses people are being smuggled into the United States. “Jane had a long history in law enforcement, (to performing crimes under coercion), they One of our clients was on her way to Michigan to which made her the perfect, credible person to should not be the ones live with family, and she was exploited along the lead this task force,” Fopma said. “She also who are punished. If they way.” understood the importance of victim services and think they will be the ones Devereaux said this client was introduced to sex of trauma-informed care. She brought everybody who will be penalized, they trafficking along the Michigan/Canadian border and to the table and did this work until the day she are less likely to report was referred to MIRC after being freed. It was then died.” a crime. that MIRC secured her a T visa. Fopma said there were some contentious In other instances, MIRC has worked with clients meetings in the early years. All parties – including first experienced trafficking in their home country and tried to social workers and law enforcement officials – wanted the same escape it by fleeing to the United States. goals in preventing and stopping sex and labor trafficking but “Unfortunately, many of our clients meet the same harsh reality were “speaking different languages” in how to get it done. when they arrive here, or others are lured to the United States “Law enforcement would want to make arrests and insisted under the promise that they will get good jobs. that they had access to the victims to talk to them and convince Devereaux said at times, minors are lured to the United States them to press charges,” Fopma recalled. “We were telling law by a trafficker with intent to use that child for sex work. enforcement that the victims didn’t trust them, and we had to Sometimes, through a screening process, the Office of Refugee protect their confidentiality. The victims were terrified and felt Resettlement can detect when a sponsor of a migrant is really a like they had to protect their traffickers. So, the first few years of sex trafficker, and then the minor will not be released into that the task force was learning how to work together. We all wanted person’s custody. to put the needs of the victims first.” When survivors of sex trafficking finally channel the strength Fopma said the most significant obstacle to understanding and self-worth to want to reclaim their lives, if they are lucky, they patterns in sex and human trafficking is the lack of a consistent find their way to Michigan’s Sanctum House. nationwide system to track human trafficking incidents. It is the state’s only long-term rehabilitation and training center “Any time you hear about a state or city being ranked in terms for survivors of sex trafficking, who now refer to themselves as of trafficking, the truth is it is all highly inaccurate,” Fopma said. lived experience survivors. “We don’t know on any given day what the numbers are. The Irene Faziani, 43, grew up in a home in Carleton, Michigan, where National Hotline, or data from local law enforcement only she didn’t know and never learned how girls and women should be capture a fraction of the problem.” properly treated. She said it was normal to watch her father verbally She continued: “As a social worker who has advocated for victims, I know many have not been counted. Instead, they are and physically abuse her mother and live in a house where food was charged as criminals. Therefore, I do hope that any new legislation scarce. She recalled how her brother, who lived in the same home, proposed in Lansing will come into law to prohibit penalizing grew up seemingly unscathed. He now lives his life as a successful minors who have been trafficked for sex.” academic. But Faziani said her childhood left her without the skills of Fopma said stopping sex trafficking is most effective when law self-esteem or self-love to carry into her adulthood. Eventually, her father left her and her brother with their mother, enforcement and community healthcare, social workers and who had to work long hours. The child support her father sent was advocates coalesce at the local level. She said The Michigan not enough to pay all the bills or the mortgage. She and her Human Trafficking Task Force is most effective when it builds brother were left alone much of the time. It was in her early education and advocacy networks at the local level among local adolescence that she began smoking, drinking, and taking drugs. service providers and law enforcement. It made her a vulnerable target. That’s when the trafficking “We need local task forces because this is about people doing began. the right thing for other people,” Fopma said. “This is about At age 34, she was arrested and jailed in Calhoun County. She building relationships. This is not about your authority or your title. befriended one of her cellmates when they realized that their People do things for people. It’s about relationships, not authority. families were not responding to their calls from jail. Upon Faziani’s It’s not your title. Everything we do is survivor-driven.” release, law enforcement issued her a Greyhound bus ticket to Undocumented migrants, especially those who are minors, fall Detroit. But that just left her at the station with nowhere else to into an especially vulnerable category of the trafficking industry. go. At the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC), senior “Before my jail release, my cellmate said she had a contact managing attorney Ana Raquel Devereaux supervises MIRC's who had a brother who would pick me up from the station and take unaccompanied children's legal team whose clients are in federal

days,” Faziani said. “There is still a lot of work I have to do. care of me and I had no idea what that meant,” Faziani recalled. But I know I am blessed to be living and to be able to do the “At first, he treated me well, and I thought he loved me. I was work and speak out on behalf of others and be respected for then sold to my trafficker’s cousin.” the things that I went through.” She suffered regular beatings, physical and mental illnesses. Sanctum House Executive Director Karen Moore said it is Faziani said her traffickers were involved with all kinds of crimes, not uncommon to have women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s from retail fraud to drug dealing. Often, in these situations, it is coming through their doors, emphasizing that sex trafficking the women who are being trafficked who take the fall for drug can occur to women of all ages. Faziani arrived at Sanctum possession or other crimes. House at 37. “I wasn’t eating, and I was getting repeatedly raped,” Faziani recalled of the three years she was trafficked. “At that point, tons Sanctum House staff and lived experience survivors speak at of bad things were happening to me. But law enforcement had hundreds of events each year. “We've trained so many groups to been watching my traffickers for years. One day, their house was understand what the indicators and signs are of human raided, and my trafficker and his trafficking evidence. Often, the father went to prison. I ended up victims themselves do not even turning myself into law enforcement. know that they are being I went to jail because I knew that trafficked.” Human traffickers target unsuspecting individuals all the time, was the first step I needed to take, “That was me,” Faziani said. especially job seekers who greatly need to improve their because I wanted help. I was sent to “I thought (my trafficker) really economic situation or are seeking increased popularity or another rehabilitation program, and loved me, because that is what followers on social media. then I was referred to Sanctum he told me and that is how he According to the U.S. Employment Equal Opportunity House for long-term rehabilitation. By acted. Like many women, I was Commission, here are some signs that a trafficker is trying to then, I was 37.” vulnerable. My guard was down. lure their next victim through a job search: Now, Faziani is among the lived And that is what the traffickers experience survivors. She is a are looking for.” A job seems too good to be true because it offers high pay for graduate of an 18-month Moore said trafficking victims easy work. The job promises to elevate one’s status to “make rehabilitation program run by encompass every racial, them a star,” or propose success to those who want to be models, actors or online influencers. Sanctum House. Sanctum House religious and socioeconomic professionals work regularly with background. The common A job offer was proposed without the seeker applying to it, and Nessel’s Trafficking Task Force, the thread is their vulnerability, and applicants are offered an unsolicited job offer online by a FBI and the Michigan State Police young girls are most stranger. and the U.S. Department of susceptible. “We speak at high schools Homeland Security. Moore said There was pressure to immediately accept the job offer. because that is where young much-needed federal and state The employer included romantic offerings (dating, expensive girls may not be getting the grant funding will go to expand gifts) with the job offer. attention they need at home,” Sanctum House’s reach. Presently, Moore said. “If mom and dad the organization runs several longThe employer threatened to harm friends and family if the job are not around because they term housing accommodations in offer was not accepted. are working, or separated, or undisclosed areas in metro Detroit. traveling and not providing the Their beds are always full, and The job offer was contingent on a recruitment or travel fee that nurturing presence or guidance there is always a waiting list of had to be paid by the job seeker. at home, there is going to be a other women looking to enroll in The job offer requires the job seeker to not remain in contact trafficker who will appear to their long-term program to regain with family or friends. meet those needs. And though control of their lives. Employed at Sanctum House as a many women finally come to The job comes with travel arrangements where applicants must residential advisor, Faziani has her us at an older age, they were surrender their identification, passport, wallet and phone. own apartment, pays her bills, preyed upon because they including rent, car payments and came from families with Traffickers require victims to live in designated places, are forced to work under duress and threats, and are threatened if auto insurance, and is a highly insecurities such as they complain, ask or try to leave or sever their employment sought-out speaker on the issue of homelessness, divorce, abuse, arrangement. In the case of migrants, the trafficker may sex trafficking. or food insecurity.” threaten to call Immigration and customs enforcement for Faziani has testified in Lansing for Moore said the reality is that deportation if they do not comply with their demands. better legislation to prevent and there will always be human apprehend the practice of human trafficking and sex trafficking. Victims of trafficking are often denied monetary pay, or are paid trafficking and speaks in many The best way to combat it is with housing, food, gift cards or drugs instead. community events to explain the through education. Often the trafficker will convince their victims that they are warning signs of someone who is “Abating the rates of sex and indentured and must work off a debt before seeing their pay. either looking to traffic a person or human trafficking is easier said victims of human trafficking. She than done,” Moore said. “The Those lured into sex trafficking may have applied to one kind of said she is in a healthy, loving only way to do it is through job such as domestic work, modeling. Employers then begin to relationship, has repaired her community education. We compliment employees on their looks, make romantic gestures, relationships with her parents, and want to educate as many offer drugs and alcohol but are then asked to take nude photos or videos of themselves. Employers may require workers to use lives with her cat, who is a comfort people as we can as to what drugs or drink alcohol as part of their employment. and a constant companion. Her signs to look out for, what to do journey to wellness and selfif they suspect trafficking To report suspected human trafficking, call 911. Or call sufficiency continues. activity is going on, and how to Michigan’s centralized intake at 855.444.3911. The National “I still regularly see a therapist, best alert authorities to get Human Trafficking Hotline is 888.373.7888. and there are good days and bad those affected to safety.”

How to avoid being trafficked

CHRIS

PERO

A s s o c i a t e B r o k e r

cgpero@yAhoo.coM 248.797.0784

275 S. Old Woodward Downtown Birmingham

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Thank you for another great year - over $70 Million Sold in 2025 including: LockLin - West BLooMFieLd

