Saline MI
7-18-2013 3:20pm

Locals Gather to imagine Downtown Saline

An attraction for families? A Tippins south-style market? A small hotel or bed and breakfast?

These were some of the recurring answers when 35 people gathered at Stone Arch were asked about what they want to see in Downtown Saline.

The 90-minute workshop, organized by Saline Main Street and facilitated by Jay Schlinsog, was part of a comprehensive market study that continues with online surveys and man-on-the-street interviews. Schlinsog, owner of Downtown Professionals Network, said demographic, economic and lifestyle gather has already been collected.

“The data provides a black and white picture. While that’s essential information, what we really need is the color, and that’s gaining a better understanding of what makes the community tick,” Schlinsog said. “As we learn more about the community’s personality, we gain a better understanding about opportunities for the future. So that’s why we use the local experts to fill in the blanks and provide the color.”

Schlinsog said the preliminary study gathered data about people within three different drive-times from downtown Saline – 5, 10 and 20 minutes. He said investors and business owners are especially interested in demographics of people living 5 or 10 minutes away – and he said the Saline has a demographic that is conducive to investment.

“It’s a very attractive picture, in terms of the demographic composition, growth in households, income growth and lifestyle characteristics,” Schlinsog said.

Information will be used by Saline Main Street to help guide marketing, economic development plans and business recruitment and retention strategies.

Wednesday night, about 35 people broke into five smaller groups and began coloring in the data and sharing their opinions about downtown. The first exercise asked people to list downtown’s best and worst attributes, to describe downtown, and to share ideas about improving downtown. The second study asked people what kinds of businesses they would like to see downtown and then asked which business was most likely to be successful.

The meeting was open to the public and also enjoyed the support of every member of Saline City Council but Lee Bourgoin. Mayor Brian Marl said he thought the workshop was helpful.

“I was impressed and surprised at how much agreement and consensus there was as it relates to the type of businesses people wanted,” Marl said. “I look forward to seeing the data compiled when we reconvene in October. I hope even more people attend. It’s important to see that data and develop a vision, but it’s just as important to get community buy-in and support so we can take that vision from the conceptual realm to reality.”

The online survey will be available on the Saline Main Street website.

Here are a sample of questions and answers from Wednesday’s workshop.

List the three best things about Saline today.

  • Historic architecture
  • Friendly people
  • Supportive local customers
  • Great atmosphere
  • Great downtown events
  • Nice Restaurants
  • Well kept appearance

List three single word or distinguishing features that best describe downtown today.

  • Attractive
  • Stable
  • Welcoming
  • Charming
  • Connected
  • Unique
  • Small
  • Historic
  • Active
  • Friendly

List three of Saline’s most glaring weaknesses or shortcomings.

  • Not enough parking
  • The pit (empty lot on Michigan Avenue)
  • Vacancies
  • Not enough buildings for expansion
  • Lack of central gathering space
  • Limited retail choices
  • List three reasons for someone to expand, open a business or invest in downtown Saline.
  • 28,000 vehicles a day on Michigan Avenue
  • Great family oriented community – attracts families
  • Affluent population
  • Supportive community
  • Turning economy
  • Affordable (compared to Dexter/Ann Arbor/Chelsea)

List three issues or challenges to business development efforts in downtown Saline.

  • Lack of available real estate
  • Awareness of downtown
  • Financing for small businesses
  • No city center
  • Perceived lack of parking
  • List three things that should be done within the next three years to make downtown Saline an even better place to start a business and/or invest.
  • Address parking.
  • Slow down traffic on Michigan Avenue
  • Infill with residential and mixed use developments
  • A unified marketing approach

List three types of businesses you want to see in Saline.

  • A sweets or candy shop
  • Tippins style deli/Boulevard Market/Chelsea Market/Morgan & York/
  • Bed and breakfast/small hotel
  • Brew Pub
  • Eclectic furniture shop
  • Hobby Store/Toy Store
  • Trader Joe’s
  • Family entertainment/restaurant

List the type of business most likely to succeed.

(These were the five answers from the five groups)

  • Tippins style market
  • Bed and breakfast
  • Boutique market (like Chelsea Market)
  • Specialty food store (like Boulevard Market)
  • Brew Pub
More News from Saline
I'm interested
I disagree with this
This is unverified
Spam
Offensive