Imagine Kalamazoo 2 Year Progress Report

IMAGINE KALAMAZOO 2025

Kalamazoo Imagines Kalamazoo Acts Celebrating 2 Years of Progress

Master Plan Implementation The Master Plan was adopted by the Kalamazoo City Commission on October 16, 2017. After the plan was approved, City staff got to work right away on the actions listed in the IK at Work section of the plan. From the very beginning, there was a commitment to ensure that this was not another plan that would sit on a shelf, but instead would guide the City’s work everyday.

Master Plan

The City’s budget, work, and plans have all been aligned with the Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 (IK2025)

imagine kalamazoo 2025

THE CITY OF KALAMAZOO

vision, so that all time and resources go towards achieving its goals. The IK at Work section of the Master Plan includes 145 Actions, for 8 Strategic Goals. The goal is to complete all of the actions in the Master Plan over 8 years and achieve the community’s vision for Kalamazoo by the year 2025.

145

8

Actions

8

Strategic Goals

Years

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

Year 7

Year 8

October 2017 - 2018

October 2018 - 2019

October 2019 - 2020

October 2020 - 2021

October 2021 - 2022

October 2022 - 2023

October 2023 - 2024

October 2024 - 2025

27%

COMPLETE

17%

ONGOING

31%

IN PROGRESS

25%

NOT STARTED

ACHIEVE KALAMAZOO’S VISION BY YEAR 2025!

2 YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

imagine kalamazoo 2025

Progress by Strategic Goal CONNECTED CITY A city that is networked for walking, biking, riding, and driving.

COMPLETE NEIGHBORHOODS Residential areas that support the full range of people’s daily needs

INVITING PUBLIC PLACES Parks, arts, culture, and vibrant streets

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY A green and healthy city

SAFE COMMUNITY Creating a safe environment for living, working, and playing.

SHARED PROSPERITY Abundant opportunities for all people to prosper.

ECONOMIC VITALITY Growing businesses and stabilizing the local economy to the benefit of all.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT A city with places and supports that help young people thrive

20

Actions

36

Actions

9

Actions

24

Actions

21

Actions

15

Actions

10

Actions

10

Actions

30%

55%

COMPLETE IN PROGRESS

33%

17%

COMPLETE

22%

33%

ONGOING IN PROGRESS

44%

33%

COMPLETE ONGOING IN PROGRESS

25%

17%

5%

19%

33%

27%

13%

27%

17%

COMPLETE ONGOING IN PROGRESS

COMPLETE ONGOING IN PROGRESS

COMPLETE ONGOING IN PROGRESS

80% COMPLETE

10% ONGOING

20%

40%

ONGOING

IN PROGRESS

* There are 10 Strategic Goals, 8 of which make up the Master Plan’s IK at Work section. While all 10 goals overlap on different City projects, the 8 listed here are specifically mentioned in the IK at Work section of the Master Plan. Not listed here is Good Governance and Strength through Diversity.

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YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

Neighborhood Plans The Master Planning Process identified a need for neighborhoods plans that would allow each neighborhood to focus on their own vision while taking into consideration their own unique history and character. Neighborhood Plans allow residents to focus on issues important to their neighborhood, while also creating the opportunity to achieve City-wide Strategic Vision and Master Plan goals through small-scale or focused planning work.

It is the City’s goal to have all of Kalamazoo’s neighborhoods create a neighborhood plan and for those plans to be adopted as sub plans to the 2025 Master Plan. So far, 5 neighborhood plans have been adopted and 3 neighborhoods plans are currently in progress.

ADOPTED

IN PROGRESS

Northside

Oakland Drive/ Winchell

Vine

Parkview Hills

Eastside

West Main Hill

Edison Oakwood

5

Neighborhood Plans Adopted

4 YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

+210

Neighborhood Actions

imagine kalamazoo 2025

Project Highlights We wanted to highlight some of the projects that have been completed or that are underway to help us achieve the actions listed in the Master Plan.

On the following pages are different project highlights from both the Master Plan and the adopted neighborhood plans. This is not a complete list of projects, but gives an overview of some of the work being done in our community.

ONGOING

Connected City

Anthony Ladd, Assistant City Engineer, stands on one of the recently repaired sections of sidewalk on Lake Street near the Kalamazoo Farmers’ Market.

