Projects

In 2014, the City of Cadillac aimed to revitalize its downtown Heritage Plaza to create a vibrant, welcoming space that truly captured the city’s spirit. Partnering with the Michigan Municipal League through the MIplace Partnership initiative, Cadillac developed a PlacePlan to transform the area into Cadillac Commons—a central hub for both residents and visitors.

The re-imagined Cadillac Commons features key attractions including the Rotary Performing Arts Pavilion, The Plaza, The Trailhead, and The Market. Enhancements to the Plaza include a new splash pad, an outdoor fireplace, and a stylish metal arch, all designed to create a more inviting atmosphere. Overhead utilities were relocated underground to maintain a visually appealing downtown.

The Market, a versatile 6,000-square-foot pavilion, is the centerpiece of the transformation. It hosts events such as the Cadillac Farmers’ Market and the Cadillac Made in Michigan Artisan and Farm Market, providing a dynamic space for local vendors and community gatherings. The redevelopment has successfully turned Cadillac Commons into a bustling center for community activities and local culture.

Park Township recognized the need for a strategic approach to managing its extensive park system, which includes trails, playgrounds, and boat launches. To ensure long-term sustainability and effective maintenance, the Township sought a comprehensive plan for asset management.

Leveraging experience from similar projects, a Parks Asset Management Plan (AMP) was proposed. Utilizing GPS technology and digital photography, a detailed inventory of all park assets was created and integrated into a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) platform. This system provides valuable insights into the condition, location, and needs of recreational facilities and natural areas.

The AMP now offers Park Township a clear overview of park assets, directly informing their Five-Year Recreation Master Plan and Capital Improvement Plan. This proactive approach enhances maintenance planning, ensures financial sustainability, and helps preserve the quality of the park system, benefiting residents with improved recreational opportunities and long-term cost savings.

As passenger traffic at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City steadily increased, airlines began deploying various aircraft types to meet growing market demands. Recognizing the need to accommodate this growth, TVC collaborated with engineering experts to successfully demonstrate to the FAA that a runway extension was essential for the airport’s capacity and safety.

The project focused on a 400-foot extension of Runway 28 and the relocation of the airport’s only instrument landing system (ILS). These upgrades were strategically aimed at enhancing operational safety and efficiency. Despite the complexity, the airport remained fully operational throughout the project, thanks to a meticulously planned, multi-phase construction approach.

Key project highlights include:

• The glide slope antenna was moved, and a new medium-intensity approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights was installed.
• Temporary and permanent precision approach path indicators were added, and the Automated Surface Observation Station weather equipment was relocated to improve flight safety.

The runway now allows aircraft to operate with minimal load reductions during the summer and provides additional braking distance during winter operations. This upgrade also enables airline pilots to decelerate and turn onto a taxiway closer to the terminal, significantly reducing ground taxi times and minimizing runway occupancy.

The City of Muskegon’s Lakeshore Drive reconstruction was a key project aimed at revitalizing the Lakeside neighborhood and boosting its appeal. The initiative addressed aging infrastructure, a deteriorating road surface, and outdated utilities, all of which limited the area’s growth potential.

City leaders, residents, businesses, and the neighborhood association collaborated closely to shape the project’s vision and ensure it met the community’s needs. The $6 million project involved resurfacing Lakeshore Drive, consolidating two century-old water transmission mains into one, and adding modern amenities such as updated street lighting, crosswalks, benches, bicycle racks, and enhanced landscaping.

The successful completion of the project not only improved essential infrastructure but also transformed the neighborhood into a more inviting space, setting the stage for future waterfront development and greater community engagement.

City of Parchment

In 2018, the City of Parchment discovered dangerously high PFAS levels in its drinking water, impacting approximately 3,100 homes and businesses in Parchment and Cooper Township. The contamination posed an immediate health risk, prompting swift action.

Parchment, Cooper Township, and Kalamazoo quickly shut down the contaminated wells and established emergency connections to Kalamazoo’s water system. Within a day, Kalamazoo began flushing the system to clear out the contaminated water. In just 21 days, three permanent water connections were designed, permitted, and constructed.

Following the emergency response, Kalamazoo secured a DWSRF loan to extend water mains and connect additional homes in affected areas. The project began in 2020 and was completed by summer 2021, ensuring a safe, long-term water supply for hundreds of homes and resolving the crisis for the community.

Richland Township

In 2016, PFAS contamination was discovered in Richland Township, affecting local drinking water wells. To address this urgent health concern, the City of Kalamazoo sought funding through the DWSRF program to expedite the design and construction of a water main extension, connecting affected homes to a safe water supply.

In 2019, the state introduced the C2R2 grant program to assist communities dealing with contamination. By quickly adapting the funding request, Kalamazoo secured one of the first C2R2 grants. With accelerated design and funding in place, the project went to bid in the fall of 2019 and was completed by spring 2020—marking the first of two critical water main extensions.

Following the success of the first project, Kalamazoo obtained additional DWSRF funding for a second extension into more PFAS-affected areas. Completed by spring 2021, this project ensured clean, safe water for even more homes, securing long-term protection for the community.

The Boardman Lake Loop is a scenic 4.2-mile trail encircling Boardman Lake, just south of downtown Traverse City. It offers a mix of urban and natural landscapes, providing access to commercial areas in the north and dense woodlands in the east. The trail connects key community assets, including the library, a food market, Northwestern Michigan College University Center, and various neighborhoods.

