Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Coldwater says 79% complete toward Redevelopment Ready Communities certification; downtown projects, facades and housing highlighted
Summary
At the Feb. 24 city council meeting, the cityeconomic development coordinator reported the community is 79% toward Redevelopment Ready Communities certification and summarized downtown housing, facade grants, a posted RFP for Western Meadows and sidewalk improvements.
Aaron, the city's economic development coordinator, told the Coldwater City Council on Feb. 24 that the city is 79% complete toward Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification and reviewed a range of downtown and corridor projects intended to attract investment.
The RRC status matters, Aaron said, because "this lets developers know that we are serious about our community, and we are serious about them coming in and redeveloping and and building and working with us." He asked council to note updates in the economic development strategy and implementation spreadsheet included with his letter to council.
Key updates Aaron listed included an upper-floor housing project by GNR Real Estate at 22 West Pearl Street that is scheduled to begin construction in spring with ground-floor commercial space and four apartment units; an ongoing downtown business and building inventory maintained by staff; retail activity including an expansion by El Taco Loco and a new brick-and-mortar opening by El Cunado; and an inventory correction from 12 to eight new downtown businesses in 2024.
Aaron also said the facade improvement program is active: the city will present a $27,500 check to Jeanne's Diner for completed facade work at 14 and 16 West Chicago Street, and additional improvements at 5 South Monroe and 40 South Hanson Street are expected to finish in spring. He reported a pass-through grant related to environmental work at the Coldwater Villas senior apartment project in a different agenda section (see votes roundup for details).
On land development, Aaron said the Western Meadows request for proposals was posted and closed on Feb. 13. He said a previously considered partnership with Quincy (from a 2018 plan) likely will not proceed because the current owner of Fairfield Plaza does not appear interested. He noted a potential canoe/kayak water trail with Union City had no update.
On connectivity and walkability, Aaron said easements on Willowbrook Road are complete and sidewalk construction to connect nearby apartments to M-12 is scheduled to begin in spring to improve pedestrian access to the hospital and surrounding neighborhoods. He described the public-participation tracking the city reports for RRC certification: 23 regular city council meetings and 33 public participation instances, plus activity across planning, zoning and downtown development authority meetings and regular social-media/posting metrics.
Aaron closed by asking for questions; council members responded as listed in the meeting record but no formal council action on the RRC update was taken at the meeting.
Ending: Council took the RRC update for informational purposes; Aaron invited follow-up and the item will remain part of annual RRC reporting and implementation tracking.
