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Not everyone is aware of downtown development authorities (DDA), or why they are important. Many cities have one, and Michigan has 35 of them. Prein&Newhof often works with DDAs on projects related to streetscapes and downtown infrastructure.

Downtown is considered the heart of the city. It is an expanse of a few streets that are pedestrian-oriented and often show the historical aspect of the community. It is an important driver for commerce, a stage for public events, and a representation of the city’s identity.

Many cities’ development has focused on suburbs and subdivisions in the last 60 years. This pattern stems from the invention of cars and streetcars. Streetcar suburbs are now often the main thoroughfares of major cities, since we build where transportation is available. Although downtown living has been abandoned in the past century, the resurgence in the last ten years has been significant. We still value our downtowns and direct special funds and efforts to keep them vibrant.

DDAs use incremental property taxes from downtown property owners to make public improvements, which encourage private investment. DDAs are formed by the municipal government after public hearing and approval, and are given boundaries as a district.

Place-based economic development has become a popular issue in response to the economic recession of the last few years. Michigan cities have seen that local identity can drive local commerce, which stabilizes local economies.

Prein&Newhof was happy to be involved with the design of Greenville’s streetscape for M-91, which built the character and identity of Greenville’s downtown and was partially funded by Greenville’s DDA.

Do you think downtowns are worth our investment?

Sometimes it’s useful to be able to map data. That’s why we have Geographic Information Systems, a powerful relational database and information mapping program that takes some training to use and understand.

Luckily for us, ArcGIS offers access maps and mapped data online, on an interface as easy-to-use as Google.

ArcGIS Explorer allows you to not only view different map types, by choosing the basemap, but also to add data on top of the basemap to show information like population density, racial diversity, and median income.

Basic

IMPORTANT: Before you start, it’s good to know that you cannot save a map unless you have a (free) account with ArcGIS online. (Click the “Sign In” button the upper right corner to sign up.)

From the main page, which shows already-made maps, you can click the “New Map” on the upper left corner to start your own map.
In the search bar on the upper right corner, put in your town, eg: “Grand Rapids Michigan”
To add data, click the button on the top that says “Add Content” and search for the type of information you need.

When you add the layer, it will show up on the map and be listed on the left side of the screen under “Layers.” This is a map of population density. The population density map is overlaying the basemap. You can click on a block group to get specific information.

You can also make the layer less opaque in order to see on or more layers of the map at a time. Click the side arrow of the layer in the Layers sidebar.

If you press the legend button on the right side of the left sidebar, you can see what the color symbology means.
You can even add your own “features,” so if you need to map the locations of something specific or a designated area, you can add points and lines to demonstrate them.

Queries

If you want to really get fancy, you can use Queries to highlight only certain data from the layers. Let’s say you want a list of census tracts with a density lower than 100 persons per square mile. Use a query on the Density layer and click on “Tracts.”

The query will ask you to set the parameters. You want to know the population density, so that’s the first thing you choose. You want to know where tracts are fewer than 100 persons per square male, so you choose “is less than” in the second prompt and type “100” into the third. A window will pop up on the right side of the screen, listing all the census tracts.

Measuring Distance and Calculating Area

The measure tool is at the top – a ruler with two arrows.

If you click it, you will also have the option to calculate the area using the button next to it, and change the units.

Click one corner of the area you want to measure, then click the next corner, until you have the shape you want. Then click once more on the same spot, and the area calculation should show up at the top with the option to change units.

Click below to view a snazzy introduction to Low Impact Development (LID) as it relates to stormwater management.

As we’ve said before, stormwater management is an emerging issue in West Michigan as methods and technologies are changing.

Stormwater Management Technologies for Low Impact Development on Prezi

There’s a growing fear that the Great Lakes water is in danger, and that we need to work quickly to keep people from trying to steal it – or worse, sell and profit from it. Fortunately, this fear is unfounded, based largely on myths about current laws and practices.

