Big news for W. Vernor: $2.5M for streetscape improvements

Quote:

---

The Michigan Department of Transportation has made a conditional commitment of $2.5 million to Southwest Detroit Business Association for infrastructure improvements along W. Vernor between Patton and Clark parks. The entire project cost is $5.56 million; the organization will raise the remaining funds throughout 2011 and hope to being construction in 2012. "We're not looking to fund-raise small money," says Vittoria Katanski, SDBA's marketing director. "We're looking at it as a development project, like Odd Fellows Hall, a financing-type piece."

---

http://www.modeldmedia.com/devnews/w...ews120710.aspx

A conditional commitment is great, but its not the same thing as an award or a completed project. It looks like SWDBA is going to need to figure out how to come up with more than $3 million plus a way to float the 2.5 million as it is a re-imbursement program not a grant.

I hope they can get their act together. W. Vernor is really a very cool commercial corridor, surrounded by neighborhoods that actually have vitality. Anchors including Holy Redeemer Church and Mexicantown bring visitors from outside the immediate SW Detroit area. I hope they are able to make this streetlight project happen and then work to keep it maintained.....so they work....on this busy car/bus/pedestrian corridor....in the dark.

Vernor doesn't need any more 'Erector Sets'. Let's hope the money is spent more wisely this time.

Excellent news, anything to help small business be inviting to out of town/neighborhood folks is the way to go. These steps make a difference in terms of competing with shopping malls also. Some of the older poorer neighborhoods in Montreal have been helped along that way and manage to attract investment and mixed incomes. There are always pockets where storefronts remain empty for years and whole blocks are derelict here too. These places have to be able to pull together and make their streets as attractive as the competition in the suburbs. If streets like Vernor manage to do that they will get growing interest and people will buy into the residential units in the neighborhood.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by canuck

Excellent news, anything to help small business be inviting to out of town/neighborhood folks is the way to go. These steps make a difference in terms of competing with shopping malls also. Some of the older poorer neighborhoods in Montreal have been helped along that way and manage to attract investment and mixed incomes. There are always pockets where storefronts remain empty for years and whole blocks are derelict here too. These places have to be able to pull together and make their streets as attractive as the competition in the suburbs. If streets like Vernor manage to do that they will get growing interest and people will buy into the residential units in the neighborhood.

---

The hard work of the Mexican, Central and South American communities certainly has helped the Southwest Detroit area.

Kudos to all the people that have invested in this stretch. Its really changed for the better.

Rather than 'redevelopment', which seems to be unnecessary -- I'd be happy if the city/state/feds would just maintain the civic infrastructure. Non-description streetlight, trash cans, and good ol' plain sidewalks. And yes, enough 'erector sets'. They didn't stop the blight, and they didn't create the redevelopment. It happened by the hard work of area residents and businesses.

Galt would be proud.

Funny how the state needs to get involved so they can get some credit for what's already happened there.

What are these "erector sets" you're referring to?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pcm

What are these "erector sets" you're referring to?

---

The same red metal works suspended over Vernor that used to be on Washington Boulevard.