Nearly 30 community members gathered Tuesday, Dec. 9 at The Ladder Community Center to hear more about the Village of Shelby’s Design for Downtown Revitalization project. Shelby’s slogan, “Where the north begins and fine fruit grows,” is still just as true today as it was decades ago when it was first developed, but the “look and feel” of downtown has changed over the years. The $1.9M project plans to update that look and feel to what designers are calling “Modern Rustic.”
Village Administrator Phil Morse opened the meeting by reminding those assembled that it had been about a year since the community had met in that very room to kick off the Village Vision and Implementation Team (VIT). Since then, the following subcommittees have been formed: Events/Marketing, Fundraising, Aesthetics/Downtown Redesign and Development. Each has been meeting to work on different projects related to the overall new vision for downtown Shelby. Besides Morse, Aesthetics/Downtown Redesign team members include former village president Paul Inglis, business owners Andy Carter and Chris Wenk, Shelby Township Supervisor Richard Raffaelli and Trinity Shelby Hospital Administrator John Voss.
“A vibrant downtown is important for the community and something everyone can be proud of,” Morse said.
Displayed on a screen behind the panel was a rendering of what downtown Shelby (Michigan Avenue between Fourth and Third Streets and 60 yards in every direction from that) could look like in the not-too-distant future. Gateway arches, tree plantings, sitting areas, corner bumpouts, stamped concrete, a mid-block crosswalk, upgraded street lighting and pole banners, enhanced parking options, accessible elevated door thresholds, ADA access ramps, barrier-free parking spaces, pedestals for wood carvings, bicycle ramps and pocket park entrance signage and upgrades are all currently a part of the proposed design.
In addition, while the redesign is taking place, underground water service lines would be replaced as well, something that needs to happen regardless. The committee made it clear that funding for the project would not involve additional tax dollars or a millage, but would be funded through private investment and donations from the public. That said, it should be noted that at their Nov. 25 meeting, the village council approved earmarking $200,000 from the village General Fund, $100,000 from Major Streets and $50,000 from Local Streets to go toward the anticipated project.
Carter, owner of the Brown Bear Restaurant and Bar, spoke of growing up and living in Shelby his whole life and owning a business downtown since 1994. “Improving downtown—it’s the right time to do it. We have a lot of great things going on, and I think …this is the next logical step.”
Sharing his excitement about some of the proposed enhancements, he closed by saying, “Just an all-around beautiful downtown, we’re overdue in having this done. People are moving to this area and we’re going to give them more reason to keep coming.”
Landscaping would include various perennials and trees bred to withstand the use and abuse of a downtown streetscape. The plan also includes additional electrical outlets on light poles, eliminating the need to have long extension cords in the way during downtown events. Electricity would only be turned on in those areas as needed.
While the proposed design is taking shape, there is an opportunity for the community to offer feedback. For example, a comment on social media noted how pillars on corners were set too high and could block a motorist from seeing a child waiting to cross. Another suggestion was to install flashing pedestrian signs at the crosswalks. As a result, both of these suggestions have been incorporated into the design. Morse urges people to take a look at the plans and let him or the committee members know if there are other considerations, as now is the time to communicate. As more and more of the plan becomes solidified, the time for suggestions and the modification period will pass.
Probably one of the greatest assets of the proposed revitalization plan is the creation of numerous community gathering spaces that would include benches, tables and chairs. The idea is to create a place where people can meet together over a cup of coffee, build community and in so doing, “...bring back those old-time values, while still lifting up the village,” Raffaelli said.
Inglis shared a personal story from his youth when, after returning to Shelby from being out of town, his dad said, “‘Well here we are. We’re back in Deadville.’ We chuckled about it at the time. But then as an adult I’d hear it from outsiders, and it became a personal thing for me.”
Inglis shared that it was the persona that Shelby was projecting to the rest of the world that made him decide to run for village council over a decade ago. “Things will need to be tweaked for various reasons, but we want to move forward. We know the funds will be there.”
Someone from the audience asked about the bumpouts and snowplowing. Raffaelli answered, “We went to Scott Meyers (who snowblows for the village of New Era) and asked, ‘What do you think?’” And due to Meyers' feedback, the additional bumpout in the center of downtown was removed from the design. The design already has rolled curbs and removable fences that come out in the winter, Raffaelli said.
Also related to winter, one audience member asked about protecting trees from salt. Raffaelli admitted they had not thought about that, but would definitely be looking into it.
New Era resident Gary Grinwis, speaking from experience, advised the committee that if they were going to use stamped concrete, it should be coated and then recoated every three or four years to keep it safe for the public. Raffaelli said Shelby’s plan proposes using a shallower stamp, which would increase the recoating requirement to every two years, instead of three or four.
When asked by an audience member about building facade improvement, Carter spoke encouragingly, saying, as the owner of two buildings downtown, he is also focusing on how he can improve his building facades. He believes business owners want to put their best foot forward, and that once the project starts to take shape, other business owners will get on board.
There was some concern expressed by another audience member when it was mentioned some buildings may need to come down. Morse reassured those gathered that buildings are private property and the village would not be taking it upon themselves to remove any buildings. However, in some cases, the best option for an owner might be to demolish their present building and build something from the ground up, rather than to put a lot of money into fixing it up.
Shelby has plenty to be proud of: new people coming to town, the Shelby Acres subdivision, a possible sidewalk project that could connect the north side of the village to downtown, $1.8M already set aside at the state level for a possible community pool, Oceana County Brownfield Phase I dollars just allocated for two building locations in downtown, an active Rail Trail half a block from downtown, a library, a hospital and a locally owned bank.
“This is the last piece of the puzzle,” Raffaelli said. "It’s a great little community, but we want to go to the next level.”
Due to a number of social media comments, it was clarified that even though the facades in the renderings appear all gray in color, that is not the plan for downtown. The gray is used by designers as a way to make the proposed additions/improvements stand out. In response to questions about facade upgrades, the village hopes to be able to offer more facade grants in the future.
Some items brought up for discussion that didn’t relate directly to the downtown revitalization plan included how to draw people from the Rail Trail into downtown, how to attract more businesses (currently there are 15 businesses located downtown), how to get more people to shop locally and having more events. Morse clarified these ideas and more are being explored and worked through among the other committees working in tandem with the Downtown Revitalization committee.
In closing, Morse reminded the public of a few important next steps.
• Visit the village’s website www.shelbyvillage.org and subscribe to notices in order to receive up-to-date information.
• Contact the village office if at all interested in sharing talents and abilities, as it’s an exciting time to be involved.
• Consider a donation toward the downtown revitalization project. Forms for donating are available at the village office or by visiting the village website and clicking on the “Development” tab.
As an added bonus, all donations collected for this project will be matched dollar for dollar by a private partner.
