KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A small platoon of architects, urban planners, engineers, and students from the University of Notre Dame have had downtown Kalamazoo under a microscope for the last three months, and they have big plans to improve it.
Some of their preliminary recommendations include reopening the Downtown Mall and making Arcadia Creek more accessible.
Marianne Cusato, Director at the Center for Housing and Community Development at Notre Dame says she was surprised that nearly half of the downtown is open space or parking lot, compared to the vibrant city center that was here 80 years ago.
Their plan is to provide a guide for future improvement.
She says some buildings need to be replaced, some beautified and some protected.
South Bend has just completed getting rid of their one way streets and Cusato says Kalamazoo’s plan to get rid of theirs is a good one.
The 13-member delegation from South Bend has spent the last few days in Kalamazoo and plan to present all their suggestions at a public event at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Kalamazoo City Hall Commission Chambers.
(reporting from John McNeill)
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