<html><head><style type='text/css'>p { margin: 0; }</style></head><body><div style='font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000'>Hello Neighbors,<br><br><br> I did my best to get your questions answered on the Thompson Block and the Freighthouse so read below to see what is going on.<br><br> There are also a few things going on that you might be interested in so read on.<br><br> Remember to suport your local businesses. Have you been to The Rocket, Luwaks, or Beezies lately?<br><br><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"><br> <span style="font-weight: bold;">LEAF PICK-UP</span> - <span style="font-weight: bold;">NO BULK PICK-UP - If you see a neighbor who has raked their leaves into the street please inform them they will be ticketed.</span> <a href="http://cityofypsilanti.com/services/public_services/Yard%20Waste/leaf_collection.html">visit the city website </a>to find out fully. <span>Leaves contained in compost bags or trash cans 32 gallons or
smaller with a yard waste sticker placed on trash container will be
picked up curbside. Curbside yard waste will be picked up on your trash
day beginning the week of April 6 and continuing through the week of
December 14, 2009. <b>Note: During the colder months it is recommended
that residents use compost bags. Leaves that are frozen in cans cannot
be removed.<br><br> <br></b></span><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"><span><b> THOMPSON BLOCK - </b>There really isn't too much to tell you. Our Honorable Council Member Pete Murdock let me know that "</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="594394917-05112009"><font size="2" face="Arial">
A 90 day temporary traffic order was granted by the City Manager, so we probably
won't see any changes or activity until December 23 or after New Year." Pete and other council members are working to get an exact schedule for this building.</font></span><br><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"><br><br> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> THE FALL OF THE WALL LECTURE - </span>This should be a very interesting lecture which will be given by a good friend of mine at WCC. At the lecture there will also be some items for sale which will benefit the <a href="http://stu.wccnet.edu/%7Eartsclub/">WCC ARTS CLUB </a>which helps teach students and community members about the arts through lectures and field trips. <a href="http://www.wccnet.edu/news-events/"> Visit WCC for more information</a>.<br><br><div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma">
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"><font face="tahoma">Dear Arts Club members,</font></font></div>
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<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"> </font></div>
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<div dir="ltr">
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<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"><font size="2" face="tahoma">As
some of you may know, I grew up in Dresden, behind the iron curtain,
before I emigrated to the US in 1985. In less than a week, on
<strong><font color="#800000">Monday, </font><font color="#800000">November</font><font color="#993300"> 9</font></strong>, the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall is coming up!
</font></font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"> </font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"><font size="2" face="tahoma">This
is a big event for Germany and the world but many of our
younger Americans have not much of an idea what went on. And many of
the older among us, myself included, have forgotten a lot of the
details. I therefore have prepared a public talk which will outline
the historical background of the Berlin wall, life in East Germany, and
the events which lead up to the "Wende", the peaceful downfall of the
Eastern Block and the Cold War. The talk will be followed by a
question and answer period. </font></font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"> </font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"><font size="2" face="tahoma">For
the first time, we have scheduled this event in the big theater at WCC
so that larger groups from the community can be accommodated. </font></font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"> </font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"><font size="2" face="tahoma">I
hope you will be able to come. But if not, please help to spread the
word. I have attached a flyer which can be printed out and
distributed, or passed on in an email.</font></font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"> </font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"><font size="2" face="tahoma">We
will have a raffle or silent auction for my last pieces of the Berlin
wall, original etchings of the Frauenkirche in Dresden, and framed
photographs by American photographers taken just days after November 9
in Berlin! </font></font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"><font size="2" face="tahoma"><strong>This event will also be one of our major fundraising events! Let Corey know if you can be an usher.</strong></font></font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"> </font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"><font size="2" face="tahoma">There will be snacks and refreshments. The talk will start at
<font color="#800000"><strong>6:30 PM in Towsley Auditorium at the Morris Lawrence Building at WCC </strong></font> (not
LA 175 as some older flyers and poster still say). The talk will be
about 1 hour and 15 minutes. With snack break, auction and questions,
the entire event could be about 2 hours long, but you can leave at any
time according to your schedule needs.</font></font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"> </font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"><font size="2" face="tahoma">Please help to make this event a success. I hope to see you there.</font></font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"><font size="2" face="tahoma">Many, many thanks for your help! For further questions, please email me (<span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT171"><a href="mailto:ezt@wccnet.edu" target="_blank">ezt@wccnet.edu</a></span>) or Corey Moomey (<span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT172"><a href="mailto:moomey@wccnet.edu" target="_blank">moomey@wccnet.edu</a></span>).</font></font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"> </font></div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Tahoma"> </font></div>
</div>
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</font></div>
<address style="margin-right: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Tahoma">Elisabeth Z. Thoburn</font></address>
<address style="margin-right: 0px;" dir="ltr" class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Tahoma">Humanities Department<br><br></font></address><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"><address style="margin-right: 0px;" dir="ltr" class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><br></font></address><span style="font-weight: bold;">FREIGHTHOUSE UPDATE</span> - I know a lot of people are curious as to what is going on with the freighthouse so I asked around. I received a long response so this is my summary. <br><br>Its MDOTs Fault its things aren't moving - "<font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy;">As for the schedule, we were virtually “shovel
ready” the day the Governor was here, with an opening date of April 1. We still
do not have the final MDOT sign-off and bids won’t go out until January. Hopefully,
we can open the old café July 4<sup>th</sup> weekend, or do a Grand Opening for
Heritage Festival. It’s all dependent upon the contractor MDOT chooses." <br><br></span></font><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CCOMPAQ%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 14pt;">YPSILANTI</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> FREIGHTHOUSE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">RESTORATION & RENOVATION<span style=""> </span>UPDATE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The structural and exterior/interior architectural
drawings are complete and available for public viewing. <span style=""> </span>Mechanical and electrical systems drawings will
be completed by the end of August.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The structural and architectural work was front-loaded
to meet MDOT stimulus grant requirements.<span style="">
</span>The initial MDOT meeting is soon, at which time comments on designs from
the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will be available.<span style=""> </span>Local reviews by our Ypsilanti Historic
District Commission will also be required.<span style="">
</span>Following MDOT, SHPO and Ypsilanti HDC reviews, and after the completion
of specification revisions and estimates required by MDOT, we anticipate bids
to go out in the Fall and construction to commence this winter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Per the original Condition Assessment Report (CAR),
the prime focus is on exterior and interior structural corrections.<span style=""> </span>Of equal importance is the readiness of the
old café interior, which is destined to become the SEMCOG-related passenger
hospitality/rest area and a tourism info center. Our target is to be open by mid-August
2010 to prepare for the commuter train in October/November of 2010.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As publicised, the SEMCOG passenger platform will be
built on the West side (the Freighthouse side) of the tracks and connected to
the Freighthouse at grade with sidewalk and/or decking.<span style=""> </span>Depending upon the MDOT budget and the
additional finances required, completed renovation of the large hall make take
more time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Thanks to the support of the City to obtain the MDOT
stimulus package we are financially more than half way to our original goal ...
