City of Kalamazoo considering measure to employ WMU for downtown vitality study
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The city of Kalamazoo is considering a measure to have Western Michigan University conduct a multiple-year study of their downtown area.
Between 2017 and 2023, a market study for downtown Kalamazoo was conducted, and revealed its one-street network and parking system are preventing the area from reaching its full market potential.
The city is about to start converting the area into a two-way street, and has begun updating its parking system.
To understand both the short-term and long-term impacts of the changes and construction, the city is considering teaming up with WMU professors to conduct a study.
These professors include Dr. Jun-Seok Oh from the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, and Dr. Benjamin Ofori-Amoah from the School of Environment, Geography and Sustainability.
Data gathered will explore the impact of construction, results of activities to mitigate construction impacts, one-way versus two-way street networks, and multi-year analysis of the economic vitality of the area.
"We'll be having conversations with the city to work out proposed solutions so that it's easy for people to get downtown, it's easy for them to visit all the great businesses that are there, and that we can really help," Lisa Garcia, Assistant Vice President of Community Partnerships at WMU, said.
The data will also provide city staff information that can be used to shape events, communications, detours and routing, and marketing.
Getting WMU and Kalamazoo College students downtown is also a large element of the study.
"We want to make it easy for our students and our community get to all of the great things that are happening downtown," said Garcia.
Estimated to cost $115,000, the contract for this project will be voted upon at the Kalamazoo City Commission meeting.