On Jan. 22, 2019, three representatives from Save Hines Park and a representative of Friends of the Rouge attended a Wayne County Commission study session on the "Mill Run Project". This was the first official presentation to the commissioners of the administration’s plans to sell parkland in Hines Park. Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell opened the study session by asking the Economic Development Director (EDD) to correct the falsehoods in his "Myths vs. Reality" posting on the Wayne County website, and remove the reference to "a few bad actors exploiting residents' passion." She complained that most commissioners first learned of the proposed sale from constituents' letters rather than from the administration.
One question that came up repeatedly was in regards to the 11 acre Parcel B at Wilcox that does not contain a mill. No Commissioner spoke in support of the sale of this parkland and Commissioner Daub asked that Parcel B be removed from consideration for sale. When asked about why it was for sale and what their plans were for it, the EDD said there were no plans, they were just awaiting proposals. Later, Nancy Darga countered that developer Leo Gonzalez had already submitted a proposal for housing for Parcel B.
Following the EDD’s presentation, almost every commissioner asked good questions. Three supporters of Save Hines Park were allowed to speak for three minutes each. Marie McCormick (Friends of the Rouge) said Friends of the Rouge did not support any sale of parkland and cautioned against “the nibbling effect” by selling off Hines Park piece by piece as described by Dr. Orin Gelderloos following a presentation on the project. Nancy Darga (former chief of design for Wayne County Parks) asked that Parcel B not be sold, and asked for the County to seek federal historic designation for the mills. She recalled when she worked for Wayne County Parks and raised $1 million to rehabilitate Nankin Mill in 1989 when even before the County had the millage money they are getting now. Bill Craig (Holliday Nature Preserve Association president) represented the voice of Save Hines Park: the 350 that attended a Town Hall Meeting, the 11,000 that have signed a petition opposing the sale and said we are not “dangerous” as the Wayne County web site posting claims, “we are just letting you know how people feel about this project”.
The meeting was a success for Save Hines Park. It was made clear to the Commissioners that the Warren Evans administration has not been honest and transparent with them about the project. Serious flaws were exposed in the plan to sell the mills and parkland, and positive alternatives such as pursuing a public/private partnership to restore the mill buildings through a lease agreement were discussed. And perhaps most encouraging, there was NO support among ANY of the commissioners to sell the 11 acre Parcel B that would allow housing to be built along a ¼ mile of Hines Drive south of Wilcox Rd. The commissioners all acknowledged receiving a flood of letters opposing the plan. They are aware of the mounting public outrage and our resolve to promote a sensible plan to redevelop the mills while protecting our precious parkland.
Thank you to each one of you who wrote letters. Keep communicating with your commissioner and ask for a promise on a NO vote on the current plan, and to send the administration back to the drawing board to develop an intelligent plan that redevelops the mills and protects parkland.
One question that came up repeatedly was in regards to the 11 acre Parcel B at Wilcox that does not contain a mill. No Commissioner spoke in support of the sale of this parkland and Commissioner Daub asked that Parcel B be removed from consideration for sale. When asked about why it was for sale and what their plans were for it, the EDD said there were no plans, they were just awaiting proposals. Later, Nancy Darga countered that developer Leo Gonzalez had already submitted a proposal for housing for Parcel B.
Following the EDD’s presentation, almost every commissioner asked good questions. Three supporters of Save Hines Park were allowed to speak for three minutes each. Marie McCormick (Friends of the Rouge) said Friends of the Rouge did not support any sale of parkland and cautioned against “the nibbling effect” by selling off Hines Park piece by piece as described by Dr. Orin Gelderloos following a presentation on the project. Nancy Darga (former chief of design for Wayne County Parks) asked that Parcel B not be sold, and asked for the County to seek federal historic designation for the mills. She recalled when she worked for Wayne County Parks and raised $1 million to rehabilitate Nankin Mill in 1989 when even before the County had the millage money they are getting now. Bill Craig (Holliday Nature Preserve Association president) represented the voice of Save Hines Park: the 350 that attended a Town Hall Meeting, the 11,000 that have signed a petition opposing the sale and said we are not “dangerous” as the Wayne County web site posting claims, “we are just letting you know how people feel about this project”.
The meeting was a success for Save Hines Park. It was made clear to the Commissioners that the Warren Evans administration has not been honest and transparent with them about the project. Serious flaws were exposed in the plan to sell the mills and parkland, and positive alternatives such as pursuing a public/private partnership to restore the mill buildings through a lease agreement were discussed. And perhaps most encouraging, there was NO support among ANY of the commissioners to sell the 11 acre Parcel B that would allow housing to be built along a ¼ mile of Hines Drive south of Wilcox Rd. The commissioners all acknowledged receiving a flood of letters opposing the plan. They are aware of the mounting public outrage and our resolve to promote a sensible plan to redevelop the mills while protecting our precious parkland.
Thank you to each one of you who wrote letters. Keep communicating with your commissioner and ask for a promise on a NO vote on the current plan, and to send the administration back to the drawing board to develop an intelligent plan that redevelops the mills and protects parkland.
