What Would You Do With $1.7 Million?

[John E]

The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has added $1.7 Million to their coffers with the refinancing of the Van Andel Arena bond debt. Mlive Article

How would you like to see the money spent?

What capital projects downtown could be started with this?

~John

[tamias6]

The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has added $1.7 Million to their coffers with the refinancing of the Van Andel Arena bond debt. Mlive Article

How would you like to see the money spent?

What capital projects downtown could be started with this?

~John

[John E]

I would like to see the money go toward lowering the price for public parking downtown. With some set aside to "advertise" the lower cost parking.

~John

[gvsusean]

1.7 mil is not much. However, I would use it to buy the properties bordering JBZ so that the zoo can expand out into the park and the purchased plots can be turned into park land. (in the process streets could be eliminated, creating more space)

[Veloise]

Do something about the building which contains 134 MC.

Storefront treatments on the vacant ones, along with more advertising and promotions. (Virtual walk-throughs?)

I'll think of some more...

[Rhino6885]

I don't think DDA funds can be used for marketing or any projects outside of the DDA boundaries (so no zoo). I hope some will go to these projects in the Urban Interventions conversation or some riverfront projects. They could also use the money to provide incentives to proposed or future developments, though $1.7M doesn't get you too far anymore...

[GRDadof3]

I would like to see the money go toward lowering the price for public parking downtown. With some set aside to "advertise" the lower cost parking.

~John

[John E]

It's a dollar per half hour. Parking is almost always the biggest issue with people not wanting to go downtown.

http://www.grand-rapids.mi.us/download_upl...20with%20CC.pdf

~John

[AlexPKeaton]

It's a dollar per half hour. Parking is almost always the biggest issue with people not wanting to go downtown.

http://www.grand-rapids.mi.us/download_upl...20with%20CC.pdf

~John

[GRDadof3]

It's a dollar per half hour. Parking is almost always the biggest issue with people not wanting to go downtown.

http://www.grand-rapids.mi.us/download_upl...20with%20CC.pdf

~John

[Yankee Fan]

Some of my costs here are from a quick search on line or are guestimates (i.e. what I could find):

1. Purchase/ install 50 new trees for downtown. Cost: $1000.00

2. Purchase/ install 50 new bike racks for parking bikes throughout DT. Cost: $10,000.

3. Add one more person to walk around and pick up trash left by people. Cost: $30,000 (for the year)

4. Repaint pedestrian crossing lines at major intersections. Cost: $20,000.

5. Offer more grants for business to "spruce up" their exteriors. Cost: budget a maximum of $150,000 towards this.

Okay, so, by my count, we could do these five things and we would still have $1,489,000 left over. Anyone want to add to my list? I've got some room...