Paid Pick-Up Bulk Collection Service
Department of Public Works offers a Paid Bulk Collection Service to help residents remove unwanted debris from their yards.
How to Guide for Paid Pickups:
Fill out Paid Pickup Bulk Collection Request Form or call DPW Solid Waste Division (313) 876-0004
A DPW employee will respond to your request within 1 business day and will provide you with an estimate for removal.
The charge for removing debris is based on the size and weight of the debris.
Provide DPW with payment for pick up.
Cashier's Check, Money Orders, and Credit Cards are accepted. No cash can be accepted.
DPW removes debris
Most types of debris including branches, construction/renovation materials, and couches are accepted.
Debris must be accessible from the front curb - DPW will not remove debris from garages, alleyways, or yards.
Call DPW Solid Waste Division (313) 876-0004 to schedule your pick up
Special Assessment District Update May 2023
Dear EEV Residents,
We have an update for you regarding the Special Assessment District (SAD) initiative. As you may know, this initiative has been in discussion for EEV since 2016 but this year we began in earnest exploring this option for our neighborhood. Over the past several months we have been gathering feedback and moving this initiative forward. Our EEV Special Assessment coordinator recently shared a status report outlining what we’ve learned about EEV and this process over the past six months.
Here are the key takeaways from the report:
A majority of EEV residents want the Special Assessment District. Based on the mail/online poll conducted in April 2023 with 200+ responses, nearly 70% of residents support the Special Assessment District.
There are residents in EEV who cannot afford $150/year for this. Some have expressed their concerns, while others believe that the neighborhood desperately needs this and that $12.50/month is a small price to pay for 24/7 private security. Both realities exist here in EEV.
EEV has a significant number of absentee owners, which makes the process of passing this initiative with 60%+ owners signatures a very difficult process. 50%+ is the minimum required by ordinance, but the EEV board figured that 60% would be a respectable submission. In order for a petition signature to be valid it must be witnessed by a volunteer in-person. Tracking down landlords and/or LLC agents for an in-person signature is tough, as most are located outside the neighborhood, or in other states or countries.
Based on these factors, the EEV Board is pausing the SAD initiative. While a clear majority of residents support it, the number of absentee owners in EEV adds an extra layer of complexity to the SAD petition signing process that we did not anticipate. We now understand that this is a challenge unique to EEV as compared to other neighborhoods where SADs have passed, and one that we will consider with any future initiatives.
We appreciate all of the honest feedback received over the past 6-months, and we encourage residents to continue to stay involved! EEV Board elections are coming up on Wednesday May 10th. We are optimistic in our hope that more residents will consider assuming an active role either by joining the Board or simply volunteering to assist on one of our many committees throughout the year. Let’s continue to move forward so that East English Village remains a “Community of Choice” - one of the great neighborhoods in Detroit.
Sincerely,
EEV Board Members
Ribbon Project East Warren
We are redeveloping the old Charter One bank located at 16530 East Warren Ave into a 3-story mixed-use building that will include a restaurant on the ground floor, and two residential floors with a total of 18 apartment units.
During our engagement sessions, amenities that the community could directly interact with such as a market or restaurant were in high demand, with a consistent restaurant within the neighborhood being something that the East English Village community has a demand for the most. The community made it clear that it would like more spaces for neighbors to congregate and collaborate together. The community has requests, and the restaurant tenant that we have identified is ready to meet those demands via a distinct yet integrated vision that promotes retail diversity and stimulates street-level activity on the Corridor. We plan on officially sharing who the tenant is once we start construction. With that being said, they are long-time residents of EEV and can’t wait to have a space of their own to be able to share their wonderful cuisine with the community that they live within.
“The Deco” Project
BD Development Advisors is excited to be working on the redevelopment of the former Beauty School at 16703 E. Warren Avenue. The development team has affectionately named the project “The Deco”, as an homage to its Art Deco inspired features and unique brick façade. BD is a joint venture partnership between Damon Dickerson and Brandon Hodges, both friends and real estate development professionals who live on Detroit’s East Side. The duo met through the Building Community Value’s Real Estate Fundamentals Class, where Joe Rashid of EWDC and Council Member Latisha Johnson have also been participants.
