Saginaw is among seven cities in Michigan chosen to start working on placemaking and economic development through the PlacePlans program.
PlacePlans is a partnership between the Michigan Municipal League and Michigan State University to help communities design and plan transformative projects intended to attract and retain residents and employers.
Saginaw will work on downtown and Old Town Saginaw, and adjacent neighborhoods, based on work that's already been started by businesses and institutions in the city.
Place-based investment is something that's been identified as important to the city's success, but a clear set of shared priorities needs to be established, according to the MML announcement. So, the first step will be to put a strategic process of goal-setting in place to get all the existing groups together and on the same page about what needs to done next for Saginaw. Then, an action plan on specific projects will follow.
The other participating communities this year are Benton Harbor, Lathrup Village, Monroe, Niles, Boyne City, and Traverse City. This group is the third round of cities to work with PlacePlans, which started in 2012. In mid-Michigan, Flint and Midland have previously started the process.
"With this announcement, in just three short years we are very pleased to have helped about two dozen communities throughout Michigan with projects that will benefit their cities for years to come," says Dan Gilmartin, CEO and executive director of the
Michigan Municipal League.
Now, the next thing to happen will be a stakeholder process for the city, drawing together those who have interests in placemaking for Saginaw. Then, a round of public meetings and drafts to gain input will take place before plans, goals, and guidelines for implementation are created.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Michigan Municipal League
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