Sidewalk Improvements

MASTER PLAN ACTION “Complete the gaps/missing connectivity between neighborhoods throughout the city for pedestrian, bicycle, and recreational

During the Master Planning Process the community

Non-Motorized Plan implementation.”

improvements

VINE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN GOAL

especially in areas within 1/4 mile of schools, parks,

“Improve sidewalk condition and connections

and Neighborhood or Commercial Nodes. Sidewalks

to help promote greater walkability”

voiced

the

need

for

sidewalk

have also been a common topic discussed during neighborhood planning and several neighborhoods included maps in their plans highlighting priority areas for sidewalk improvements.Thanks to support from the Foundation for Excellence, $1 million was invested to build or improve eight miles of sidewalks in 2019.

EASTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN GOAL “Create or Install Safe and Accessible Infrastructure (sidewalks, crosswalks, curb ramps)” OAKWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN GOAL “Improve Walking Conditions in the Neighborhood”

6 YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

imagine kalamazoo 2025

ONGOING

Complete Neighborhoods Director of the Kalamazoo Eastside Neighborhood Association, Pat Taylor, and Lizzie Luchsinger from Kalamazoo Valley’s Culinary Program.

Eastside Fresh Food Initiative

MASTER PLAN GOAL “Increase access to healthy food in every neighborhood.”

The Kalamazoo Eastside Neighborhood Association

EASTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD

(KENA) has for several years hosted a food bank in the

PLAN GOAL

summer through the Fresh Food Initiative. Eastside’s

“Develop Partnerships to that Increase

Neighborhood plan identified an opportunity to partner

Healthy Eating and Cooking Knowledge

with Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s (KVCC)

and Access (KVCC, PFC, etc.)”

Culinary Program to increase understanding on nutrition and ways to prepare the food to help make healthy eating more approachable and accessible to all. Starting in the Summer of 2019, staff from KVCC attended food distribution days at KENA to provide recipe cards and share tips on preparing the produce that week.

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YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

IN PROGRESS

Complete Neighborhoods

New housing under construction for NACD’s Aging Gracefully project that includes mixed use, below market, housing and commercial development.

Aging Gracefully The

Northside

Association

for

Community

Devleopment’s (NACD) Aging Gracefully project will create new affordable senior living units, exterior improvements to address water issues on existing senior units, complete rehab of one single family home currently rented by a senior, repurposing of two commercial buildings that will provide employment,

MASTER PLAN ACTION “Invest in and incentivize development projects that create senior living/assisted care opportunities and housing options that are affordable throughout the city.”

NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN GOAL “Create Affordable Housing Opportunities”

hydroponic gardening, intergenerational activities for seniors and at risk youth, computer literacy, nutrition and fitness classes, on the Northside of Kalamazoo.

8 YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

imagine kalamazoo 2025

COMPLETE

Inviting Public Places

Steve and Marie Blinn from Olde Penninsula Brewpub and Restaurant and AJ Danias from Fuze Kitchen and Bar stand in Bates Alley, approximately one year after its grand opening.

Bates Alley Activation

Bates Alley was a little-known, underinvested alleyway

MASTER PLAN SECTION Downtown Life: The Arts & Events

along the backside of businesses along East Michigan Avenue between Portage and Edwards Streets. The Bates Alley project, led by Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership, was funded by a Patronicity crowd funding campaign with the MEDC placemaking initiative and the Foundation for Excellence. These funds were used to turn the alley into a vibrant, activated public space for outdoor dining, events, and connecting with friends and neighbors.

Since the completion of the project, Bates Alley has become a pedestrian promenade, complete with outdoor seating for the six bars and restaurants along the block, festive bistro

Bates Alley grand opening in Fall 2018.

lighting, trees, benches and other streetscape elements, the alley has also hosted 23 new events and 2,500+ attendees.

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YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

COMPLETE

Inviting Public Places

Standing in front of the new mural on the Howard’s Party Store building are the store’s owners, the mural artist, Patrick Hershberger, of Bonus Saves, ENA Director, Tammy Taylor, and LISC staff.

