Publication select ▼
BIRMINGHAM/FRANKLIN — In 2024, community-centered stories on local government and more were published in the Eagle.
After checking back in with sources from a few of the favorite stories published in the Eagle last year, there are some updates.
The Pickering Barn project
Last September, the Eagle covered the story of a Franklin landmark that may be relocated to serve the community in a new way.
The Pickering Barn currently sits at 7141 Franklin Road in Franklin — a property that was bought by the Pickering family in 1879.
The land became known as Oakland County’s Pickering Farm, but was sold to a developer in 2017. The barn is the last structure remaining from the family farm.
This past fall, Main Street Franklin held the “Save the Pickering Barn” campaign through Patronicity.
Although approximately $13,000 was donated to the campaign, it fell short of the $100,000 goal that was set.
Although the funds were not able to be used, Pete Halick, from the Pickering Barn Task Force, said the money was a demonstration of community support.
Halick said they are currently in the process of dismantling and storing the barn. He said they are hoping the barn will be moved to Bowers Farm, but that Bloomfield Hills Schools, which owns the farm, will make the final call.
“We’re hopeful that it proves to be a positive thing for them and they will want to do it,” Halick said.
The function of the barn is still in discussion, as is the official new location.
Arlington and Shirley
Last February, the Eagle covered a Birmingham City Commission meeting, with a new plan for Arlington Street and Shirley Road being approved at the meeting.
Low water pressure in fire hydrants — which affected the residential streets — led to an initial proposal that involved adding a new sidewalk.
Many residents had concerns about the fate of the trees which lined Shirley and Arlington.
The approved resolution at the city commission meeting on Feb. 5 was,“We approve to go forward with the water and sewer, that the City replaces the roadway and the curbs, and the roadway is asphalt and remains the same width that it is right now, and no sidewalks.”
Last November, all underground utility work was completed and the roads were paved.
According to the city manager reports posted on bhamgov.org, the project is being winterized. In the spring, the crew will return to address final tasks.
Birmingham Mayor Therese Longe said, “The city is very pleased that we have been able to implement this important infrastructure project for water main replacement and some sewer improvements.”
Longe expressed the importance of this project, as the aging water main and sewers needed to be improved for the “health, safety and welfare of the Shirley and Arlington residents.”
“While this project was contentious at times, the City Commission heard the passion that the Shirley and Arlington residents have for their neighborhood,” Longe said. “Resident input was taken into account to influence the final project design, which maintained the road dimension and did not add sidewalks. We appreciate the patience of the Arlington, Shirley, and Brandon residents during construction and look forward to final completion in the spring.”
Booth Park
Last June, the Eagle published a story about upcoming improvements to Booth Park in Birmingham.
At that time, plans for the Booth Park entry plaza and trail improvement project were in development.
The project was considered a priority due to a parks and recreation bond that voters approved in 2020.
Since then, the city has made a lot of progress towards the development of plans for the park.
Last August, a preliminary landscape plan was reviewed by the City Commission. Since that meeting, designs and bid specifications have reached 95%, plans have been further reviewed, updates have been made, and a Booth Park donation campaign has been created by the Department of Public Services.
At a Parks and Recreation Board meeting last October, specifics about the materials, design, safety and other features related to the custom restroom that will be installed at Booth Park were discussed.
At that meeting, the Booth Park donor policy was also updated.
This past December, it was announced that the city was recommended for funding for the maximum amount of $400,000 from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Trust Fund Grant.
At a City Commission meeting that same month, City Commission members voted to approve acceptance of the grant.
However, the city isn’t expecting to receive the grant funding for months. The DPS estimates that the project may not begin until late fall this year, at the earliest.
Scott Zielinski, who is the DPS’ director, said, “We’ve been told that in order to receive funding, there’s a certain order of steps we have to go through, but the most painful one is waiting for them to actually officially release the money to us, and that takes four to six months, at a minimum.”
