DRAFT

Downtown Development Authority

Five-Year Implementation Strategy

City of Hastings

2004

Introduction

The City of Hastings downtown is defined by the DDA District which contains 2,417 acres. As the county seat for Barry County, Hastings is home to over 600 commercial businesses, industrial establishments, and governmental offices and agencies. A large percentage of these are located in the DDA District.

The City of Hastings is approximately 35 miles southeast of Grand Rapids, 33 miles northeast of Kalamazoo, 25 miles north of Battle Creek, and 42 miles west of Lansing. This location positions the central portion of the city less than one hour’s drive from 1.5 million regional residents.

The 2000 Census reported the City of Hastings population at 7,095 people. This represents a significant increase of 8.3 percent over the 1990 population count and is a clear indication of the City’s residential desirability and attractive quality of life. Continued growth is anticipated.

In an effort to prepare for and effectively manage the expected growth, the City of Hastings Downtown Development Authority has been working over the past few years to gather information and create site-specific redevelopment plans for the downtown area. These plans provide valuable information on which this implementation strategy is built. Excerpts from these plans are included in Addendum A.

Information and recommendations from the following studies and resulting plans serve as the foundation for this document:

· Master Plan for the City of Hastings

· City of Hastings Parks and Recreation Five Year Plan

· Downtown Development and Financing Plan

· Eastside Redevelopment Plan

· Downtown Market Analysis and Program Recommendations

· DDM Market Study Report

· Downtown Parking Study

· Cranbrook Study

· Wade-Trim Traffic Study

In addition to the above reports, the City of Hastings Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has conducted multiple public visioning sessions to garner extensive public input focused on defining “what finished looks like”. The detailed comments from those meetings can be found in Addendum B.

This strategy will focus on the priorities that have resulted from careful review of all studies and plans. Recommendations have been correlated and commonalities identified. Implementation strategies were then developed related to each priority area. A map of the target area is included in Addendum C. Current and future projects are represented on this map.

Development Priorities

A. Protect and enhance the character of the downtown

Current Implementation Strategies

1. Façade Improvement Grants: the DDA has committed to a façade improvement grant program and will continue to allocate the resources needed to continue this already successful program.

2. Façade Improvement Loans: USDA funds have been secured to begin a Façade Improvement Revolving Loan Fund. Loan activity will be focused on those projects which present greater financial need due to the scope of the renovations. Efforts to access additional funds to increase these resources will continue as a high priority.

3. The Planning Commission has recently completed the creation of a Planned Unit Development in the DDA District. Design guidelines, setbacks, landscaping, lighting and pedestrian orientation within the ordinance are all designed to build on and enhance the core downtown area.

4. The DDA has partnered with the Hastings City Library to purchase property at the east end of State Street. The property is adjacent to City Hall. A new library will be constructed on that site next year. An outdoor reading area, public art, and connection to the Thornapple River Walk trail system are included in the site design.

Future Recommendations

1. Increase marketing efforts related to the grant and loan programs.

2. Create window signs designed to indicate the DDA involvement in the renovations. The signs would be placed in the front window of a downtown business throughout the duration of the improvements.

3. Place marketing materials at the front counters/customer service areas in the downtown businesses. Particularly those that are under-going façade improvements.

4. Continue to allocate DDA funds to the façade grant program.

5. Actively seek additional funds to increase the resources in the revolving loan fund.

6. Continue to work to implement the rehabilitation plan for the Waldorff Building (all studies indicated that the vacancy and deterioration of this key downtown structure has created the perception that there are multiple empty store fronts in the Central Business District).

7. Hold developers accountable to all parameters articulated in the Court Street PUD ordinance.

8. Work to establish design guidelines for all new and redevelopment to ensure long-term compatibility with the historic character of the Central Business District.

9. Research the applicability and availability of Historic Tax Credits.

B. Marketing

Current Implementation Strategies

1. The DDA is working with a marketing and communication consultant to develop a brand and logo for Downtown Hastings. Additional public input will be sought and a final decision will be made in June 2004.