In 2015, local leaders prioritized closing a long-standing 1.6-mile gap in the trail. After considering various options, they decided on a bold plan to cross the lake at a shallow point. Despite challenges like constructing a long boardwalk in soft underwater soil, the potential for scenic views and wildlife protection made this option appealing.

The final design featured land routes, a boardwalk over the lake, water access amenities such as stairs and a fishing deck, and two bridges over the Boardman River.

Construction presented several significant challenges, especially with the peat-filled, shallow lake bottom where the boardwalk was to be built. Traditional construction equipment was not effective, so a swamp excavator was used to navigate the soft terrain without the need for dredging.

After over 30 years of planning and construction, the loop was completed in July 2022. The trail has since become a popular and cherished community asset, demonstrating that the long wait was worthwhile.

In 2017, PFAS contamination was discovered in the private wells of many residents in Plainfield and Algoma Townships, prompting a collaborative response to provide safe municipal water. Wolverine Worldwide tested wells and supplied bottled water and filtration systems to affected households, while local leaders and engineers devised a solution to address the contamination.

A pilot study was initiated to explore the effectiveness of modifying existing rapid sand filters at the water treatment plant with granular activated carbon (GAC). Funded by a $750,000 grant from the State of Michigan, the study tested different filter configurations to optimize PFAS removal. The initial results were promising, with the modified filters successfully meeting water treatment standards and eliminating PFAS.

The project involved replacing the traditional filter media with GAC, modifying filter bottoms to accommodate a deeper bed of GAC, and raising the piping. Completed in Fall 2018, the pilot phase upgraded five filter beds to handle up to 9 million gallons per day (mgd). Further upgrades increased the capacity to 12 mgd, meeting peak summer demands. Additional filters were modified in subsequent years, achieving a total capacity of 16 mgd.

The successful pilot study provided a model for addressing PFAS contamination and set a precedent for future municipal water treatment projects.

The South Clay Hill neighborhood in Muskegon faced a critical issue with the aging 90-year-old Beidler trunk sanitary sewer, which served over 400 homes and businesses. Prone to frequent failures and located in difficult-to-access areas, the sewer collapsed during Thanksgiving 2019, causing significant backups. Emergency pumps were quickly installed to restore flow, and a trenchless repair method was used to minimize disruption, allowing a new pipe to be installed through existing manholes without major excavation.

Following this emergency repair, a more comprehensive replacement project was initiated. This was not just a standard sewer upgrade—it was an opportunity to rethink the system’s entire design for long-term durability and efficiency. The project team took a fresh approach, focusing on resolving long-standing issues. Aging pipes were replaced or lined, sewer flow was rerouted to a new lift station, and large sections of outdated infrastructure were abandoned to prevent future risks. This redesign bypassed a problematic creek bed and addressed persistent grade issues.

Key improvements included a new lift station, nearly a mile of force main, 1.5 miles of new sewer, 2,600 feet of water main replacement, and full road reconstruction.

The project was funded with low-interest financing through Michigan’s EGLE Revolving Funds program. The City received 70 percent principal forgiveness on sewer work and 20 percent on drinking water improvements, offering significant savings to residents.

This project, the largest and most complex Muskegon has undertaken in decades, marked a transformative upgrade to the city’s infrastructure. By replacing the most at-risk sewer in the system, it dramatically improved reliability and set a new standard for future infrastructure projects.

Mill Creek, a tributary of the Grand River, winds through Dwight Lydell Park in Comstock Park. In the late 1800s, concrete walls were constructed along the creek to support a state fish hatchery. Over the years, these walls deteriorated, creating safety hazards and environmental concerns. The park’s proximity to the Grand River also made it vulnerable to frequent flooding.

To address these issues, a comprehensive solution was implemented, focusing on stormwater management and flood risk reduction to safeguard both the park and the surrounding community. The project involved removing the old concrete structures and replacing them with natural channel design and bio-engineered erosion control to stabilize the creek banks. A floodplain bench was added at the park’s eastern end to temporarily store floodwaters during heavy rain or snowmelt.

To stabilize the creek’s banks and reduce sediment transport, the project maintained the creek’s natural dimensions using bioengineering techniques to secure the soil after the concrete linings were removed.

The revitalization also brought new amenities to the park, such as an elevated boardwalk, a pedestrian bridge, and a scenic overlook to enjoy the natural surroundings. The bridge connects the park to the Comstock Park Library parking lot, while the boardwalk links the Lamoreaux Drive neighborhood to the Dwight Lydell Park parking lot, enhancing access and enjoyment for the community.

In 2016, the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) embarked on a plan to enhance veterans’ homes across the state to better meet growing healthcare needs. The Grand Rapids Veterans Home, established in 1885, was chosen for a significant overhaul. The site, however, posed unique challenges, including underground tunnels and abandoned infrastructure.

Teaming with the architectural firm TowerPinkster, a comprehensive design solution was developed to preserve the site’s historical significance while modernizing accommodations for over a hundred veterans. The new community-style residential model features four small-house neighborhoods, all on a single level for optimal ADA accessibility.

Addressing the complexities of existing underground structures, new stormwater and sewer infrastructure was installed without compromising the historic elements. Landscaped paths and gardens were also added to enhance the residents’ environment.

Completed in 2021 at a cost of $62.9 million, the revamped Grand Rapids Veterans Home now offers a modern, accessible, and comfortable living space that supports Michigan’s veterans and their families while preserving the site’s historical charm.