u/ferndalestorm

​

At the May 11th Ferndale city council meeting Ferndale City manager Colleen O'Toole told council that the developer for the DOT mixed use development "are in breach of contract".

The comment came during discussion of financing for the city's proposed mixed use parking garage on 9 Mile. 

The revelation fuels ongoing speculation that the city is or will be seeking legal action against the developer Versa Wanda LLC.

Versa Wanda was contracted to build office space on top of the structure, apartments on the west side of the structure and retail on the bottom floor. To date only the retail has partially been completed. The no bid deal was orchestrated by former Ferndale city manager and now fired Royal oak City Manager Joe Gacioch in 2019 after the city was unable to find a developer through the bidding process.

Currently the cities once profitable Auto parking fund is functionally bankrupt having to rely on the general fund to balance the books. In 2025 the auto parking fund had a $333,618 deficit.

x

https://oaklandcounty115.com/2026/01/29/ferndale-approves-plan-for-auto-parking-fund-deficit-elimination/

https://oaklandcounty115.com/2018/09/10/mixed-use-parking-deck-negotiations-moving-forward-in-ferndale-2/

At the May 11th Ferndale city council meeting a non-binding letter of intent with Cypress partners concerning a 250 space parking garage with a 86 unit apartment building on top was given the thumbs up unanimously by council.

The plan would see the current city owned parking lot behind Como's combined with the adjacent vacant property and a seven story planned unit development be built. The building would feature three stories of parking and four stories of apartments with the city owning the parking garage and Cypress owning the apartments.

The estimated cost for the parking garage is approximately 12 million dollars which would be paid for in part by property taxes from the apartments (including library and school funds) captured by a TIF fund (tax increment financing) and given back to the city.

A town hall meeting is being planned for the future to discuss the project.

 

A diverse cross section of Ferndale citizenry was on display Thursday evening as Ferndale city council met in special session to hear 5 minute presentations from the 15 of the 24 applicants for the open council seat who opted to speak before council.

Among the applicants were former appointed council member Dennis Whittie, LGBTQ organizer Ricky Bricknell and Facebook provocateur Jim Mcluckie. 

The number of applicants more than double the 11 who applied the last time a council seat was vacated.

In comments at the end of the meeting mayor pro tem Laura Mikulski said she was "shocked and excited" by the number of citizens who responded. Councilwoman Rolanda Kelly said the applicants "blew me out of the water" and councilman Eddie Sabatini stated that he found the presentations "inspiring".

Council will deliberate their choice at the regularly scheduled May 11th council meeting with a decision expected at that meeting.