Office of the Mayor

Mayor Byron Nolen Delivers State of City address, focused on transforming the city’s financial standing and building community.

In his first address as a returning mayor, Mayor Byron Nolen announced his plan to “transform” the city by focusing on issues that will move residents, businesses, and government forward.

Nolen gave his address at the Dozier Recreation Center. The mayor spoke about his plans pull Inkster out of the burdensome weight of financial debt, make improvement to the city’s infrastructure and elevate the health and well-being of the community.

In the address, the mayor announced solutions already being implemented to address the city’s climbing debt of $3.4 million:

• The administration has taken steps to address starting with submitted past unfiled State of Michigan audits to ensure the city receives its share of tax revenue.
• Cut government over-spending, estimated to reduce $800,000 from the yearly budget and focus on increasing the city’s revenue to alleviate the debt burden.

The mayor addressed the growing need for affordable housing and announced the following plans:

• The Inkster Housing Commission plans a multi-unit brownstone and single-family townhouse development on the site of the former Lemoyne Gardens apartment
• Renovations for Parkside Estates and Demby Terrace.
• Finalize the sale of the Annapolis Pointe Development, paving the way for 72 new single-family housing units.
• Optimize available land throughout neighborhoods with a plan to appeal to residential development.
• Revise the city’s Master Plan and Zoning Ordinances to address the housing shortage by redesignating specific industrial and commercial zones to promote the development of single-family and multi-unit housing.

Mayor Nolen addressed the growing concerns of residents about the conditions of neighborhoods:

• The city expanded its code enforcement team to actively pursue violators who ignore the laws in place to prevent neglectful problems that result in run-down properties and other code violations.
• The mayor urged commercial property owners who neglect properties, especially on Inkster’s main thoroughfares, to either renovate or sell the properties. Inkster will scale up code enforcement on these properties that have languished and deteriorated, causing a hazardous eyesore within the community.

Mayor Nolen current and future plans to improve Inkster’s roads and replace watermain and lead service lines:

• The sewer system and roads are being replaced on the following streets: Yale St., Notre Dame St., John Daly St., and Bayhan St.
• Road construction is underway on the following streets: Northwood between Avondale and Inkster, Eastwood between Inkster and Northwood, Center between Avondale and Northwood.
• Investments in more than a dozen road construction projects and watermain and lead service line replacements projects with $44 million in grant funding support.

Mayor Nolen shared thoughts for nurturing a healthy community that celebrates well-being, and announced the following developments and initiatives:

• The administration will launch a summer camp this year with local partners. The camp includes transportation and will serve children ages 6 to 18 with planned activities, with learning opportunities and provide healthy food.
• Dozier Recreation Complex will break ground on a expansion to include a Senior Wellness Center
• Transformation of the site of the former library into a cultural center that offers meeting and event space with the scenic backdrop of the Lower Rouge Parkway.
• Expansion of the Amphitheater to include a stage for concerts, theater clubs and other special events.
• Upgrades to Inkster Park with the launch of Canoe and Kayak in partnership with the Friends of the Rouge/Wayne County. A pavilion, paved driveway, paved parking, and equipment storage are a part of the upgrades.
• Supporting the City Clerk’s office to provide residents with ample opportunities to exercise their right to vote. Residents can conveniently cast a ballot anytime during office hours for the nine days leading up to the presidential primary election.

Mayor Nolen ended his address with a reminder that Inkster is becoming more diverse every day, stating “New people, new businesses, new housing, and healthy lifestyle choices will be a part of the transformation of the city of Inkster, so we better get ready!”