Kalamazoo city leaders get fresh perspective on creating safer, livelier downtown
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Architecture students and faculty for the University of Notre Dame met with Kalamazoo residents and city leaders Wednesday to unveil their ideas on how to turn the city's downtown into a vibrant place.
“It’s really great to have a fresh set of eyes on your city,” said Rebekah Kik, Community Planning and Economic Development Director for the City of Kalamazoo.
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Pedestrians avoid downtown Kalamazoo because they don't feel safe around the streets, according to the team from Notre Dame. Students and staff saw drivers flying down Michigan Avenue, which has a 45 miles per hour speed limit, at 80 miles per hour.
“One of the problems, for instance with Michigan Avenue, is cars are going 50, 60, 70 miles an hour and the sound and the threat of accident is so huge that nothing ever happens, said Stefanos Polyzoides, dean of Notre Dame’s School of Architecture. “Nobody can actually use those streets to sit out in the summer and drink a cup of coffee.”
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Students, distinguished professionals and staff went over design plans and constructive ideas Wednesday.
“I think that one sort of misconception is that our downtown is built out,” Kik said. “One thing that the students showed us were some really great maps and diagrams of how many parking lots we have how many empty lots that we had."
Vacant land that Notre Dame students, and the city of Kalamazoo agreed could become a home or a business, which could help energize downtown Kalamazoo.
Next steps include the team at Notre Dame creating a report to submit to the city.
Kalamazoo city leaders said this will include steps on how to turn the report's recommendations into reality.