Buyers Agent

$3,625,000

hAddington - BLooMFieLd tWp

Buyers Agent

$2,190,000

chesterFieLd - BirMinghAM

Listing Agent

$1,675,000

$1,300,000

$1,150,500

FrAnkLin Woods - FrAnkLin

Buyers Agent

$912,500

Whippers in ct - BLooMFieLd tWp

Buyers Agent

$793,927

south creek - rochester hiLLs

Buyers Agent

$690,000

LAntern - BLooMFieLd tWp

Listing Agent

$3,400,000

vALLey vieW - BirMinghAM

Listing Agent

$1,900,000

BAtes - BirMinghAM

Listing Agent

Buyers Agent

$605,000

Buyers Agent

$1,650,000

$1,280,000

$1,150,000

MAdA - West BLooMFieLd

Buyers Agent

$900,000

LAkecrest - BLooMFieLd tWp

Listing Agent

$775,000

oAkBrooke - West BLooMFieLd

Listing Agent

$680,000

scenic - FrAnkLin

Listing Agent

Buyers Agent

chesterFieLd - BirMinghAM

$3,100,000

BroAdWAy #3, detroit

Buyers Agent

$1,850,000

WiLLits - BirMinghAM

WALLAce - BirMinghAM

WiLLits - BirMinghAM

Buyers Agent

BueLL - oAkLAnd tWp

MAgnoLiA - royAL oAk

hAzeL - BirMinghAM

Listing Agent

pierce - BirMinghAM

Listing Agent

$1,425,000

$1,260,000

$1,062,600

WoodLAke - BLooMFieLd tWp

Buyers Agent

$856,000

WoodWAy - BLooMFieLd tWp

Listing Agent

$731,000

snoWden - rochester hiLLs

Listing Agent

$649,900

e LincoLn - BirMinghAM

$570,000

Listing Agent

Buyers Agent

$1,750,000

Listing Agent

$1,420,000

WiLLits, #309 - BirMinghAM

WALLAce - BirMinghAM

Buyers Agent

$2,650,000

pheLAn - independence tWp

neArBrook - BLooMFieLd tWp

henLey - BirMinghAM

Listing Agent

$560,000

Buyers Agent

$1,250,000

WiLLits, #213 - BirMinghAM

Buyers Agent

$1,050,000

spruce - BeverLy hiLLs

Buyers Agent

$825,000

WestBourne - BLooMFieLd tWp

Listing Agent

$725,500

norcLiFF - BLooMFieLd tWp

Listing Agent

$645,000

WitherBee - troy

Buyers Agent

WiLLits, #507 - BirMinghAM

Listing Agent

$2,400,000

oLd sALeM - BirMinghAM

Buyers Agent

$1,750,000

sheLLMArr - BLooMFieLd tWp

Listing Agent

$1,300,000

AMBerLy - BLooMFieLd tWp

Listing Agent

$1,250,000

gLenBrooke - BLooMFieLd tWp

Buyers Agent

$1,000,000

croFton - BLooMFieLd tWp

Listing Agent

$818,000

Argosy - BLooMFieLd tWp

Listing Agent

$710,000

tALBot - huntington Woods

Listing & Buyers Agent

$610,000

MohegAn - BirMinghAM

$555,000

Buyers Agent

$550,000

FACES Andrew Madvin nternational glass artist Andrew Madvin was inspired to pursue a creative career as a junior at Groves High School when he took an elective metals and jewelry class. “I loved the work, the creating and the hands-on designing,” he said, adding, “I didn’t grow up in a family of artists, so this was a new path for me.” For the remainder of high school, Madvin took as many related classes as possible and won several Scholastic Awards. With a teacher’s urging, he took an Art 101 class in his senior year, which allowed him to prepare a portfolio that led to a scholarship at College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit. During his time at CCS, he found part-time employment as well as a creative and business mentor in another Groves alumnus, Brendan Sherwood, an artist and owner of Elements Hand Crafted Custom Jewelry in Royal Oak. “I learned a lot from jewelry but ended up abandoning it as a format and career when I discovered the medium of glass. I developed a love of glass and consider it large-scale jewelry for adorning the home or an architectural space,” he explained. Madvin furthered his fine arts glass studies at California College of the Arts in Oakland-San Francisco and Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington. In 2000, after college, Madvin founded Axiom Glass in Detroit and soon involved his younger brother, Robert, who ended up studying fine arts glass design at CCS and the University of Hawaii. The younger Madvin has since become a successful independent glass artist, and the brothers continue to work together in the same studio space. “I love being a studio artist. I enjoy glass and the process of working with it. I’m drawn to the fire, the movement and manipulation of the glass anticipating what it will do, and the qualities of light. I look to enhance the glass and let it tell its own story – allowing the bubbles and pouring to show in the creation of a beautiful piece of glass.” Several years ago, Axiom Glass relocated to a large showroom, gallery and studio in Royal Oak that is open to the public and hosts events including those with a hands-on glass experience. Axiom sells their celebrated glass designs in the United States and globally. Locally, they work with organizations such as Dearborn’s The Henry Ford, which has an enviable glass collection as well as a 19th century-inspired glass shop in Greenfield Village. “Glass is a playful material, and I want to share it with everyone,” he said. Madvin said his glass art is greatly influenced by nature and his lifelong curiosity of the natural world. This can be seen in his decorative collections celebrating botanicals, stones, stars and thorns. In addition to beautiful artistic glass designs, his studio also produces other glass items such as stunning custom architectural lighting, beverage ware, vases and tabletops. The Birmingham resident is married to his high school sweetheart, Dr. Hanit Kalo, a pediatrician at Bloom Pediatrics in Birmingham. They share two daughters who, according to Madvin, are creative in different ways – one is a dancer while the other is hands-on creative like him. Madvin relishes adventure sports and considers himself a bit of a thrill seeker: “I welcome and engage danger and ‘playing with fire.’ I was always the kid at the top of the tree or edge of the cliff.” The founder, artist and designer also enjoys passing on his knowledge to employees and young people interested in creative fields. “I encourage them to be original. It can be hard but if you want to be successful as an artist or designer your work needs to tell your story. You also need to work hard, network and be extremely dedicated and resourceful. Take risks and surround yourself with good people…I’ve been doing this for 30 years and still love it.”

Story: Tracy Donohue

Photo: Laurie Tennent

WISHING YOU A BRIGHT AND PROSPEROUS 2026! Caden and I are grateful to serve such an incredible community and excited for what's ahead. Here's to more connection, more growth and more moments that feel like HOME.

Let’s Connect

Erin K DeWald

Caden DeWald

248.259.3544 erin@erinkdewald.com

248.259.0953 cadendewald@kw.com

MUNICIPAL Judge denies ex parte TRO in city lawsuit By David Hohendorf

The Oakland Circuit Court Judge now assigned the case involving a lawsuit by the city of Birmingham to prevent the sale of The Community House (TCH) issued a denial December 8 of the city’s request for an ex parte temporary restraining order (TRO) and injunctive relief to keep the building at 380 Bates Street in the downtown area as a community center. The city originally filed suit on November 25 in response to a November 3 announcement by officials for The Community House Association of plans to evolve into the Birmingham Area Community Foundation to carry on the original mission of the community group, and the closure and sale of its building in the city effective July 1 of 2026. Initially the case was assigned to Oakland Circuit Court Judge Martha D. Anderson who on Monday, December 1, reassigned the case to the business court, a division of the circuit court where cases involving businesses are heard. Judge Michael Warren in the business court was assigned the case on December 8 and he issued the ruling over the ex parte retraining order by the close of court business the same day. Warren’s ruling involved the city’s request that the restraining order be issued ex parte, meaning that the judge could make a ruling without hearing arguments from the defendant in this case, The Community House Association. In his denial of the city’s request, Warren said the city of Birmingham failed to demonstrate by “specific facts” that failure to receive the ex parte emergency order would cause irreparable injury. Warren noted that his denial of the emergency order was not an indication of how he would ultimately rule on the merits of the city’s legal case for a restraining order and an injunction once TCH officials responded in court. In addition to the lawsuit, the city has also filed a lis pendens notice that is now attached to county records of the property, outlining that the city claims an interest in the TCH building and land, as outlined in its court filing, a tactic that often slows down sales activity of a property. Officials from The Community House Association have said sale of the building would allow the nonprofit to pay of debt and provide seed money downtownpublications.com

Nine-story project eyed for Woodward irmingham Planning Board members on Wednesday, December 10, held a pre-application discussion relative to a nine-story mixed use development proposed for the long-vacant corner of Maple and Woodward in the Triangle District, proposed by the Beztac Company. The proposed development would consist of two floors of underground parking for a combined total of 309 cars plus additional parking spots in other parts of the project. Parking plans also include 200 public parking spaces.The first floor of the development would contain over 15,000 square feet of retail space, with floors two through seven for 197 apartments and floors eight and nine for 27 condos that would be sold. The majority of the presentation to city planners was made by Victor Saroki of Saroki Architecture in Birmingham, the firm which designed the development. Saroki told planners that in addition to a community impact study the development group has already retained a noted firm to conduct both a traffic study and an analysis of a shared parking concept that could address a shortage of parking spaces as required by city ordinance, an issue cited by several members of the planning board. While some planning board members suggested that ultimately the city board of zoning appeals would have to address the parking space shortages, it was pointed out that the planning board by city ordinance had the authority to negotiate any shortfall from ordinance requirements. Sarsoki also told planning board members that if a restaurant became part of the development, the group would most likely pursue an economic development liquor license because of the amount of money that would be going into this project. The general reaction from planning board members was positive with the exception of parking issues that still need to be addressed.

for the foundation. In recent weeks TCH officials have acknowledged that there are deed restrictions on the property which they contend only come into play if the association is “dissolved” at any point in time but the association is not being dissolved. Instead, the association is changing its name to the Birmingham Area Community Foundation and will be continuing with the nonprofit mission as designated by the original founders of the group but only from a different location in the city. Longstanding deed restrictions provide that if the association is dissolved, then the building must be donated to some other nonprofit organization or rented to the city at a nominal rate. City officials say that the original intent of the founders of the Community House Association was to build and maintain a community center for use by local residents and selling the building to a third party was a violation of the founders’ intent. The city commission has now met three times in formal closed session on the lawsuit, most recently on Monday, December 15. At the close of the session, mayor Clinton Baller noted that the city is continuing with its legal action and noted that a citizen group has now been formed

out of concern over the sale. Details on the group, Baller said, would soon be provided to the public.

Revisiting multimodal transportation plan

was for both boards to discuss whether they feel the city needs a regular MMTB, and, if so, what the board should be doing or what service they should be providing to the city. Several members of the city commission, along with multiple city staff members, quewtioned the MMTB’s previous function of providing input on road improvement projects, such as if a street should be improved or unimproved, as well as the cost of the projects. Assistant city manager Mark Clemence in particular stated that it is unfair to the MMTB to make them “listen to residents and be beat up about costs” when they have no control over it. After back and forth conversations between city staff, the commission and MMTB, all agreed that the MMTB should remain a board, but there were still differing opinions on what its focus should be. Several commissioners said they feel the board should start with reviewing the multimodal transportation plan that was adopted in 2013. City staff noted throughout the meeting that there are parts of the plan that need updating, and that MMTB would be fit for the task of reviewing the document. Ultimately, the commission and MMTB reached the same page that the MMTB could begin looking at revisiting the multimodal transportation plan, reviewing and discussing what the next ten years could look like for the city. A formal follow-up was not set during the workshop.

By Grace Lovins

Following over a decade in action, Birmingham’s multimodal transportation board (MMTB) has been the recent topic of discussion from the city’s commission as commissioners have set out to review and potentially redefine the scope of the board, the topic of a joint meeting of both boards on Thursday, December 11. The MMTB was established back in 2014, according to city planner Leah Blizinski, after the city’s first multimodal transportation plan was adopted. Blizinski explained that after city staff had the opportunity to do some digging, they feel the MMTB has fulfilled its original purpose of encouraging the city to be more mindful of different modes of transportation and create a safe way for different modes of transportation like walking and biking. Blizinski pointed out that the purpose of Thursday night’s workshop

DOWNTOWN NeWsmagaziNe

Tejani resignation from school board Birmingham Public Schools Board of Education Trustee Jason Tejani has submitted his resignation, effective December 31 of this year. The resignation was announced by board president Jennifer Rass. Tejani was elected to the board in November of 2024 and Rass said that the board would be making an appointment to fill the vacancy until the November 2026 election when the position will be on the general election ballot. Rass said that Tejani has recently receive a professional promotion that makes it no longer possible for him to fulfill his duties as a board member. The board of education was expected on Thursday, December 18, to discuss appointment criteria, the application process and how the selection process will be handled. 39

District court budget approved by township The 2026 budget for the 48th District Court was approved by the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees on Monday, November 24. Bloomfield Township, along with Birmingham and West Bloomfield, are considered the funding units for the district court which also serves the communities of Bloomfield Hills, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake and Sylvan Lake. Court administrator Patrick Dunn appeared before the township board to present the proposed budget for the coming year. Based on information provided to township trustees, the proposed budget for 2026 of $5.150 million represents a 4.46 percent increase in costs over the budget of $4.930 million for the court this year. In terms of costs to the funding units, shared costs are assigned based on the percentage of case load generated by each community. In terms of case load by communities for the coming year, it is projected that Bloomfield Township will generate 21.19 percent of cases handle

by the court, while Birmingham is projected to generate 40.69 percent and West Bloomfield 33.12 percent of cases at the court. Fines collected from the court cases are shared with local communities based on the case load generated by each municipalities, after the state and county are paid a portion of collected fines. Material supplied by Dunn showed no added personnel for the coming year but did indicate that a couple of expenses related to employees were increasing noticeably. While employee benefits were increasing 8.3 percent, the largest increases were in the areas of medical insurance (10.4 percent) and for dental and life insurance (10.7 percent). Overall, general operating expenses at the court are projected to only increase 2.06 percent and security and other expenses are increasing 3.75 percent in the 2026 budget, while equipment and capital expenses are projected to decline by 22.58 percent. The court generally handles 32,000 cases in the course of a year. Material presented with the budget data also reminded local officials that the present method of funding the

court is expected to be changed at the end of 2026.

