With a Downtown Development Strategy in place, local organizations are looking to join forces in an effort to move the plan forward. The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Can Do! and City of Charlotte Downtown Development Authority will hold a joint meeting Jan. 14 to discuss how the organizations can work together towards downtown revitalization efforts.
“This strategy is only going to work if it has wide ownership,” said Charlotte Community Development Director Bryan Myrkle. “It seems like all of these local economic development groups should be playing a role and I think they all want to see how their efforts can make a positive difference.”
Myrkle, who worked with staff at city hall as well as officials from the State of Michigan and the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) to develop the plan, said he envisions organizations and individuals identifying tasks in which to take the lead.
“We’ve got to have some champions for this to work,” Myrkle said. “The plan is a framework. There is very little that can’t be adjusted. I’m hoping people will take a look and identify the part they want to play. They’ll get whatever help they want, but I’m not going to be overbearing in the leadership. This really needs to be everybody’s plan.”
Charlotte Chamber of Commerce board president Garrett Bensinger said collaboration is essential to any success the revitalization plan may have.
“The project itself is too much for one organization to take on,” Bensinger said. “It’s going to take a common effort among all organizations in the community to make it a success.”
Bensinger said one of the first steps is brainstorming how organizations and individuals can be most effective.
Jeannette Sommer, chair of the DDA, said it is very important that the DDA work with other organizations moving forward.
“If anything is going to be done, it has to be done together,” Sommer said. “It’s going to take a lot of effort and I would love to see us come together.”
Actions identified in the strategic plan include assembling a business recruiting team; bringing another anchor retail business downtown; working with the Michigan Department of Transportation on truck traffic issues downtown; building off the success of the DDA’s summer concert series with a winter concert series in a downtown location; beefing up local incentives and grant eligibility; blight improvements; and taking a closer look at becoming a Michigan Mainstreet community.
Improvements include improving signage within the community, specifically on Lansing Road to direct people downtown; enhancing the Farmer’s Market, which includes adding a weeknight market; continue to utilize the Michigan State Housing and Development Authority’s grant program to rehabilitate and establish downtown apartments; utilize Beach Market in new ways; create a Corridor Improvement District near the property that includes the two train depots located on Cochran Road, which includes Tequila’s Mexican Grill, Johnson’s Lumber, the former Dennis Distributing property and Citizens LLC.