KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — The City of Kalamazoo has suspended an improvement project in the Vine Neighborhood after citizen complaints that it’s not an improvement at all, in fact it was ruining the appearance and hurting business at O’Duffy’s Pub.
The project on Vine St. was proposed and approved years ago and there were fewer objections from the people who lived in the area at the time, mostly renters, but the money didn’t become available until this year.
The plan was to widen Vine Street to add more space for drivers and parking to coexist and to add dropouts at the corners.
Now a number of homeowners live in the area and when city crews came through and took down a dozen old shade trees on Vine between Locus and Davis, it was a shock and surprise.
City Manager Jim Ritsema says they have put the project on hold, and will start from scratch.
The Homeowners want their trees back, and with real trees, not 8 foot seedlings.
Mayor Bobby Hopewell warns commissioners that there may be more conflicts like this as the unattended consequences of their new “Complete Streets” policy.
Homeowners may object to giving up their tree lined road to make room for bike lanes.