City commission okays court budget By Grace Lovins

The 2026 budget for the 48th district court was approved by Birmingham City Commissioners during their Monday, December 1, meeting. The court proposed a $5,150,000 operating budget, showing a roughly $200,000 increase from the previous year. Birmingham finance director Mary Chavez explained that the city’s portion of the funding is calculated between the court’s three funding units—Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and West Bloomfield—based on the percentage of the case load. For the 2024 calendar year, that percentage was 40.7 percent. The court is anticipating seeing over 32,000 cases in the next year, said court administrator Patrick Dunn, which he said was in large part due to no-fault amendments that were passed by the legislature in 2021. As well as

DOWNTOWN NeWsmagaziNe

an expected increase in case load, the budget saw an increase due to changes in benefits, professional fees and salaries along with a slight increase in overall operating costs. While the city advances the court 25 percent of their allocation of the total expenditure each quarter, any revenue the court generates is distributed amongst the municipalities based on the caseload percentage. Chavez and Dunn both touched on the fact that any surplus the court has is returned to the funding units following a completed audit. Brad Host, who has repeatedly voted against approving the district court’s budgets, again reiterated his stance from past years that the court’s budget is too high and it’s his opinion the city is losing money on its investment. Multiple other commissioners, as well as city attorney Mary Kucharek, reminded Host that the court is a service to the public that has an associated cost. Ultimately, commissioners voted 5-1 to approve the 2026 budget for the 48th District Court, with Host voting against approval. Andrew Haig was absent from the meeting.

01.26

Beauty

(SALON) by J. Lyle Ltd. 235 Willits Alley Birmingham, MI

248:: 540:: 0046

New fire chief selection okayed By Grace Lovins

Birmingham City Commissioners approved the promotion of Matt Bartalino to serve as chief of the city’s fire department during the Monday, December 15, meeting. Bartalino has been serving as the interim chief since July when former chief Paul Wells was placed on administrative leave. Bartalino has been with the department for 22 years, serving as captain, lieutenant, then assistant fire chief for the last six years. In his remarks, Bartalino thanked the commissioners for their trust and support, and for believing in the work the department does to keep the community safe. “I’m humbled by this responsibility, and I look forward to continuing to serve this department and this city with integrity, commitment and heart,” Bartalino said. Back in July, Bartalino stepped up as interim fire chief after Paul Wells

was placed on administrative leave, pending investigation, by city manager Jana Ecker. City officials declined to give a reason as to Wells’ leave at the time, but a FOIA request filed by Downtown revealed that a performance improvement plan had been imposed on the former chief. Wells filed a lawsuit in November against the city, Ecker and assistant city manager Mark Clemence, claiming violation of his civil rights and of the Michigan Whistleblower Protection Act. He claimed that Ecker and Clemence retaliated against him for reporting serious safety defects with the Park Street and Pierce Street parking structures and persistently bringing the problems up. The lawsuit, which is still pending in federal court, claims that Ecker demanded Wells not put anything related to safety issues in the city’s parking structures in writing to prevent the discussions from being subject to FOIA. Wells also claims that he raised concerns over the safety of the community and fire department to Ecker after learning watermains and fire hydrants had been shut off throughout the city. Wells was recently considered for

the fire chief position in the city of Rochester.

Commission sets new meeting time By Grace Lovins

Birmingham City Commission meetings will be starting, and potentially ending, earlier after commissioners voted to adopt an ordinance amendment during the Monday, November 17, meeting, changing the meeting start times to 7 p.m. and setting a meeting end time for midnight. Mayor Clinton Baller opened discussions by asking for input on how the commission could “tighten things up” so meetings could be ended earlier, noting the potential for an earlier start time as well as setting an end time. Off the bat, commissioner Brad Host proposed a 7 p.m. meeting start time which received consensus from the rest of the commission. When it came to other methods, commissioners disagreed on if setting a meeting end time was appropriate.

DOWNTOWN NeWsmagaziNe

Commissioners Brad Host and Andrew Haig argued that the times that the meetings run late are for good reason, Host adding that they are here to serve the community regardless of how long it takes. Others noted that meetings running into late night hours could undermine the intention to serve the community if the community is not able to participate or stay engaged throughout the entire meeting due to the time. “Meetings must be accessible to the public,” said city attorney Mary Kucharek. “If they’re going to the wee hours of the night … is it really accessible for participation? Sure, they can go back and watch the meetings, but they’re not actively participating with their government which is the whole point of the [Open Meetings Act].” Haig suggested midnight if the commission wanted to impose a meeting end time as it marks the end of the calendar day that was posted in the meeting notice. Mayor pro tem Anthony Long added that language should be added that allows the group to extend the meeting in half hour intervals, similar to how the

01.26

Alan T. Ackerman Michael Alberts Linda Aviv Nolen Barnes Kristy Barrett Eugenie Beall Corey Beaubien Michael Beauregard Christine Beck Ann Bieneman Roselyn Blanck Gregg Bloomfield Richard Blumenstein Patty Bordman Carolyn Borman Christine Braun David Bridge Thomas Brookover Gerald Brody Jacob Brody Joshua Brody Elaine Brown Frank Brzenk James Callaghan Robert Citrin Janice Cohen Karen Couf-Cohen Susan Cooper Peggy Daitch John DeAngelis Terrence Desmond George Dilgard Christopher Dolan John Dorsey Alan Ducatman Alexander Eisenberg Mark Elliott Ilene Emmer Elaine S. Fieldman Allison Friedman Reida Gardiner Cheryl Germeroth Marilyn M. Goldberg Deborah Gordon Maureen/Lawrence Grady Ned Greenberg Marc Greenlee Pat Hardy Jack Harned Jill Harris Arnold Hirsch Amy Hochkammer Garrett Hohendorf Steven Howell Sally Ingold Steven Jacob

LOCAL ISSUES COVERED BY

LOCAL JOURNALISM Thanks to the generosity of those listed on this page and the support from our partners in the local business community, Downtown Newsmagazine has been able to withstand a number of challenges in recent years to remain the dominant news source for the Birmingham-Bloomfield area. We are an independent, multiplatform news operation. Aside from our monthly newsmagazine, we post regularly to our website (downtownpublications.com) and we send out a Weekly News Update newsletter every Friday along with special email alerts when there is breaking news of interest. During the month we also send out our political gossip newsletter (Oakland Confidential) and each month we also email our restaurant newsletter (Metro Intelligencer). On a biweekly schedule we send out our Threatened Planet newsletter with aggregated environment stories from publications around the world. We remain strong, but to continue offering our products at no charge, and continue to grow in terms of what we offer to readers, we ask local residents for community support in the form of donations. Our thanks to those listed here who donated to support local journalism, and to donors who asked to remain anonymous.

Camille Jayne David Joswick Judith Keefer Brian Kepes Gerd H. Keuffel Patricia Klimek Barbara Kratchman David Lanciault Arthur / Nancy Liebler Cynthia Link Karen Linnell Joseph/Linda LoDuca Eleanor Luedtke Maria Marcotte Melissa Mark Sheri L. Mark Debra Markus Joseph Mazeika Michael McGillivray Lynn Medow Stuart Michaelson Artis/Justine Noel Peggy Peterson Michael Pettibone Connie Pierce Susan Post Annis Pratt Gail Rapson Renew Hair Solutions Barb Ritsema Molly / David Robinson Peter Robinson Cynthia Rose Peter Ruseckas Dan Schechter William Seklar Ronald Sheffield Larry Sherman Keith Sirlin Andrew Siudara Jean Steed Emily Tobias David J. Underdown Jr. Annie VanGelderen Stef VanHellemont Wendy Wagenheim Robin Welford Gail Whitty Andrea Wilkins Randi Yaffa Stephani Yates Publicity City PR The Health Nut The JAYNE Group Walker Professional Writing Services

ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST OF OUR SUPPORTERS. DONATE AT DOWNTOWNPUBLICATIONS.COM

city’s planning board operates, if there is a majority vote to do so. In the end, commissioners voted unanimously to approve an ordinance amendment, changing the meeting start time to 7 p.m. and setting midnight as an end time along with the option to vote for additional time.

Woodward/Quarton three-story building By Grace Lovins

A new three-story office building is set to be constructed at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Quarton Road in Birmingham after city commissioners gave the green light during the Monday, December 15, meeting. The building will serve as the new home base for InvestWise Financial LLC, financial planning consultants currently located in Bloomfield Township. The building is planned for 36977 Woodward Avenue, a lot on the corner of Woodward and Quarton that has sat vacant for over 50 years, according to city planner Summer Aldred-Arens.

Plans for the building were reviewed and recommended for approval by the city’s planning board toward the end of October. During the planning board’s vote, the board set conditions that InvestWise would either have to fix or seek variances from the board of zoning appeals (BZA) for the building’s height and street frontage. The plans show that the building height was greater than what was allowed by the ordinance by three feet, and the design fell short of the requirement for the street frontage by just under 14 percent. Aldred-Arens stated that the firm went before the BZA and obtained one of the two variances for street frontage. The board did not grant the variance for the additional building height and ended up adjusting the plans to meet the city’s ordinance for a total building height of 42 ft. With very little discussion from the commission, commissioners voted unanimously, 7-0, to approve the special land use permit and final site plan and design review for the new building. Commissioner Anthony Long, after the vote, thanked InvestWise for investing in

Birmingham and congratulated them on their new building.

Mobil gas station set to sell alcohol By Dana Casadei

The Mobil gas station at 43003 Woodward Ave. is one step closer to becoming the second gas station in Bloomfield Township to sell beer, wine and liquor after a vote of approval from the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees on Monday, December 8. Prior to the township’s liquor regulations changing and being approved in November 2024, the regulations were so stringent that no one qualified. “We’ve had one other gas station that’s been approved, and it’s been up and running for about six months with no issues,” said Andrea Bibby, director of planning, building & ordinance. “Things have been running smoothly.” While this is one of only a few gas stations in Bloomfield Township that will be able to sell alcohol – the Mobil

DOWNTOWN NeWsmagaziNe

is still waiting on the approval of their liquor license but didn’t seem worried – this will not be the first of its kind for Michigan Fuels, Inc., the applicant for the this site plan and special land use. The store’s owner, Sejaan Ghafari, said that he owns the Mobil and Tim Hortons gas station in Birmingham too, and they’ve sold packaged liquor since 2013 without issue. He also mentioned that he has a very good record with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. Prior to coming before the board, the special land use was looked at by various Bloomfield Township departments, boards and the planning commission. None found issues with the request. For those concerned that the sale of alcohol will be open as a 24-hour operation like their service station and convenience store – a decision approved by the board of trustees in 2022 – Ghafari confirmed that will not be the case. Michigan law only allows for alcohol to be sold from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.

01.26

Museum to enact new strategic plan By Grace Lovins

The Birmingham Museum is ready to implement a new strategic plan for 2026 through 2028 after the document was approved by city commissioners during the Monday, December 15, meeting. Museum director Leslie Pielack explained that the 2026 to 2028 strategic plan update came about after the city’s museum board reviewed best practices in the industry along with current trends. She said part of the process also included looking at the ordinance, what the museum’s mission requires and what the community is looking for right now. Another part of developing the updated plan included community feedback. Pielack stated that the museum board established three priorities, reflecting their review of the different factors, and used those priorities in a survey. Included in the final plan document, the survey collected input from 155 residents, and Pielack stated sentiment was generally supportive of the priorities.

The focuses established through the three priorities included observing best practices for long-term preservation and care of the museum, using the museum to encourage greater equity and inclusion for the benefit of the community, and strengthening collaborative relationships in the community. Pielack also explained that the plan calls for review about every three years, so the museum board will review and discuss ongoing progress at future meetings. With little discussion from the commission, the plan was unanimously approved in a 7-0 vote.

