With an investment of $8.57 million, Allegan is breathing new life into its historic streets and laying the foundation for a vibrant future.
The city's Downtown Streetscape Project has improved sidewalks, redesigned street streets, constructed new water and sewer mains, and updated landscaping. The project was financed with a mix of state, federal, and local funding, with the state of Michigan contributing $2 million.
It’s been more than 40 years since any major improvements have been made to the southwest Michigan community's downtown and more than double that time for the city’s water and sewer infrastructure.
"The sidewalks were cracked, heaving, broken, and in places impassable,” says City Manager Joel Dye. “The streets were pothole-ridden. Pedestrians were an afterthought with narrow sidewalks, scarce seating, unattractive, sparse and overgrown landscaping, and no bike racks."
This revitalization effort, driven by urban design, programming, and partnerships with local businesses, is positioning Allegan, a city of about 5,000 people, for sustained economic and cultural growth.
"The vision is to create a well-designed place where the community comes together and fosters the local economy," Dye says. "We wanted to create a place where people just wanted to be."
This approach includes developing "third places," essentially public or semi-public spaces like parks, plazas, and streets where people can socialize outside of their homes and workplaces. Additional seating and new trees and flowerbeds have been integrated into the landscape.
"We coupled that with a very extensive public programming plan," Dye says.
The programming includes the popular Monday night food truck rally, "Fork in the Road," which runs through the summer. In its fourth year, the rally attracts five to seven food trucks each week and features local music performers. The event has become a significant draw, bringing locals and visitors into the heart of downtown.
"The small-town charm and walkability of an urban city has just been enhanced by the improvements in Allegan," says Kyle Heslip, co-owner and head brewer at Schaendorf Brewing Company. "This is a historic town with modern touches, and the new streetscape invites the community to stay."
The communitywide efforts to make Allegan a place to work and play are paying off.
"We're drawing visitors from a broader distance and attracting some of the Lake Michigan tourists exploring Southwest Michigan," says Heslip, who notes the brewery has experienced an 11 percent uptick in business.
Despite notable progress, the city still faces a major challenge: a lack of downtown lodging.
"We have a lodging issue," says the city manager, pointing out that local events like the New Year's Eve ball drop and the Allegan County fair draw thousands of visitors to the county seat. Unfortunately, there are no downtown hotels (there is a bed-and-breakfast, the Jade Estate Inn, within walking distance of the downtown).
The city is working on plans to address this issue by selling a riverfront parcel to a developer in the hopes of securing a hotel for the downtown.
The goal is to transform Allegan into a destination where visitors can stay for several days and use the city as a base to explore nearby attractions in West Michigan. Allegan's strategic location, within easy reach of Grand Rapids, Lake Michigan, and Kalamazoo, makes it an ideal hub for visitors seeking a small-town atmosphere with access to larger regional destinations.
The city's relationship with local businesses has been a key factor in the revitalization success.
"Communication was key," said Parker Johnson, Allegan's Downtown and Community Services manager, emphasizing the importance of maintaining an open dialogue with downtown merchants throughout the Downtown Streetscape Project, which started in March 2023 and has been completed. A ribbon cutting was held in December 2023.
The city's monthly "downtown lowdown" meetings offer business owners a platform to share ideas and address any concerns. The collaboration between city officials, business owners, and local contractors helped ensure projects moved forward without alienating the businesses.
Allegan is actively positioning itself as a place where entrepreneurs can find support, whether through connections to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation or partnerships with local organizations like the Chamber of Commerce.
Heronmark Brewery and Winery, for example, received a $25,000 grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's Match on Main grant program to renovate a vacant storefront in downtown Allegan. The modernized space is home to their production facility and tasting room.
More than 20 businesses have opened in the past five years, ranging from Heronmark Brewery and Winery to Class Act Salon and other shops and restaurants.
One of Allegan's standout amenities is its brewery scene. The city is home to three breweries, an impressive number for a town of its size. Tantrick Brewing Company, Schaendorf Brewing, and Heronmark all call Allegan home, each offering its unique take on craft beer. These establishments have become key players in the city's social district, contributing to its vibrant atmosphere.
"In 2020, the City of Allegan created a social district that includes a majority of the downtown," Heslip says. "Customers are able to grab a to-go alcoholic beverage of their choice and explore the city. With the social district and the city being so walkable, we often partner with the other downtown breweries, Heronmark and Tantrick, for special events."
Events like the ALEgan Beer Festival have helped cement Allegan's reputation as a destination for craft beer lovers, drawing locals and tourists alike.
"We really want people to feel good about Allegan and be proud to be from Allegan," said Tanya Westover, co-owner of Tantrick Brewing in Allegan.
With the Downtown Streetscape Project completed, Allegan is looking to the future.
One key project on the horizon is the development of wayfinding signage to help visitors navigate the downtown and discover hidden gems, such as the riverfront and local historic landmarks. This is part of a broader effort to make downtown Allegan more accessible and inviting to first-time visitors.
Allegan's downtown revitalization is a model of how small towns can invest in their future by creating spaces where people want to gather, shop, and spend time.
Dye shared a memorable success story: A stranger once approached him with their child and said, 'I grew up here, left for college, and never thought I'd return. But the improvements are so amazing, we're moving back to raise our family here.'
Brenda and Chuck Marshall have been chronicling the beauty and culture of Michigan for over ten years. Their stories, filled with local insights and experiences, are published on LifeInMichigan.com. In addition to his writing, Chuck is passionate about photography and has become a prominent documenter of Michigan's vibrant music and craft beer scenes. Together, they promote Michigan one story at a time.
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