Several Traverse City downtown improvement projects could be moving ahead if Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board members green-light their development at their meeting this (Friday) morning.

Park Street Development
Developer Jerry Snowden will present plans to construct a two-story infill building between Radio Centre 1 and Radio Centre 2 on Park Street next to the Larry C. Hardy Parking Deck. Snowden says he has a “prospective tenant that is close to signing a lease for the entire first floor of the project,” an anchor that, if secured, could allow construction to begin as soon as this fall. Snowden tells The Ticker the business is retail-oriented.

The second floor of the new building will be devoted to commercial office space. “I need to gather more information from our contractors and banks before saying it's a final go, but I want to give the city a formal heads-up we're moving on this,” says Snowden. “Things could (go) quickly if we proceed.”

The development has prompted the DDA to consider authorizing an agreement today with Environmental Architects to design a covered entrance to the neighboring Hardy Parking Deck, complete with public restrooms and office space. The district had long-budgeted for the project, but was unable to proceed until private development – like that proposed by Snowden – materialized.

“Getting our design completed will get us ahead of the inevitable tight timeline of private development,” DDA Executive Director Rob Bacigalupi wrote in a memo to board members this week. The city has approximately $772,500 available for the deck entrance construction, as well as streetscape enhancements and a planned repaving of Park Street.

Downtown Traffic Bumpouts
The DDA is seeking public input on a prototype crosswalk “bumpout” located on Front Street in front of Green House Cafe that could soon be replicated on at least three other crosswalks in the 100 and 200 blocks of the downtown corridor.

Nate Elkins of Influence Design Forum, hired by the DDA to design the bumpouts, says the areas primarily used to host bicycle racks and trash receptacles are being reenvisioned as “public street parks” complete with custom furniture, attractive landscaping and interchangeable railing banner panels that can be changed seasonally to promote downtown or local nonprofit organizations and events. Bicycle racks will be relocated on-street during summer months to help free up the spaces.

The bumpouts also improve public safety, according to Elkins. "They help funnel pedestrian traffic (to the designated brick crosswalks) and make drivers aware of the presence of people in the area." He adds: “We're limited in public spaces downtown...this is an opportunity to create cool places to hang out.”

The DDA board will review feedback at its June meeting for possible design tweaks and/or to approve installing additional bumpouts. Comments can be emailed to crosswalk@downtowntc.com.

Taking Out the Trash
Finally, DDA board members will consider authorizing up to $4,000 for the purchase of a solar trash compactor that can hold up to five times the amount of a normal trash receptacle to be installed at the Jay Smith Walkway downtown on Front Street.

Responding to complaints of escalating levels of trash downtown, the DDA is considering a “two-pronged approach” to address the issue this summer, including purchasing the trash compactor and implementing additional “spot pick-ups” at trouble areas during afternoons, supplementing the already-scheduled daily morning pick-ups.