RCOC awards extra $500,000 to SAD By Dana Casadei

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) on Wednesday, December 3, confirmed it would be awarding the Bloomfield Village Green Phase Special Assessment District (SAD) an additional $500,000. “We are proud to strengthen our partnership with the Road Commission for Oakland County, as their continued support and additional funding are

vital to the success of the Bloomfield Village road project,” said Mike McCready, Bloomfield Township Supervisor. “This collaboration ensures we can enhance safety, improve infrastructure, and foster growth within our community. Together, we’re building a better future for Bloomfield Township.” The funding from RCOC will go directly to construction costs on the project; and while generous, the RCOC noted that this is a one-time commitment and does not set a precedent for future SAD projects. “The Bloomfield Village Green Phase SAD is considered unique in many aspects including size, costs, and completion of a subdivision,” said a representative for RCOC. “We have provided this support because of the time critical nature of this project.” Funding for these construction costs was made available from the RCOC due to additional funds they are expecting to receive from the recent road funding package that was passed by the Michigan state legislature. Prior to this, RCOC had also confirmed additional funding of $500,000 that will go to the project’s

DOWNTOWN NeWsmagaziNe

administrative and engineering costs. RCOC is currently working on a program that would provide additional support for all other SADs.

Tasers for police replaced by board Bloomfield Township Trustees on Monday, November 24, unanimously approved a 10-year contract with the Axon Enterprise company to replace outdated tasers for the police department. Bloomfield Police Chief James Gallagher explained to trustees that the company already supplies officer body cameras and in-car cameras and is the only company that provides tasers. Gallagher told the township board that the current tasers used by the department are obsolete and “two generations behind” what is currently offered. The current tasers, he said, are no longer serviceable and the new technology is safer for the officers and citizens. The new contract, which will cover 2026-2036, will have a total cost of $3.1 million over the life of the agreement.

01.26

Services: Foot And Ankle Surgery • Fractures • Orthotics Platelet Rich Plasma Injections In Oﬃce • Diabetic Foot And Ankle Ulcers Venous Stasis Ulcers • Skin Grafts Cracked Heels And Fingers • Ingrown Nails • Warts

PETER E. SCHAFFER, D.P.M. Diplomate American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery Fellow American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

BEAUMONT & DMC PHYSICIAN Most medical insurance accepted

birminghamfootcarespecialists.com

DrSchaﬀerInfo@gmail.com

Enclave development sparks discussion By Dana Casadei

Bloomfield Township residents had a lot to say about the upcoming Enclave residential development in conjunction with Temple Beth El, as did the board of trustees, who weren’t in full agreement even at the end at their board meeting on Monday, December 8. Even without a unanimous vote though the site plan passed 4-3 for the Enclave development, with supervisor Mike McCready and trustee Neal Barnett both being outspoken proponents for the development. “It’s a piece of property that’s been empty as long as I've been here,” Barnett said. “The park commission isn’t interested in it. The developers have listened to you, we have listened to you, and there’s been some compromise. I think it’s important that we do something that’s beneficial to the community and the temple.” While they were both in favor, a few others trustees were not. Trustees Valerie Murray and Mark Antakli voted no on approving the lot split, amended site plan, and site plan approval. Clerk Martin Brooke was in favor of the first two motions but voted with Murray and Antakli when it came to final site plan approval. “We did listen to everyone here and I appreciate what everyone said. I do think this is a good development for what’s been proposed in the past,” McCready said. “We should welcome good quality developers, like Robertson Brothers Homes, and I think this is good for our community.” The 35 units will be single-story homes with two-car garages that are at least 1,450 square feet and the developers, Robertson Brothers Homes, will be selling one plan to buyers interested in buying. “There’s really a need in your community for this kind of housing,” said Tim Loughrin with Robertson Brothers Homes. “This has really been an evolution from all the meetings we’ve had over time.” “This was hardly rushed. It’s gone through a public process that’s lasted six months,” said treasurer Michael Schostak. Robertson Brothers Homes have been waiting for this final site plan approval for over a year. They originally submitted a site plan application in October 2024 for a one-family residential clustering option for 38 single family dwelling units, in conjunction with Temple Beth El’s revised site plan that included a 48

Contract approved for Birmingham BPOA By Grace Lovins

new three-year contract and settlement agreement for the Birmingham Police Officers Association (BPOA) was approved by the city commission on Monday, November 17, putting in place new wage adjustments for the three contract years, 401(a) contribution matches, and a wage increase for dispatch employees. Human resources manager Christina Cilluffo explained to the commission that the previous collective bargaining agreement expired at the end of June this year. A new agreement was reached on November 3, and ratified by the union on November 6. Cilluffo said the settlement agreement included the three-year contract, annual wage adjustments of 3.5 percent for 2025, four percent for 2026, and 3.5 percent for 2027, as well as a five percent wage increase for the dispatch positions. The 36 full-time employees of the department will also receive an additional five percent employer contribution to their retirement and a $25 increase in holiday premium pay for working specific holidays. Also among the primary features of the agreement, employees will be able to get paid military leave time for up to six shifts a calendar year and the addition of Juneteenth for annual vacation accrual. Cilluffo said the total fiscal impact to the city is roughly $275,000 for the year which was budgeted in the wage adjustment account. With no questions or discussions, commissioners approved the settlement agreement and new contract in a unanimous, 7-0, vote.

request to convey 4.23 acres from the temple property to the vacant properties immediately north of the temple. This plan would allow for the Enclave single family residential development to be just under 13 acres, and remove a few existing sports courts. Site improvements included a new detention pond, frontage landscaping, decorative walls, signage, a gate, and new roads within Enclave development. Between discussion with homeowners and various Bloomfield Township boards Robertson Brothers Homes met with. there were adjustments made to the original site plan almost immediately. The first round of changes included an increase from 10-12 foot evergreen plantings to a minimum planting height of 14 feet; an increased berm height along Telegraph Road to increase from 5 feet to 8 feet; three fewer units so it would total 35 instead of 38; and an increased building separation on lots one through 18 to include a 20-foot building separation instead of the original proposed 14 feet. Access to the residential development will be provided via a new road, Silverleaf Trail, that will give those coming and going access via Telegraph Road. This was one of a few items that Murray had issues with in the site plan. She spoke about concern for how having only one entrance would cause congestion, especially in such a closed

environment for seniors with very limited street parking and short driveways. Loughrin mentioned that the parking was not a variance, but something that is typical within this type of development that is allowed by the fire department. He noted how conscious they were about having a good depth in the driveway — at a minimum some of them will be 23 feet with many going as long as 35 feet — which was one of many adjustments Robertson Brothers Homes has made during this process. While Brook did not vote in favor of the final site plan, he mentioned before the public comment section began that Robertson Brothers Homes has taken the time to listen and responded to residents. “I do hear a lot of people say, represent us and what the township wants, and I think it’s important to note in this instance the petitioner, Robinson Brothers, is a resident,” Brook said. “We’re listening to what residents want on both sides of this. Owners and principals of Robinson Brothers live in the township and their concerns are as legitimate as everyone else’s.” Nearly 20 people spoke during the public comment section of the evening meeting. Their comments hit on everything from the number of units, concerns about the loss of green space, and unfair treatment at the September

DOWNTOWN NeWsmagaziNe

zoning board of appeals (ZBA) meeting, where multiple variances were given for the development. Those variances revolved around front yard setbacks for certain units and side yard setbacks as well. The variances were a point of contention more than once during the public comment, with many people complaining that they were given too many to complete this project. Some on the board also had issue with it. “You did a very nice presentation but when you said you did the best you could… no, the best we could is to not have so many variances,” Murray said to applause in the room. “I have a problem with that.” One person during public comment went the opposite direction about the variances though, and said that the people complaining about the variances would complain about something else if the variances hadn’t been given, and that the board should approve the plan. Another area of the site plan that came up multiple times was the sheer number of units, a number that had already decreased by three before it got to the board of trustees. “I feel like it’s still not good enough…,” Murray said. “I think it’s still too dense.” Murray brought up that the density would make parking an issue, especially when people have guests, but others disagreed. “I think we’ve gone as far as we’re willing to go as far as the units go. We think this is a good transitional use,” Loughrin said. While there were quite a few opposed to this plan — both during the public comments and from the board — there were also some who spoke highly in support of it, especially members of Temple Beth El, who noted that this would provide some much needed protection as compared to the current vacant lots. “I live in West Bloomfield, but this is my spiritual home, and I believe we’ve been good neighbors… we want to continue to be good neighbors,” said Steven Tarnowsky, president of Temple Beth El. “I think the plan as proposed is a good one. From our perspective, financially it’s a benefit to us, the vacant land isn’t used; also from a security perspective, I think this will be a huge improvement, and would be an ideal location for our congregation. I fully support this.” Approval for the lot split and amended site plan ended in a 5-2 vote in favor, and the site plan was approved 4-3. 01.26

Celebrating life every day!

Bloomfield Hills 248.629.0132 41150 Woodward Ave Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 www.cedarbrookofbloomfieldhills.com Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care | Nursing Care

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

BUSINESS MATTERS Metta+Moxie opens Metta+Moxie has opened its doors at 800 N. Old Woodward Avenue Suite #210 in Birmingham. Founder Jess Jarrard is a licensed social worker and trauma-informed yoga teacher with a deep passion for helping women reconnect with their sense of self. Her clinical work draws from a blend of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Attachment Theory, and Interpersonal Therapy, creating a grounded, integrative approach to healing. Jarrad built Metta + Moxie to be more than just a therapy practice, but rather “a collective,” created by women, built by dedicated professionals, and sustained by a shared commitment for deep, authentic healing. Fifteen independent practitioners work out of the space, all with different areas of expertise who serve women, families and children. Areas of specialization include: depression; anxiety; grief and loss; relationship challenges and boundary setting; work/life balance and stress management; trauma recovery and nervous system regulation; women’s reproductive health; miscarriage + infant loss; perinatal, prenatal, and postpartum transitions; and mind and body integration. Sarah (Mini) McCabe,

director at Metta+Moxie. reflected on the synergy that takes place at Metta+Moxie. “We are all like-minded. We are all focusing on wellness, mental health and creating a safe and beautiful place for healing.”

Calico makes a move Calico, the decorative fabric and custom design services retailer, will be moving its Bloomfield Hills store, currently located at 1933 S. Telegraph Road, to a new building at 2510 S. Telegraph Road. A grand opening on Saturday, January 17, will celebrate this streamlined Calico as one of the company’s new design studio shops. “This is quite a change from the Calico Corners shops that have been located in the area since 1949 when a store opened in Pontiac,” said store manager Dawn Kotas. The Bloomfield Hills store joins another Calico shop in Novi, plus 50 other locations across the country. (“Corners” was dropped as part of the name 14 years ago.) Customers will enjoy a full-service experience from inspiration to design, combining efficient technology with a friendly touch. The overall feeling of the Bloomfield Hills store is light and bright with hardwood maple-finish floors. The white wood wall racks and

freestanding wood fixtures display fabrics by collection and color scheme. For inspiration, new fabrics from Lillian August join colorful collections from Echo Design, Candice Olson, Vern Yip and more. Custom upholstered furniture is presented in room settings, with wallpapered walls and coordinated draperies to showcase Calico’s custom craftsmanship. Customers can visualize fabric choices on furniture frames through a proprietary C360 virtual app on iPads. The shop includes a design area with counter-height tables, bar stools and outlets for tablets and phones, creating a comfortable workspace for consultation and collaboration with experienced staff designers.

Ideal Medical Massage Ideal Medical Massage, owned by Shannon Murray, recently opened in Birmingham. The practice offers comprehensive body treatments designed to promote recovery and enhance overall well-being. Their skilled therapists have extensive training in various techniques to address everyday discomfort or pain with serious injuries. Each treatment is tailored to client’s specific needs, aiming to improve flexibility and reduce

DOWNTOWN NeWsmagaziNe

pain. Techniques offered include: IASTM Tools — a treatment that uses expertly crafted tools to target and stimulate connective tissue, enabling the release of scar tissue, adhesions, and fascial restrictions; Fascial Stretch Therapy — a procedure which releases tension and retrain overcompensated muscles and enhance mobility by realigning the fascia; and Cupping Therapy, an ancient Eastern therapy that utilizes specialized cupping tools to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, improve blood flow, relieve muscle tension, and enhance overall cell repair. “We offer other massages as well like Swedish massage, deep tissue massage and lymphatic drainage, but we don’t want people to treat it like it’s a spa setting. We want people to see us more as they would their physical therapist, chiropractor or acupuncturist. We pair well with those types of treatments,” said Murray. Ideal Medical Massage is located at 630 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Suite 303, Birmingham. Business Matters for the Birmingham Bloomfield area are reported by Gigi Nichols. Send items for consideration to GigiNichols@downtownpublications.com. Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.

