Art Trapp focuses on the future. It's his job as Saline's downtown development director. So, in that sense, it is fitting that he should be this year's recipient of the Saline Salutes George A. Anderson Vision Award.
In his office at Saline City Hall, Trapp spends a good deal of his time contemplating the potential of the four square blocks that make up downtown Saline.
Trapp is in his second year as downtown development director, a position that grew out of a recommendation from HyettPalma, the downtown consulting firm that created a guiding document known as the Saline Downtown Blueprint in 2005.
When Trapp learned of the position's formation, he thought, "Wow, that's something I could do. I enjoy talking with people and trying to make things happen."
Since moving to Saline 14 years ago with his wife, Mala, Trapp has never been hesitant to accept positions where he could help make things happen.
He spent 34 years as a commercial banker and is now a commercial real estate broker. He is the past president of the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce, treasurer for Catholic Social Services in Washtenaw County, treasurer for the York Woods Homeowners' Association and a trustee on the Saline school board.
For the last seven years, he has served as the chairman of the Saline Holiday Parade advisory committee and acted as the parade's master of ceremonies.
It was the breadth of his community involvement that inspired Superintendent Beverley Geltner to nominate Trapp for the Anderson award.
"Everywhere I turned when I first came to this community, Art was involved in it," she said.
"I guess when I'm someplace, I want to be involved," said Trapp with a shrug.
More and more of Trapp's attention is turning downtown, where he thinks good things are soon to happen.
The sooner the better, as far as he's concerned.
Within the next year, he would like to see the half-dozen empty downtown storefronts filled.
"It's a big order, but I think we've got a shot at it," he said.
Trapp is working to lure a "destination" business to downtown Saline, a business that would generate foot traffic and uplift the surrounding retailers. He wants to find Saline's counterpart to Chelsea's Purple Rose Theatre or Dundee's Cabella's.
He is also grappling with a wide open question, the answer to which could define the downtown's future: Shat is Saline's identity?
"You think about what Saline was known for in the past, and that was antique stores," Trapp said. "We don't have antique stores anymore. We really don't have an identity."
Trapp hopes to see downtown enlivened with unique and diverse specialty stores, perhaps a formal tearoom or a business that caters to children such as Jungle Java, the coffeehouse with a junglescape. He envisions a covered farmers' market with a fountain out front and public restrooms. There is talk of transforming Union School and expanding downtown in every direction.
"Those are the kinds of things I would like to see in Saline," he said. "There are lots of possibilities."
To achieve these goals, Trapp understands he must be a consensus builder. He must forge a coalition of landlords, business owners, and developers who understands transforming downtown will require a united effort.
"They have to understand that if one or two of them go down, the others are going to have a hard time," Trapp said. "We benefit by working together."
Having a vision is one thing, of course. Realizing is another thing altogether.
"Sometimes," said Trapp, "it's like pushing a string through a keyhole. You have to keep in mind that these things don't change overnight."
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