The unassuming 70s-era brick Saugatuck Township Hall along Blue Star Highway is about to undergo a major transformation, setting the tone for a broader effort to transform this rural highway into a vibrant, walkable community corridor.
The idea is that the hall’s makeover will inspire others to reimagine the future of the area.
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Courtesy Saugatuck TownshipSaugatuck Township Manager Daniel DeFranco.
“We want to beautify the area, modernize the Township Hall, and create a more pedestrian-friendly space along the Blue Star Highway corridor,” says Township Manager Daniel DeFranco.
“Right now, there aren’t clear paths for people to walk, and the area isn’t as welcoming as we’d like it to be. By reimagining the hall’s exterior and surrounding space, we can set an example for the type of community we want to build here.”
Residents can help shape the future of the Blue Star Highway corridor at an upcoming public session. The public is invited to a presentation
of the recently completed Blue Star Corridor Safety Plan on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the Saugatuck Township Hall, 3461 Blue Star Highway.
The Township Hall’s redesign will include a new façade, enhanced signage, and the addition of a pedestrian plaza. The exterior redo comes a year after the completion of the interior renovations of the 4,000-square-foot space. The township has hired the Grand Rapids-based Progressive AE for the project.
“We own this property, and we’re right in the center of the corridor,” DeFranco says of the property purchased by the township in the early 90s. “We have an opportunity to beautify the building, create a pedestrian plaza, and show the public what we’re hoping to see along the corridor: a space that prioritizes pedestrians, fosters community, and reflects our vision for the future of Saugatuck Township.”
Guiding growth
Beyond aesthetics, the project would add sustainable design features such as solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations, and green infrastructure for stormwater management. These changes are part of the township’s long-term vision for encouraging sustainable growth along the highway.
“We’ve seen significant growth, especially over the past decade,” DeFranco says. “During COVID, we saw a real shift with more people moving here full time, coming from places like California, Texas, Colorado, and the East Coast. This change has driven more demand for year-round amenities, shifting us away from a primarily seasonal resort community.”
The township worked with the Allegan County Road Commission, which has jurisdiction over the Blue Star Highway Corridor Safety Plan. The goal is to improve pedestrian and bicyclist access by addressing safety concerns at key intersections.
The township used anonymized cell phone data to capture traffic patterns and user behavior along the Blue Star Highway. The data shows traffic volumes, high-speed areas, and how people move through intersections and across the corridor.
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ScreenshotSaugatuck Township worked with the Allegan County Road Commission, which has jurisdiction over the Blue Star Highway Corridor Safety Plan.
Addressing safety issues
Craig Atwood, managing director of the Allegan County Road Commission, says the township’s decision to lead by updating its property is an important step in the corridor’s transformation.
“The township has seen increased development and raised concerns about safety at a few intersections with some crash history,” Atwood says. “They are trying to make the corridor both safer and more accessible for non-motorized users like walkers and bikers, and their own renovation project is helping to set the stage for future changes.”
The township’s broader vision includes installing sidewalks, extending non-motorized trails, and making streetscape improvements along Blue Star Highway, from north of the city of Saugatuck to 64th Street.
“The township has seen increased development and raised concerns about safety at a few intersections with some crash history,” says Atwood, who has been with the Road Commission for 17 years, the past decade as the managing director. “They are trying to make the corridor both safer and more accessible for non-motorized users like walkers and bikers.”
A roundabout was installed at Blue Star Highway and Old Allegan Road earlier this year. More improvements are being considered as the township looks to balance the needs of drivers and pedestrians.
“Allegan is a rural county, but this area is developing rapidly, and the needs are changing,” he says. “It’s important for us to keep up with those changes and ensure that the infrastructure functions effectively for both current residents and future growth.”
The township’s collaboration with the Road Commission has been essential to developing the Blue Star Highway Corridor Safety Plan, which DeFranco says will help prioritize safety for all users, not just drivers.
“What we found is that the issues aren’t with through drivers,” DeFranco says, “but with people trying to cross Blue Star, whether on foot or by bike. Our goal is to move away from the highway setup and create more of a Main Street design that prioritizes safety for all users.”
Photos and graphics courtesy of Saugatuck Township.