01.26

NEXT NOTEBOOK I still remember the celebration when Next and the City of Birmingham announced the purchase of 400 E. Lincoln — the former YMCA building. It seems like yesterday, but that was back in 2023. Next had been looking for a new facility for quite a while. Between our membership growth and the Birmingham Public Schools need to expand their preschool, the YMCA’s decision to sell their Birmingham location was serendipitous. Birmingham seniors were excited, and filled with the anticipation of moving to a more suitable space where seniors can gather, find genuine friendship, engage in life-long learning opportunities and enjoy the simple comfort of belonging. 2023 started strong. The city commission unanimously backed every step of the relocation plan. First came the Lincoln building purchase. Then 69 percent of Birmingham voters approved the three-year senior millage to fund building improvements. Finally, the commission signed off on a Memo of Understanding outlining Next's occupancy. We hired architects, construction managers, and an owner's representative. We commissioned feasibility studies, ran environmental tests, and hired lawyers to guide us through mountains of legal documents.

THE RIGHT HOMES

Cris Braun

Most of 2024 disappeared into exploring a shared building with Next and the YMCA. We examined every possible configuration, addressed parking headaches, distributed surveys, formed an ad hoc committee, and attended meeting after meeting. Then early 2025 hit, and the commission pumped the brakes, putting the entire project on hold. The project barely surfaced again until August, when the commission formally voted to omit the necessary bond from November's ballot, citing rising costs and an uncertain economy. But we are eternal optimists – and this is our year. We're ready to finalize arrangements with the city and move forward with real plans to turn the vision of a new space into reality. Yes, the former YMCA building has sparked plenty of debate about its age and condition. But we've done this before. Midvale was also built in the 1950s, and Next transformed it into something warm and welcoming. Birmingham has a tradition of preserving buildings, choosing thoughtful improvements over wrecking balls. Just recently with the Baldwin Public Library and now with City Hall. That history matters. Besides, we've always believed what happens inside a building matters more than any dated facade. I often think about the International Academy in Bloomfield — housed in the old Vaughan Elementary School, yet consistently ranked among Michigan's top public high schools. It's the teachers, curriculum, and culture that make it exceptional, not the building.

THE RIGHT REALTORS THE RIGHT PUBLICATION More real estate than any other publication in all of Oakland County, and for a good reason. Quality editorial content for a loyal readership that appreciates a strong news product, so your ad gets read. Make sure your home is listed in the right place.

The same principle applies to Next. Despite operating in a 1950s building, membership and attendance continue to grow, survey results stay consistently positive and for almost 50 years, Next has been unwavering in our commitment to Birmingham seniors. We're excited to make the former YMCA building our own. We don't need perfection on day one—just modest improvements to get started, with steady enhancements over time. We'll create a warm, welcoming space specifically designed for active adults while providing critical services for our most vulnerable neighbors.

970 E MAPLE ROAD / STE. 3 BIRMINGHAM 48009 248.792.6464

We're patient, but we're also ready because Birmingham's seniors deserve this. Cris Braun is Executive Director of Birmingham Next downtownpublications.com

DOWNTOWN NeWsmagaziNe

PLACES TO EAT The Places To Eat for Downtown is a quick reference source to establishments offering a place for dining, either breakfast, lunch or dinner. The listings include nearly all dining establishments with seating in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area, and then some select restaurants outside the immediate area served by Downtown.

Birmingham/Bloomfield 220: American. Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 220 E. Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.2220. 220restaurant.com 5th Tavern: American. Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2262 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.481.9607. 5thtavern.com Adachi: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner daily. Liquor. Reservations. 325 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham 48009. 248.540.5900. adachirestaurant.com Andiamo: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6676 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301. 248.865.9300. andiamoitalia.com Beau’s: American. Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 4108 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.626.2630. beausbloomfield.com Bella Piatti: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 167 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.494.7110. bellapiattirestaurant.com Bell Bistro: American. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Liquor. Reservations. 185 N. Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.829.7900. bellbirmingham.com Beverly Hills Grill: American. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 31471 Southfield Road, Beverly Hills, 48025. 248.642.2355. beverlyhillsgrill.com Beyond Juicery + Eatery: Contemporary. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 270 W. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009; 221 Cole Street, Birmingham, 48009; 3645 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301; 4065 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301; 1987 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. beyondjuiceryeatery.com Big Rock Italian Chop House: Steakhouse. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 245 S. Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.275.0888. bigrockitalianchophouse.com Bill’s: American. Breakfast, weekends, Lunch, Wednesday-Sunday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 39556 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.646.9000. billsbloomfieldhills.com Birmingham Pub: American. Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 555 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.885.8108. thebirminghampub.com Birmingham Sushi Cafe: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 377 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.8880. birminghamsushi.com Bistro Joe’s Kitchen: Global. Brunch, weekends, Lunch, Tuesday-Friday, Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 34244 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.0984.bistrojoeskitchen.com Bloomfield Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 71 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.645.6879. bloomfielddeli.com Brooklyn Pizza: Pizza. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor. No reservations. 111 Henrietta Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6690. thebrooklynpizza.com Café Dax: American. Breakfast, daily, Lunch, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 298 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.283.4200. daxtonhotel.com Café ML: New American. Dinner, daily. Liquor. Reservations. 3607 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Township. 248.642.4000. cafeml.com Café Origins: Global. Breakfast and Lunch, daily, Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. 163 W Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009. 248.742.4040. originsbirmingham.com Casa Pernoi: Italian. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 310 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009. 248.940.0000. casapernoi.com Churchill’s Bistro & Cigar Bar: Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 116 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.4555. churchillscigarbar.com

DOWNTOWN NeWsmagaziNe

Cityscape Deli: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. 877 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.540.7220. cityscapedeli.com Commonwealth: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 300 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.9766. gocommonwealth.com Dick O’Dow’s: Irish. Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 160 West Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.1135. dickodowspub.com Eddie Merlot’s: Steak & seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 37000 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.712.4095. eddiemerlots.com Einstein Bros. Bagels: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 4089 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.258.9939. einsteinbros.com Elie’s Mediterranean Grill/Bar: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 263 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2420. eliesgrill.com EM: Mexican. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 470 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 947.234.0819. embirmingham.com Embers Deli & Restaurant: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Tuesday-Sunday. Dinner, TuesdayFriday. No reservations. 3598 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.645.1033. embersdeli1.com Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 323 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.723.0134. flemingssteakhouse.com Forest: Continental cuisine. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 735 Forest Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.9400. forestbirmingham.com Greek Islands Coney Restaurant: Greek. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 221 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.1222. greekislandsconey.com Griffin Claw Brewing Company: American. Lunch, Thursday-Sunday, Dinner, TuesdaySunday. No Reservations. Liquor. 575 S. Eton Street, Birmingham. 248.712.4050. griffinclawbrewingcompany.com Hazel’s: Seafood. Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 1 Peabody Street, Birmingham. 248.671.1714. eatathazels.com Honey Tree Grille: Greek/American. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, daily. No reservations. 3633 W. Maple Rd, Bloomfield, MI 48301. 248.203.9111. honeytreegrille.com Hudson’s Place: Pizza/Coffee/Takeout. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1087 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield, 48302. 248.540.2266. hudsonsplacepizzeria.com Hunter House Hamburgers: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 33900 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.7121. hunterhousehamburgers.com Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 201 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.4369. hydeparkrestaurants.com IHOP: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2187 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301. 248.333.7522. Ihop.com Joe Muer Seafood: Seafood. Brunch, Sunday, Dinner daily. Reservations. Liquor. 39475 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.792.9609. joemuer.com Kaku Sushi and Poke’: Asian. Lunch, MondayFriday & Dinner daily. No reservations. 869 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.480.4785, and 126 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.885.8631. kakusushipoke.com Kerby’s Koney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2160 N. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.333.1166. kerbyskoneyisland.com La Marsa: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner daily. Reservations. 43259 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.5800. lamarsacuisine.com La Pecora Nera: Italian deli. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, daily. No reservations. 135 Pierce St. Birmingham, 48009. 248.940.5613. lapecoraneradetroit.com La Strada Italian Kitchen & Bar: Italian. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 243 E. Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.480.0492. lastradaitaliankitchen.com Leo’s Coney Island: American. Breakfast,

01.26

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 154 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.9707. Also 6527 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.646.8568. leosconeyisland.com Lincoln Yard and Little Yard: American. Little Yard take-out hours: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Lincoln Yard hours: Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2159 E. Lincoln Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.653.5353. eatlincolnyard.com Little Daddy’s: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 39500 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.647.3400. littledaddys.com Luxe Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 525 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.6051. luxebarandgrill.com Madam: American. Brunch, weekends, Lunch, Friday-Sunday, Dinner daily. Reservations. Liquor. 298 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.283.4200. daxtonhotel.com Market North End: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 474 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.712.4953. marketnorthend.com Marrow: American. Butcher shop and eatery. Breakfast and Lunch, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. 283 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 734.410.0405 marrowdetroit.com/restaurant MEX Mexican Bistro & Tequila Bar: Mexican. Brunch, weekends. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6675 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301. 248.723.0800. mexbloomfield.com Middle Eats: Mediterranean. Lunch and Dinner, daily. No reservations. 42967 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield, 48093. 248.274.328. middleeats.com Nippon Sushi Bar: Japanese. Lunch, MondayFriday, Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2079 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.481.9581. nipponsushibar.com Olga’s Kitchen: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2075 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.451.0500. olgas.com Original Pancake House: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 33703 South Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.5775. oph-mi.com Phoenicia: Lebanese. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 588 S. Old Woodward Birmingham, 48009. phoeniciabirmingham.com Roadside B & G: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1727 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield, 48302. 248.858.7270. roadsidebandg.com Salvatore Scallopini: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 505 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.8977. salsbirmingham.com Shift Kitchen & Cocktails: Small Plates. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 117 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.452.1355. shiftbirmingham.com Sidecar: American. Lunch and Dinner, daily. Liquor. 117 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.2380. sidecarsliderbar.com Slice Pizza Kitchen: Pizza. Lunch and Dinner, daily. Liquor. 117 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.3475. slicepizzakitchen.com Social Kitchen & Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Brunch, Saturday & Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 225 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.4200. socialkitchenandbar.com Steve’s Deli: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Breakfast and Lunch, Sunday. No reservations. 6646 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield, 48301. 248.932.0800. stevesdeli.com Streetside Seafood: Seafood. Lunch, Thursday & Friday, Dinner, daily. Liquor. 273 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.645.9123. streetsideseafood.com St Roger Abbey: Patisserie. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday. No reservations. 215 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. Sushi Hana: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 42656 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.333.3887. sushihanabloomfield.com Sy Thai Cafe: Thai. Lunch, Monday-Saturday, Dinner, daily. No reservations. 315 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.9830.

downtownpublications.com

sythaibirmingham.com Sylvan Table: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1819 Inverness Street, Sylvan Lake, 48320. 248.369.3360. sylvantable.com Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro: American. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 55 S. Bates Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.731.7066. tallulahwine.com Terra Kitchen & Cocktails: New American. Lunch and Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 260 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.556.5640.dineterra.com Teuta: Diner. Breakfast and Lunch, daily. No reservations.168 W Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009. 248.590.2113. teutabirmingham.com Thai Street Kitchen: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. 42805 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48304. 248.499.6867. thaistreetkitchen.com The Franklin: Oyster Bar. Brunch, weekends, Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 32760 Franklin Road, Franklin, 48025. 248.771.4747. thefranklinmi.com The Gallery Restaurant: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & wine. 6683 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.851.0313. galleryrestaurant2.com The Moose Preserve Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2395 S. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7688. moosepreserve.com The Rugby Grille: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.5999. rugbygrille.com Toast: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; Reservations. Liquor. 203 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6278. eatattoast.com Tomatoes Apizza: Pizza. Lunch & Dinner daily. Carryout. 34200 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham 48009. 248.258.0500. tomatoesapizza.com Touch of India: Lunch, Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday & Sunday. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. 297 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.7881. thetouchofindia.com Townhouse: American. Brunch, weekends. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 180 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.5241. eatattownhouse.com Whistle Stop Diner: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; Liquor. No reservations. 501 S. Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.566.3566. whistlestopdiners.com Wilder’s: American. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 458 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.771.0900. wildersbirmingham.com ZANA: Modern American. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 210 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.800.6568. zanabham.com Zao Jun: Asian. Lunch, Tuesday-Sunday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6608 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301. 248.949.9999. zaojunnewasian.com

