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Hazel Park Essay

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There is a race happening on John R Road in Hazel Park, and it’s moving right up the middle of the street. It’s a marathon of urban renewal created by progressive leadership, DIY entrepreneurs, and a surplus of commercial buildings waiting to be renovated and repurposed. The buzz created by the changing image of Hazel Park from being an impoverished inner ring neighborhood to a burgeoning metro destination, has brought the city a well-deserved look from the Michigan Municipal League and their Community Excellence Awards (CEA). Since 2007, the League has sponsored the CEA contest to honor ground-breaking community projects throughout Michigan. This year, Hazel Park is one of the final four contenders who are in the running in the CEA Race for …show more content…

An ultimate winner will be announced at the League convention on Mackinac Island September 14-16. “It was truly an outstanding field and a fantastic window into the many outstanding programs, activities and initiatives taking place throughout our state,” said League Executive Director Dan Gilmartin, in response to the 14 communities that submitted projects to the contest. A once a dormant stretch of John R Road in between 10 Mile and 8 Mile in Hazel Park is now evolving into an energetic thoroughfare of new industry. Mabel Gray restaurant, Cellarman’s brewpub, and the showroom workspace of furniture designer Brian DuBois, are a few of the businesses who have opened their doors on John R Road within the past year. Noted Detroit fashion and food photographer, Joe Vaughn, is next in line to open a restaurant in the coming months. Through a combination of simplifying the process of purchasing a building, obtaining construction permits, and offering assistance with getting a business started, city leaders have created an open door policy that has attracted many businesspeople to the John R Road

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