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Cascade DDA reviews 2025 projects, reports roughly $5 million in district work
Summary
The Cascade Charter Township Downtown Development Authority reviewed 2025 permitting, reported about $4 million in interior renovations and just over $5 million in total district construction work, and outlined village planning projects and upcoming public engagement.
Speaker 1, the meeting presenter, opened the informational review and said, "This is our second informational meeting of the year." The Downtown Development Authority provided an overview of its history and boundaries, noting expansions in 2003 (interchange area) and 2004 (Centennial Business Park).
The DDA summarized permitting activity in 2025: Speaker 1 said the district had 30 building permits issued and "overall, we're looking at about a $4,000,000 investment" in interior renovations, with total work in the district just over $5,000,000; the DDA accounted for about 28% of that value. Presenter comments identified three new tenant renovations—5 Below, Hot Works and Smoothie King—and a recently received permit for Jersey Mike's near Thornapple Brewing. Speaker 1 also described Speed Collection, a vehicle protective-film service, as an expected new permit for the same complex.
The board reviewed ongoing village planning initiatives. Speaker 1 said the "Village Reimagined" project grew out of the township master plan and recent acquisitions including the Tuffy site and Verbur's property; Troyer Group prepared preliminary Tassel Park concepts and a Dec. 8 open house collected public feedback that will be reviewed ahead of another open house planned for early next year.
Completed and continuing capital projects cited by the presenter include Friendship Park ("Friendship Park was a $1,750,000 project," Speaker 1 said), Cascade Road Bridge upgrades with decorative fencing and ornamental lighting, and near-complete sidewalk repairs along the 28th Street corridor. The presenter also said SAW grants approved in 2024 are suspended while the township updates its zoning ordinance and the DDA revises its scorecard to align with the new form-based code.
The DDA noted recent programming and promotions—Metro Cruise, the Heritage Festival and a modified Christmas tree lighting at Stone House—and said turnout was strong at these events. Speaker 1 closed the presentation and invited questions.
Votes at a glance: the meeting recorded two routine actions—formal approval of the meeting agenda at the start of the session (motion moved by Speaker 1, seconded by Speaker 3; outcome: approved) and a motion to adjourn at the end of the meeting (motion moved by Speaker 3, seconded by Speaker 6; outcome: adjourned).
What comes next: the DDA plans another public open house early next year on the Village Reimagined/Tassel Park work; the board will use the 2025 figures as a benchmark for the next informational meeting.
