KALAMAZOO ? Gov. Jennifer Granholm has awarded the city of Kalamazoo, on behalf of Downtown Kalamazoo Inc. and its Edison Mainstreet Program, and Allied Capital Corporation, a $100,000 grant to support the redevelopment of the former adult entertainment business buildings in Washington Square ? a $1.5 million project.
The City, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation have already invested $748,000 in the acquisition and pre-development of the site. Remaining rehabilitation and new construction costs will be invested by Allied Capital Corporation and other local foundations.
Battle Creek Unlimited also received a $100,000 grant for its Riverfront Condominium Project: Unique mixed-use development of three historic structures into 24 market-rate condominiums and five first-floor retail shops on Michigan Avenue alongside the Battle Creek River. Targeted retail tenants include an independent art gallery, arts/crafts supply store, restaurant with outdoor cafe, and office space for the Downtown Partnership. The grant will be used to rehabilitate historic buildings to mixed use.
Statewide, 13 projects have received the Cool Cities ?Neighborhoods in Progress? designation, which gives them priority access to existing state grant funds, loans, tax credits, or services that can help create vibrant, mixed use neighborhoods. Besides Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, the other cities receiving projects include Ann Arbor, Detroit (four projects), East Lansing, Grand Rapids (two projects), Holland, Lansing, and Traverse City.
The City of Kalamazoo was also a recipient of a Cool Cities grant in 2004. That money was used move Smartshop, a unique metalworking school, gallery, and sculpture garden to a new location on the city?s north side. The project is intended to spur development of a cluster of gathering places, thus advancing the ?Cool? aspects of mixed-use, neighborhood intrinsic, pedestrian-friendly development that enhances culture, community and economic development.
?Building vibrant, energetic cities that attract jobs, people and opportunity to our state is a key component of our economic vision for Michigan,? Granholm said. ?The first year of Cool Cities exceeded our expctations, so I am pleased to announce that the program has been expanded and incorporates 29 projects across the state. All of these programs announced today will strengthen our neighborhoods and downtowns and attract jobs and people to our state.?
