City landscapes, town crossroads
Nick Tabor
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: News
Amid the bulldozers and orange cones littering downtown Hillsdale, a drinking fountain, some new benches and decorative lighting have appeared on Howell Street within the past few weeks.
Jay Bahr, economic development director for the city of Hillsdale, said the committee that planned the construction on Michigan-99 added the decorations to help beautify the area. Bahr said the streetscape portion of the project is $400,000 in addition to the road reconstruction project.
"If you look at cities that have had good streetscape projects, it can really be the catalyst for revitalizing a downtown area," Bahr said.
Bahr said the benches were installed about three weeks ago, and the fountain was installed the following week. All three items sit on the south side of City Hall, at the intersection of M-99 and Howell.
Senior Lindsay Davenport, a Howell Street resident, said she questions the location of the additions.
"It seems like a very odd placement, since it's right in the middle of an intersection," Davenport said.
Bahr said the fountain made a relatively minor improvement to the streetscape.
"It's literally a drinking fountain," he said. "It's not a literal Italian fountain like you'd find in the public square or something like that."
Davenport said she's skeptical of the project.
"I'm not really sure if that's the best allocation of Hillsdale's city funds," she said. "We'll see if it comes in good use in the spring."
Bahr said the city's contractors also plan to install an informational kiosk outside City Hall, but given the weather conditions, they might wait until spring.
"We don't want it being pelted with salt all winter," he said.
Bahr said the city's Tax Increment Finance Authority handled the construction planning.
TIFA will hold a meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 27 for business owners, community leaders and citizens to discuss additional plans for Hillsdale's downtown area. It will begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall. For questions contact Jay Bahr at 517-437-6479.
Hillsdale College Collegian, 2007
Jay Bahr, economic development director for the city of Hillsdale, said the committee that planned the construction on Michigan-99 added the decorations to help beautify the area. Bahr said the streetscape portion of the project is $400,000 in addition to the road reconstruction project.
"If you look at cities that have had good streetscape projects, it can really be the catalyst for revitalizing a downtown area," Bahr said.
Bahr said the benches were installed about three weeks ago, and the fountain was installed the following week. All three items sit on the south side of City Hall, at the intersection of M-99 and Howell.
Senior Lindsay Davenport, a Howell Street resident, said she questions the location of the additions.
"It seems like a very odd placement, since it's right in the middle of an intersection," Davenport said.
Bahr said the fountain made a relatively minor improvement to the streetscape.
"It's literally a drinking fountain," he said. "It's not a literal Italian fountain like you'd find in the public square or something like that."
Davenport said she's skeptical of the project.
"I'm not really sure if that's the best allocation of Hillsdale's city funds," she said. "We'll see if it comes in good use in the spring."
Bahr said the city's contractors also plan to install an informational kiosk outside City Hall, but given the weather conditions, they might wait until spring.
"We don't want it being pelted with salt all winter," he said.
Bahr said the city's Tax Increment Finance Authority handled the construction planning.
TIFA will hold a meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 27 for business owners, community leaders and citizens to discuss additional plans for Hillsdale's downtown area. It will begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall. For questions contact Jay Bahr at 517-437-6479.
Hillsdale College Collegian, 2007
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