NORTHVILLIANS,
Happy Springtime! With our weather brightening up, this week we will look at Sustainability efforts in the greater Northville area.
let’s take a look at “Sustainable” efforts through the years … In 1888, the Northville Village Council approved committees for sidewalks, lighting, & water management. Some things just don’t change! Today, we are still talking about these same issues with our Northville Sustainability Team, the group who is looking at Environmental, Social & Economic ways to assist our community. Other Sustainability efforts of the past:
1870’s – Environmentally speaking, the Northville Fish Hatchery was the First National Fish Hatchery with a scope of sustainability for aquatic ecosystems. We are still working on that with our Riverwalk Team. Stop by Fish Hatchery Park on 7 Mile and take a look at what the City & Township have done with the refurbishing of the pond & riverbank (a precursor to our River Restoration and Riverwalk activities).
1889 – The first electric lights were turned on in Northville streets, then at businesses. House lighting was an opportunity for the future. The system was owned by the Globe Furniture Company.
1900’s – Henry Ford also supported sustainability through his village industries, and Northville was the first in operation. It was his concept to change the nature of the American economy & society in the early 20th Century. Mr. Ford was concerned with the mass migration of rural folks from farms to cities and sought to reconcile traditional rural life with modern industry. He placed these factories on the rivers at retired mills and integrated hydro-electric operations into the facilities (Northville’s Water Wheel Centre).
1930’s – Bennett Arboretum in Edward Hines Park dates to the 1930’s and is Michigan’s oldest public arboretum, with 104 various types of trees still remaining that were planted nearly 100 years ago.
1972 – To preserve knowledge of our local history, the first building was moved to our walking history museum (Mill Race Village) on land donated by Ford.
1977 – Affordable housing is an important sustainability concept which addresses both social and economic concerns. The City built ALLEN TERRACE so our seniors could have a home within walking distance of downtown. My father, along with others, were instrumental in ensuring seniors had a place connected to the city they loved in their later years. It’s also one of the most scenic spots in Northville.
1978 – Mainstreet ‘78 debuted in downtown with wider brick sidewalks, a tree-lined downtown and a new town square as a focal meeting area for the community. This was established to support & sustain a vibrant business district.
1989 – The City pursued a recycling program to reduce residential refuse to cope with the country’s rapidly shrinking landfill capacity.
2004 – Pedestrian pathways make biking and walking around Northville simpler. The goal was to render the community a more walkable one…we continue to work on that.
2013 – The community approved funds for the Eight Mile corridor non-motorized pathway as part of the plan to connect to Maybury State Park. A cooperative Community effort made this happen.
2018 – A ribbon-cutting event was held to usher in parking & recharging spaces for electric vehicles in Downtown. The stations literally put Northville on the map of charging points in metro Detroit.
Today’s Sustainability Team – In early 2020, the City of Northville initiated efforts to formally strive to become a more sustainable city, with the formal appointment of a Sustainability Team. While most people primarily associate sustainability with environmental conservation, it is also about quality of life and the health of our community. With that foundation, this team worked (virtually) throughout all last year to develop a Sustainability Plan for the City. Here are two brief excerpts from this plan:
A Vision for the City
By 2030, Northville will be an exemplary, energy efficient city with attractive, sustainably developed neighborhoods and waterways, a strengthened economy, a more vibrant downtown, ample non-motorized mobility, continued strong social connections and an abundance of inventive educational and cultural opportunities.
Mission Statement
To implement a comprehensive sustainability platform designed to protect and enhance our resources, prevent harm to the natural environment and our health, while benefiting the social and economic well-being of our City.
Today, the Northville Sustainability Team is assisting the environmental, social & economic needs of the community similar to what local groups originally did beginning in the 1880’s. We all stand on the shoulders of those before us.
The Sustainability Plan document and presentation can be viewed on the City of Northville website: Northville Sustainability Team
Keep that Northville Sustainable Faith!
Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
BTurnbull@ci.northville.mi.us / 248.505.6849
(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)
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