Rehabilitation Board of Appeals OKs Improvements to 11 Mile Road

The Rehabilitation Board of Appeals finalized the budget for this year’s federal Community Development Block Grant funds (CDBG). During Tuesday’s meeting, the board worked to reallocate funds after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) deemed two projects ineligible. 

Ineligible projects

Last month, the Rehabilitation Board of Appeals set a tentative budget that included a – at Grant Park. Though the Grant Park location met the income requirement for CDBG funds, .

HUD also concluded that a street repair project for Nakota Road, between Olivia Road and Hampton Boulevard, was ineligible for CDBG funds because a portion of the project was outside of the approved HUD area.

With the two projects ineligible for CDBG funds and a decrease in requested funds for a new roof on the , the Rehabilitation Board of Appears had nearly $800,000 to reallocate.

The New Budget

• : $11,000 has been approved to purchase and install barrier-free doors for the building. This will help improve the building’s compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.
• Side Street Improvements: Two small street repair projects have been approved, costing nearly $325,000. Cooper Avenue, between Normandy and Nakota roads, will get new concrete. "The north half of Cooper Avenue was completed in a previous project. This funding will allow us to finish that project,” said Matt Callahan, Royal Oak’s interim city engineer. Knowles Street, between East Sixth and East Lincoln Avenue, will get asphalt resurfacing.
• : $14,000 will be spent on various repairs, including replacing the fence, sealing the roof and basement water-proofing.
• Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency: $32,454 will help the OLHSA service low income families with home rehabilitation.
• 11 Mile Improvement: $400,000 will begin an improvement project on 11 Mile Road, from Troy Street to Campbell Avenue. The project will restore sidewalks, lighting, curbs, landscaping, among other things. Future CDBG funds will be required to complete the project.

“11 Mile is an entrance to the community that needs to be addressed,” said Tim Thwing, director of planning. “This project will do more than improve the visual aspect of 11 Mile. It will also work to repair the functionality of things like sidewalks and curbs."

“I think the 11 Mile project is a valuable investment for the community. It’s something that could have long-term advantages for our city,” said City Commissioner Kyle DuBuc.

The CDBG budget will now go to the City Commission for a vote sometime in March.