Bermuda/E. 9 Mile development

A 23-year resident, she's worried about too much density on an already developed corner, traffic on 9 Mile, and a 7-story building that doesn't match Ferndale's small-scale brick character. She also flagged possible empty retail and the loss of the open festival corner.

A 17-year resident who works in a nearby restaurant, he called the alley access 'not feasible,' questioned the city's return on investment and the $12–15 million bond, and warned about two years of construction hurting downtown businesses like similar projects did in Royal Oak.

He echoed the alley-access concern, questioned whether a net gain of 100+ spaces is needed, suggested a shorter building (5–6 stories), and asked that some of the parcel be kept as public plaza space like Ferndale House has.

The DDA director (not a commissioner) shared operational considerations: the alley hosts a DPW trash compactor used by many businesses and is needed for deliveries, and single-entrance garages like West Troy limit downtown event place-making.

A resident who said the design looks like 'gentrifier housing' that doesn't feel like Ferndale, he asked what the apartments will cost and said he doesn't want Ferndale to become Royal Oak.

In a follow-up, he asked what happens to city taxes and revenue once the TIF bond is paid off; staff explained tax revenue returns to the general fund and parking revenue to the parking fund.

Asked whether the apartments will be rental-only or could ever be converted to condos; the developer said the project is intended as a rental asset and has not contemplated condominium conversion.