Over 50 attendees came out to a Traverse City Downtown Development Authority (DDA) open house Thursday to see three design concepts for Rotary Square: a plaza-centric approach, a park-centric approach, or a plaza-park hybrid. DDA board members discussed the designs and next steps at their Friday meeting, where they also reviewed how Rotary Square and other downtown projects fit within the upcoming 2025-26 budget – including the termination of a DDA lease for a retail incubator space and the launch of a new “clean and green” maintenance program downtown this summer.

Consulting firm Progressive Companies co-hosted the Thursday open house event at Rotary Square, where large vision boards were displayed showing examples of different layout and design options for the property at the corner of Union and State streets. Attendees were given $80 in play money to put into boxes supporting the elements they liked best, plus a negative $20 bill to put against the element they liked least. The design concepts – which are now available online accompanied by a public survey to collect more feedback – include one option that heavily skews toward a plaza. That option features more hardscaping, physical structures (like event pavilions and concession stands), and water, shade, and sculpture features. On the other end of the spectrum is a park-heavy design, featuring more open space, natural materials and elements, and terraced seating.

The option that appeared to resonate with the most attendees was a hybrid of the two, a park-plaza design with an open lawn, seating, plantings, a small outdoor stage, some shaded or tree-lined areas, and a potential FishPass overlook using part of the adjacent alley. Attendees didn’t seem keen on elements like fireplaces or water features, but did like the idea of screening off the neighboring AT&T parking lot with public art or a garden. The DDA has long desired to acquire the AT&T property or to at least collaborate with the building owner on more placemaking elements for its sprawling, empty parking lot. However, Jason Ball of Progressive Companies said Friday that “so far we don't have any indications (from AT&T) that there's any interest in partnership or collaboration.” DDA Executive Director Harry Burkholder told The Ticker that screening AT&T for now with some kind of “flexible” elements that could be moved in the future if there’s an opportunity to take over that property could be the best solution.

Thursday’s open house and the online survey will help Progressive Companies refine the concepts further into a single design that will be unveiled this summer for one more round of feedback before being approved by the DDA. Responses will be added to other collected data – including a recent series of stakeholder meetings and a survey that over 500 people responded to earlier this year – showing an emerging preference for Rotary Square to be designed for year-round use, to have low-key community events like live music or small markets (but not major disruptive events or private rentals), and to have more passive versus active recreational features. Ball said feedback shows residents want Rotary Square to be designed for the local community, not tourists – a place to connect with family and friends while also enjoying occasional community events or celebrations. Sustainability and environmental care have also been cited as priorities.

After a new design is approved, Burkholder said construction work to implement park improvements would likely take place in 2026 and/or 2027. Cost estimates are yet to come, however, and the DDA will have to balance Rotary Square with two other projects it’s prioritized for remaining tax increment financing (TIF) 97 funds: a new farmers market pavilion and Boardman-Ottaway riverwalk improvements. Burkholder said a proposal from Beckett & Raeder – the firm that initially designed a new farmers market pavilion seven years ago – to update the design will come to the board for consideration in June. The design needs to be revised since parking Lot B, where the market is held, has been reconfigured since 2017 and will be further modified when the city soon repaves it and installs additional stormwater infrastructure.

The DDA will be contributing to that parking lot project – in addition to funding the pavilion – and agreed Friday to increase funding for the stormwater improvements. That’s in part to address repeated criticism from City Commissioner Tim Werner that the DDA is not doing enough in its budget to address climate change. The DDA budget will be part of a public hearing on city budgets Monday at the city commission, followed by a June 2 city commission adoption vote and then a June 20 DDA adoption vote. Since at least five city commissioners must approve the DDA budget, multiple ‘no’ votes could create a funding crisis for the DDA – a showdown that occurred during last year’s budget process.

Mayor Amy Shamroe expressed frustration Friday over Werner’s criticism, saying the DDA board has repeatedly asked for examples of how it could better address climate change in its budget and has not been given any specific examples. “We're trying to hit a goal that we don't have clarified for us,” she said. Shamroe noted the city itself doesn’t even have a climate action plan, though city commissioners could work to develop one in the coming years. Addressing stormwater seemed like one way to embrace climate solutions, DDA board members agreed – though Chair Ed Slosky said it should be the city and not the DDA serving as the lead organization for that effort.

Still, after DDA board members agreed to a deal Friday to terminate a lease for a former retail incubator project on Cass Street – a project the DDA abandoned given the uncertain future of TIF 97 – more than $40,000 was freed up in next year’s budget from the eliminated rent payments. Board members agreed to add that amount to the $100,000 the DDA was already planning to contribute to Lot B, bringing its funding to over $140,000. The total improvements to the city parking lot are estimated at $1 million, including $600,000 for stormwater upgrades.

Board members approved another project Friday that will be reflected in both this and next year’s budget (the DDA fiscal year runs July 1-June 30). The DDA will enter a contract with SEEDS for a not-to-exceed cost of $72,000 for a “clean and green” program that will start Monday (May 19) and run through September 26. A three-person crew will work seven hours a day, four days a week – with a fluctuating weekend schedule in July and August – to complete litter patrols, trash/recycling emptying, pressure washing, sticker and handbill removal, graffiti removal and abatement, streetscape maintenance, weed control, and special projects like painting, watering planters, and fixing benches. Those services are intended to go above and beyond the minimum services provided by the city and addressing ongoing complaints about trash and other aesthetic issues downtown in the summer. Board members expressed gratitude for the proposal, citing extensive past conversations about how to better maintain downtown during peak tourism season.

“We’ve talked about it forever, and (this proposal's) perfect,” said board member Todd McMillen, who owns a business in Old Town. Burkholder agreed, noting traffic is already picking up for the season. “If you walk downtown, I can tell you already, we need it to start Monday,” he said.