Metro Detroit Urban-sprawled Villages: Farmington

[Lowell]

As the Detroit Metropolis expanded in the 20th Century it sprawled across several 19th C villages. Many, like Farmington were I now live, became engulfed in a sea of faceless subdivisions and strip malls yet, by retaining much of their historic centers, housing, architecture, and traditions, old and new, some have kept a small town sense-of-space feel. Next year Farmington celebrates the 200th anniversary of its 1824 founding.

A new celebration this year was the Holly Days parade and tree lighting at the historic Warner Mansion along Grand River. It joins the long-running Founder's Day and Memorial Day parades. So, happy Holly Days to all from downtown "Charmington".

The 19C-garbed Warnerettes march along Grand River at Farmington Road with the 1940's-built Civic Theater in the background en route to the Warner Mansion.

The Farmington High Schools bands march through downtown Farmington.

Santa and his helpers pass by the 1872-built Masonic temple on Grand River.


The Christmas Tree is lit inside the garden band stand of the Warner Mansion.

[Danny]

Hi-dy Ho neighbor! enjoy the light parade.

[masterblaster]

The city of Farmington's center is pretty cool, but much too much of the main street area is dedicated to auto-oriented development and mega-surface parking lot, like this behind the farmer's market structure and this

[expatriate]

The city of Farmington's center is pretty cool, but much too much of the main street area is dedicated to auto-oriented development and mega-surface parking lot, like this behind the farmer's market structure and this

Yep, the metro area had many nice old downtowns and it is a pity that they couldn't have retained that walkable character with rail links to Detroit. Unfortunately we chose to create an automobile centric society that necessitated filling all the landscape between them with highways and sprawl and there seems no easy way to fix that.

[takascar]

Yep, the metro area had many nice old downtowns and it is a pity that they couldn't have retained that walkable character with rail links to Detroit. Unfortunately we chose to create an automobile centric society that necessitated filling all the landscape between them with highways and sprawl and there seems no easy way to fix that.

If people [[and I mean the majority of people, not just libtards, who make up about 2% of the population of people who really know what their true agenda is) wanted this, then it would happen. Is it not possible that, even with the downsides, people want their own private cars that they don't have to share with smelly drug addicts and armed muggers?

Its not changing because people don't want it to change.

[expatriate]

Like I said there is no easy way to fix this, especially with attitudes like the trolling response above.

[masterblaster]

Thanks, Lowell, for highlighting this awesome main street area. It is really fantastic to have that sense of community where you have the downtown and annual events that bring the community together and give energy and good vibes to everyone involved.

I think that these kind of places and traditions are what can differentiate Detroit and its suburbs from some of the newer cities like Phoenix and Dallas et al, that could attract some people to relocate or re'patriate' back here.

[takascar]

Like I said there is no easy way to fix this, especially with attitudes like the trolling response above.

Not trolling, just the brutal truth.

Yah I know, those dumb people won't roll over and accept socialism.....

[Lowell]

The city of Farmington's center is pretty cool, but much too much of the main street area is dedicated to auto-oriented development and mega-surface parking lot, like this behind the farmer's market structure and this.

That is certainly so. The situation was created in either the late sixties or early seventies when there was a dreadful move to create a mall. It resulted in the loss of some 19th C buildings on the south side of Grand River and left a bleak treeless field of asphalt in the center and along GR. By 2000 downtown Farmington was a tired and worn stretch with fading businesses and a dying movie theater.

Since then, the city bought and saved the Civic Theater. Then, starting about 10 years ago, after creating a downtown development authority, a large section of the mall lot, facing Grand River, was returned to green space, now called Riley Park, with a pavilion that forms the center of the summer farmers market, now repeatedly voted best farmers market in the metro. In the winter a free ice-skating rink is placed there [opening in a couple of days]. The large lot was likewise rationalized with landscaping and curbing.





At the same time Grand River was streets-caped with bump-in parking, trees, fencing, and shrubbery allowing for ambient outdoor cafe seating. Last year the same was completed along Farmington Road running south from GR, including the addition of a new vest pocket park in what was parking lot area. Next up is a connector pathway to Shiawassee Park.



The area is now highly walkable and one can get just about every thing one needs on foot from groceries, to hardware, post office, and banking, along with tattoos, yoga and skateboards. Where there was only Starbucks there are now five coffee houses, all busy, and a second brew pub is opening soon. The businesses are almost all individual owners.

[Zacha341]

Yep. Many really prefer driving withstanding public transpo options.

Period.

You don't have to be an arch-conservative to feel that way.

Ask many Detroiter's [hardly repubbed]. They'll tell you.

...Is it not possible that, even with the downsides, people want their own private cars that they don't have to share with smelly drug addicts and armed muggers?

Its not changing because people don't want it to change.

[Zacha341]

Yes! I worked in that area some years ago, down further by Drake Rd. Once I drove there [commuting from Detroit] I found it very walkable once I got out of my car upon arriving. Huntington Bank was there [[GR and Farm Rd) long before they opened banks in Detroit.

Very nice! Saw a few movies at that little theater on GR! Is it still open?

I recall a little private own bookstore on GR... Then Borders Books arrived across the street killing the bookstore.

The area is now highly walkable and one can get just about every thing one needs on foot from groceries, to hardware, post office, and banking, along with tattoos, yoga and skateboards. Where there was only Starbucks there are now five coffee houses, all busy, and a second brew pub is opening soon. The businesses are almost all individual owners.

[Danny]

Unlike the long abandon historic DUR power station, the long vacant strip mall on Grand River Rd. And Orchard Lake Rd. A fast growing East Indian population and a once Historic Masonic Temple Building was turned into a coffee shop. Farmington, MI will remain a one hick Quaker built town. And I like to see that way.

[expatriate]

Is it not possible that, even with the downsides, people want their own private cars

Of course people should be able to have private cars, but they should not be a requirement for everyday living. In the beginning cars were used as RVs for vacation and excursions, but we have evolved into a society that practically requires one for survival. Some people would prefer that $12K annual cost of car ownership not be a condition of first class citizenship.

[Lowell]

Unlike the long abandon historic DUR power station, the long vacant strip mall on Grand River Rd. And Orchard Lake Rd….

The Detroit Interurban Power Plant, aka The Winery, which is was from 1930 to 1972, was never abandoned, until very recently while it is undergoing transformation to residential with some commercial for a restaurant.

I had an office there for a couple of years.

[Lowell]

Saw a few movies at that little theater on GR! Is it still open?

I recall a little private own bookstore on GR... Then Borders Books arrived across the street killing the bookstore.

The Civic theater is open and a center for activities as well as showing first run movies.

The little book store closed when the owner died. Today the site is a brew pub. Borders never had a store in Farmington.

Farmington shouldn’t be confused with Farmington Hills. It is the original T-shaped 19th C village spread along Grand River and running south from there along Farmington Rd. In 1976 the far larger remainder of the six square mile Farmington Township incorporated as the City of Farmington Hills. The two Cities are independently governed but have a common school district and library system and other services but police and fire are separate.

[Zacha341]

^ Good the hear that theater is doing well L! Yeah I did/ do get the overlap of Farmington Hills/ Farmington mixed-up sometimes. Love the homes in that area. Not cookie-cutter [garage door fronted] you see in some 'burbs.

I was often shopping at that corner area of Farmington Road and Grand River. Used to love buying stylish shoes at The Village Shoe Inn!

[Danny]

The Detroit Interurban Power Plant, aka The Winery, which is was from 1930 to 1972, was never abandoned, until very recently while it is undergoing transformation to residential with some commercial for a restaurant.

I had an office there for a couple of years.

It's abandoned now.