TRANSFORM WOODWARD

Transform Woodward is a WA3 task force that convened in late 2010 to develop a plan and consensus for advancing transit-oriented development (TOD) along Woodward Avenue in Oakland County. Key members represent the cities of Ferndale, Berkley, Birmingham, Huntington Woods and Royal Oak, along with institutional partners, employers and elected officials including: SMART, SEMCOG, Michigan Suburbs Alliance, the Detroit Zoo, and Beaumont Hospital. 
 
Members of the Transform Woodward Transit-Oriented Development Task Force:
  • Jana Ecker, Chairperson/Planning Director, City of Birmingham, 248-530-1841 Email: jecker@ci.birmingham.mi.us
  • Jason Fowler,  WA3 Program Manager, 248-288-2004. Email: jason@woodwardavenue.org
  • Kate Baker, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Ferndale
  • Steve Baker, Councilmember, City of Berkley
  • Jim Barrett, Director of Real Estate Services, Jones Lang Lasalle @Beaumont Health System  
  • Heather Carmona, Executive Director, WA3
  • Marie Donigan, former State Rep and transit advocate
  • Jim Ellison, Mayor, City of Royal Oak
  • Paul Good, Community and Government Relations Manager, The Detroit Zoo        
  • Jeff Jenks, Commissioner, City of Huntington Woods        
  • Bob Morris, Transportation Policy Coordinator , SEMCOG  
  • Richard Murphy, Transportation Programs Coordinator, MI Suburbs Alliance
  • Mark Nickita, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Birmingham
  • Melanie Piana, Councilmember, City of Ferndale
  • Cristina Sheppard Decius, Executive Director, Ferndale DDA
  • Jim Schultz, MDOT Metro Region
  • John Swatosh, Deputy Director, Regional Transit Coordinating Council, SMART
  • Tim Thwing, Director of Planning for City of Royal Oak 

To-date, the Transform Woodward TOD Task Force has achieved:

July 2011 - Hired LSL Planning to develop a TOD framework plan and zoning overlay recommendations.

May 2011 - Awarded a $15,000 Urban Land Institute Community Action Grant to further the task force work.

March 2011 - Received a $32,000 Michigan State Planning and Research Grant

February 2011 - Adopted a Transit-Oriented Development resolution ratified by the full Woodward Avenue Action Association Board, including the City of Detroit.

January 2011 - Created a Work Plan, budget and timeline for task force through 2012.

 The Road Ahead…by December 2011 we expect to:
  • Develop Vision Concepts and Designs in partnership with Lawrence Technological University.
  • Initiate and develop land use, zoning, and master plan changes to support transit-oriented design planning and implementation in each community.
  • Host Policy Education & Community Outreach meetings.
  • Leverage Woodward’s All-American Road® status to gain foundation and other funding support to implement task force recommendations.
If you would like to receive updates on Transform Woodward, please email: loriella@woodwardavenue.org
 
News and Updates: