Traverse City commissioners tonight (Monday) will consider approving plans for a pocket park on East Front Street and upgrades to Ashton Park near Willow Hill. Street and sidewalk improvements are also on deck this week - including the reconstruction of Eleventh Street and new sidewalk on Eastern Avenue - with commissioners tonight also hearing recommendations on increased compensation levels for the board.

Park Projects
Front Street Pocket Park: City commissioners will consider a proposal tonight from developer Joel Peterson to pay for park improvements to city-owned riverfront property at 429 East Front Street. Peterson – who owns J. Peterson Homes, a local firm that builds custom high-end homes – is planning to purchase the Mid-American Title building across the street and convert the site into a mixed-use development with four upper-floor luxury condos and two ground-floor commercial units, one of which will become his firm’s new headquarters.

The development directly faces city property across the street that houses a sanitary sewer lift station and a covered bicycle parking area. Both of those will remain in place, but Peterson is proposing to pay for improvements to the rest of the site for both the benefit of his tenants and city residents. Under the proposed terms of the private-public partnership, Peterson will cover 100 percent of the site improvements, including new landscaping, a riverfront overlook deck, picnic tables, and a brick paver terrace (pictured, rendering). City staff worked with Peterson to develop the plan so it’s “consistent with city design standards and maintenance considerations,” according to City Parks and Recreation Superintendent Michelle Hunt.

The city will retain ownership of the property and assume maintenance responsibilities for improvements once complete. The city will also hold all the construction contracts and oversee the bidding process. The Parks and Recreation Commission previously voted to support the proposal – “recognizing the proposed improvements as a benefit to the underutilized public space,” according to Hunt – and planning commissioners affirmed that the proposal aligns with the city’s master plan.

“If approved by the city commission, this public-private partnership could be a model for similar parcels of land throughout the city, beautifying public areas at no cost to the taxpayer,” Peterson wrote to commissioners. “Many successful cities throughout the country use this same model to create safer, cleaner, more livable communities.”

Ashton Park: City commissioners will vote to approve a $87,325.70 contract tonight with Nature Playscapes for improvements to Ashton Park in Slabtown Neighborhood next to Willow Hill Elementary. The project is being funded through the Brown Bridge Trust Fund as one of several parks approved for improvements by voters through a 2019 ballot proposal. According to Hunt, the new playground will include “separate play areas for ages 2–5 and 5–12, climbing structures, boulders, a spider net, and a craft table, aiming to maintain the park's wooded character.”

A key aspect of the project is the reuse of black locust logs sourced from trees removed at the Traverse City Senior Center. Hunt says the logs were “cured over two years and prepared for construction by TC Millworks.” Every play feature incorporates the salvaged wood, she says, with Ashton Park to feature a “nature-based playground design that uses only natural materials, with no plastic components.”

The project also includes a trail extension that will connect the existing wooded trails to the sidewalk on the south side of the park near the Wayne Street entrance, according to the city’s Bay Brief. The Slabtown Neighborhood Association gave input on the park upgrades, which were also approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission. “This project has seen strong community engagement and support from local businesses and neighborhood partners,” Hunt wrote in a memo. “Staff is proud to bring this vision to life – one that reflects sustainable construction practices, promotes nature-based play, and honors the unique character of Ashton Park.”

Street Projects
Eleventh Street: Contractor Team Elmer’s will kick off a city reconstruction project on Eleventh Street today between Pine Street and Lake Avenue. Work is expected to last through September 12. The full reconstruction will include new curbs, asphalt, bioswales, and galvanized service replacements. Utility upgrades will also take place, including improved sanitary sewer, water main, and storm sewer utilities. Rapid rectangular flashing beacons (RRFB’s) will be installed at the intersection of Cass and Eleventh streets.

During construction, Eleventh Street will be closed between Pine Street and Lake Avenue. Sidewalks in the construction zone will also be closed. “Intermittent closures of the sidewalk intersections at Cass and Union will occur, but not simultaneously,” according to the Bay Brief. “Access to driveways and nearby side streets will be maintained as much as possible; however, some temporary restrictions may be necessary during specific construction activities. Proper barricades and signage will be in place to ensure safety and provide clear directions.”

Eleventh Street is part of the city’s 2025 street reconstruction project. Other streets being reconstructed this year include Fulton Street (Jefferson to Randolph), East Ninth Street (Union to Cass), East Twelfth Street (Union to Cass), and Griffin Street (Pine to Locust).

Eastern Avenue Sidewalk: Contractors will begin constructing new sidewalk today along the south side of Eastern Avenue between Peninsula Drive and Milliken Drive. The project is expected to be finished by August 15 – ahead of the start of the new school year on September 2. The project cost is just under $159,000 including contingencies, which is coming out of the city’s capital improvements fund.

Work will include shifting the curb line north and installing a six-foot-wide sidewalk with an additional one-foot buffer—resulting in a total of seven feet of new concrete walkway. A lane shift will be in place on Eastern Avenue during construction, with driveway and side street access maintained as much as possible. “This long-requested initiative, supported by neighborhood residents and approved by city leadership in 2024, aims to enhance pedestrian safety and connectivity by better linking pedestrians to the existing crosswalk on Peninsula Drive and addressing long-standing safety concerns in the area,” according to the Bay Brief.

Salaries
Commissioners tonight will consider recommendations from the local officers’ compensation commission (LOCC), which meets every other year to set salaries for the city commission. The recommendations automatically go into effect unless five commissioners actively vote to reject the compensation levels. The LOCC is recommending increasing compensation for all commissioners by 2.8 percent in 2025. That would increase the level to $8,155 for commissioners (a $223 annual increase) and $12,522 for mayor (a $342 annual increase). The 2026 rates will increase according to the Detroit All-Urban Consumer Price Index. The LOCC is also recommending increasing the daily compensation rate for the board of tax review – which is compensated because members meet for multiple days in a row, taking them away from their regular jobs – to $313, a $8.76 per day increase.