The development team proposes a substantial renovation of the property resulting in a mix of 6-9 new rental apartments and ground floor retail space. Given the interior condition of the property and its exposure to the elements over the years, a gut rehabilitation will be undertaken, featuring new roof structure and membrane, all new electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems, new parking lot, and white boxed retail space.
With hopes of activating a portion of the ground floor with a food and beverage tenant, the development team will be embarking on a very intentional community engagement process in partnership with In the Business of Food, a local food justice consulting firm led by Chef Ederique Goudia. Through a mix of digital surveying, in person charettes, and data research, the team will gather rich insights from the Community to narrow down potential food operators and concepts that can thrive on the E. Warren corridor. The culminating event will be a community taste testing where potential retailers can mix and mingle with neighbors and have their cuisines sampled.
Construction for the project is anticipated to start in the 2nd quarter of 2023, with completion by year end.
Meet Lt. Allen Brogdon of Kensington
Lt. Allen Brogdon of Kensington
How long have you lived in East English Village, and what brought you here?
My wife and I have both always lived in Detroit - Rozetta grew up on the eastside, graduating from South Eastern HS, and Allen on the west side, graduating from North Western HS. We moved into our home in EEV in September of 1991. We loved that this area was close to our church, New Rising Star Missionary Baptist.
In over 30 years in the neighborhood, I’m sure you’ve seen a lot of things change.
So many businesses have come and gone, changed and redeveloped since we’ve been here, especially through the E Warren Corridor. One thing that’s stayed the same is the friendliness and diversity of the neighborhood, which we’ve always loved. Some of our neighbors have been here just as long as us, and we’ve watched their kids grow up. It’s wonderful to be in a community where we share friendships with the people around us, and everyone treats each other well.
Recently, you received a great honor for your military service when you were presented with the Quilt of Valor right here at your home.
I joined the Navy in 1963, and served for 28 years before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant. Of the boys in my family, 3 others became servicemen as well, and my father was very proud of that. I served on 10 ships in that time, the largest being the USS Nimitz out of Norfolk VA, and the smallest being a gun patrol boat in Vietnam. I was in Vietnam from 1966-68, and was extremely blessed to come home with no wounds or injuries. Many others were not able to say the same. The Quilt of Valor is given to veterans and active personnel who have served in war, and I was nominated by a longtime friend of mine. The quilt was presented to me at my home on September 11th.
Thank you for your service! What keeps you busy in your well deserved retirement?
After the Navy, I moved on to a career with Ford Motor Company, as my wife was working for AT&T. Now that we are both fully retired, we spend as much time as possible indulging our love for travel! We recently returned from New Orleans, and visit Hawaii each year. We’ve been all over - Paris, Spain, China, and many other places. We would love to see Dubai one day, and plan to keep adventuring as long as we can.
Meet Michelle and John Liss of Kensington
It all begins with an idea.
Michelle and John Liss of Kensington
Tell us a little bit about yourselves.We own a hair salon in Roseville, with Michelle actually getting her start at a cosmetology school that used to be at East Warren and Yorkshire back in the 70s. John works at the Ford House as well. We love life here in EEV, and being able to come back to our Detroit roots now in these later years. We enjoy garage sales and thrift stores, and have a mobile home up in Caseville that we spend as much time at as we can.
What brought you to East English Village?
We moved (back) to EEV in 2017. Michelle grew up right here on Cadieux as a kid, and already had fondness and familiarity for the area. John grew up off Trumbull near the old Tiger Stadium. Marriage and raising our children took us out to the suburbs for many years. Eventually, our condo in Harrison Township began to feel too “sterile” and we longed for the character of the city again. Around the same time, two of our good friends who live here in the neighborhood invited us to their home for dinner, and we fell in love with EEV all over again. So at the ages of 58 and 62, we moved back, this time for good!
What are some of your favorite EEV moments and memories?The neighborhood has evolved in many wonderful ways over the years, but our favorite to reminisce on remain Michelle's memories from growing up here. She lived here from 1959 until 1983, and you could walk everywhere. As a kid, she spent most of her Saturdays at Outer Drive and East Warren, enjoying lunch at Kresge’s, treats from Sanders, visits to the library, and shows at the Alger Theater. There was a Cunningham Drug Store where the Wine Basket is now, and a grocer on East Warren between Harvard and Grayton. In her teens, she worked bussing tables at the Cadieux Cafe. Eighteen was the legal drinking age, there were many places to go dancing. This neighborhood was always jumping on the weekends!
