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municipal​

New center design, name, costs to be reviewed

During the Monday, April 21, Birmingham City Commission meeting, commissioners continued their review of a schematic design for the new community and senior center, considering updated building designs and setting the stage for future discussions on the facility’s official name and long-term cost.

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Second confab set to debate library millage rate

Birmingham City Manager Jana Ecker and Baldwin Public Library Director Rebekah Craft, along with legal counsel for both organizations, will be holding a second meeting on Thursday, May 8, in hopes of resolving a long-standing dispute about which organization has legal authority to set the annual tax millage rate for the library.

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Social Kitchen pulls dining renovation plans

After being denied a variance request by the Birmingham Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), Social Kitchen & Bar, 225 E. Maple, withdrew its application for a special land use permit amendment from the city commission before the start of the Monday, April 21, meeting.

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Commission okays two bistros to pursue license

Two new Birmingham restaurants were given the green light by the city commission during the Monday, April 21, meeting to pursue the two bistro liquor licenses available.

public safety

Man arrested in city after breaking into car

A White Lake man was arrested in Birmingham on Monday, April 21, after allegedly breaking into a car parked in a resident’s driveway.

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Pedestrian breaks car windshield at crosswalk

While driving along the 200 block of S. Old Woodward around 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, a Bloomfield Hills man alleged a pedestrian trying to cross in the crosswalk came up to his car and broke his windshield and one of his side mirrors.

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Vehicle stolen from Birmingham home driveway

During the night of Tuesday, April 8, a car parked in a Birmingham resident’s driveway on the 1200 block of Chesterfield was stolen, though the resident and owner of the car reported having both sets of car keys on him.

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Pollinators’ threat of chemical over-use

With the heralding of summer comes the pressure to have the greenest, most weed and pest-free lawn in the neighborhood. As early as March, our suburban subdivisions are abuzz with lawn and garden contractors. They blow away the remnants of fall leaves and twigs and apply herbicide and pesticide chemical treatments to lawns. Though it has become highly coveted to have a lush green lawn that is free from pests like mosquitos and grubs, suburbanites are aggravating a situation that is already in crisis – the rapid decline of beneficial insects - by unnecessarily over-treating lawns with chemical pesticides and herbicides. >>>

oakland confidential

GUBERNATORIAL STAKES

As we have been calling it, Republican Congressman – and perennial candidate – John James of Shelby Township officially announced his run for governor in 2026. A top Republican pol said James will have President Donald Trump’s endorsement, acknowledging that for many non-MAGA Michiganders, it’s uncertain if that’s currently a good thing. >>>

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Downtown Newsmagazine

© 2025 by Downtown Publications, Inc.

Birmingham, Michigan 48009

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