[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6182262,"mediaKeyId","5107268-f1c4b98333ebfde32afb8b788b0a4818","parentId",5107268,"title","Plaza Corp, state officials preview $100M‑plus downtown brownfield plan as Northside residents press for homeownership","audioSeconds",3016,"startMs",194000,"endMs",3210000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107268-f1c4b98333ebfde32afb8b788b0a4818&start=194&end=3210","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107268-f1c4b98333ebfde32afb8b788b0a4818/thumbnail_194000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6182262/Kalamazoo-City/Kalamazoo-County/Michigan/Plaza-Corp-state-officials-preview-100Mplus-downtown-brownfield-plan-as-Northside-residents-press-for-homeownership","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182262-7ec53a9246f263b688d4ccecb66f9e72/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178722&Signature=GLq1rvcFl0x2yHImt8Jy2aoPoApy5su7eZfLjgKXATkwjQ0PzU7udlK-fcy~MkT-IFKImpH1Y90C5PBJ~9GjGVg8AGRSmQmTY1v3d-9XYlWlTSHEjlIZzCAxxpwoW11u54O5H9g1KOqM5iwSfjHNehn6iTB8YFNcHaQyqHajXePaQBNTgtrUquV9vp1n4VgfSwDeJR~HeSVCv7sUJ1Ip2TjYsVOLLRL-42PTHf~m8eFFCTBZdTOFd2Affi9T-AJcmfUYw9zNG1bAWQrwaHZog8DLAJWMTluhLgQUzazgddcXwAOT4Kxl5YKiQMkFIHpDP4Frte42kGpe7R7J-YISZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Kalamazoo","date","2025-06-03T10:40:31Z","article","Plaza Corp and state officials presented a multi‑site transformational brownfield plan to the Kalamazoo City Commission Committee of the Whole on June 2, 2025, proposing more than $100 million in private investment and state tax‑capture incentives to convert three downtown properties into housing, ground‑floor commercial space and a boutique hotel.

The plan, which project sponsors said has been invited to apply to Michigan’s Transformational Brownfield Program (TBP), would redevelop 619 Porter Street, the SpearFlex building at 261 E. Kalamazoo Avenue and the Michigan Avenue Courthouse (the MAC) at 227 W. Michigan Avenue. Tricia Kidd, representing Plaza Corp, said the three sites together represent \"over 100,000,000 in investment\" and would deliver new housing, activate commercial space and require brownfield remediation.

The proposal matters because TBP, created under Michigan Act 381 and administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Strategic Fund, makes additional state revenue streams available to large redevelopment projects and is allocated sparingly: project sponsors and consultants said this application is one of a limited number of TBP invitations in the state.

Project details presented at the meeting include a proposed $22 million, five‑story mixed‑use building at 619 Porter with 58 residential units and about 5,000 square feet of commercial space; a roughly $22 million conversion of the SpearFlex building to 57 apartments; and a $50 million adaptive reuse of the Michigan Avenue Courthouse into a 127‑room boutique hotel. Tricia Kidd said the overall initiative would \"bring more than a 115 residential units to downtown\" when fully realized.

Joe Gasanelli, managing director of Michigan Growth Advisors, and other consultants outlined the financing and incentive stack. They said the combined project cost is just over $100 million, financed roughly 58% with conventional debt, about 30% with owner/investor equity, about 7% via federal historic tax credits on the courthouse project and roughly 3% from near‑term TBP construction‑period savings (sales tax exemption on construction materials and capture of construction worker withholding). Gasanelli summarized longer‑term TBP captures presented to the City: approximately $18.5 million in sales tax capture over 20 years, $13.5 million in residential income tax capture, $3.3 million in construction‑period withholding capture, and about $2.9 million in commercial payroll withholding capture. He said local brownfield real‑estate tax increment capture would be roughly $10 million with an additional $5.8 million at the state level under the brownfield plan.

City staff and consultants described the local approval steps that must occur before state action: staff review, a public hearing before the local Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, then a recommendation to the City Commission and, if supported, submission to the Michigan Strategic Fund for final approval. City consultant David Stedjink said the local process will look \"pretty normal\" despite the size of the projects, and Jamie McCarthy, the city's development manager, said staff expect some applications to arrive this summer and local approvals to be scheduled for August and September with a potential MSF board review later in the year.

Northside residents used the public comment period to press developers to include neighborhood residents in benefit packages tied to the projects. Natalie Jordan Woods, who identified herself as a Northside homeowner and longtime volunteer, asked the developers to add \"resident owner occupied housing and resident owned businesses in the district to their neighborhood enterprise zone application.\" Marilyn Polley, also a Northside resident and small business owner, said she and other residents \"have been there through it all\" and urged developers to include resident homeowners and resident home businesses in the neighborhood enterprise application.