What is your biggest hope for EEV?
Our hope is that it continues to thrive - we love how the neighborhood has organized over the years, how the older homes have been kept up and preserved, and the big old trees and natural landscaping still add historic beauty to the area after all this time. And of course, that the area continues to be home to such wonderful people as all of our neighbors who remain committed to keeping EEV a great place to live.
Meet Mollie and Nick Krawitz, of Bishop Street
It all begins with an idea.
Mollie and Nick Krawitz, of Bishop Street
Tell us a little bit about yourselves.
Mollie works for a translation company, doing quality assurance on medical deice translations. Nick makes replica vintage baseball garments (like wool jerseys and caps) on 1900s sewing machines, and does research for the Friends of Historic Hamtramck Stadium nonprofit. We moved here to EEV in December 2021, with our big fluffy cat Morgan.
What brought you to East English Village?
Mollie is originally from a small town in the Poconos called Stroudsburg, not ar from Scranton, PA. And Nick is originally from Lowell, MA. We were both ready to move and set down roots somewhere new. Nick had been to Detroit a few times, and was drawn to it for it’s baseball history and architecture. We came to look at EEV after hearing so many great things about this neighborhood - once we looked at our house, we fell in love with the area and knew this was where we wanted to be.
What are your favorite things to do here in the neighborhood?
We love doing DIY restorations to our 1933 house - for example, recently re-grouting the original tile shower. It was a huge undertaking but so rewarding when we finished! When the season is right, we’ll catch baseball and hockey games. Mollie is an avid knitter. And we often can be found working in our garden, while Morgan watches birds and squirrels through the window. Feel free to wave and say hello!
What has been one of your favorite EEV moments since living here?
The Garden Tour has been one of the highlights for us so far. It was lovely getting to meet new people and see the incredible gardens they’ve nurtured over the years. It gave us some great inspiration for our own yard!
What is your biggest hope for EEV?
Our hope is that it continues to thrive and be a welcoming community to everyone. There’s nowhere else we’d rather live, and we’re looking forward to contributing more to this wonderful neighborhood we call home.
Meet Charles “Chuck” Shaw of Harvard
It all begins with an idea.
Charles “Chuck” Shaw of Harvard
Chuck has lived on Harvard for all 74 years of his life. He and his younger sister Suzan were raised here. His parents, Charles Sr. and Fran (both now deceased) bought the home in 1946 after his dad returned from World War ll. The Shaw’s are the original owners of the home - at that time, their home was one of only a few that was built in what’s now known as East English Village. There was still prime untouched land where homes would eventually be constructed.
Chuck attended St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic School in Grosse Pointe Park. He recalls tuition being $100 a year, “no matter if it was one kid going there in the family, or 2, 5, 6, or whatever…tuition every year was $100. Dad thought that was too much!” He went on to graduate in 1967 from Jared W. Finney High School, known today as East English Village Preparatory Academy. His class was the fourth class to graduate after the high school was added to the elementary school. Two months after graduating, Chuck started working in Materials Management at Bon Secours Hospital on Cadieux in Grosse Pointe. He was a patient transporter, he stocked carts for the 10 operating rooms, and was responsible for employee scheduling. That hospital is now Beaumont Health Grosse Pointe. Chuck retired in 2017 after working for 50 years.
Chuck remembers The Vogue Theatre being here in EEV. He often went there on Saturdays growing up. It was on the same site as the old McDonald’s on Harper. Prior to AT&T owning the building that’s on the corner of Mack and Cadieux, it was a car wash appropriately named Auto Wash. In later years gas pumps were added. The location where Bob Maxey Lincoln dealership currently is was originally Aner’s Ford, then it became John Cook Ford. Former Detroit Lion running back Mel Farr and owner of the Mel Farr Ford family of dealerships trained there. Karaoke was big thing for his mom and dad. They would regularly sing at a place on the north side of E. Warren, between Harvard and Grayton - the name escapes him these days.
Chuck has been an an avid sports nut his whole life. He played Little League and Pony baseball then went on to make the team in high school. He enjoys football - favorite team is the Minnesota Vikings. Hockey is a close second favorite for him, with the Montreal Canadiens holding a very special place in his heart. He started watching them in high school on UHF channel 54 which aired entirely in French. He still enjoys watching them play today, but on cable.
