The Bunker

The following is from the March 1985 Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation newsletter. It details recommendations made to the City of Ypsilanti by advisors involved in the federal "Mainstreet Program", the Cool Cities Initiative of the 80s.

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Sue Mosey, Director of the Mainstreet Program for downtown, reports some interesting developments in that quarter. Of course, we all know that several businesses have closed or are closing. We know that there is an image problem. And we know the old complaint that "nothing's going on downtown".


But we know, too, that some solid businesses seem firmly entrenched: Congdon's ACE Hardware - the handiest place in the world in any household emergency, even to a quick replacement of glass when you accidentally break a window; Campbell's Jewelers - able even to repair Mom and Dad's wedding present, a Telechron clock, dated 1924; Durant's Flowers - a first class shop by anyone's standards, both inside and out; Materials Unlimited - a nationally known storehouse of architectural gems; numerous small businesses of high quality - cleaners, tailors, shoe repair, keys, etc.; restaurants and bars - Haab's, Woodruff's Grove, Mainstreet, Mayflower, etc.; and a public library, newly endowed with funds from taxpayers who supported it at the ballot box - the finest, and prettiest, library in the area.


Now Sue reports new developments: the DDA has just hired Bill Johnson, Ann Arbor architect, to spend a day surveying the needs of the downtown in terms of public improvements, and he has laid out a plan which is already receiving serious attention. He has suggested identifying the downtown with bold visual statements at each of its main entryways: the intersections of Michigan, Congress, and Ballard; Hamilton and Michigan; Adams and Michigan; Ferris and S. Huron; and the Michigan Ave. bridge. Particularly at Adams/Michigan and at the bridge, he recommends very solid bold plantings of BIG trees - six on either side of Michigan in front of the library and in front of Materials Unlimited. These 'groves' would be emphasized with special lighting - five or six lamps on either side. Something similar would be done at Ferris/S. Huron. At Ballard and at Hamilton, stronger statements need to be made to give notice that traffic is approaching downtown. A new downtown logo is being developed and will be utilized in these areas.


Johnson recognized all the efforts already made at improvement, but noted that theses are fragmented and give a sense of clutter, when beautification was the intent.


The City is preparing a grant application to the Dept. of Natural Resources for further park improvement along the Huron River, and the entry treatment proposed by Johnson at the Michigan Ave. bridge is being incorporated into this including the 'grove', a stairway down to Riverside Park from beside Materials Unlimited, improved parking at the south end of the park, and an extension of the already lovely trails.


Sue Mosey reports that the DDA recently sponsored a retail-mix workshop which brought two marketing consultants, Jim Bier of Detroit and Coleman Levin of Washington, to study the needs of the community and to recommend the best mix of new shops for the downtown. Would you like to hear some of their suggestions? Would you like to DREAM while downtown plans and works to make it the place we all would like it to be?


Well, on N. Huron the suggestions include 2 or 3 women's clothing stores, a women's shoe store, a card & gift shop, a deli and cheese shop, fabric, craft, and hobby shops. In the H&R Block building, considered the centerpiece for the new downtown, a large appliance, computer and electronic center. For the Washington St. mall, a phone center near the Bell office, and a full line bakery and deli.


There is also a need for a photo processing center, something like Sun Photo, with one-hour processing, a larger drugstore, a video-records shop. a jeans & casual apparel shop geared to the campus crowd, a sporting goods shop, one large or two small men's clothing stores.


Meanwhile, watch for more immediate noteable changes downtown, facade improvements at Hawkins House, expansion and facade improvement at Puffer Red, a new paint job (if not facade restoration) on Sterling Vision, and facade improvements at 18-20 N. Washington (Peg's Golden Griddle and Assoc. Group Underwriters) and at 56 N. Huron.


Those interested in the new movement in the downtown (shall we call it "The Grove"?) should consult Sue Mosey at the Mainstreet offices, 483-6680. She will soon be able to present you with a new Business Recruitment Package, which should help prospective investors and retailers in deciding the best way to go.