WELL, THEY CERTAINLY DIDN'T GO TO ed interest in having a local facility," said Weiss. The success of the Detroit Red Wings and the increasing appeal of Figure skating also played a key role in creating a strong market for ice arenas in the metropolitan area. Developers and municipalities have been quick to realize that ice rinks can be profitable operations. And Novi should be no exception. One of the fastest-growing com- munities in Oakland County, Novi's 1990 population of 32,998 soared to 40,553 by 1996. Five hundred sin- gle-home building permits were issued by Novi in both 1 996 and 1997. Up to now, the city's biggest .' commercial success has been the 440,000-square-foot Novi Town Center, which currently boasts a 99.3 percent occupancy rate. "I don't even know if I've been to a hockey game in nine years," said Weiss, who admits to being a pond skater. "Our interest was more in the simple aspect of promoting healthy activi- ties for children, and doing some- thing that was a benefit to the com- munity," he said. The property was owned 90 per- cent by Weiss, who has served as managing partner of the Novi Ten Associates land development group since his father, Hungarian-born Al Weiss, scaled down his involvement and moved to California 18 years ago. Does Weiss still have land in proximity to the parcel? "We had a whole piece here of about 100 acres," he said. "But we've done no development on this property nor does our family business, Weiss Construction, have any plans for development or construction." Weiss Construction primarily develops water filtration plants for municipal- ities. Weiss said Novi approached him two years ago, looking to buy a site for an ice arena. Their site selection committee chose his acreage as their first choice, and wanted to know if he'd sell it to them. But they really didn't have any idea what the land was worth. All they knew was how much money they had to spend. As it turned out, Novi wrote Weiss a check for $232,000 for a 19.7 acre parcel that was worth $3.4 million. In defense of Novi, Weiss said the city had seen other deals where things were sold for below market value or where people would make donations or partial donations. "They never said the word 'dona- tion' to me, ever," said Weiss. "I think it is a can-do attitude that is to their credit. If you don't have enough of what you need to get something accomplished, then you just proceed to make a wholesome attempt and sometimes you get sur- prising results." A ballot initiative wasn't necessary because the construction was funded by a Wall Street bond issue. Pro- forma cost projections showed the arena would be self-sustaining finan- cially, not only to pay for the main- tenance and operation, but also to pay the prin- ciple and interest to retire the bonds. Novi Parks and Recreation Director Dan Davis is lavish in his praise of Weiss. "It was a good work- ing relationship from beginning to end. With this complex, we've creat- ed a campus effect with both a high-quality private recreational facility and the public municipal arena." Does that enhance the property value in Weiss' eye? "Businesses like to know there are other businesses next door," he said. "There are no strings attached but one, that the property be used for recreational activities for children. There is more than double the amount of land already used avail- able for future expansion for an ice bowl arena, grounds for soccer fields or jogging paths. Making it a recre- ational complex is part of the deed," said Weiss. Weiss, who is 44, was born in Detroit and graduated from North Farmington High School in 1971. He attended Antioch College in Ohio and then Wayne State University Law School. After a short stint with the Federal Aviation Administration regulatory staff in Washington D.C., he went into the family business. Weiss and his wife Michelle have three children; Jake, 5 1/2; Melissa, 3 1/2; and six-month-old Michael. Buying quality jewelry shouldn't send you to the cleaners. c 4 ate 'a Nearly 20 acres for a mere $232,000 n nine Jewelers nn Mobil/bed Eomily burinen built on family valuer 6081 IFIRGGERTY ROOD WEST IllOOMFIEILD. MICHIGRA 48322 OBE NOOK fiORTN Of IMAM P11011E: (248) 624-6644 FAX (248) 624-2212 . HaSha'ar---- Preparing Leaders to Transform Jewish Education DRISHA INSTITUTE A PROGRAM OF JEWISH STUDIES to encourage excep- tional young women and men who are devoted to Jewish learning to pursue careers in Jewish education. Fellows receive an $18,000 stipend to support their participation in a unique year-long program which integrates the study of Jewish texts with the ideas and practice of education. Fellows commit to teaching in a day school for the following two years, while receiving ongoing support and profession- al development from the HaSha'ar faculty. we welcome inquiries from potential applicants and other interested members AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT of the community. FOR JEWISH EDUCATION and BELT RABBAN CENTER FOR RESEARCH IN . JEWISH EDUCATION . are proud to co-sponsor 4-awn O LSIG ` HA S H A'AR . HASHA'AR IS DESIGNED FOR FUTURE DAY SCHOOL EDUCATORS FELLOWSHIP CYCLE BEGINS JULY 1999. APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE. ' For further information contact Rum S. FAGEN, Director 131 West 86th Street, New York, NY 10024 Phone (212) 595-8153 • Fax (212) 595-0679 Email hashaar@beitrabban-drisha.org HaSha'ar is funded by a major grant from the Nash Family Foundation Detroit Jewish News 199 75