Washington Square Mural

The Edison Neighborhood Plan identifies the Washington

EDISON NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN ACTION “Reconstruct Portage Street to include ADA sidewalks, cross walks, bike lanes, historic light posts, landscaping, trees and art “

Square area along Portage Street as a focus area for streetscaping and public art. The neighborhood plan also emphasizes the importance of the neighborhood’s history and culture. As part of implementation for the neighborhood plan, a mural was installed in Washington Square on the Howard’s Party Store building that depicts the history of Washington Square. This project was a collaboration between the Edison Neighborhood Association (ENA), artist, Patrick Hershberger of Bonus Saves, Howard’s Party Store, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and the City of Kalamazoo.

10 YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

The new mural in Washington Square, celebrating Edison’s history.

imagine kalamazoo 2025

COMPLETE

Inviting Public Places

Vine Corners Murals Promoting local art was identified as a priority goal in the Vine Neighborhood Plan. As part of implementation for the neighborhood plan, the Vine Neighborhood Association decided to install murals on their building

Local artists Trevor Grabill (left) and Ellen Nelson (right) stand in front of their murals on the Vine Corners building.

VINE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN GOAL “Promote local arts and music”

VINE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN ACTION “Install Streetscaping, public art, and benches on main roads in neighborhood to placemake and create identity”

at the corner of Vine and Westnedge. Two local artists were identified to paint the murals. One mural, painted

VINE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN ACTION

by Trevor Grabill was located to the right of the Vine

“Use sidewalks, crosswalks and other

Neighborhood Association office and the other mural,

infrastructure as canvasses for local art”

painted by Ellen Nelson, was located to the right of Read and Write Kalamazoo (RAWK).

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YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

IN PROGRESS

Inviting Public Places

Anna Roeder, artist and project manager for the City Snaps project standing in front of one of the wrapped utiility boxes next to Bronson Park.

City Snaps Utility Wraps

MASTER PLAN SECTION Downtown Life: The Arts & Events

City Snaps is a public art project that replaces grey paint on utility boxes with photographs of the city captured by members of the community. Camera stations were placed around the City in downtown, as well as in the Vine and Edison neighborhoods. Each station has disposable cameras that community members can take photos on. The photos are then developed and used to wrap the utility boxes. This project is a partnership between the City of Kalamazoo, the Kalamazoo Public

Wrapped utility box at the intersection of Rose and South

Library, and local artist Anna Roeder. In total 10 Utility Boxes will be wrapped.

12 YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

imagine kalamazoo 2025

ONGOING

Inviting Public Places

Park improvements underway at Reed Street Park in Summer 2019.

Park Improvements Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 has created a culture of continuous

engagement

throughout

City

MASTER PLAN ACTION “Review park facilities or types to detail

projects,

appropriate amenities within each space

including planning park improvements. The Parks &

and determine the appropriate service area

Recreation Department has created a Park Improvement

for each to best serve residents

Process which includes several stages of engagement with residents to help shape what the park will become.

Thanks in part to support from the Foundation for Excellence, over 2018 and 2019, eight parks have been improved including Davis Street Park, Rockwell Park, Frays Park, Crane Park, Henderson Tot Lot, Springmont Tot

MASTER PLAN ACTION “Utilize IK2025 input, neighborhood plans, Kzoo Parks staff expertise, Landscape Architect expertise, and resident input to inform park improvements.”

Lot, Reed Street Park and Bronson Park. These projects have been designed in collaboration with community members and reflect the wishes of each neighborhood.

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YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

ONGOING

Environmental Responsibility Perry Banta, the City’s Forestry Supervisor standing next to one of the trees planted on Arbor Day in Spring 2019.

Increasing the Tree Canopy In Spring 2019, community input was collected through

MASTER PLAN ACTION “Increase the tree canopy throughout the City along streets in Downtown, Neighborhoods, and in Parks; Evaluate the City by neighborhood to determine species for infill strategy.”

an online survey where community members could pin locations where they would like to see street trees planted. Input from the 182 surveys collected helps to inform where future street trees are planted depending on the suitability of each identified location. Thanks to support from the Foundation for Excellence, the City is working to plant 500 trees in Fall 2019/Spring 2020.

Park improvement projects also replace any trees removed at a 2:1 ratio. Approximately 30 new trees were planted through the five park improvements in 2018.

