Se oe eemeneieencn eee: a Se eee ek a ae a eee ene Malin q[nimie tetris [yal The New MUNICIPAL BUILDING of WALLED LAKE, MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL BUILDING AUTHORITY John Alden Chairman Royce L. Downey Secretary Ivan Cox : Commissioner a James Fitzgerald Commissioner How The New Municipal Building Took Shape Ever since 1955, the City Council has been struggling to create a Municipal Build- ing that would increase the efficiency of the City’s administrative, protective and cultural services by bringing them together in a modern, centrally-located structure. Mayor Kellogg made this his Number One Project when first elected. In April 1966, City Manager Downey recom- mended to the Council that it create a Municipal Building Authority and em- power it to have a Municipal Building de- signed, sell revenue bonds to have it con- structed and lease it to the City. The Municipal Building Authority, con- sisting of John Alden, Chairman; Royce L. Downey, Secretary; Ivan Cox, Commis- sioner; and James Fitzgerald, Commis- sioner, engaged the architectural firm of Vytautas J. Usas to design the building. Fourteen sites were investigated before the location on West Maple Road was ac- cepted. General contractor, Forrest Hub- bell, in cooperation with Paul Profit, both of Walled Lake, were awarded the con- tract to construct the building in the Fall of 1966. On November 5, ground breaking ceremonies were held, and it is expected that City departments will occupy the building on March 15, 1967. The Walled Lake Municipal Building will contain modern facilities for the Fire Department and Police Department. It will also include offices for the Mayor, City Manager, City Clerk and City Assessor. It will contain Council Chambers and a Municipal Courtroom. A greatly expanded Public Library will also be included in this centrally-located, beautifully landscaped structure. Ample parking will be provided. Walled Lake Was An Established Community Long Before The Civil War The beginning of Walled Lake as a community dates way back to 1825, when Walter Hewitt came here from New York State and built a plain log house on the site known as the Sidney Case farm. The area was a favorite resort for Indian tribes, and legend has it that the walls on the East and West shores of the lake provided nat- ural protection from other warlike tribes who roamed the trails between Pontiac and Detroit. In 1830, James Tuttle came from Pennsylvania and settled right in the heart of the village, on the site of “The Tuttle Homestead.” Shortly afterwards, Mr. Pren- tice and Mr. King, who came from Maine, built an Indian trading post on the lake shore. William Adams established a general store in 1833 where the Glenn Buffmeyer house now stands. The first hotel, the Pio- neer Inn, was a large frame structure built in 1840 by Harmon Pettibone on the corner of what is now East =a LZ ‘y ED LAKE |SSz _ cro Main and Liberty streets. In the winter of 1883-4, Mrs. Fanny Tuttle taught in the first schoolhouse. Religious services were first conducted in 1833 by Rev. Caleb Lamb, a Baptist Evangelist, and a year later a church was formed with 18 members. A stage route between Pontiac and Milford was es- tablished through Walled Lake by George Hungerford in 1851. In 1883, the Grand Trunk Railroad was built through the locality. Early in the 20th Century, the beauty of the coun- tryside and the recreation facilities offered by the lake brought many “summer people” from Detroit and surrounding areas to Walled Lake, where they built summer cottages and enjoyed the boating and fishing. In the election of June 27, 1929, Walled Lake became a village, and in 1954 it became a city. Planning The Greater Walled Lake Of The Future The residents and business establishments outside the present city limits have requested the City to con- sider annexation of their area. This would provide ample space for the future growth of Walled Lake and provide its citizens with the tax base needed for adequate park and recreational facilities, sanitary sewers and water system. This annexation program would increase the City’s assessed valuation from its present $10,000,000 to approximately $43,000,000. This would give the City $430,000 in annual real estate and personal tax income. This income would allow retirement of our sewer bonds at no increased cost to the property owners. The additional sale of metered water would return enough revenue to retire our water revenue bonds at very low quarterly debt retirement charge to our water customers. Added benefits would be the correction of jagged boundary lines between govern- mental agencies, bringing the High School into the city, assuring the new Senior High School’s location in the City, allowing City frontage on the I-275 Expressway and placing the interchange of Maple Road, I-275 Expressway and Northwestern High- way in and adjacent to the City. BECK “| It is also proposed in the Master Plan that a drastic redevelopment of the lake front area be achieved in order that industry, commerce and population will be attracted in great numbers to our naturally beautiful city. Some of the specific proposals are outlined on the next page. OAKLEY uu oO uw = = °o oO uv) HAGGERTY ROAD 14 MILE ROAD SS a ay a REDEVELOPMENT OF PRESENT AREA Rebuilding the Lake Front The biggest asset our City has is Walled Lake itself, and its natural beauty will be greatly enhanced if the lake front area is redesigned and rebuilt. This goal will succeed if the area adjoining the lake between Walled Lake Drive and the intersection of Maple Road and Ladd Road is razed from the lakefront to 1200 ft. back. Then a 10 ft. sidewalk can be built along the lake, a 46 ft. paved and curbed roadway can be laid next to it, and building sites can be made available for beautiful town houses and high rise apartment buildings. Developing Two Lake Front Parks The Master Plan includes the development of a 10 acre Public Park extending along 700 ft. of lake frontage adjoining Pontiac Trail. This Park would contain a sandy beach and swimming area, bath house, water fountain, boat-launching ramp, band shell, shuffle board courts, ten- nis courts and horseshoe-pitching pits. Swings, picnic tables and outdoor fire- places would be included. Another Public Park, more than twice as large, would be developed on 1,000 ft. of lake frontage adjoining Royce L. Downey the new Shopping Plaza. This park would have facilities similar to the smaller park but on a greatly expanded basis. More lawn, more playground equipment, a tot lot and volleyball court would be included in the additional attractions. Improving the Industrial Park To attract more industry to the city of Walled Lake, the Master Plan includes the removal of existing resi- dences, and other non-conforming buildings along both sides of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad, the en- largement of existing industrial sites, and improvement in the street systems so that entrance to and exit from industrial sites can be made as easily as possible. Enlarging the Shopping Center Area There will be greatly increased needs by the greatly increased population that will be attracted to the city of Walled Lake by the improvements listed above. Consequently, the Master Plan proposes the allocation of 39 acres of land directly South of the existing shopping center for additional shopping facilities. This will create a magnificent downtown shopping devel- opment that will attract customers from many nearby towns. City Manager Walled Lake’s Government Is Geared For Progress Wendell G. Kellogg, Jr. Mayor Frank Hamilton Mayor Pro-Tem E. | V. Mercer Marshall E. Taylor Councilman Councilman og Robert Freeman Councilman Mrs. Margaret A. Thibideau Councilwoman John E. Nail Councilman | | | / |