The Saline Reporter
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Vision shaping city
Visioning plan for downtown Saline cost the city $35,900
By Sue G. Collins, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 26, 2007
The future picture of the city of Saline should include a covered pavilion for the farmers' market, more public green space, four blocks of landscaped medians on Michigan Avenue in downtown, a realigned expanded shopping area and more bike parking.
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These and other proposals were presented last month to City Council by Quinn Evans Architects and Cooper Design Inc. in their document, "Saline Urban Design Plan: Envisioning the Next 20 Years."
The presentation was Part 2 of an exercise that cost the city $35,900.
The plan also suggests left-turn lanes on Michigan Avenue at Harris and Lewis streets, improved crosswalks and mixed-use redevelopment of the R&B Tool building to include an addition street cutting through that site between Michigan Ave and East Henry Street.
The firms, in a 10-point action plan, also urge the city to "move forward with the smaller downtown improvements to create momentum for the larger projects."
Last November, the first part of the plan was unveiled. Ann Dilcher, project architect from Quinn Evans, presented drawings for improvements to Parking Lot 1, which is located behind Dan's Downtown Tavern, including landscaping and the addition of a trash compactor for adjoining businesses.
Also, upgrades to Merchant Park were presented to include a water feature, seating and new trees.
Architects from Quinn Evans first completed a design plan for Saline in 1985 and are now following through on a blueprint plan for Saline presented last year by the national consulting firm HyettPalma. The results of the first plan include the restoration of several facades, and addition of brick sidewalks, trees, benches and streetlights to enhance the streetscape.
Reaction and Action
David Rhoads is a Saline City Council member and owns a business on West Michigan Aveenue near downtown. He said a handful of the ideas presented were innovative, though he couldn't see implementing any of the projects within the next two years because of budget constraints.
"The most creative and out-of-the-box idea was to install a street between Michigan Avenue and East Henry Street to create more storefront space without stretching downtown even farther east or west," Rhoads said.
He also supports the idea of the median along Michigan Avenue on either side of Ann Arbor Street.
"It has potential to slow down traffic, muffle sound, increase pedestrian safety and improve appearances."
This project would be concurrent with MDOT's reconstruction on that portion of the road, now pushed back to 2013.
City Manager Larry Stoever is enthusiastic about the covered farmers' market plaza at the front of the parking lot between Little Caesars and the law office.
"This is a very good idea and something that could be done soon," he said.
The Market Plaza concept calls for the removal of seven parking spaces to accommodate the permanent, ventilated canopy, space for 22 covered tables, 17 truck spaces and possibly a fountain, clock and public restrooms.
So, what changes will residents and visitors enjoy before too long?
The city will see new bike racks this spring, compliments of Pick Up the Pace Saline, or PUPS. Other than that, Dilcher said she hopes the plan will spark public interest in the projects so that creative funding sources can be tapped and partnerships can be formed that allow the projects to happen sooner rather than later.
"The overall planning goals are to help the city have a plan to use in discussions with developers or in thinking about properties that the city might be interested in for public use," she said.
Her firm's PowerPoint presentation on the Saline Urban Design Plan should be on the city Web site later this month.
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