a tremendous step.<span style=""> </span>This was due in large
part to the generous gift of the AAACF for site and building engineering and
architectural drawings.<span style=""> </span>Current budget
estimates remain essentially unchanged from the FOYF business plan in gross
dollar terms: (1) $350,000+/1 (in dollars and/or in-kind services and
materials) to complete the construction after MDOT is done (not including
SEMCOG requirements), plus $280,000 in operational funding to hire, furnish,
stock and cover initial marketing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">FROM: The Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">DATE: <st1:date year="2009" day="2" month="11">November 2, 2009</st1:date></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The past two years have been full of progress and exciting
news for the Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse and the Ypsilanti
Freighthouse.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During 2008, the FOYF signed a five-year Management
Agreement with the City, and published a 5-year Business Plan, detailing the goals
and objectives, which will make the Freighthouse a community event center on a self-sustaining
basis.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the fall of 2008, we launched a Storm Water Management
Grant project to protect the Freighthouse from further water damage.<span style=""> </span>This was our second major State Historic
Preservation Grant with local matching funds.<span style="">
</span>At the same time, we entered discussions with the Ann Arbor Area
Community Foundation, seeking their possible support.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In January 2009, we were awarded a $103,300 Ann Arbor Area
Community Foundation Grant through its Pfizer Legacy Grant Program.<span style=""> </span>The monies would specifically target completion
of engineering and architectural drawings for Freighthouse restoration and
renovation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The next exciting news came when SEMCOG announced its
three-year Commuter Rail Demonstration Project between <st1:city><st1:place>Ann
Arbor</st1:place></st1:city> and <st1:city><st1:place>Detroit</st1:place></st1:city>,
which resulted in the City being awarded a Federal Stimulus Grant of $500,000
to help make the Ypsilanti Freighthouse once again safe for public use.<span style=""> </span>The funds will be administered by the
Michigan Department of Transportation, and work will focus upon structural
stabilization and exterior historic restoration.<span style=""> </span>Construction will follow April through June
of 2010.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While the City and Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse are
delighted to have the monies to help stabilize the building, we must go beyond
that point to ready the Freighthouse for commuter rail travelers by October
2010, SEMCOG’s projected start date for the rail project.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We feel the commuter rail project is a vitally important
project for this community.<span style=""> </span>In every <st1:country-region><st1:place>U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
city where rail service is being added, communities have seen significant
development impact.<span style=""> </span>Preparing the
Freighthouse literally means helping to make the train service work, and it will
benefit everyone and every development project in <st1:city><st1:place>Ypsilanti</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style=""> </span>Remember, too, if the SEMCOG project is
successful, the Federal New Start Rail Program plans to improve commuter rail travel
as far west as <st1:city><st1:place>St. Louis</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style=""> </span>As a key hospitality point for these riders,
the Ypsilanti Freighthouse deserves our full and immediate attention.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We need your help to make sure our Freighthouse is ready for
passengers when the commuter trains start running.<span style=""> </span>At this point, our total additional contingency
expense estimate through June 2010 is $100,000.<span style="">
</span>Between <st1:date year="2009" day="1" month="11">November 1, 2009</st1:date>
and <st1:date year="2010" day="1" month="4">April 1, 2010</st1:date>, the Friends
of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse must raise an additional $25,000 within the
community.<span style=""> </span>In response, the Ann Arbor
Area Community Foundation has tentatively agreed to match our $25,000 and to help
raise the remaining $50,000 from regional and private foundations.<span style=""> </span><u>This is only if our community is willing
to stake $25,000 now!</u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please make your own personal contribution to help us reach
our goal.<span style=""> </span>You can mail a check to: FOYF
c/o <st1:address><st1:street>P.O. Box 970919</st1:street>, <st1:city>Ypsilanti</st1:city>,
<st1:state>MI</st1:state> <st1:postalcode>48197-0919</st1:postalcode></st1:address>,
or you visit our new website (<a href="http://www.foyf.org/">www.foyf.org</a>)
and use the DONATE button to make a one-time or monthly contribution.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for doing whatever you can to bring our
Freighthouse back to life!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">- The FOYF Board of Trustees</p>
<br><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"><br>Take care,<br>Kurt Anschuetz<br>prospectparkneighborhood@comcast.net<br><br><br></div></body></html>