City staff and project representatives responded to questions from commissioners about affordable housing commitments, neighborhood benefits and timeline. Joe Gasanelli and project team members said TBP statute requires a written, binding affordable housing agreement with the city as part of the residential income tax capture component, but they did not specify exact affordability levels. When Commissioner Wilson asked whether the developers would follow the commission’s general encouragement for approximately 20% affordable housing at targeted AMI levels, project representatives said they were still working on exact unit mixes and price points and that the binding affordable housing agreement was \"TBD\" in structure and levels.

Commissioners also asked how the project would coordinate with local authorities that already have tax‑capture authority. Project staff said they will negotiate sharing agreements with the Downtown Economic Growth Authority and the Northside Cultural Business District Authority in June and July before bringing a brownfield plan forward for public hearing.

What happened next: no vote was taken at the Committee of the Whole. Staff signaled they will continue outreach to affected boards, hold required public hearings and return to the City Commission with proposed brownfield plans and tax‑abatement certificates in the late summer or early fall. Project sponsors forecast construction sequencing beginning with 619 Porter (predevelopment in 2026, construction late 2026–early 2027), SpearFlex thereafter and the MAC hotel last; final schedules depend on approvals and financing.

Why it matters locally: project sponsors and staff said the TBP invitation provides state resources that substantially reduce upfront development costs and can unlock projects that otherwise would be infeasible. Northside residents and some commissioners said they want clearer, enforceable community benefits — including homeowner‑targeted incentives, resident‑owned business opportunities and workforce development commitments — before final approval.

The city and project team said they will continue meetings with neighborhood leaders and with the authorities that hold existing tax capture to finalize agreements and the sequence of approvals over the coming months.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 2, 2025 Committee of the Whole","oneSentenceSummary","Plaza Corp and state officials presented a multi‑site transformational brownfield plan to the Kalamazoo City Commission Committee of the Whole on June 2, 2025, proposing more than $100 million in private investment and state tax‑capture incentives to convert three downtown properties into housing, retail and a boutique hotel.","taxTitle","Kalamazoo City, Kalamazoo County, Michigan","taxId",3977,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6182252,"Resident tells commission ‘silence is deafening’ after 3‑year‑old critically injured; urges city review of KDPS response",95,355000,450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107268-f1c4b98333ebfde32afb8b788b0a4818&start=355&end=450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107268-f1c4b98333ebfde32afb8b788b0a4818/thumbnail_355000.jpg","/articles/6182252/Kalamazoo-City/Kalamazoo-County/Michigan/Resident-tells-commission-silence-is-deafening-after-3yearold-critically-injured-urges-city-review-of-KDPS-response","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182252-4a9eca2ece60ca11ebdd78d5c8b61e00/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178722&Signature=Ibwh7hp1t5kFQI4pqG8LEXf4-BQ3lBo0EPRvkHTIPISvKXgSE0aYr1TxUEA7spcND8oXmvHFVBOKlxoByAMbcBu-aLM2BJBumXlioDgrDELOX221faUB26mBDO2Dj5c5qvY1eAeE8igmuRS7E6gp8OLNE-i5A1WhyCEQtSg5JfRgtihpP2hjQAqz5MYMJ2v9eTa46vPOYgbwQwiuXiGRBaqEkwm0qbeh4ZNEEPIN0ang2w9s~BTy~1Py9rvz-Y1Cc-rJXyl2iXrO~y~9A-GPVtRqkaCWuzvcPWUzdFBHiFcmm0D-evC75nZNpLMipQC0S3O9XiPUlsVSikcWFfLbww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A public commenter urged the Kalamazoo City Commission on June 2 to press for accountability after a 3‑year‑old child was critically injured in a self‑inflicted gunshot wound on May 3, 2025, and — the commenter said — no arrest or charges had been announced 30 days later.

The commenter (not named in the transcript) said the County Department of Public Safety (KDPS) had responded to a gun violence incident on Vine Street on May 3 and that, in the commenter’s account, KDPS had told the public the investigation is complete and that it was \"working with the prosecutor's office.\" The commenter said: \"It has now been 30 days. No charges. No arrests. No mugshot or name released. No accountability.\" The speaker added, \"This person's actions led directly to a child being critically wounded and constitute a clear threat to public safety, and yet we see no public consequences.\"

The commenter contrasted public‑facing KDPS practices in other cases — routine social‑media posts of arrests and confiscated firearms — with what the commenter described as a lack of public information in this incident. The speaker asked city leadership to \"take a hard look at this case and get some law enforcement out of our law enforcement,\" and called for justice for the child and the community.

No KDPS or prosecutor statements were presented at the meeting. The comment described KDPS as having told the commenter that investigators had completed a review and were coordinating with the prosecutor; the commission did not take formal action at the Committee of the Whole and no departmental report was provided during the session.

What happened next: the meeting moved on to other agenda items. The commenter’s remarks were part of the public comment period and did not trigger an immediate public response from KDPS or a separate agenda item at that meeting.

