If your travels have taken you through the intersections of Ford and Wayne Roads; and Ford Road and Central City Parkway recently, you have probably noticed that the installation of the first phase of the DDA Streetscape Program is well underway.

All of the work should be completed by September. While the construction has caused some traffic delays, the DDA and its contractors have been working diligently to ensure that all businesses in these areas remain accessible to their patrons.

The northwest corner of Wayne Road and Palmer Road will feature brick walls, brick columns and wrought-iron style fencing that mirrors the DDA streetscape plan, thanks to CVS Pharmacy, which integrated the improvements into its development plan.

The approval of Westland City Council for the redevelopment of the Speedway service station site at the southwest corner of Wayne and Cherry Hill roads has cleared the way for an important new project in the heart of the DDA District.

The property owners, Marathon Ashland, LLC, received approval to demolish the existing service station and canopies to make way for a new 3,675 sq. ft. building and a new canopy spanning five gasoline pumps.

Marathon Ashland will also incorporate the DDA streetscape improvements on its site to provide code-required screening and lend its support to the streetscape improvements in the District.

For the first time since the inception of the DDA District in the late 1990s, new homes are being built in the district. The Abbeys of Westland is a brand-new condominium development under construction on the north side of Marquette Avenue at Carlson Avenue, north of John Glenn High School and across the street from Thomas H. Brown Central City Park.

The Abbeys will consist of 26 buildings of 4 ranch-style units ranging in size from a 1,295 sq. ft. single-story unit to a 1,895 sq. ft. second story unit. All units will have separate entrances and an attached garage. The site will also include amenities such as a clubhouse, a pool, a putting green and walking paths.

Although the DDA places a priority on commercial development and redevelopment within its boundaries, new residential development in the DDA district brings future clients and patrons to DDA businesses.