Chamber meeting focuses on Eastpointe’s economic development

EASTPOINTE — There are four community economic development priorities that the City of Eastpointe will focus on in 2023: business attraction, retention and expansion; housing and human services; sustainability and climate resiliency; and commercial corridor revitalization.

Eastpointe Economic Development Manager Ian McCain shared this information during the Eastpointe-Roseville Chamber of Commerce’s coffee hour held Feb. 7 at Eastpointe City Hall.

“We definitely want to continue to attract new businesses into our city. We also want to retain the amazing businesses we already have here as well as help them expand,” McCain said. “We also want to take a look at Eastpointe’s demographics. Eastpointe being the first majority Black city in Macomb County and also being the majority women city at 52%, respectively, we want to make sure that we are supporting those two demographic groups as well as supporting all the wonderful legacy business owners we have in the community as well.

“As we are attracting new businesses, we want to look at different economic redevelopment opportunities, such as the former Big Boy site (on Gratiot Avenue), which is something the city’s been working on for a couple years,” McCain said. “We hope and think they’re getting very close to being able to move forward on the redevelopment on that site. So, stay tuned on that.”

McCain’s presentation also focused on human services in the city.

“What are the different resources that are available to the residents and business owners in Eastpointe? Are they aware of them?” McCain said. “Can we help connect them to those resources? The city cannot do this work if we are not working with the school board, the nonprofit community, the faith-based community, with the other city agencies, the Police Department, the Finance Department. It takes everyone in this community to make this successful.”

City officials plan to apply for grants regarding stormwater infrastructure and rain gardens.

“In terms of Eastpointe having a combined sewer system … to be able to take some of the stress off that combined sewer system, we can capture some of that stormwater into some of those rain gardens as well as encourage additional green opportunities within our parks,” McCain said.

McCain’s presentation came just as the city is repairing Nine Mile Road, including the Nine Mile corridor, which includes the Police Department, the 38th District Court, the Fire Department and the Eastpointe Community Garden.

The corridor revitalization project will improve mobility and accessibility for drivers, pedestrians, bikers and transit riders and will improve sustainable green space. Attainable housing and resilient economies to enhance the city’s tax base also are parts of the revitalization.

Tony and Cheri Cecchini, who own Cecchini Video at 16910 E. Nine Mile Road, attended the coffee hour and are concerned about what will happen to the parking area at their business with the Nine Mile corridor revitalization.

“The building was built in the 1920s, and we’ve been here since 1986. The only parking for it is street parking,” Cheri Cecchini said. “We got a letter saying (the city) wants to buy the easement rights and eliminate our parking. The only parking is offset from Nine Mile. As a business owner, where would our clients park?”

“There are five or six parking spots,” Tony Cecchini said.

Cheri Cecchini said that amount has been sufficient over the years.

McCain said city officials are considering shared parking agreements, including looking at businesses that have “more than enough or an excess of parking.”

“Maybe there’s a business that has more of a morning crowd and there’s another business nearby that has more of an afternoon or evening crowd,” McCain said. “Is there a way we can set up a shared parking agreement with the businesses?”

During the coffee hour, Tony Cecchini asked McCain how the Nine Mile Road corridor revitalization will help businesses.

“As you are probably aware, the road is not in great shape. There’s also an uneven easement area. We’re trying to create more cohesion along the corridor as well as improve the travel up and down the street by reconstructing it,” McCain said. “We’re looking at putting in some plantings to beautify the corridor. So hopefully that would encourage people to slow down and patronize the businesses maybe more than they are right now.”

The Cecchinis met with McCain after the coffee hour and hope to work out a solution on the parking issue.

In the meantime, Eastpointe is seeking individuals for the community development fellowship through the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan. Fellows are placed in communities engaged or certified in Redevelopment Ready Communities for 15 months and work on a variety of projects to expand organizational capacity, increase local collaboration and remove barriers to development. Applications are due March 5. For more information, visit cedamichigan.org/fellowship.

The next chamber coffee hour is scheduled for 8 a.m. March 7 at Community Choice Credit Union, 20778 13 Mile Road in Roseville. The coffee hour costs $5 for nonmembers and is free for chamber members. Roseville City Manager Ryan Monroe will be the guest speaker. To register, email events@erchamber.com.