The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Downtown visioning meeting set for Tuesday
Officials hope for community input for strategic plan
By Christine Laughren, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: February 21, 2008
Ypsilanti residents and community members are invited to a planning/visioning meeting Tuesday evening to weigh in on the future of downtown Ypsilanti.
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HyettPalma, Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in the economic enhancement of downtowns, will be in town next week to kick off Ypsilanti's $50,000 downtown improvement study.
Brian Vosburg, director of the Downtown and Depot Town Development Authority, said the meeting is a chance for community members to give input into the creation of a five-year strategic plan for the downtown area.
"The consultants are going to be asking residents and the community what they would like downtown Ypsilanti to look like in the next five years," Vosburg said.
HyettPalma will frame Tuesday night's meeting around issues such as the overall aesthetics of the Michigan Avenue area, promotional improvements that could be made, possible economic restructuring and reorganization on a social level.
Vosburg said residents are encouraged to discuss what they like about the city as well as give input on what they think needs to be improved and what image the downtown area should project.
"In my time here as DDA director I've met several people who have wanted to see the downtown become successful," Vosburg said. "We just need help getting everyone on the same page."
Debbie Locke-Daniel, executive director of the Ypsilanti Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and member of the study's process committee, said the meeting is intended to produce constructive thoughts - good or bad - about the downtown area.
"(The forum) will raise peoples awareness as to what we are doing and the more people who give their input the better," Locke-Daniel said.
More than 40 residents and business owner will be participating in separate focus groups Monday and Tuesday afternoon.
Locke-Daniel, however, said she would like to see people who are not a part of the process already step forward and participate in Tuesday evening's discussions.
"If your not part of the process then you better not complain," she said.
The downtown enhancement study is funded by 50/50 match grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority Ypsilanti's DDA.
Vosburg said the strategic plan should be completed by March 10. He also said the DDA will work with a timeline for goals set forth in the plan will be finished shortly after the study's completion date.
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