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ferndalefrond.bsky.social
The Ferndale Frond
@ferndalefrond.bsky.social
230 followers 41 following 170 posts
Tracking development news, urban planning, transit, local biz, news, and history in Ferndale, MI. Not @royaloakacorn.bsky.social, but totally ripping them off.
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ferndalefrond.bsky.social
🧵 The Ferndale Planning Commission will review a proposal for an El Car Wash at its meeting this Wednesday, July 16, 6:30 PM at City Hall. The project would go on the former Tim Hortons site at 22230 Woodward (SE corner of Woodward & College).
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Architectural rendering of a proposed El Car Wash building in Ferndale. The design features a modern white structure with large glass windows, teal and pink accent stripes, and two tall corner towers with overhang roofs. Several cars are driving past on Woodward Avenue, and trees and shrubs are landscaped around the building. This is from the 2023 proposal, but the new proposal is not very different (no new renderings were provided).
July 13, 2025 at 12:55 AM
ferndalefrond.bsky.social
A proposal to build an El Car Wash at the former Tim Hortons site (22230 Woodward Ave) will be up for review at the Planning Commission meeting on July 16 at 6:30 PM at City Hall.

I will follow up with more info when the meeting agenda is posted.
Architectural rendering of a proposed El Car Wash building in Ferndale. The design features a modern white structure with large glass windows, teal and pink accent stripes, and two tall corner towers with overhang roofs. Several cars are driving past on Woodward Avenue, and trees and shrubs are landscaped around the building. This is from the 2023 proposal.
June 26, 2025 at 12:34 AM
ferndalefrond.bsky.social
Graffiti Kitchen is advertised as "coming soon" in the windows of 157 W 9 Mile. Empty since 2020, this space was formerly La Feast Mediterranean Grill, and China Ruby before that.

Same owner as Qahwati, apparently, so perhaps it will open in 2026...?

#FerndaleEats
Two large windows, framed by a red brick building, display signs for an upcoming business called "Graffiti Kitchen." The signs feature vibrant, street art-inspired graphics with splashes of neon pink, yellow, blue, and white paint. The words "COMING SOON" are prominently displayed at the top of each window in a stylized white font. Below this, a large graphic of a mouth with red lips and white teeth is shown, with the words "GRAFFITi KiTCHEN" written in white within the mouth graphic. The left window's background is predominantly black, while the right window's background is mostly white.
June 13, 2025 at 10:06 AM
ferndalefrond.bsky.social
Why would a Ferndalian lie about their taxes when it's an easy look-up on BS&A?

1) This guy actually pays $8,900.
2) The Royal Oak house will be uncapped next year and then its taxes will be $12,500.

So almost the exact opposite of what he claims. Lies and misinformation.
Screenshot of a Facebook comment saying: "A friend just bought a $650k house in RO. Taxes, $9k a year. About $3k less than we pay for a $332k house bought 2.5 years ago in ferndale."
June 12, 2025 at 2:06 PM
ferndalefrond.bsky.social
Embarrassing. Ferndale councilmember Laura Mikulski writes about the need for more civil online discourse, then uses former mayor Melanie Piana's comment as an opening to publicly air an old grievance. Hard to reconcile the call for civility with immediately cranking up the temperature.
A screenshot of a Facebook post by Laura Mikulski, dated May 24 at 11:09 AM. The post reads: "Being in public service shouldn't mean being the public's punching bag. This photo was meant to celebrate a small, joyful moment. But the comments — pulled directly from Mayor Lori M. Stone's page — are a reminder of how quickly public officials are dehumanized online. As Jennifer Bentley once told me: we're public servants, not public doormats. You can disagree with decisions. You can demand accountability. But when criticism crosses into cruelty or harassment, we all lose something — civility, dignity, and the kind of leadership that comes from compassion." Below this text is a cropped image, and further down, a comment from "Daryl DeRocco" reads: "Why don't you go do something productive with your fucking time you are a waste of oxygen". A screenshot of a Facebook comment thread. At the top, Melanie Piana writes: "Wish more people would push back at this type of behavior in Ferndale too toward elected officials, especially when it's happening to your women officials. The misogyny I had to deal with while others stayed silent creates environments where this type of behavior online and in person becomes normalized. Elected officials are not doormats and should not tolerate bullying, and more important, call it all while it's happening." Below this, Laura Mikulski responds: "In general I agree with you. When you were publicly dragged during your final council meeting as mayor, I was ready to fight that fight for you — because no matter our differences, no one deserves the personal attacks you had to endure. It was cruel and unfair, and I would've street brawled for you. It's hard to square that sentiment with the friction you and I have had through the years. Like the time I left what I believed was an olive branch gathering of female public officials at your house — only to later hear that you badmouthed & laughed at me the moment I walked out the door. I showed up in good faith. You showed your hand. And when you spread false claims in 2023 about Ro & I being anti-affordable housing — during Pride, while Rolanda Kelley was running for council — I confronted you directly and asked for a public apology. You had a lawyer respond on your behalf with this line: 'No apology is merited, and none will be delivered.' I keep that letter above my desk as a reminder — not just of how quickly accountability gets replaced with defensiveness, but of how easily the language of bullying gets weaponized by those unwilling to look in the mirror. In your own State of the City in 2023 before the incident with Ro and I, you asked the community to 'be kind to candidates,' to 'call out misogyny,' and to 'lead with empathy.' I believed you. I wanted to believe you. Solidarity isn't about who's..." [character limit reached]
May 26, 2025 at 12:29 PM
ferndalefrond.bsky.social
If you're a Ferndale voter, please vote yes on the millage restoration proposal on May 6.

