Wayne Downtown Development Authority: The year 2024 in review

By Sarah Shurge – Throughout the year, the City Wayne Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has partnered with many businesses and sponsored many events for the City of Wayne.
As we ring in the new year, it’s important to highlight the DDA’s involvement from the previous year and give them the recognition they truly deserve.
The DDA has many purposes, some of which are to correct and prevent deterioration of business districts, promote economic growth and revitalization, and to encourage historic preservation. The goal is to bring business into the City of Wayne and do it in a fun and exciting way for the public.
Almost every month of the year was packed with DDA events, such as: Egg-cellent Adventures in March, Restaurant Week in April, Indie Art & Craft Jam in May, Food Trucks at Wayne City Hall in May and June, Crusin’ US 12 in July, Family Movie Night in June and August, Scarecrow Fest in September, and Holiday Night at the Museum in December.
“With the addition of Lisa Kubany as our Marketing and Events Director, we’ve continued to see an increase in the number of new events each year in the city and we anticipate that to continue thanks to her work,” said Lori Gouin, DDA Director. “Having someone specifically designated to event planning has been a game changer.”
The 18th annual US12 Car Cruise is an event the City of Wayne always looks forward to. Pit stops have been added for four years, and the DDA serves as a partner with the businesses to help with the organization of all the extra activities, entertainment, and food trucks.
“It was great. We added more locations and received great feedback from businesses about an increase in street traffic and sales,” said Gouin.
Holiday Night at the Museum has become a highlighted event in Wayne. The DDA continues to collaborate with the Wayne Historical Society and the event has grown every year.
“Despite the frigid temperature this year, the event went very well and was very well attended,” said Gouin.
Something you have to experience in Downtown Wayne are the Concerts at Goudy Park in July and August. The free summer concerts are made possible through a partnership with the Rotary Club of Wayne.
“Thousands of people turned out for the concerts. We’re looking forward to having Goudy Park renovated for the events next year,” said Gouin.
The “Small Business Saturday” event at Moonlit Mystic – Magic Realm in November kicked off the annual Passport Program. The DDA also hosted the Gold Box giveaway in December with weekly drawings.
The DDA also had a partnership with Fox 2 Detroit’s Weather Authority to win a $500 gift card giveaway.
“We’re targeting a whole new audience by utilizing Fox 2,” said Gouin. “We’re putting money back into pockets of the DDA district by getting new people through their doors and supporting them.”
Twenty-four businesses in 2024 submitted zoning applications: Lee’s Chicken, Dixon Landscaping, Lady Di’s House of Soul Food, Go Wireless Free, Design Build and Irrigate, The Donut Hole, Fab Life Hair Studio, Plus One Lounge, Summit Motors, Tsolorry Autocare, Classic Massage, Kame House Tattoo Studio, Stallion Motors LLC, ANJ Buy Sell Trade, Mike and Mona’s US-12 Extension, Puff Zone, Krav Maga Force LLC, European Tanning, Catch Flight Collection, PVO Complete Auto Repair, Sami’s Shawarma, Royalty Delivery Systems, Cargo City Auto, and Vantage Pharmaceutical Services.
The City of Wayne celebrated grand openings for Lee’s Chicken, Allstar Patriots Dance & Gym, Mike & Mona’s Bistro, and Amo Sami’s Shawarma.
“It’s encouraging to see that year after year we have a large number of businesses locating or relocating to the city,” said Gouin.
The Facade Improvement Grant was used again in 2024. Rite Trak Auto and Michigan Ave Retail Strip were awarded a combined total of $17,946 for either a new awning, signage, or doors.
2024 DDA projects were: 1) Purchased 15 additional glitter tree lights for the light poles. 2) Placed 10 new decorative benches on W. Michigan Ave from Second St. to Elizabeth. 3) Trimmed 85 trees along W. Michigan Ave from Second St. to Elizabeth. 4) Removed five trees in front of the retail strip at S. Wayne and Annapolis. 5) Removed and replaced the cement at Derby’s Alley. 6) Removed planting materials and mulch from the beds in the parking lot behind Leo’s Jewelry and placed decorative rock. 7) Removed planting materials in all flower beds in front of the brick walls, placed new mulch, and daylilies.
“It was a very productive year with beautifying the parking lots and streetscapes, and doing improvement work which hadn’t been done in years,” said Gouin.
The DDA also purchased a new drone for the Wayne Police Department (WPD) to be used for public safety purposes in the district.
DDA project priorities for 2025: new overhead lights and furniture in Derby’s Alley, complete design of way finding signage, and improvements to Goudy Park (splash pad and playscape, metal entrance arch, and parking lot renovations).
The DDA Administration and Board of Directors consist of: DDA Director: Lori Gouin, Marketing & Events: Lisa Kubany, Administrative Assistant: Cathy Broge, Chairman: James Demmer, Vice-Chair: Kim White Jenkins, Secretary/Treasurer: Vince Law, Mayor: John Rhaesa, Flowers in the Mitten/Makers Market: Rachel Botu, Professional Insurance: David Steinhauer, Moonlit Mystic: Tiffany Walker, and Resident: Pier-LA’Shaye Walker.
“It’s a very dedicated group of business owners that are determined in helping the DDA district grow,” said Gouin.
Gouin has been the DDA Director for seven years.
“My favorite part is the ability in my role to recruit new businesses to the city and to work with existing businesses to help grow their business,” said Gouin.
Thank you to the DDA and everything they do for our city!