KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Foundation For Excellence (FFE) has announced that it will issue a grant to the Edison neighborhood in the form of $100,000.
The purpose of the grant is to allow the Edison neighborhood to purchase a mixed-use building at 812 Washington Ave. This property sits next to the Edison Neighborhood association building.
According to city documents, the purchase of this property by the Edison neighborhood “supports the Imagine Kalamazoo anti-gentrification strategy to put land in the hands of the community to further the goals of neighborhood.”
The goals of the neighborhood, as discussed in the Commercial plan, can be viewed below:
Redevelop commercial corridors –
- Increase family friendly retail shopping options in the neighborhood
- Promote programs to preserve and rehabilitate existing buildings
- Reconstruct Portage Street to include ADA sidewalks, cross walks, bike lanes, historic light posts, landscaping, trees, art and improve the visual appearance of the storefronts
The funding will be used to rehabilitate the building, which will include refurbishing the apartments that sit on top.
The measure was approved by the Kalamazoo City Board of Commissioners during a meeting on Monday, February 17. The funds will be distributed accordingly.
The Edison Neighborhood Association says that input from the community will be accepted before a final plan for the building is implemented.
