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Dearborn Mayor and Ford Land CEO speak about Dearborn Development at HFC Dec. 4

Event Date

Mon, Dec 4, 2017, 5pm - Tue, Dec 5, 2017, 4:59pm

Location

Forfa Auditorium (Bldg. L)

Dearborn Mayor John B. “Jack” O’Reilly, Jr. and David Dubensky, chairman and CEO of Ford Motor Land Development, will speak about “Development Planned for Dearborn” at Henry Ford College (HFC) Monday, Dec. 4, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. This event will take place in the Forfa Auditorium (Rm. 101) in the Andrew A. Mazzara Administrative Services & Conference Center (ASCC) (Bldg. L) on the main campus.

The HFC Democracy Institute and the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) – Detroit Metropolitan Chapter are co-sponsoring this event. Dr. William Hatley, an HFC adjunct political science professor and the ASPA Detroit immediate past president, suggested that HFC would make an appropriate venue for this event.

“We’re excited to work with the HFC Democracy Institute and host this event at the College,” said Kevin Kelley, president of ASPA Detroit. “Mr. Dubensky and Mr. O’Reilly will provide an overview of all the exciting things that are happening in the city of Dearborn. This project ensures that Dearborn will have a viable and vibrant downtown – it’s huge!”

Ford is investing $60 million to develop new urban office and retail space in West Dearborn called Wagner Place. In 2016, the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) approved a $3 million grant to the city of Dearborn to construct a public four-story parking structure (373 spaces) near the Wagner Place development for both consumer and Ford employee parking. This project spans two blocks in the city’s West Downtown District, on the south side of Michigan Avenue between Oakwood Blvd. and Mason St. Groundbreaking occurred earlier this year. Construction is currently underway and is expected to be completed in 2018.

The Wagner Place development includes the construction of a pair of three-story buildings. The development is 150,000 sq. ft. with about two-thirds as office space for Ford employees and one-third as commercial/retail space. The façade of the historic Wagner Hotel will be maintained.

“Wagner Place is an expansion of our Dearborn campus transformation. The development of an urban office environment positions Ford to offer a work setting that will appeal to a new generation of workers,” said Dubensky. “Our goal is to create a more collaborative and inviting campus atmosphere for all employees. I am looking forward to sharing our plans with the HFC Democracy Institute and ASPA.”

Ford’s 10-year plan to transform its Dearborn campus is currently underway. It recently leased about 240,000 sq. ft. at Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn, including an adjacent wing of the mall and the former Lord & Taylor location.

“Dearborn is at a transformative time in our development with landmark projects underway that will help ensure we remain a destination for visitors, employees, and new residents,” said O’Reilly. “We’re laying the groundwork that will keep us moving forward, and we’ve already seen success. A key part of that is the tremendous investment Ford and Ford Land is making in our community.” The event is free and open to the public. For questions or further information, contact Kelley at 734-326-4483.