14 YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

Volunteers and City Staff planting trees on Arbor Day in Spring 2019.

imagine kalamazoo 2025

ONGOING

Safe Community

City of Kalamazoo Public Services staff take a moment for a photograph in between lead water service replacements on Westnedge Avenue.

Lead Service Replacement

MASTER PLAN ACTION “Lead Service Replacement�

The City of Kalamazoo has been proactive, with a Lead Services replacement program that has been in place since 1992. At pre-2016 rates total systemwide lead service replacements would have taken 100 years to complete. Because of the Foundation for Excellence and other additional funding sources, lead service replacements are now funded at a rate to enable completion of system-wide replacements in 20 years. 558 lead lines were replaced in 2018, with 800 proposed for 2019, and 1,350 proposed for 2020.

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YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

IN PROGRESS

Shared Prosperity

Patient Care Academy

Patient Care Academy program participants training to become Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA’s)

MASTER PLAN ACTION “Invest in soft skills training, GED programs, service learning, and technical skills.”

The Patient Care Academy is a partnership between the Northside Association for Community Development (NACD), the Kalamazoo Promise, Michigan Career and Technical Institute, Bronson, and the City of Kalamazoo to improve residents’ access to in-demand career training that leads to well paying jobs and to provide healthcare employers a more qualified and diverse talent pool from which to hire. The Patient Care Academy is one of five programs funded in part by the Shared Prosperity Kalamazoo (SPK) High Impact Fund, which was allocated

Posters from a project on dementia.

$2 million by the Foundation for Excellence.

16 YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

imagine kalamazoo 2025

ONGOING

Economic Vitality

Klassy Kidz, a mobile youth entertainment business, received a Business Development Fund loan in 2019 to expand. The funds helped secure a new vehicle, picture with owner Duanta Taylor.

Entrepreneur Support The Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 planning process identified a need for more small business support and increased opportunities for entrepreneurs, which was echoed in the Shared Prosperity Plan. Several major steps have been taken in 2018 and 2019 to make progress in meeting

STRATEGIC VISION SPK SUB GOAL “Support, mentor and grow entrepreneurs through financial support, incubation, and education” MASTER PLAN ACTION “Review all City development processes from the point of view of the client.“

these needs. First, the Business Development Fund was established with FFE support to make resources available through the Small Business Program. Residents can now

SPK PLAN STRATEGY “Equip individuals to utilize self

access a range of resources to start or grow a business

employment/ entrepreneurship

with 20 or fewer employees. Another important step

opportunities “

forward is that the Economic Development team has reorganized to focus on its customers: business owners, entrepreneurs, and developers of all sizes.

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YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

ONGOING

Youth Development

Youth Programs Kzoo Parks has been working to increase participation in youth programs and activities. One action in the

MASTER PLAN ACTION “Support and expand the “All Things Possible Program”

Master Plan was to expand the All Things Possible (ATP) program. Thanks to support from the Foundation for Excellence, daily average attendance in the ATP program increased from mid 20’s in 2017 to the mid 30s in 2018. Kzoo Parks was able to partner with WMU to use their Student Rec Center as the central base and with various WMU departments to increase the impact of the program. Kzoo Parks was also able to partner with the Kalamazoo Promise to implement a paid drivers training voucher upon completion of ATP and graduation of 9th grade. In 2019 a Super Rec site was added to the Eastside neighborhood that averaged 26 youth per day.

18 YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

imagine kalamazoo 2025

2020 Projects Listed below are a few of the projects we’re planning to work on in 2020.

Kalamazoo River Valley Trail Expansion from Walnut to Pitcher and Lake to Reed Phase 1 of the Farmers’ Market Renovation Creating an Action Agenda for a Sustainable Kalamazoo Present recommended street designs 1,350 Proposed Lead Line Replacements Adding a Rain Garden to Oakwood Memorial Beach Park Improvement project at Verburg Park Spray pad installation in Northside neighborhood park More neighborhood plans completed Installing bike racks in Vine commercial node Wayfinding signs for Oakwood Neighborhood Center Safe Routes to School action plans completed/ start to be implemented for Maple Middle School and Winchell Elementary

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YEAR 2 PROGRESS REPORT

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