PlacePlans, a demonstration and technical assistance program developed in 2012 under the auspices of the statewide MIplace Partnership, with lead sponsorship from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, focused on assisting cities, selected through a competitive process, with the development of visionary yet realistic strategies to redevelop a key walkable, mixed-use area of their community. The League, along with faculty and students from Michigan State University School of Planning, Design and Construction and MSU Extension, worked with community leaders, residents, anchor institutions and expert consultants to bring the best practices in placemaking and civic engagement to bear in a customized way for each of the 22 participating cities.
The program partners developed PlacePlans with multiple goals:
- Help individual communities achieve greater economic success through placemaking projects
- Test some of the placemaking innovations and different approaches that were cropping up around the nation and the world
- Identify key themes and lessons that lead to success or failure in communities big and small
Evaluation of PlacePlans Experiences
In 2016, the League partnered with Wayne State University’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning to do an evaluation of participants’ experiences with the PlacePlans program. Respondents from participating cities felt overwhelmingly positively about PlacePlans and its impact on local placemaking efforts. Notably, even where communities had not yet undertaken any physical implementation of their plan, many respondents reported improved community engagement and discussion as a result of the process. Download the full report for details.
PlacePlans Projects
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| Allegan – population 4,998 Downtown Riverfront Development Allegan, one of the first cities to participate in PlacePlans, has begun implementing projects, including an events plaza, historic bridge lighting, and a redesign of Veteran’s Memorial Park. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report Download report on Allegan’s PlacePlan experience |
Alpena – population 10,483 Downtown Plaza Palooza The city of Alpena is focusing on development of a plaza in the heart of downtown Alpena. The plaza would serve as a focal point in the community, designed to accommodate events and public gatherings. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report |
Benton Harbor – population 10,038 Square 1: Coming Together at City Center Dwight Mitchell City Center Park serves as the primary public green and community gathering space for downtown Benton Harbor. It’s the symbolic center of the city, both by virtue of its location in the center of the historic downtown, and by its ability to draw people to a variety of special events held there. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report |
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Berkley – population 10,038Experimenting with Place  In an effort to engage the community in placemaking at the Robina and Twelve Mile intersection, the city decided to initiate a short-term planning process and tactical placemaking pop-up project during the Berkley Art Bash, an annual art fair in downtown Berkley.  Read more…Download the Case Study Download 2015 Robina Plaza Report Download 2014 Robina Plaza Report |
Boyne City – population 3,735 Boyne on the Water  Boyne City has a successful downtown and it is a community that embraces its cultural resources, from history to art. It also has beautiful natural resources. Community leaders identified further room for improvement in linking these assets and creating more usable public space along the lakefront. Read more… Download PlacePlan Report |
Cadillac – population 10,355 Heritage Plaza The “Heritage Plaza” concept envisions the site as a year-round destination and hub of downtown, hosting seasonal events and providing an attractive connection between the Mitchell Street businesses and Lake Cadillac. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report Download Report of Cadillac’s PlacePlan Experience2017 “Where Are They Now?” Project Update |
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| Dearborn – population 98,153 Transit-oriented Development The site would serve as a focal point in the community, designed to support local and regional commuter needs, establish connectivity between attractions and locations of interest within Dearborn, and complement the redevelopment of a vibrant downtown space. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report |
Detroit – population 713,777 Vernor Crossing The Southwest Detroit project engaged neighborhood residents, businesses, and community organizations in developing concepts for the reuse of a vacant, city-owned brownfield at the intersection of Vernor and Livernois. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report |
Farmington / Farmington Hills – population 90,112 Reimagining the 10 Mile/Orchard Lake Intersection Farmington and Farmington Hills are working with residents and business owners around the intersection of Orchard Lake and Ten Mile Road to rethink this area’s relationship to the surrounding neighborhoods. Read more … |
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Flint -Â population 102,434 Grand Traverse Greenway The Grand Traverse Greenway is a 3-mile-long former CSX railroad line that the City of Flint has been working to acquire and convert to a bike/walk trail with support from MDNR and MDOT. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report |
Holland – population 33,051 Food Innovation District The Holland project engaged downtown business owners as well as local food producers, distributors, and buyers from around the area to examine the Western Gateway area around the farmers market and civic center building. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report |
Jackson – population 33,534 Downtown Jackson Alleyway The Jackson project used input from residents and business owners at multiple community meetings to develop concepts for the four-block downtown alleyway running from the farmers’ market to the transit center. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report2017 “Where Are They Now?” Project Update |
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| Kalamazoo – population 74,262 Connecting the Dots of Sustainable Mobility, Health, and Wellness The plan looks at balancing biking, walking, transit, and traffic options in the Edison Neighborhood, and especially at the role of Portage Street as a gateway to the neighborhood and downtown. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report2017 “Where Are They Now?” Project Update |
Lathrup Village – population 4,075 EnLiVen Lathrup Lathrup Village city leaders worked with the League and area residents to improve and enLiVen a key part of their community. The attractive historic homes that make up the city’s intimate neighborhoods stand in stark contrast to Southfield Road – a major suburban highway that slices the community in half. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report |
Marquette – population 21,355 Reimagining Baraga Avenue The Marquette project, which involved multiple community meetings and input from residents and business owners, focused on the 100 block of Baraga Avenue in downtown Marquette, between Third Street and Lakeshore Boulevard. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report |
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Midland – population 21,355 Farmer’s Market The Midland PlacePlans project brought national experts to the city to engage city staff, farmers market vendors, and other community leaders in a discussion of strategic opportunities for the popular market. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report |
Monroe – population 20,733 HEART OF Monroe: Connecting the Historic, Entertainment, Arts, Residential, and Theater Centers |
Niles – population 11,600 Turn the Corner Niles is seeking support to understand development opportunities on two key sites along the Saint Joseph River, as well as area planning to link these developments and existing waterfront amenities to the city’s successful Main Street district. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report |
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| Saginaw – population 51,508 Asset Inventory and Strategic Prioritization League staff facilitated development of a “shared strategy” to prioritize possible placemaking activities in the riverfront area and where the community should commit its limited resources. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report |
Sault Sainte Marie – population 14,144 Moloney Alley Located in the heart of downtown, Moloney Alley would serve as a focal point in the community, acting as a bridge between the Soo Locks tourist attractions and more traditional downtown uses. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report |
Traverse City – population 14,674 City Lot Traverse City’s West Front Street district has already begun a positive transformation with the recent streetscape project. A new design plan for a vacant city-owned parcel along Kids Creek will help transform the site into a true community space, providing both a focal point and a connection to downtown. Read more…Download PlacePlan Report2017 “Where Are They Now?” Project Update |
 Utica – population 4,757 Downtown Business Passport Simple tactics, like a passport and shuttle bus, can benefit local shopping any time of the year. This summer, the League worked with the city of Utica to promote walkability and small business shopping during their annual Riverwalk Festival. Read more…Download Walkability Report |