By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
A big buzzword in the city planning community is known simply as ‘creating place.?
The purpose of the two-word phrase is to find low budget, high quality upgrades to a downtown area that enhances experience.
Next on the project list for the Downtown Development Authority is to lighten and brighten an alley on Flint Street. The alley, which runs along Something Fabulous Located at 15 E. Flint Street and Salon U located next door, connects to a public parking lot and it’s currently dark and unsettling at night.
‘We’ve looked at that alley for years and thought there’s a lot of opportunity with it,? DDA Director Suzanne Perrault said. ‘We have a plan and we have to get some electrical figured out but we want to get it done this month.?
According to Perrault, the DDA had plans five years ago after an architect with Oakland County came up with a free design rendering but the cost was too steep to implement. This year the DDA partnered with the Junior Chamber of Commerce after they approached Perrault asking for the materials and they’d provide the work.
The junior chamber plans to build a pergola type structure overhead and string lights down the alley. It’ll also have benches and planter boxes to give it a more appealing look, especially at night.
‘We’re trying to provide a cooler, safer and better lit path up to Flint street,? Perrault said. ‘I think once we see the success and how much people use and enjoy it maybe we can make more of a further investment in the alley.?
The DDA put a budget of $2,000 to complete the project but the actual cost is looking to be half that amount.
This project comes shortly after the implementation of the parking space ‘parklet? project outside of A Bean to Go on Flint St.
The parklet, which is public seating area in a parking space, was another idea for creating space in downtown and according to Perrault, the response has been mostly positive.
‘There’s a lot of people that are using that space and excited to be able to sit outside. I think it’s been a very positive addition to our downtown,? she said.