1) Develop and implement a comprehensive plan to improve the pedestrian customer experience and the appearance of safety. This would include *moving* the large parking [[lot) which is below shed 2 in front of J.R. Hirt and making that area into a customer friendly park-like setting with plantings, picnic areas and benches as well as a small stage or pavilion.
[[Though it’s not an elevated stage, here’s just one example from downtown Farmington that is a *huge* draw for the shops that surround it ...
http://www.downtownfarmington.org/Po...certJune02.jpg )
2) Improve the parking in the district. Carefully coordinate parking into the overall district plan ... well maintained and lighted ... and more of it. Take into account the possibility of some form of public transportation eventually making it’s way into the EM district, and build-out with that in mind.
3) Re-connect Gratiot Market to Eastern Market. Issues of safety, and the appearance of blight and neglect need to be dealt with including the Gratiot frontage. Gratiot Market needs to be incorporated into both the district pedestrian plan and also parking planning.
4) Add the new dimension of a more modern type of interior shed space as posted in gthomas’ original post.
5) Hammer the City and any other government or private resources to connect the People Mover [[or Woodward Streetcar line etc) to the Eastern Market. Establishing a form of public transportation that is, or could be scaled up to, regional public transportation - even better.