Royal Oak/Ferndale Ale Mary’s: American. Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 316 South Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.268.1917. alemarysbeer.com Anita’s Kitchen: Middle Eastern. Lunch and Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 22651 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale, 48220. 248.548.0680. anitaskitchen.com Bella Limone: Italian. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. No reservations. Liquor. 100 S. Main Street, Floor 2, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.955.5725. bellalimone.com Beppé: New American. Lunch, Saturday and Sunday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 703 N. Main St, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.607.7030. eatbeppe.com Bigalora: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 711 S. Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.2442 bigalora.com Blind Owl: International/American comfort. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 511 S. Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.216.1112. blindowlrestaurant.com Blue Goat: Mediterranean. Lunch, FridaySunday, Dinner, Wednesday-Monday. Reservations. Liquor. 321 S. Main St, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.965.9955. bluegoatroyaloak.com Cafe Muse: French. Breakfast & Lunch,

Wednesday-Monday. Reservations. Liquor. 418 S. Washington Avenue, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.4749. cafemuseroyaloak.com Coeur: New American Small Plates. Brunch, Sunday, Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 330 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, 48220. 248.466.3010. coeurferndale.com Como’s: Pizza. Brunch, weekends. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 22812 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale, 48220. 248.677.4439. comosrestaurant.com Crispelli’s Bakery and Pizzeria: Italian. Lunch and Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 28939 Woodward Avenue, Berkley, 48072. 248.591.3300. crispellis.com The Fly Trap: Diner. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Thursday-Sunday. No reservations. 22950 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale 48220. 248.399.5150. theflytrapferndale.com Grand River Brewery: American. Brunch, Saturday & Sunday. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 1 E. 14 Mile Road, Clawson, 48017. 248.607-3631. grandriverbrewer Gus’ Snug: Irish. Lunch and Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 38 S. Main Street, Clawson, 48017. 248.607.3631. gussnug.com HopCat: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 430 S. Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.744.2544. HopCat.com Howe’s Bayou: Cajun. Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 22949 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale, 48220. 248.691.7145. howesbayouferndale.net Imperial: Mexican. Lunch and Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 22848 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale, 48220. 248.691.7145. imperialferndale.com Inyo Restaurant Lounge: Asian Fusion. Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 22871 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale, 48220. 248.543.9500. inyorestaurant.com JINYA Ramen Bar: Contemporary Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 129 S. Main St, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.955.4692. jinyaramenbar.com Kacha Thai Market: Thai. Lunch and Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. 205 S Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.942-4246. KouZina: Greek. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 121 N. Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.629.6500. gokouzina.com Kruse & Muer on Woodward: American. Lunch, Monday-Saturday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 28028 Woodward Avenue, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.965.2101. kruseandmuerrestaurants.com Lily’s Seafood: Seafood. Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 410 S. Washington Avenue, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.591.5459. lilysseafood.com Masala: Indian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 106 S. Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.850.8284. food.orders.co/royaloakmasala Mezcal: Mexican. Bruch, Sunday. Lunch and Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 201 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, 248.268.3915. mezcalferndale.com Noori Pocha: Korean. Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySunday. No reservations. Liquor. 1 S. Main Street, Clawson, 48017. 248. 850.7512. nooripocha.com Oak City Grille: American. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 212 W. 6th Street, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.556.0947. oakcitygrille.com Oak Parker: American. Brunch, weekends. Lunch & Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 13621 W. Eleven Mile Rd, Oak Park, 48237. oakparker.com One-Eyed Betty’s: American. Breakfast, weekends, Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 175 W. Troy Street, Ferndale, 48220. 248.808.6633. oneeyedbettys.com Pastaio: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 208 W 5th Street, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.565.8722. eatpastaio.com/royal-oak Pita Post: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. No reservations. 2520 W. 14 Mile Road, Royal Oak, 48073. 855.535.5588. thepitapost.com Pop’s for Italian: Italian. Brunch and Lunch, weekends, Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 280 W. 9 Mile Road, Ferndale,48220. 248.268.4806. popsforitalian.com Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 31542 Woodward Avenue, Royal Oak, 48073.

DOWNTOWN NeWsmagaziNe

248.549.0300. redcoat-tavern.com Ronin: Japanese. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 326 W. 4th Street, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.546.0888. roninsushi.com Royal Oak Brewery: American. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 215 E. 4th Street, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.1141. royaloakbrewery.com The Modern Vegan: Vegan. Brunch, weekends, Lunch and Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. 304 N. Main St, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.206-7041. tmvrestaurants.com Three Cats Café: American. Brunch, weekends, Lunch, Tuesday-Sunday, Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 116 W. 14 Mile Road, Clawson. threecatscafe.com Tigerlily: Japenese. Brunch, weekends. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 231 W Nine Mile Rd Suite A, Ferndale, 48220. 248.733.4905. tigerlilyferndale.com Toast, A Breakfast and Lunch Joint: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 23144 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale, 48220. 248.398.0444. eatattoast.com Tom’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 318 S. Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.541.1186. tomsoysterbar.com Trattoria Da Luigi: Italian. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 415 S, Washington Avenue, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.542.4444. trattoriadaluigi.business.site.com Vinsetta Garage: American. Lunch and Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7799 Woodward Avenue, Berkley, 48072. 248.548.7711. vinsettagarage.com Voyager: Seafood. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 600 Vester Street, Ferndale, 48220. 248.658.4999. voyagerferndale.com

Troy/Rochester Antica Nova: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 1695 E. Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48083. 248.422.6521. anticanova.com Cafe Sushi: Pan-Asian. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday, Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 1933 W. Maple Road, Troy, 48084. 248.280.1831. cafesushimi.com Capital Grill: Steak & Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2800 W. Big Beaver Road, Somerset Collection, Troy, 48084. 248.649.5300. CK Diggs: American & Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 2010 W. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.853.6600. ckdiggs.com The Dime Store: American. Breakfast and Lunch, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 6920 N Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48306.248.963.0941. eatdimestore.com Ernie’s on the Creek: Modern Mediterranean. Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 543 N. Main St #201, Rochester, 48307. 248.710.8808. erniesonthecreek.com Firebird Tavern: American. Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 4845 Rochester Road, Troy, 48085. 248.289.9650. firebirdtaverntroy.com Grand Castor: Latin American. Lunch and Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2950 Rochester Road, Troy, 48083. 248.278.7777. grancastor.com The Jackson: Modern American. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 184 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.709.9453. thejacksonrestaurant.com Kona Grille: American. Brunch, weekends, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 30 E. Big Beaver Road, Troy, 48083. 248.619.9060. konagrill.com Kruse & Muer on Main: American. Lunch, Monday-Saturday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 327 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.652.9400. kruseandmuerrestaurants.com Loccino Italian Grill and Bar: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily. Liquor. Reservations. 5600 Crooks Road, Troy, 48098. 248.813.0700. loccino.com The Meeting House: American. Brunch, weekends, Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 301 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.759.4825. themeetinghouserochester.com Mon Jin Lau: Nu Asian. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1515 E. Maple Road, Troy, 48083. 248.689.2332. monjinlau.com Morton’s, The Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 888 W.

METRO INTELLIGENCER Metro Intelligencer is a monthly column devoted to news stories, tidbits and gossip items about what's happening on the restaurant scene in the metro Detroit area. Metro Intelligencer is reported/created each month by Gigi Nichols who can be reached at GigiNichols@DowntownPublications.com with news items or tips, on or off the record.

Great Dane opens in Royal Oak Bloomfield residents Mike and Lisa Dimmer were exploring franchise investment opportunities when they discovered Voodoo Brewing Company. After signing a 10-year lease at 112 S. Main Street in downtown Royal Oak, they immediately began renovating the space. However, a setback with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission halted their plans to move forward with the Voodoo Brewing Company franchise. Rather than abandon the project, the Dimmers pivoted and developed an entirely new concept: The Great Dane Restaurant and Bar, named after their son, Dane. The interior evokes a traditional English pub, featuring brick facades, warm wood accents, and hunter-green plaid wallpaper. The space seats 96 guests, including 14 stools at the bar. The full bar offers beer, wine and craft cocktails, supported by 24 taps — eight which are rotating selections with an emphasis on Michigan and other craft brews. To lead the kitchen, Great Dane has hired Chef Jared Bobkin, known for his two appearances on FOX’s Hell’s Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay. Bobkin expressed enthusiasm for the new venture, noting that the menu will lean into “Euro-pub vibes.” He shared examples such as a Shepherd’s-inspired pizza, a buttered chicken pizza reflecting popular English flavors, and an updated take on a traditional Sunday roast built around short rib — complete with Yorkshire pudding. 112 S. Main Street, Royal Oak

Detroit welcomes Saksey’s Detroit’s cocktail landscape welcomes a spirited new addition with the opening of Saksey’s located at 1550 Woodward Avenue in Detroit. Sakesy’s is an intimate, throwback-inspired lounge from NoHo Hospitality Group and the Gilbert family. The bar marks the latest collaboration between NoHo Hospitality Group partners Luke Ostrom and Josh Pickard, who have become integral to Detroit’s dining and nightlife landscape through concepts such as San Morello, Evening Bar and Gilly’s Clubhouse. “The story behind Saksey’s has real Detroit roots,” says Luke Ostrom, partner at NoHo Hospitality Group. “The original, Detroit-based Saksey’s, owned by Sam Gilbert (Dan Gilbert’s father), was the kind of neighborhood tavern everyone wished was on their corner… easygoing, full of heart, and built on genuine connection. When we started shaping this new bar, we wanted to honor that spirit while making it entirely our own. It’s not about recreating the past; it’s about carrying its energy forward, the sense of belonging, the humor, the craft, and letting it live in a new way.” Designed by Daniel Caudill of DTM Consulting, Saksey’s is layered with dark cherry wood paneling, a brass back bar, and deep green velvet banquettes, offset by custom mahogany tables and vintage lounge pieces from the 1960s and 1970s. Subtle details, like the glow of lacquered wood, dark green and brown velvet curtains, and a mix of mid-century textures, create a space that feels both familiar and unexpected. At the heart of Saksey’s is a cocktail program that balances precision and personality, led by NoHo Bar Director Darryl Chan in collaboration with Head Bartender Tara Wong. Highlights include the Dirty Snow Cone, a frosty grown-up nod to summer nostalgia; the Root Beer Negroni, a spirited twist on a childhood classic; and the bar’s signature Teeny ’Tinis, small but expressive martinis. The culinary menu offers elevated tavern fare that’s as nostalgic and playful. Bar favorites include Caviar & Bugles™, the Bar Burger, and Cornflake Chicken with Dynamo Sauce, Pretzel Tots and a Cap’n Crunch Berry Sundae. Each dish is designed for sharing, inspired by the bar’s unpretentious, and full of Detroit personality. 1550 Woodward Avenue, Detroit sakseysdetroit.com

RH Rooftop opens The RH Rooftop Restaurant in Birmingham is a chic dining destination located on the top floor of the RH Detroit, The Gallery in Birmingham which celebrated its grand-opening on November 20. The upscale restaurant showcases RH’s signature design aesthetic, featuring a year-round, skylit garden adorned with heritage olive trees, sparkling chandeliers, and a dramatic central fountain. The menu highlights refined American and Mediterranean classics, with specific dishes including seafood towers, steak frites, whole grilled branzino, caviar carpaccios and a variety of gourmet sandwiches and salads. Weekend brunch brings elevated staple brunch classics such as the RH Scramble with farm eggs, crème fraîche, avocado, and

