Downtown Traverse City is moving closer to a new riverfront improvement project with the final concept designs presented by the DDA at Friday’s meeting. The plans cover a two block stretch along the Boardman River in the alleyway behind businesses along Front Street.
It’s called the Boardman-Ottaway Downtown Riverfront, and the DDA is unveiling the final conceptual plan to repurpose the two block span along the river between Union and Park Streets. Downtown Development Authority CEO Jean Derenzy says, “It comes to environmental sustainability, supporting the local independent business, and creating a great place.”
Plans call for everything from illuminated stairs, walkways, and benches… to overlook bridges, garden terraces, and an outdoor amphitheater. There’s even a pedestrian walkway connecting to Clinch Park.
“This is a regional downtown. And we really want to make this a place to be for this generation and the next generation,” Derenzy says.
Redesigning and repurposing this two-block stretch along the Boardman River will have some impacts on available parking. But the DDA says they are working to address that.
“I don’t think we have all of the answers on parking as far as what’s needed for the customer as well as the visitor,” Derenzy says. “We know we have the West Front Street parking structure that we’re looking at. We’ve always identified three parking structures with inside the district to have that seven-minute walk. It’s not really looking at exactly a question about parking. But the seven-minute walk pieces are what our goal is. It’s to park once and experience the whole district of the downtown.”
The timeline remains to be seen, but some of the work could start next year, if it makes sense logistically to work simultaneously alongside other projects that are already planned.
“The sewer project and the bridge project will happen in 2023. Grandview Parkway will happen in ‘24. And hopefully some of these elements can be implemented throughout. But to have a timeline will come hopefully, maybe in January or February,” she says.
Next up, the DDA will share the plan with the City Commissioners and the Parks and Planning Commission. To read about the plans and see the designs, .
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