2. The DDA has allocated additional funds in the next fiscal year to support further implementation.

Future Recommendations

1. Work with local businesses to incorporate newly created brand and logo into all communication.

2. Create and implement specific marketing activities designed to increase the number of people that access the businesses in the downtown area.

3. Increase communication with the media to promote and celebrate the activities, successes and development of the downtown. The primary target markets should include Grand Rapids, Lansing, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo in addition to all of Barry County.

4. Work with other partners throughout Barry County to tie the City of Hastings to all tourism activities. The Vision 20/20 Tourism Committee is one venue that provides a means to facilitate such a connection.

5. Explore new events designed to bring new people into the downtown and serve as a marketing component for local businesses.

6. Research the use of Kiosks in the downtown for information searches working in conjunction with the Chamber to identify location, design and information content.

7. Organize walking tours and tourism connection working in partnership with the Chamber for coordination on a city and county-wide basis with the intent to expand market reach.

C. Parking

Current Implementation Strategies

1. The DDA has committed funds to create additional parking along the west side of Church Street between State and Court Streets.

Future Recommendations

1. Identify property available in the downtown that could be converted to provide additional parking. Work to purchase these properties.

2. Create and install wayfinding signage to better identify current parking areas.

3. Increase communication with all business owners in the downtown and emphasize the need for employees to park in public lots to allow all parking spaces on State Street to be available for customers.

4. Work toward more aggressive enforcement related to employees that violate the parking rules.

5. Develop 30 parking spaces in the next two to three years.

D. The Thornapple River

Current Implementation Strategies

1. An application for funding has been submitted to the MDNR Trust Fund. The funds will be used to extend the Thornapple River Walk Trail system from the downtown to the southeast city limits. If funded, this project will begin in the spring of 2005.

Future Recommendations

1. Work to secure purchase option on key properties along the river in the downtown area. Priority should be given to blighted areas along the river.

2. Focus a portion of the marketing efforts on the river and its relationship to the downtown area.

3. Pursue additional funding to support the connection of the trail to Tyden Park.

4. Recruit developers with the capacity to redevelop key river front parcels.

5. Partner with other organizations to create and implement new events designed to focus on the river and downtown.

6. Prepare a CMI grant application for waterfront redevelopment.

7. Clean up of the existing river within the City limits (removal of scrap concrete, etc.).

8. Repair Michigan Avenue Bridge and explore additional crossing to expand access to the downtown area.

9. Streetscape to Driesbach to connect the downtown to properties along the river and encourage access to the river.

10. Add a pedestrian bridge over river positioned and designed to encourage public exposure to the river and emphasize the natural asset the river provides the community.

E. Streetscape and Beautification

Current Implementation Strategies

1. The DDA is partnering with Hastings City Bank to complete the streetscape that surrounds the new bank building on Court Street. Design will occur in the spring of 2004 and construction will begin in July 2004.

Future Recommendations

1. Work to create additional public/private partnerships to support the expansion of streetscape design throughout the downtown. Future projects should be directly connected to completed areas and work outward to cover the entire area.

2. Expand upon the current “adopt a corner” program to include every corner in the DDA District. All corners should be affected regardless if the streetscape has been completed.

3. Develop a new set of banners that will reflect the image created through the marketing efforts.

4. Create “gateways” at key intersections in the downtown area. These intersections should include; the entrance to the city on west State Street, the intersection of Broadway and State, the east end of downtown at State and Hanover.

5. Review requests for display of banners downtown to include one specified location and specific placement of banners.

6. Work with MDOT on the Green Street and Hanover intersection. Send a letter to MDOT expressing the DDA’s concern over this intersection.

7. Strongly enforce the landscape ordinance by requiring all new and redevelopment to fully comply. This will continue to enhance the “green space” and overall aesthetic quality of the downtown.