Big Beaver Road, Troy, 48084. 248.404.9845. mortons.com NM Café: American. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 2705 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, 48084. 248.816.3424. neimanmarcus.com/restaurants Oceania Inn: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Village of Rochester Hills, 3176 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.375.9200. oceaniainnrochesterhills.com Ocean Prime: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, MondayFriday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2915 Coolidge Highway, Troy, 48084. 248.458.0500. ocean-prime.com O’Connor’s Irish Public House: Irish. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 324 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.608.2537. oconnorsrochester.com Orchid Café: Thai. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. 3303 Rochester Road., Troy, 48085. 248.524.1944. orchid-cafe.com P.F. Chang’s China Bistro: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. Somerset Collection, 2801 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084. 248.816.8000. pfchangs.com Recipes: American/Brunch. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 134 W. University Drive, Rochester, 48037. 248.659.8267. Also 2919 Crooks Road, Troy, 48084. 248.614.5390. recipesinc.com RH House: American. Brunch, weekends, Lunch and Dinner, daily. 2630 Crooks Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. No reservations. Liquor. 2630 Crooks Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.586.1000. rh.house.com RH Social: Pizza/Sports Bar. Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 6870 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48306.248.759.4858. rochesterhillssocial.com Rochester Chop House: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 306 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.651.2266. kruseandmuerrestaurants.com Ruth’s Chris Steak House: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 755 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, 48084. 248.269.8424. ruthschris.com Sedona Taphouse: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 198 Big Beaver Road, Troy, 48083. 248.422.6167. sedonataphouse.co Silver Spoon: Italian. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 6830 N. Rochester Road, Rochester, 48306. 248.652.4500. silverspoonristorante.com Stumblebum Beer Co.: American. Lunch, Friday-Sunday, Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Beer. 1965 W. Maple Road, Troy, 48084. 248.307.7204. stumblebumbeer.com Too Ra Loo: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 139 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.453.5291. tooraloorochester.com

West Bloomfield/Southfield Aurora Italiana: Italian. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6199 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Twp., 48322. 248.782.3000. auroraitaliana.com Aurora on the Lake: Italian. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2323 Union Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.360.6650. auroraitaliana.com Cornbread Restaurant & Bar: Southern. Lunch & Dinner, Thursday-Tuesday. Reservations. Liquor. 29508 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.208.1680. cornbreadsoulfood.com Bigalora: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Saturday, Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Liquor. 29110 Franklin Road, Southfield, 48034. 248.544.2442. bigalora.com The Fiddler: Russian. Dinner, Friday & Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 6676 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.851.8782. fiddlerrestaurant.com Mene Sushi: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 6239 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.538.7081. menesususi.com Nonna Maria’s: Italian. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 2080 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 48323. 248.851.2500. nonamariasbistro.com Pickles & Rye: Deli. Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6724 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.737.3890

picklesandryedeli.com Prime29 Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6545 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.737.7463. prime29steakhouse.com Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 6745 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.865.0500. redcoattavern.com Shangri-La: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, Wednesday-Monday. Reservations. Liquor. Orchard Mall Shopping Center, 6407 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.626.8585. dinesangrila.com Stage Deli: Deli. Lunch, & Dinner, TuesdaySunday. No reservations. Liquor. 6873 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.855.6622. stagedeli.com Vive: American. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 33080 Northwestern Hwy, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.406.8065. viverestaurantmi.com Witch Topokki: Korean. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 300 John R Rd suite a, Troy, 48083. 248. 307.7587. witchtopokki.com Yotsuba: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 7365 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.737.8282. yotsuba-restaurant.com

West Oakland Volare Ristorante: Italian. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 48992 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.960.7771. ristorantevolare.com

North Oakland Clarkston Union: American. Breakfast, Sunday, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 54 S. Main Street, Clarkston, 48346 248.620.6100. clarkstonunion.com Kruse's Deer Lake Inn: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7504 Dixie Highway, Clarkston, 48346. 248.795.2077. kruseandmuerrestaurants.com The Fed: American. Brunch, Saturday & Sunday. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 15 S. Main Street, Clarkston, 48346. 248.297.5833. thefedcommunity.com Rudy’s Steakhouse: Steak. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 9 S Main Street, Village of Clarkston, 48346. 248.625.3033. rudysprimesteakhouse.com Via Bologna: Italian. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 7071 Dixie Highway, Clarkston, 48346. 248.620.8500. joebologna.com Union Woodshop: BBQ. Lunch, Saturday & Sunday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 18 S. Main Street, Clarkston, 48346. 248.625.5660. unionwoodshop.com

Detroit Adelina: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 1040 Woodward Ave, Detroit,48226. 313.246.8811. adelinadetroit.com Alpino: Alpine cuisine. Brunch, Sunday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1426 Bagley Street, Detroit, 48216. 313.524.0888 alpinodetroit.com Ash-Bar: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1509 Broadway Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.277.4736. ash.world/hotels/the-siren.com Bar Pigalle: French. Brunch, Sundays. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2915 John R Street, Detroit, 48201. 313.497.9200 barpigalle.com Barda: Argentinian. Dinner, WednesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 4842 Grand River Avenue, Detroit, 48208. 313.952.5182. bardadetroit.com Basan: Asian. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2703 Park Avenue, Detroit, 48201. 313.481.2703. basandetroit.com Bucharest Grill: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2684 E. Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, 48207. 313.965.3111. bucharestgrill.com Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails: Seasonal American. Lunch, Friday, Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 15 E. Kirby Street, D, Detroit 48202. 313.818.3915. chartreusekc.com Cliff Bell’s: American. Dinner, WednesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 2030 Park Avenue, Detroit, 48226. 313.961.2543. cliffbells.com

Coriander Kitchen and Farm: Farm to table. Brunch, Sunday, Lunch & Dinner, Monday and Thursday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 14601 Riverside Boulevard, Detroit, 48215. 313.338.9466. corianderkitchenandfarm.com Corktown Taphouse: American and Mexican. No reservations. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor. 1611 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, 48216. 313.362.8184. corktowntaphouse.com Cuisine: French. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 670 Lothrop Road, Detroit, 48202. 313.872.5110. cuisinerestaurantdetroit.com The Eagle: The Eagle: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 3461 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, 48201. 313.334.4530. eaglerestaurant.com El Barzon: Mexican. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 3710 Junction Street, Detroit, 48210. 313.894.2070. elbarzonrestaurant.com Fishbone’s Rhythm Kitchen Café: Cajun. Lunch and Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 400 Monroe Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.965.4600. fishbonesusa.com Freya: Price fixed. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations, Liquor. 2929 E. Grand Boulevard, Detroit, 48202. 313.351.5544. freyadetroit.com Giovanni’s Ristorante: Italian. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 330 S. Oakwood Boulevard, Detroit, 48217. 313.841.0122. giovannisrestaurante.com Green Dot Stables: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2200 W. Lafayette, Detroit, 48216. 313.962.5588. greendotstables.com HIROKI-SAN: Japanese. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 1265 Washington Boulevard, Detroit, 48226. 313.597.8344. hirokisandetroit.com Javier’s Downtown: Steakhouse. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1452 Brush Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.816.0007. javiersdowntown.com Joe Muer Seafood: Seafood. Lunch, MondayFriday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 400 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 48243. 313.567.6837. joemuer.com Johnny Noodle King: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2601 W. Fort Street, Detroit, 48216. 313.309.7946. johnnynoodleking.com Leila: Lebanese. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1245 Griswold Street, Detroit, 48226. 313. 816.8100. leiladetroit.com Lena: Dinner, Wednesday-Monday. Reservations. Liquor. 2720 Brush Street, Detroit, 48201. 313.262.6082. lenadetroit.com Le Supreme: French. Brunch, weekends, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1265 Washington Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48226. 313.597.7734. lesupremedetroit.com Lone Goat: British Pub. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Liquor. 33 John R Street, Detroit, 48226. thelonegoat.com Mad Nice: Coastal Italian/American. Breakfast, Coffee Shop, daily, Brunch, Weekends, Lunch, Wednesday-Sunday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 4120 2nd Avenue, Detroit, 48201. 313.558.8000. madnicedetroit.com Mario’s: Italian. Lunch, Saturday & Sunday, Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 4222 2nd Avenue, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.1616. mariosdetroit.com Mezcal: Mexican. Brunch, Weekends, Lunch and Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 51 W Forest Avenue, Detroit, 48202. 313.974.7441. mezcaldetroit.com Midtown Shangri-la: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 4710 Cass Avenue, Detroit, 48201. 313.974.7669. midtownshangril-la.com Motor City Brewing Works: American. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 470 W. Canfield Street, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.2700. motorcitybeer.com Oak & Reel: Italian Seafood. Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 2921 E Grand Boulevard, Detroit, 48202. 313.270.9600. oakandreel.com Ostrea: Seafood. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 536 Shelby Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.403.2111. ostreadetroit.com PAO Detroit: Asian Fusion/Pan Asian. Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 114 W Adams Avenue, Suite 200, Detroit, 48226. 313.816.0000. paodetroit.com Parc: New American. Brunch, Saturday & Sunday. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 800 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48226. 313.922.7272. parcdetroit.com Prime + Proper: Steak House. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1145 Griswold St, Detroit, 48226. 313.636.3100. primeandproperdetroit.com Prism: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, ThursdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 555 E. Lafayette Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.309.2499. greektowncasino.com Red Smoke Barbeque: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. Trappers Alley Shopping Center, 573 Monroe Ave., Detroit, 48226. 313.962.2100. Selden Standard: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 3921 Second Avenue, Detroit, 48201. 313.438.5055. seldenstandard.com Sexy Steak: Steakhouse. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1942 Grand River Avenue, Detroit,48226. 313.403.1000. sexysteakdetroit.com SheWolf Pastifico & Bar: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 438 Selden Street, Detroit 48201. 313.315.3992. shewolfdetroit.com Sinbad’s: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 100 St. Clair Street, Detroit, 48214. 313.822.8000. sindbads.com Slows Bar BQ: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2138 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, 48216. 313.962.9828. slowsbarbq.com/locations/corktown Soraya: Japanese. Lunch, Tuesday-Thursday, Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 160 W Fort St, Detroit, 48226. 313.262.6078. sorayadetroit.com Sullivan’s Steakhouse: Steakhouse. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1128 Washington Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48226. 313.591.2495. sullivanssteakhouse.com Supergeil: Berlin Doner. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 2442 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, 48216. 313.462.4133. supergeildetroit.com Tap at MGM Grand: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1234. mgmgranddetroit.com The Apparatus Room: New American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 250 W. Larned Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.800.5600 detroitfoundationhotel.com The Block: American. Brunch, Weekends, Lunch & Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 3919 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.0892. theblockdet.com The Dime Store: American. Breakfast & Lunch, Thursday-Tuesday. No reservations. Liquor. 719 Griswold Street #180, Detroit, 48226.313. 962.9106. eatdimestore.com The Peterboro: Chinese American. Lunch, Saturday, Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 420 Peterboro Street, Detroit, 48201. 313.462.8106. thepeterboro.com Townhouse Detroit: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 500 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, 48201. 48226. 313.723.1000. townhousedetroit.com Vecino: Mexican. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 4100 3rd Ave, Detroit, 48201. 313.500.1615. vecinodetroit.com Vertical Detroit: Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 1538 Center Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.732.WINE. verticaldetroit.com Vivio’s Food & Spirits: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2460 Market Street, Detroit, 48207. 313.393.1711. viviosdetroit.net The Whitney: American. Tea Service, Friday & Saturday, Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor.4421 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.5700. thewhitney.com Wright & Co.: American. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 1500 Woodward Avenue, Second Floor, Detroit, 48226. 313.962.7711. wrightdetroit.com Zuzu: Asian Fusion. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 511 Woodward Ave suite 100, Detroit, 48226. 313.464.7777. experiencezuzu.com

chives; the Italian Benedict with San Daniele prosciutto and parmesan hollandaise served over charred ciabatta; and delicate Swedish pancakes served with butter and Vermont maple syrup. The bar program includes a selection of Champagnes, wines, and signature cocktails. Beer selections come from Michigan breweries, Founders and Bells. During the warmer months, the restaurant’s terrace opens up to a beautifully landscaped garden with city views and additional seating. The café hours are: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.2:30 p.m. and 4:30-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Sunday 10 am.-9 p.m. 300 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham rh.com