Chuck gets together with a couple friends regularly. They play golf together at Chandler Park Golf Course for nine holes and breakfast afterward. He considers himself a decent golfer. He dog sits at his home for a friend and is often seen walking her around the block. He also drives a few times a year to visit his sister in Pennsylvania and her family.
Chuck likes EEV because it’s so close to all the places that he does business with that he doesn’t “have to travel a country mile.” For him, the streets are easy to travel and there’s not a lot of traffic. As far as his particular block he likes the neighbors, knows most of them, and likes that everyone keeps their homes in pretty decent shape, though “it’s not like Better Homes & Garden is going to come and give anyone a check for $500!”
A neighbor of Chuck’s, Renita Holliness, recommended him for this feature and helped with the interview. She adds that Chuck always looks out for others on the block. He pulls trash cans in and out for a few of us, keeps an eye out when neighbors are away, and he constantly keeps the curbs clean in front on his and others homes. “It’s a pleasure knowing you all these years Chuck. Thanks for being such a good neighbor.”
Thanks, Bill Barlage for 25 years of leadership…
It all begins with an idea.
25 Years of Commitment to EEV ~ Thanks for the Memories!
William “Bill” Barlage has served our East English Village well for 25 years on our EEV Board and 21 years as President. The June 8 General Meeting was an emotional one for both Bill and the many residents he has served during this time. Bill entered the room greeted with a large poster designed by longtime resident, Nancy Brigham, stating “Thank you Bill Barlage for 25 years of outstanding services to Detroit & your EEV neighbors!” Flowers and a thank you card (also designed by Nancy) were presented from the EEV Board. D4 Councilwoman Latisha Johnson thanked Bill for his commitment to his neighbors. As a resident of EEV and having served on the EEV Board, Councilwoman Johnson was familiar with the quality-of-life issues that Bill has always made a priority. She presented Bill with a Proclamation from Detroit City Council as well as the “Spirit of Detroit” award. Michigan State Representative from the 1st House District, Tenisha Yancey, also presented a Proclamation on behalf of the State of Michigan.
During Bill's tenure, EEV has thrived in the role of being recognized as "A Neighborhood of Choice". Included among the many accomplishments benefitting our residents that transpired during this timeframe: ensuring sponsorship and publication of our monthly newsletter delivered to all 2100 homes, development of an EEV website and active Facebook Group, Community Cleanup/Makeovers, Annual Garage Sale, Beautification Award Program, Holiday Party, Garden Tour, support of the E. Warren Business Corridor Streetscape as well as special events including local pub crawls, tours of historic buildings and other community gatherings. In 2014, Bill hosted (at that time) VP Joe Biden and Mayor Mike Duggan and other City dignitaries and residents during Detroit's Labor Day festivities. Bill has maintained excellent communication with City Administration, City Council, Detroit Police Department 5th Precinct officers and all City Departments ensuring quality of life issues – focusing on the safety and well-being of our residents and pets – were promptly addressed. He also developed an excellent working relationship with our neighboring communities of Morningside and Cornerstone. Bill’s face (and car with the personalized license plate “Gotham1”) is such a familiar one that he’s often been affectionately referred to as the “Mayor of East English Village”. Bill physically drives the neighborhood daily whenever he is in town – sometimes two or three times a day ~ and has always been available to residents to assist and help resolve issues including sponsoring Foreclosure Prevention Workshops and advising individuals of available City and County Assistance Programs for which they might be eligible.
Under Bill's outstanding leadership, EEV was awarded "Curbed Detroit's Neighborhood of the Year" 2017 & 2018 as well as being recognized several times as "Eastside Community Network's Neighborhood of the Year". EEV has not only remained strong but has thrived under Bill Barlage’s extraordinary commitment and dedication to the residents of East English Village. We are deeply grateful for the work that has been accomplished. A solid blueprint for excellence has been established under your leadership, and we commit to “carry the torch” in encouraging all of our neighbors ~ young and old ~ to become involved and continue to make EEV the best possible place to live, work, play and pray. And, Bill, thanks for the many wonderful memories! ~ Maureen Dritsan