Workforce housing, mixed use suggested for Evans Street in Tecumseh
TECUMSEH — The city of Tecumseh is engaging the public on how it thinks the Evans Street Corridor should be developed.
During a recent open house with city planning consultant McKenna Associates of Northville, approximately 75 participants encompassing a wide-ranging demographic from newer, younger residents to older, lifelong residents provided their visions for the corridor; input on what should be done with the Tecumseh Products site; and identified opportunities and concerns along the corridor.
Some of the thoughts offered include:
Development of a riverwalk on Maumee Street.
Owner-occupied housing near the city’s downtown.
Increased use of the Market on Evans Street including outdoor community space, seating and greenery to support outdoor activities.
A downtown event and gallery center.
Using the railroad to attract tourists.
Commercial development with apartments upstairs.
Housing development.
A corridor that provides connectivity for people, not vehicles.
Some of the concerns expressed include:
The railroad requires cleanup.
Parking-lot sprawl fails to attract foot traffic to business.
Bike lanes are not protected and are on the wrong side of parking.
The need for increased integration of downtown bike trails.
The need to demolish the former Ottawa Machine Products Co. building.
Concern with large commercial/industrial development.
“The younger individuals I spoke with were looking more for community amenities such as new retail establishments downtown and more recreation opportunities like non-motorized trails,” Tecumseh City Manager Dan Swallow said.
Two focus groups also met at city hall in June. The first focus group centered on the North Evans Corridor and the second focus group, the South Evans Corridor.
In terms of business and land use, the North Evans Corridor focus group recommended:
Gathering spaces to retain the young population providing for drinks and Wi-Fi.
Businesses that appeal to young people such as consignment shops, thrift shops and indoor markets.
High-density housing within walking distance of amenities.
Businesses for young families and children such as indoor playhouses with coffee shops.
Physical activity centers such as gyms or yoga studios.
Cottage industries.
Incubator spaces.
Shared workspaces/shared kitchens.
Connections to the Tecumseh Center for the Arts.
Micro-retail spaces supported by other businesses such as coffee shops and stores.
The South Evans Corridor focus group recommended these business and land uses:
Retail and associated parking.
Linking Russell Road to downtown.
A shared-use path along Evans Street.
A sports complex.
Small-scale shops.
Small convenience stores.
Big box urban store models (mini version of the store with essentials).
The North Evans Corridor focus group recommended that the two blocks around downtown have the same brick façade and buildings have two- to three-story minimums. It suggested mixed-use development with shops in the front and on the first floor with residential units on the second and third floors.
The focus group also recommended revitalization of the building at 304 N. Evans St. and parking in front yards.
For electric vehicle charging, the group said EV charging stations should be located where there is something to do while charging, for example shops, trails and events.
For bicycle and pedestrian connectivity, the group noted that the railroad is a hindrance and suggested connecting Evans and Maumee Streets through the middle school. The group said there should be better signage and sight distances at the intersection of Evans and Logan streets, access/curb cuts and no one-way streets.
For housing it suggested lofts and townhouses, mixed-use development for the first couple of blocks outside of downtown and high-density residential development near the corridor at the former Tecumseh schools’ administration building.
The group recommended keeping the corridor’s design elements the same as Chicago Boulevard, making downtown contiguous, an emphasis on landscaping and increasing wayfinding signs pointing toward the location of shops, restaurants and activity spaces.
The South Evans Corridor focus group recommended staying away from a hodge podge of businesses and keeping the façades around downtown, along with modern/industrial style business south of Cummins Street.
The group also suggested condemning and demolishing buildings in disrepair and notes that the railroad walls off businesses. It suggested a conversion to urban rails so vehicles can cross and an RV parking lot at South Evans and Cummins Streets.
For bicycle and pedestrian connectivity, the group pointed out that the railroad is a hindrance and there is limited right of way width for sidewalks and paths.
It suggested high-density and medium-density housing to attract young people and noted high demand for downtown housing for people of all ages, particularly affordable housing.
The group recommended keeping the design elements the same as Chicago Boulevard and having tree-lined streets.
In terms of their vision for the Evans Street Corridor, the focus groups suggested extending the downtown along Chicago Boulevard; increasing pedestrian circulation by improving safety; increasing connectivity to parks, schools, the theater and downtown; increasing housing; more mixed-use buildings; redevelopment of vacant lands; improvement of the streetscape; and overall improvement in safety, particularly at the Evans and Logan streets intersection.
The focus groups said development priorities should be apartments and other residential options, including higher density options; restaurants; trails and trail awareness, including kayaking opportunities; wayfinding signage; retail options; parking lots; and gathering spaces
The groups also recommended reconfiguring Ottawa Street and having retail front the extension instead of on Evans Street due to the railroad tracks as well as no industrial uses.
“The city is looking at using the results of this study to update our zoning ordinance standards as well as to provide support for potential policy updates related to more recent tax incentive options authorized by the state of Michigan,” Swallow said.
Over the past few years, there have been several inquiries related to light industrial uses at the Tecumseh Products site. The city also is exploring commercial use along South Evans Street including office and retail space, Swallow said.
The city recently amended its zoning ordinance to provide more workforce housing for early career individuals as well as living options for seniors consisting of apartments, duplex- and townhouse-style housing, which tend to be more affordable.
The changes allow for single- and two-family (duplex) residential development along the western edge of the city near West Chicago Boulevard. The developments can be single- or multistory buildings with differing room layouts.
For multifamily development, the zoning ordinance was amended to increase the unit limit from 10 to 18 units per acre, up to three-story buildings and reduced setbacks requirements to encourage development compatible with surrounding neighborhoods.
The city contracted with McKenna on the project last year at a cost of $31,500 plus hourly fees.
The project began in June and is not complete. The public engagement period began in July and will run through December. The background assessment, alternatives and preliminary recommendations began in July and will continue through October. Planning will begin in October and run through January 2024. The action plan will begin in November and run through January 2024 and plan adoption will come in February 2024.
An online survey was initiated Aug. 14 and will close Sept. 29. Several hard copies were received at the public open house.
The next steps are completing the public engagement part of the project while continuing to update the background information. Once public engagement is complete, the plan will be drafted.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Workforce housing, mixed use suggested for Evans Street in Tecumseh