Something’s brewing at Somerset Collection Mad Nice Coffee, from Jeremy Sasson’s Heirloom Hospitality, has officially opened at the Somerset Collection in Troy, bringing its creative energy to Oakland County and joining the brand’s original location in Midtown Detroit. The menu highlights an assortment of savory, sweet, and grab-and-go selections intended to suit early-morning visits, mid-day meetups, and everything in between. Signature items include the Bubbe, layered with scratch-made cream cheese, lox, heirloom tomato, pickled onions, cucumber, fresh herbs, and lemon zest, as well as the G.O.A.T., topped with whipped goat cheese, smashed avocado, candied pepita seeds, and Michigan honey. For those craving something sweeter, the Hazy offers a rich combination of hazelnut spread, dark chocolate shavings, and sea salt. Guests can also browse a rotating selection of freshly baked pastries and confections. A robust specialty coffee program anchors the menu, featuring locally roasted blends and returning favorites like the Toasted Pistachio Latte, Coconut Whipped Espresso, and the Mad Nice “White Cap.” Lighter options include Nitro Matcha on draft, rotating teas, and a curated grab-and-go case filled with bottled matcha, cold brew, seasonal juices, salads, soups and more. “I’m super excited to bring the Mad Nice brand to Oakland County. This is an entirely unique opportunity for us to represent what we have been carefully crafting since our inception,” shares Executive Chef Partner, Myles McVay. Somerset Collection, 2801 W Big Beaver Road Suite K238 Level 2, Troy madnicedetroit.com

One door closes another one opens The latest chapter of “one door closes and another one opens” involves three local restaurants. Zao Jun, a New Asian restaurant and Sushi bar located at 6608 Telegraph Road in the Bloomfield Plaza Shopping Center, has closed. The restaurant posted a heartfelt message to customers on social media, “Thank you to everyone who has supported Zao Jun over the years. The restaurant has officially closed its doors, and we’re immensely grateful for the memories made within these walls. Renovations are beginning on a brand-new concept under new ownership.” The new owner, Ziad Battah, said the new concept, named Tamar, will feature Mediterranean-fusion fare. “It will be a blend of Mediterranean with Middle East spices into some traditional American dishes. It’s Mediterranean with a twist,” said Battah. Battah also owns Shawarma Grill, a fast casual eatery located in Southfield. Battah expects Tamar to be open in the first quarter of 2026. Back in November of 2021, restaurateurs Nino Cutraro and his wife Liz Cutraro launched Màre Mediterranean, located 115 Willits Street, Birmingham. The high-end restaurant was known for its in-house fish market featuring fish from the Mediterranean. In May of ’23, Cutraro rebranded the restaurant offering a new menu and the addition of a brick pizza oven. Then, in October of ’24, the establishment was sold to cousin-team Paulina Faranso and Yousif Kakos who promised a more attractively priced menu. The name was changed to Sprazzo in July of ‘24. Now, the restaurant has been sold again. Owned by Luciano DelSignore and Nicole Antaki under Abruzzese Hospitality, Efiori will feature a sophisticated yet relaxed ambiance with an Italian lifestyle dining experience. Stay tuned for more details on the open date. Last on the list, Sushi Japan opened in the fall of 2021 at 176 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham. Owned by Charlie Yu, the Asian menu included not only sushi but an array of Chinese dishes, Ramen noodles, Chow Mein, Korean BBQ. Sushi Japan closed in November and has been purchased by Woojin Lee who also owns Sushi Hana in Bloomfield. Although no definite open date has been announced, the new eatery will open as Kaishin Izakaya. Izakaya is a Japanese pub-style dining where guests enjoy a variety of small, shareable plates — similar to Spanish tapas.

ENDNOTE

The Community House building’s future ike the rest of the Birmingham community, we are watching with interest to see how the issue surrounding The Community House building shakes out in the next few weeks. Officials with The Community House announced in early November that the organization was going to change the name of the group as it forms a community foundation to continue the non-profit mission of the organization and in the process sell off the iconic building on Bates Street in the downtown area. As part of the change, officials announced that proceeds from sale of the building, valued by some estimates at $7 million, would be used to clear up debt and remaining funds used as seed money for the new community foundation which, at a new location, would be mentoring and helping non-profit groups within a 10-mile radius of the city. Interest in this announcement was immediate and strong, from interested parties who toured The Community House building as possible buyers and members of the general public, as indicated by the over 7,000 people who read the story in the first 24 hours after we posted it on the Downtown Newsmagazine website. This media group, since its launch 16 years ago, has been a supporter of The Community House, and long before that time. We initially bought into the announcement of possible changes at this community group. But we are also supporting the late November action of the Birmingham City Commission, members of which filed in Oakland County Circuit

Court a lawsuit to request an injunction on the sale of the Community House building while the community sorts out this issue. First, there is legitimate question of whether deed restrictions prevent sale of the building. From a layman’s viewpoint, it would appear that the building may have to be donated to another nonprofit group or rented at a nominal rate to the city itself as specified by the founders, although officials at the Community House say they have met the requirements of the restrictions. Second, there is an equally valid question of whether the intent of the founders of The Community House many years ago make keeping the land and building as a center of community activity rather than a disposable asset. The court initially denied an immediate ex parte temporary restraining order (TRO) so both sides on this issue could be heard. The judge assigned this case has written that his initial ruling on the ex parte TRO was no indication of how he might rule on injunctive relief for the city or the case in total. As of this writing, legal counsel for The Community House Association had not filed an answer to the city’s lawsuit. The city has also filed a Lis Pendens notice that is attached to county records of the property indicating that Birmingham has an interest in the property, which should stall any sale. And there was talk of asking the court to prevent the sale of the education program at the facility which should remain part of any community center. So we have a number of thoughts as we await a court decision.

First, the city seems determined to keep the Community House building as a community activities center, which would mean acquisition of the structure, but that cost is unknown. What can the city afford if it must enter the pool of possible buyers? If it would help with an ownership transition, would the city be able and willing to pay off the debts of the current Community House Association to make transfer of the building ownership more acceptable? We have been told that the city has reached out in hopes of being able to tour the building to assess current physical condition and to receive operating cost information. If officials of the Community House accommodate that request, then that should answer some operating expense questions. We assume there would have to be at least minimal staffing at a community center, so what would that cost be and would the city be willing to underwrite that expense and for how long? Logic would say that the city should immediately chart a plan of action in case it wins the court case and ends up acquiring the building one way or another. It would seem the city should establish a non-profit foundation and a board of directors who ultimately would manage the facility. Obviously, there are a number of moving parts to this issue. So far we have been impressed with the initial action taken by the city, and we and the community look forward to continuing updates as the issue unfolds in the coming weeks.

County financial disclosure needs support ransparency is the current government buzzword. Yet it remains remarkably illusive in all levels of leadership, from federal to state to county levels, which not only jeopardizes the government itself, but leaders who represent us, and those of us ‘every day folk’ who rely on the decisions they make. Michigan is one of just two states in the entire country which exempts the governor and state legislature from the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Along with Massachusetts, which is the other state with FOIA exemptions, it contributes to Michigan being ranked as low in government ethics and transparency efforts. In 2015, the Center for Public Integrity ranked Michigan dead last in systems to prevent corruption. Year-after-year, state legislators, like state Senator Jeremy Moss, have attempted bipartisan efforts to expand Michigan's FOIA to include the governor and state legislators, most recently in January 2025, but it wouldn't take effect until 2027, when the current batch of lawmakers were out of office. Bills, including this one, have repeatedly stalled out in the state House, where leaders, such as House Speaker Mall Hall, stated “it is not a priority.” It has been such an issue that when Governor Gretchen Whitmer first ran for office in 2018, she promised that if the legislature didn't act on the matter, she would open her office to FOIA. Once in the governor's seat, however, her perspective seemed to have changed, and she has not followed through on

that campaign promise. On a county level, an acute need for financial disclosure was exposed this summer when it was revealed that Oakland County Board of Commission Chair Dave Woodward was not only working as a paid consultant for the gas station chain Sheetz, but perhaps influencing local governments where they were looking to situate. It's not the first example of county glad-handing. We recall, going all the way back to the 1970s, when first Oakland County Executive Dan Murphy's chose a deputy executive to help lobby the state for an extension of I-275 into county's lakes area – and the deputy executive failed to disclose to the public that he was part of a group that owned property along the proposed highway. It took local media to discover this in the absence of financial disclosure regulations. In October of this year Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter made it clear he wanted not only an ethics policy which spelled out what commissioners can and cannot do, but also clear financial disclosures on the part of elected county officials and some key appointed employees. In the ensuing months, the board of commissioners explored implementing a financial disclosure policy for county elected officials and top appointed county officials. In an email, Coulter said that “As part of this process, county leaders learned that the county lacks statutory and constitutional authority to require it.” Further, county

commissioners recently opted not to vote on a voluntary system of partial disclosure and instead supported a resolution calling on state lawmakers to pass a law allowing counties to be subject to mandatory financial disclosure. Luckily, local state Rep. Donni Steele (R-Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, Auburn Hills, Lake Orion, Orion Township) has introduced just such a bill, House Bill 5091, which modernizes the definition of “public officer” by extending existing state-level reporting requirements to county officials in counties with populations exceeding 150,000. Under the proposal, these officials would file the same comprehensive annual disclosure report required of state legislators and statewide officeholders. The bill would require key categories of earned and unearned income, significant liabilities and gifts that must already be reported under Michigan’s lobbying statutes. Steele said the reforms reflect a straightforward principle: the public is entitled to clear, reliable information about potential financial interests held by those who manage local budgets, contracts and public resources. We agree, and recommend residents contact their legislators to urge passage of HB 5091 in an all important effort towards transparency, which we all already know is sorely needed in Michigan, and in Oakland County.

(248) 681-8500 (248) 553-5050 All Star

NEW TREND EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

Each Office Independently Owned and Operated

visit www.TheMichaelTeam.com

RE/MAX NEW TREND CASS LAKE - $3,000,000 Fabulous 2.59 acre Cass lakefront lot situated in prestigious Dow ridge! magnificent site with panoramic lake views! build your lakefront Dream home in this Coveted location situated among multi-million $ homes.

WEST BLOOMFIELD - $1,995,000

BLOOMFIELD HILLS - $975,000

ELIZABETH LAKE - $849,900

b uilD your D ream home ! 2 prime w ooDeD p arCels with a total oF 5 aCres & water F roNtage oN huge p oND . situateD high a bove Nearby u pper s traits l ake .

C ompletely r emoDeleD s prawliNg r aNCh oN 1 aCre ! opeN F loor p laN w / top oF the l iNe u pgraDes throughout ! gourmet C heF 's k itCheN w / g raNite & New s taiNless a ppliaNCes .

stuNNiNg lakeFroNt home with 50 Ft. oF saNDy-bottom FroNtage oN all sports elizabeth lake! Completely remoDeleD iN 2025 w/ 3,000 sq. Ft., 4 beDrooms , 3.5 baths.

CALL

OXBOW LAKE - $899,000

WEST BLOOMFIELD - $849,000

FRANKLIN - $1,250,000

premium poiNt loCatioN oN all sports oxbow lake with 206 Ft. lake FroNtage w / sea wall aND paNoramiC lake views! opportuNity to builD your New lakeFroNt Dream home.

b eautiFul 5 beDroom C oNtemporary home with w alNut l ake p rivileges w / beaCh & boat l auNCh ! FiNisheD b asemeNt w / 2ND k itCheN , 3 Car g arage . birmiNgham s Chools !

New C oNstruCtioN r aNCh home iN New F raNkliN C ommoNs D evelopmeNt ! o pportuNity to iNCluDe y our o wN C ustom s eleCtioNs ! ColoNial home a lso a vailable .

CALL