I received my ballot and this mailer from the city. Really disappointing that City Council and Yes Ferndale have done next to nothing to promote this. On the positive side, no pamphlets from THAT either.
portion of the May 6 election ballot showing the Ferndale millage restoration proposal and the "yes" box filled in Mailer from the city promoting the vote
April 1, 2025 at 1:15 PM
ferndalefrond.bsky.social
Mich. House votes 80-28 to ban legislators and staff from entering into nondisclosure agreements. Helena Scott, who represents most of Ferndale, voted no. Mike McFall, who represents the portion of Ferndale east of the tracks and south of 9 Mile, voted yes.

Pics from @jordynhermani.bsky.social
February 25, 2025 at 9:25 PM
ferndalefrond.bsky.social
The Corner Shop, a bookstore and coffeehouse serving small bites, wine, beer, and cocktails, is planning to open this spring in the former Rouge salon at 23337/23341 Woodward. Plans include rooftop seating. City Council will review their liquor license application on Monday.
Rendering of The Corner Shop’s planned storefront at 23337/23341 Woodward, as seen from the northeast. The design includes a new glass storefront, a rooftop deck with planters, additional windows, and outdoor seating with surrounding planters. The existing masonry facades will be painted. Birds-eye rendering of The Corner Shop’s planned outdoor spaces as seen from the northwest, including a floating rooftop deck with planters, accessible via a painted steel staircase. The design also features ground-level outdoor seating surrounded by planters and a painted steel frame supporting the deck.
February 8, 2025 at 3:34 PM
ferndalefrond.bsky.social
Screenshot from an online survey. Question: "Do you have any other transportation-related concerns or ideas related to the Woodward Avenue corridor that were not already covered in the answers above?" My response: "North-south car traffic can be served by I-75 and M-10. Woodward Avenue could be a world-class transit/bike/pedestrian corridor if we had the will to transform it."
January 24, 2025 at 12:45 AM
ferndalefrond.bsky.social
If you're not already in the Fabulous Ferndale Forum, don't join that cesspool. NIMBYs are scrounging for any argument they can find, and they are very sloppy.
Screenshot of a Facebook post in the Fabulous Ferndale Forum. A poster writes: "This is the company that the city of Ferndale paid $116,000 to rezone our beloved neighborhoods Donations to Republicans: 99,42% To Democrats, .58% (yes, that's a decimal point)". The poster provided a link to McKenna & Associates' profile on opensecrets.org. Someone replied, "Hi, [name]. A quick search on FEC shows that this is a different Mckenna & Associates, a finance consulting firm based out of Arlington, VA."
January 2, 2025 at 5:09 PM
ferndalefrond.bsky.social
Last night the Planning Commission approved a site plan and parking waiver for 22438 Woodward. Changes to the existing building/site, which has been empty for years, will be minor. The building will house a second location for Hill Orthopedics and the other businesses operating at 928 E 10 Mile.
Google Street View image of 22438 Woodward Ave., as seen from the street.
December 19, 2024 at 1:45 PM
ferndalefrond.bsky.social
Screengrab from a video taken by a Ferndale NIMBY in which she holds her camera in front of her face while weakly saying "boo" at the Ferndale City Council members who had just voted in a way she didn't like. I have added the word "boo" in a small font, placed as if it were leaving her mouth.
December 17, 2024 at 8:27 PM
ferndalefrond.bsky.social
Someone filmed herself and others being disrespectful after the zoning vote.

"Boo!"
"Bend over, Ferndale!"
"You can forget your taxes getting increased, you can just forget it. We'll see you at the election."
"Watch the mass exodus!"
"You've got no respect for the citizens."
"RECALL!"
December 17, 2024 at 6:51 PM
ferndalefrond.bsky.social
The Ferndale Planning Commission will be considering a site plan tomorrow for a warehouse at 2000 W Eight Mile. Detroit Axle wants to expand on their parcel to the east. On the plus side, this will eliminate the only sidewalk gap on Eight Mile in Ferndale (where there is a bus stop).
Bird's-eye view from above Eight Mile of the proposed warehouse at 2000 W Eight Mile, as provided by the applicant.
December 3, 2024 at 1:17 PM
ferndalefrond.bsky.social
The Ferndale Planning Commission will be considering a site plan tomorrow for a 3-story, 26-unit apartment building at 651 Livernois. The applicant is Krieger Klatt Architects (Royal Oak), the owner is F. Lax Construction (Ferndale).
Applicant-provided rendering of their proposed 3-story apartment building at 651 Livernois, as viewed from the street.
December 3, 2024 at 1:11 PM