TRAVERSE CITY — The Traverse City, City Manager, Liz Vogel, wants an update on a social district pilot project on the east side.
Specifically, the area involves businesses at the corner of Eighth Street and Garfield Avenue. The aim of the project, that was implemented on Labor Day of last year, is to convert the public service drives and parking lots into useable outdoor space for those businesses.
It’s all part of what’s called “tactical urbanism,” meaning the city would provide places for people to easily get to on foot or by bike. At a cost of roughly $60,000, tables, bike racks, garbage receptacles and concrete planters were to be installed to provide place for customers to sit outside.
The other component of the project was to get permission from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission to allow alcoholic beverages in those outdoor areas.
The project has been met with both approval and criticism, with some businesses happy to have a place for community members to gather and socialize outside, while others have said the city didn’t exactly deliver on what was promised.
Monday, City Planner, Shawn Winter, is expected to give the City Commission an update on the project and answer questions. They will also hear about some things where they made need to take action at future meetings, including banning smoking, allowing reusable cups and expanding the boundaries of the social district to the west and south.
The update on the East Side Placemaking Project will be given Monday, April 28 at 7 p.m. in the Commission Chamber on the second floor of the Traverse City Governmental Center, 400 Boardman Avenue.