Myth #1 – We are using too much of the Great Lakes’ water.

On an average day, 150 billion gallons of water arrive in Michigan through rain and snow, and we only use 6.7% of it. The rest stays in our groundwater, lakes, and streams until it evaporates or flows out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Most of the 10 billion gallons that Michigan communities and businesses do use every day goes right back into the water cycle. About 80% is used as cooling water in thermoelectric power plants and released back into the Great Lakes. The remaining 20% is used for public and private drinking water supply, farming, and manufacturing – after which it passes through our drainage or wastewater systems and re-enters Michigan’s lakes and streams.

Myth #2 – Drier areas of the country want to take our water.

Many people are worried about diversions – transporting the Great Lakes water to somewhere outside the Great Lakes watershed. Not only would a large diversion to the Southwest be ridiculously expensive, but there are already legal ways to prevent it. The Water Resources Development Act (passed by Congress in 1986) gives the governor of any Great Lakes state the right to veto any diversion. Moreover, leaders from the Great Lakes Basin states and provinces worked together to create the Great Lakes Charter – an agreement to minimize pollution and prevent diversions. Diversions to the thirsty southwest are not a threat.

Myth #3 – Bottled water companies are a threat to the Great Lakes.

The idea of bottled water companies selling “our” water makes a lot of people anxious, but we have to remember two things. First, hundreds of companies across Michigan already send water out of the Great Lakes Basin in the form of canned goods, processed food, and drinks. These companies have been sending our water all over the world for decades. Our economy has grown, and our environment hasn’t suffered for it. If this water use doesn’t concern us, why should bottled water?

Second, before we worry that bottled water companies will take “too much” water, we need to understand what “too much” means. Any time a company wants to draw significant amounts of water, studies should be performed to determine how much water goes in, how much will be taken out, and if the source can sustain the demands. That’s called sustainability – responsible water use that doesn’t dry up or damage wells, streams, and other sources. The emphasis should be on sustainability (using the right amount) not conservation (using less).

Myth #4 – We can protect the Great Lakes by enacting laws that restrict water use.

A set of bills regulating water use recently passed in Michigan, requiring communities to get DEQ approval before updating their water systems, and requiring businesses to obtain permits and file annual reports if they use significant amounts of water. In addition, a proposed Annex to the Great Lakes Charter requires all Great Lakes states to inventory and regulate their water withdrawals and set conservation goals. And recently, there has been a proposal to prohibit the sale of bottled water outside of the Great Lakes Basin.

These requirements may seem small, yet they have a large – and mostly negative – influence. First, they emphasize conservation, not sustainability. Implying that people should use less water is simplistic, and it’s not feasible if our communities and businesses are to continue to grow.

Second, when communities need permission to grow, they have to spend more time and money to make simple, necessary improvements. When businesses have to jump through expensive hoops (apply for permits, hire consultants to conduct tests, etc.) before they can expand and bring jobs to the state, they might decide to build elsewhere.

Michigan will continue to grow, and we should focus on using water wisely to our economic advantage. Sustainability is the key.

I think we should recruit more bottled water plants. They would bring jobs and tax money toMichigan– just the thing we’re trying to promote. After all, our most abundant resource – the one no one else can match – is fresh water. Let’s help everyone to use it well, rather than stifling our ability to grow.

Myth #5 – The greatest threat to the Great Lakes is over-use.

The greatest threat to the Great Lakes is contamination. We have to start talking about the quality of our water, about soil erosion, toxic waste discharges, and everything that gets through our wastewater system – like microorganisms that are resistant to chlorine, residual chemicals from prescription drugs, and chemicals from our soaps, perfumes, and cosmetics. The EPA is finding all of these in our lakes and streams, and there’s a big concern that these things will end up in our drinking water as well. If we want to protect our water, we should think first about improving its quality, not reducing the quantity that we use.

Resources

Important Information