Belleville DDA member insists on emphasis to make downtown vibrant

After discussing the 2018-19 fiscal year budget prepared for the Belleville Downtown Development Authority at its May 16 meeting, it was noted there was nothing in the property acquisition line item.
Alicia McGovern, a DDA member who is Financial Advisor at Edward Jones, said she would like to have property acquisition and then selling of that property to a business.
“The line item is blank now,” she pointed out in disappointment.
DDA coordinator Carol Thompson said the fund balance is around $1 million, with a couple payables.
“I think we should be talking about property acquisition and bringing business to Belleville,” McGovern said.
It’s not in there because Belleville has been in “like a stagnant state,” said treasurer Sabrina Richardson Williams.
“We’ve been in a stagnant state,” McGovern agreed.
Thompson said the downtown was in a stagnant state before the DDA redid Main Street and the streetscape. She said eight years ago there was 24% vacancy and now it’s 10%.
She said six places are for sale and four for lease.
DDA chairwoman Rosemary Loria said the slowdown was due to economic conditions.
“It’s trickling now, but its coming our way,” Loria said.
“I came to Main Street,” McGovern said. “But, Belle’s just went out of business.”
Thompson said a retailer is looking to rent that space.
McGovern said the DDA needs to work to make the downtown more vibrant. She said Plymouth was very similar and had to struggle to get where it is.
“We could do that,” she said. “I don’t see us talking about it a lot.”
Councilman Tom Fielder spoke from the audience, saying that because there’s nothing on that line item doesn’t end it. He said the DDA, he believes, wouldn’t have a conflict with finding out who wants to develop and where and help out.
“If something comes up wouldn’t you rather have it ready?” she asked.
“You can use the fund balance,” Fielder said.
DDA member Denise Baker said that it would be like the facade grants. It used to be in a line item, but now comes from the fund balance.
“I’m glad we’re talking about this,” McGovern said.
The DDA voted unanimously to approve the new budget as presented and send it on to the city council to be a part of the total city budget. Under law, the DDA budget is required to be in the hands of the city by June 1.
The new budget includes $1,500 each to the following groups for Community Program/Event Funding: National Strawberry Festival; Belleville Area Council for the Arts — Music Lakeside; Belleville Area Chamber of Commerce — Winter Fest; Central Business Community — Harvest Fest, Booville, Santa photos, Flop E Bunny; and Belleville Area Museum — Harvest Fest/Booville and Holiday Season.
Revenue projection was $692,540 and expenditures projection the same for a balanced budget. Balance after the bond payments is $305,932. Administration is $56,882 and District Maintenance is $168,350.
Economic Development is $34,700 and includes marketing/PR, New Tech SOUP Project, decorations and banners; promotion, advertising, and marketing; and community program funding.
Capital Improvement is $46,000 and includes engineering support for new projects, park improvements, other board projects, and public art.
In other business at the May 16 meeting, the DDA:
• Accepted the low bid of $1,432 for 60 cubic yards of FIBAR engineered wood fiber for Victory Park playground surfaces from Jack Golden Associates of Eastpointe. Other bidders were Play Environments of Holland at $1,550, Miracle Midwest of Holly at $1,552, and Randy Brown Landscape of Van Buren Township at $1,680. Although there was discussion about going with the highest bid because it was local, the DDA decided to follow its policy and award the low bid. Even with the local bidder preference of 4%, Brown’s bid was still more. Loria said although volunteers had spread wood fiber in an Earth Day project, there are rules on how thick the mulch has to be, so more was needed;
• Set a joint meeting with the planning commission for 7 p.m., June 14, on the planning commission’s regular meeting night. The June 20 meeting of the DDA was cancelled;
• Heard Thompson explain that rather than using other means to ensure security for the Horizon Park waterfront, she has met with Belleville High School New Tech media students to shape a campaign informing the community about the ADA canoe/kayak launch, including signs, video, and possible podcast. She said the class would present their ideas to the DDA and the DDA would decide what to do;
• Heard Thompson also announce that New Tech will be giving Main Street Resolution proposals for the downtown at the school on Wednesday, June 6, in morning and afternoon sessions. The DDA is invited to attend;
• Heard Treasurer Williams report that the $1,400 paid to Van Buren Township in a joint effort to cut brush along Denton Road is in the accounts payable before them. Williams noted the cost had escalated from what they thought it would be. The total accounts payable of $6,650 was unanimously approved;
• Heard Councilman Fielder note that the brush is cut and left and needs to be picked up. Loria said now the county has to keep its part of the bargain and trim the area later in the season; and
• Heard Thompson announce that the new outdoor sculptures are expected to be put in place on Thursday, May 24.