Books & Briefs

The Michigan Municipal League is proud to be able to provide our members with a deep well of knowledge. On this page, you’ll find handbooks, guides, and reports on a wide range of topics. From artificial intelligence to zoning, learn best practices, hear sensible advice, and gain insights to inform your decision-making as an effective and dynamic community leader.

Books

A Decade of Placemaking in Michigan

Placemaking is a critical strategy for creating economically prosperous communities – large and small. The Michigan Municipal League recognized this over a decade ago through significant research, and has dedicated tremendous resources to advancing this strategy in Michigan and nationwide.

As the League moves forward in pursuing programs and policies that support prosperous communities, it is important to pause and take stock of where the organization has been. This retrospective highlights the history of placemaking, the programs and efforts the League, with key partnerships, has undertaken in support of placemaking, and how those activities have shaped policies and quality of life in Michigan communities.

Creating Better Futures Policy Brief Series

The Michigan Municipal League’s Creating Better Futures policy brief series provides focused research summaries and recommendations on some of the most pressing issues facing Michigan communities now and in the coming years. Research by Citizens Research Council of Michigan and Altarum (2023) shows troubling trends for Michigan’s population and economy. Stagnating to declining population by 2035, a decreasing number of working-age people, and a continued shift in the global economy away from Michigan’s historic economic stronghold—the auto industry—all pose significant challenges for the state’s economic and social well-being.

This short policy brief series will help communities plan for current and future conditions by providing some essential background information and exploring local policy options on topics related to these challenges, including: housing, climate resilience, local economies and small business support.

Intro: Creating Better Futures
Climate and Demographics
Making Space for Every Entrepreneur
Hacking Michigan’s Housing Potential

Pattern Book Homes for 21st Century Michigan

This Used to Be Normal: Pattern Book Homes for 21st Century Michigan is a guide for creating new multi-unit housing models on vacant lots in downtown-adjacent neighborhoods in Michigan communities. These copyright-free 95%-complete construction plans are modeled after popular kit homes constructed during the state’s housing boom in the early part of the 20th century. Home builders can choose from two-family homes and four-family homes that use architectural themes designed to fit into existing Michigan neighborhoods. The guide also offers a toolkit to help communities modernize their zoning codes to allow for more multi-family construction like the homes envisioned in the Pattern Book.

Predevelopment Assistance Program

We work with Michigan communities through the Predevelopment Assistance Program, in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), to provide resources and guidance for community reinvestment and redevelopment. We’ve helped 34 communities with over 70 projects since 2017. Learn more about the benefits of the Predevelopment Assistance Program from our new publication, “Our Future Communities Start Here: Predevelopment Assistance for Growth & Advancement in Michigan.”

Briefs

Legislative Briefs

Contact: Information Services
Phone: 734.662.3246 or E-mail: [email protected]