Monday, May 29, 2023
Since 1854 — News from Montcalm County and Ionia County, Michigan
The days of spending months discussing small-cost figures for items such as hanging baskets and flower beds appear to be behind the Greenville Downtown Development Authority.
Moving forward, with a renewed healthy flow of annual revenue and all bond debts paid off, members of the DDA are now placing their sights on bigger — and more expensive — improvement projects in the historic downtown district.
As this city looks to increase housing options, the Ionia Downtown Development Authority Board has been discussing allowing first-floor residential units in the Central Business District.
A subcommittee composed of three DDA board members who are downtown property owners — John Krueger, Margot Cook and subcommittee Chairman Paul Lentz — one property owner who is not a DDA board member — Heather Poland-Sizemore — and Ionia City Manager Precia Garland have been studying the matter. They briefed the DDA Wednesday morning on what they have learned so far.
When traveling through this community’s historic downtown district, turning down the correct street can prove to be a difficult task, especially for anyone not familiar with the area.
A number of street signs have faded significantly since being installed during the streetscape project in the early 2000s that saw downtown Lafayette Street (M-91) transformed into its present-day design.