8. Ensure that all development supports and expands the pedestrian oriented environment. Whenever possible “people spaces” should be included in the site design.

9. Pursue Tree City designation, including a change in local ordinance.

10. Paint the light poles downtown and explore the possibility of adding flowers to the poles.

11. Streetscape along North Broadway, South Broadway, Green Street and South Hanover to enhance the Downtown Gateways.

F. Residential Development

Current Implementation Strategies

1. The DDA has secured a grant from MEDC to build an elevator as part of the Waldorff Building project. The elevator will provide access to the second and third floor of the building as well as the Ace Hardware building. This project is a pilot for the state as it relates to the funding of elevator projects and must be given high priority.

2. Discussions have begun with MSHDA regarding a Neighborhood Preservation Project application.

3. Barth and Assoc., consultants working with Barry County related to housing activities utilizing HUD funds, have agreed to partner with the DDA and focus their housing related activities within and close to the DDA district as much as possible.

4. Submit an application to MSHDA requesting HRF funds to be utilized to create quality, affordable housing units in the downtown area. Funds will be targeted at the blighted residential units that currently exist in the target area.

5. Support the development of the residential portion of the Court Street PUD.

Future Recommendations

1. Pursue resources to develop incentives to encourage the rehabilitation of the older housing stock in the area.

2. Submit an application to MSHDA to implement a Neighborhood Preservation Project in the southeast corner of the DDA district (dependent on invitation from MHSDA).

3. Work with downtown building owners to create opportunities for further residential development on the upper floors of their buildings.

4. Recruit developer with the capacity to develop the residential portion of the Court Street PUD.

5. Review existing codes and ordinances and change those that prevent the development of multiple residences in a single structure.

6. Pursue resources to develop senior housing in DDA area.

G. Business Mix

Future Recommendations

1. Work with existing businesses to expand and enhance their product lines so they can take full advantage of the untapped markets identified in the studies listed at the beginning of this document.

2. Actively recruit businesses to add to the over all mix of products available in the downtown. Specific types of businesses should include: clothing stores, furniture, and additional food and entertainment venues.

3. Work with the Chamber of Commerce and Michigan State University Extension Office to create an expanded, more permanent Farmer’s Market - preferably on the east end of the downtown – using the market to draw visitors to that end of the business district.

4. Research creative reuse ideas for the current Public Services building, including the funding necessary to facilitate moving.

5. Explore the possibility of implementing the PUD concept on north side of State Street.

H. Parks and Recreation

Current Implementation Strategies

1. The DDA has provided the matching funds to support an application to the MDNR Trust Fund for the extension of the Thornapple River Trailway.

2. A picnic pavilion has just been completed in the river front park near the southeast city limits. This park will be connected to the downtown area by the Trailway extension.

Future Recommendations

1. Continue to seek resources to implement park improvements outlined in the City of Hastings’ Parks and Recreation Five Year Plan.

I. Arts & Cultural Organizations

Current Implementation Strategies

1. Partner with the Thornapple Arts Council to further integrate the arts into the downtown. Work to implement three Art Hop events in the summer of 2004.

2. Prepare and submit an application to MCACA to provide resources to complete capital improvement to the Art Hatchery located in Fish Hatchery Park.

Future Implementation Strategies

1. Identify a downtown location for the development of an Art Space Project and work with the Thornapple Arts Council to fully develop.

Conclusion

All redevelopment activities should be coordinated in an effort to increase synergism and maximize the impact of each project. Projects that are not directly connected to others should receive a lower prioritization. All decisions should be made by first answering the following questions in the affirmative:

· Does the project help to accomplish the priorities outlined in this Implementation Strategy?

· Will the DDA investment leverage other public and/or private funds?

· Will the project strengthen the existing downtown businesses?

· Will the project increase the number of people that live, work, shop or play in the downtown area?

· Will the project stimulate additional redevelopment within the downtown?

· How does the project improve the overall quality of life in this community?

12/5/2005