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	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Officials 'Blueprint' downtown

Five year strategic plan taking shape for DDA

By Dan DuChene, Staff Writer

PUBLISHED: January 17, 2008

A blue print is in the works for Downtown Ypsilanti.

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Stemming from a $25,000 grant awarded by the Michigan State Housing and Development Authority over the summer, the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority has begun the process to create a five-year strategic plan for Downtown Ypsilanti.

Brian Vosburg, Ypsilanti's DDA director, said the plan will encompass marketing, design, organization and economic restructuring. The money from the state, which requires a 50 percent local match, will be used to recruit the help of Virginia-based planning firm HyettPalma. The company has done similar projects in Traverse City, Battle Creek, Manistee and West Palm Beach, Fla.

Vosburg said HyettPalma will use data collected by the DDA and create the blue print, which will include a timeline with quantifiable goals and assistance on how to reach those goals.

Vosburg said the DDA will need help collecting the data for the study. Part of the process is a randomized phone survey from the city and surrounding townships. He said an event will be held later this month or in February where people can volunteer to come in and work the phones for the survey, which runs south to Augusta Township, north to Ford Road, west to US-23 and east to Sheldon Road in Canton Township.

The DDA met last week to formalize the Blue Print Process Committee, which has 26 members. The first meeting will take place on Monday and continue to meet regularly until the week of Feb. 25, when representatives from HyettPalma will visit Ypsilanti to firm up the plan and hold community forums to garner input from local residents.

The final plan is scheduled for completion in March. The committee will then follow up with HyettPalma regularly until the five-year plan has run its course.

Vosburg said anyone interested in helping with the phone surveys or the HyettPalma visit in February should contact him at 734-482-1410 or by e-mail at brian@ypsilantidda.org.

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