Tuesday, August 23, 2005

David Coates / The Detroit News There won't be a Toyota in every driveway after Cherry Hill Village residents objected to the filming of a TV commercial.

Idyllic Canton Twp. neighborhood is no Toyotaville

By Christine Tierney and R.J. King / The Detroit News

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Cherry Hill Village, a picture-perfect, prosperous American subdivision, was an ideal setting for "Toyotaville" -- a TV ad featuring a town with a Toyota in every driveway.

But Cherry Hill Village feels more like Ford country -- and plans to film the commercial were scrapped.

"There was too much controversy," said Tom Yack, supervisor of Canton Township, where the subdivision is located.

"It was just a reaction from the Ford people who didn't want to see it there."

He said many residents work for Ford, while others have been laid off by the Dearborn-based automaker.

Resident Mark Cramton had expected his street to be filmed for the ad but learned Monday that the deal was off. "They canceled the shoot because of the negative publicity."

The location scout, Warren Martin, declined to comment or identify the client. Toyota Motor Sales USA said it was not a national ad and was checking the origin.

Resident Pete Wells said he had spoken with the producer. "The theme was everybody has a Toyota or wants one," Wells said. But "you can't expect Ford people to go along with something that is counterproductive to their company. They just don't want to be part of it."