Why it matters: the comment raises public concern about timeliness, transparency and consistency in criminal investigations involving children and firearms. Commissioners and city staff did not provide additional details on the case in the Committee of the Whole session. Community members seeking updates should consult KDPS or the prosecuting attorney’s office for the official status of any investigation or charging decision.","During public comment at the June 2 Committee of the Whole meeting, a resident raised concerns about apparent delays in charging or arresting an adult after a May 3 child shooting incident, saying the Department of Public Safety reported its investigation complete but no arrests had been made.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6182257,"City consultants recommend tiered downtown parking, new pay stations and more accessible spaces",898,494000,1392000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107268-f1c4b98333ebfde32afb8b788b0a4818&start=494&end=1392","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107268-f1c4b98333ebfde32afb8b788b0a4818/thumbnail_494000.jpg","/articles/6182257/Kalamazoo-City/Kalamazoo-County/Michigan/City-consultants-recommend-tiered-downtown-parking-new-pay-stations-and-more-accessible-spaces","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182257-eae9b0621210ca137e23c0f538cbadaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178722&Signature=nuy3c9fxaZcqaIvil~JZxYwanCWJT-L4Y8FabL4UjWK-PNftgKBDNJKFEZH~mZYIXnmkzUFvKLhrotRCg~PdyJyx4qriMAuq0LeA-M2E2hlgsD3aL7m6BaoL2qOnlfgF0Wrn1mfMV-HO-RjHcaaMQvOlfM9oHgZ8BY-xEONs3fOT2HZINgrXoqUhjYHDkOlle7vHMobr~3D5fNZIzSJvIftWxXb2IJUDp6xaseyir42jxZYJjCchYYOxdv0c75re3Y9wBblxEsduEJG9y-z-Cyubq-ZqX8PJNpXLbNCJXI9zWBLq1dXnoFPGAkiJpqftVgmij~9Jq~ywO8pTohsDSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff and parking consultant Mission North gave an informational presentation to the Kalamazoo City Commission Committee of the Whole on June 2, 2025, recommending a three‑part approach to improve downtown parking availability: tiered on‑street pricing, modern pay stations and expanded barrier‑free spaces.

Christina Anderson, deputy Community Planning & Economic Development director and city planner, introduced Rob Boccagalupi (parking consultant, Mission North), who said the presentation’s \"overriding goal\" is \"making sure that there's parking where people wanna park,\" and that the work is driven by a desire to improve availability.

Mission North described a data‑driven approach that uses an 85% occupancy threshold to identify blocks that feel full and therefore need pricing to improve turnover. The consultant recommended a premium zone, a base‑rate zone and free parking areas, and proposed changes in some blocks where recent demand increased (notably in a southwest portion of downtown) while easing pricing on parts of East Michigan Avenue.

The presentation covered equipment and budget details. Staff said pay stations installed at the Kalamazoo Mall in November gave usage data showing roughly two‑thirds of payers use smartphone mobile pay, about one‑third use a physical credit card and roughly 2% still use coins. City materials cited a meter‑purchase allocation of about $367,000 and said the city expects that amount will not fully cover the number of pay stations recommended; recycled single‑head meters would be used where pay stations are not economical.

On accessibility, the team said it applied the U.S. Access Board public right‑of‑way accessibility guidelines to downtown blocks and found gaps. The consultant said the city would likely need \"in the neighborhood of a couple of dozen new barrier free spaces\" on street to meet the standard. The presentation noted lessons learned from the Kalamazoo Mall roll‑out (signage, testing and a public grace period) and stressed public outreach before changes.

Commissioners raised concerns and questions about enforcement hours, deck usage and ADA compliance. Vice Mayor Hess asked whether the city has usage data for the parking decks' 90‑minute free period; the consultant said the deck is a closed system and counts show increased use since the 90‑minute free offering began. Commissioner Prater asked how a forthcoming arena and its anticipated 700,000–800,000 annual visitors might alter demand; the consultant said keeping areas in the paid zone and relying on real‑time data from pay stations and the mobile app will allow the city to evaluate impacts as they occur.

Commissioner questions also focused on ADA issues encountered during the Kalamazoo Mall installations; the consultant said compliance problems were largely due to snow‑melt infrastructure and that lower‑profile pay station models now in use or a small pedestal solution can meet ADA requirements while accommodating snow‑melt systems. The consultant added that the new pay stations are solar powered and can be unbolted and moved temporarily to accommodate nearby construction.

No formal action was taken at the Committee of the Whole; staff said the presentation was informational and outlined a 2025 timeline to continue block mapping, outreach, procurement of equipment and a phased rollout that will include testing, improved signage and a public grace period when enforcement changes occur.

Rob Boccagalupi and Christina Anderson said they will return with implementation details and recommended meter locations for commission review and public notice.","City staff and parking consultant Mission North presented recommendations to reorganize downtown on‑street parking into tiered zones, replace older single‑head meters with pay stations and add a couple dozen barrier‑free on‑street spaces; implementation and meter purchases are planned for 2025.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Plaza Corp, state officials preview $100M‑plus downtown brownfield plan as Northside residents press for homeownership

Resident tells commission ‘silence is deafening’ after 3‑year‑old critically injured; urges city review of KDPS response

City consultants recommend tiered downtown parking, new pay stations and more accessible spaces