New roundabout, wider lanes to take down long-standing corner store in Macomb Township

Mario's on 22 Mile and Romeo Plank Road sits boarded up. So do four nearby homes.

 

In their place, a historic part of Macomb County, there will be a wider Romeo Plank and a roundabout built sometime next year in a county managing congestion amid a growing population.

 

Nathan Kizi poured his time into Mario's for more than 15 years. But that abruptly stopped last year when he learned he would lose the space he rents so Macomb County can tear it and other structures down to alleviate traffic congestion in the area.

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"Due to eminent domain, Mario's Corner Market, will be closing down soon. The reason behind this decision is beyond our control: our building is set to be demolished as part of the widening project for Romeo Plank to accomodate five lanes and roundabout. "I want to emphasize-- this was not our choice," said Kizi, 37, in a Facebook post last summer.

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Eminent domain is the authority of federal, state or local agencies to take private property for public use by offering the owner compensation.

 

Once Waldenburg

The acquired properties stand in a part of the county once known as Waldenburg, which was settled by German immigrants in 1831 and later became Macomb Township. The building that housed the market was more than 100 years old and was previously a dance hall.

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The road construction, which is slated to begin sometime next year, will transform the intersection into a roundabout and widen 21 ½ Mile to 23 Mile to five lanes.

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Four other properties are awaiting acquisition, Macomb County Road Department officials said. Acquisition costs are expected to be around $2.2 million, which will be split between the Macomb County Road Department and Macomb Township, said Bryan Santo, director of the Macomb County Road Department. The overall road project costs $16.5 million and includes more than $14 million from federal funding.

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As a renter, Kizi said he was compensated for moving costs and offered $25,000 if he were to open the store elsewhere.

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“If I was to move to a different intersection or a different city, then I'm basically starting all over," Kizi said. "I really love Macomb Township. I love 22 and Romeo Plank.”

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Property owners are compensated an additional 25% if the property is their primary residence as well as costs for finding alternative housing and moving. Requests for additional compensation above the property's appraised value can also be negotiated between the owner and the Macomb County Road Department, Santo said.

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“Unfortunately, it’s always part of the master plan when people buy a home and move into an area. They’re given an understanding, maybe renters don’t know, but the people who own the property usually do know that there’s a master plan that talks about widening even if it isn’t the right of way property of the county road department or any other government entity,” Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said.

 

A growing county

Originally, the project was estimated to be completed in the fall of 2023, according to a Macomb County 2022 press release titled, Reconstruction, rehabilitation and infrastructure improvements planned in Macomb County. In 2022, Kizi was notified of the construction plans and was informed they’d start the following year.

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“It was always just delayed and when the next year came it would move back another two years. It never allowed me to fully invest in my business. Because how does one invest in a business when the city is going to tell you that it's going to get knocked down two years later?” Kizi said. However, he didn’t close until the fall of 2024.

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The Romeo Plank Road project is in the design phase and undergoing an environmental assessment, said Eric Dimoff, public relations officer for the Macomb County Road Department. Hackel said construction has been overdue for decades and will ease traffic congestion.

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Between 2010 and 2020 census counts, Macomb County grew 4.7% to more than 881,000 residents.

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“Romeo Plank Road is an important corridor that provides much needed north and south access through Macomb County,” Santo said. “The project is part of our ongoing commitment to the communities we serve to improve the quality and longevity of our transportation assets while enhancing safety, optimizing efficiency and delivering a smooth traveling experience for all road users.”